inoa
/iˈno.a/
The Hawaiian word for "name" is inoa.
inoa is a noun used to refer to a word or phrase that indicates a particular person, place, class or thing.
Meaning: word or phrase indicating a particular person, place, class or thing (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /iˈno.a/.
Did you know?
- Ancient Hawaiians sometimes used 'kapu' or sacred restrictions regarding a high chief's inoa, meaning it could not be spoken freely by certain people.
- Some people in Hawaii have a inoa kumu, which is a 'base name' that serves as a root for other names given throughout their life.
- Some Hawaiian names are not just labels but are complete sentences or descriptions that tell a story about the person's identity.
Examples in context
- ola ka inoaThe name lives
- He inoa kēia.This is a name.
Example conversation
Malia and Koa meet for the first time at a park.
- MaliaAloha! He aha kou inoa?Hello! What is your name?
- KoaAloha. ʻO Koa koʻu inoa.Hello. My name is Koa.
- MaliaʻO Malia koʻu inoa.My name is Malia.
- KoaHauʻoli no ka hālāwai ʻana, Malia.Nice to meet you, Malia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “name” translations and entries inoa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
