mele
/ˈme.le/
The Hawaiian word for "music" is mele.
mele is a broad term used to refer to music, songs or traditional chants.
Meaning: sound, organized in time in a melodious way (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable: /ˈme.le/.
Did you know?
- Many traditional mele use a poetic device called kaona, which hides a deeper, secret meaning beneath the literal words of the song.
- In ancient Hawaii, the performance of certain mele was considered a sacred act that required strict spiritual protocols to avoid bad luck.
- In traditional Hawaiian culture, mele were not just songs but served as primary historical records to preserve genealogy and land boundaries before a written language existed.
Examples in context
- He mele nō kēia.This is indeed music.
Example conversation
Koa and Kiana are at a small beach party.
- KoaHe mele nō kēia!This is truly great music!
- KianaʻAe, he mele nani kēia.Yes, this is beautiful music.
- KoaE hoʻolohe kāua i ka mele.Let's listen to the music.
- KianaʻAe, e hoʻolohe kāua.Yes, let's listen.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mele, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
