kaikaina
/kai̯ˈkai̯.na/
The Hawaiian word for little sister is kaikaina.
kaikaina refers to a female sibling who is younger than the speaker.
Which one should you use?
While kaikaina is the term for a little sister, it is also the term for a little brother. The gender is typically understood from context.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable. The IPA pronunciation is /kai̯ˈkai̯.na/.
Did you know?
- While kaikaina refers to a younger sibling, the terms for older siblings in Hawaiian are strictly gender-specific.
- In traditional Hawaiian social structures, the relationship of a kaikaina to an older sibling was often defined by specific roles and responsibilities within the household.
- The word kaikaina is built from the kinship prefix kai- and the word kaina meaning 'younger sibling'.
Examples in context
- He ʻoluʻolu kona kaikaina.His little sister is sweet.
Example conversation
Koa is introducing his family to Malia.
- KoaMalia, e nānā i koʻu kaikaina.Malia, look at my little sister.
- MaliaHe nani loa ʻo ia!She is very beautiful!
- KoaʻAe, he kaikaina akamai ia.Yes, she is a smart little sister.
- MaliaHauʻoli au i ka ʻikiloa ʻana.I am happy to meet her.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry kaikaina, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kaikaina, CC BY-SA 4.0.
