maka waiū
/ˈma.ka wai̯ˈuː/word by word
The Hawaiian word for nipple is maka waiū.
maka waiū is used to refer to the projection of a mammary gland.
Meaning: projection of mammary gland (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of maka (meaning eye, bud or surface point) and waiū (meaning milk).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈma.ka wai̯ˈuː/. The word has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- Because maka can mean 'eye', the phrase maka waiū can be poetically understood as the 'eye of milk'.
- The term waiū is a compound of wai, meaning 'water' or 'liquid', and ū, meaning 'breast'. This literally frames breast milk as 'breast water'.
- The word maka is a cognate with the Māori word mata, showing the linguistic connection across the Pacific.
Examples in context
- ʻO ka maka waiū kēlā.That is the nipple.
- Paʻi mai i ka maka waiū.Press the nipple.
Example conversation
A parent is talking to a doctor about a baby.
- NoelaniHe ʻino ka maka waiū o ka pēpē.The baby's nipple is sore.
- KaiE hōʻike mai iaʻu.Show it to me.
- NoelaniKe ʻuʻu ka maka waiū.The nipple is red.
- KaiE hoʻomaikaʻi ia.I will treat it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nipple” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (maka, waiū) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries maka, waiū, CC BY-SA 4.0.
