mahina
/maˈhi.na/
The Hawaiian word for moon is mahina.
mahina is used to refer to the natural satellite of Earth.
Meaning: the natural satellite of planet Earth (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables: ma-hi-na. The stress is on the second syllable. The IPA pronunciation is /maˈhi.na/.
Did you know?
- In Hawaiian culture, mahina is used not only for the moon but also as the word for 'month', since the calendar is based on lunar cycles.
- Traditional Hawaiian navigation relied heavily on the position and phase of mahina to travel thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean.
- The word mahina is not just a name for the celestial body, but is etymologically rooted in the concept of a 'ray' or 'beam' of light.
Examples in context
- Inā ua ʻike au i ka lā i kona lilelile ʻana, a i ka mahina i kona hele aʻiaʻi ʻana.If I have observed the sun when it shines, or the moon moving in brightness.This sentence is useful for seeing how mahina is used in a descriptive context regarding its brightness and movement.
- Ua ʻike au i ka mahina i kēia pō.I see the moon tonight.
Example conversation
Noelani and Keanu are looking at the night sky.
- NoelaniE nānā i ka mahina!Look at the moon!
- KeanuʻAe, he nui ia i kēia pō.Yes, it is large tonight.
- NoelaniMakemake au e nānā i ka mahina.I like to look at the moon.
- KeanuAu pure nō hoʻi.I do as well.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “moon” translations and entries mahina, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mahina, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
