kaikuaʻana
/ˌkai̯ˌku.aˈʔa.na/
The Hawaiian word for "older brother" is kaikuaʻana.
While it is often translated as "older brother," it is a gender-neutral term.
Meaning: single-word translations (noun)
Which one should you use?
Although often translated as "older brother," kaikuaʻana can also mean "older sister."
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 5 syllables, with the stress on the 4th syllable: /ˌkai̯ˌku.aˈʔa.na/.
Did you know?
- In Hawaiian, you cannot call a sibling kaikuaʻana unless they are the same sex as you. If the older sibling is a different gender, a different word is used entirely.
- The concept of being an 'older sibling' in Hawaiian culture carries more weight than just age, often implying a specific social responsibility and rank within the family.
- The prefix kai- in kaikuaʻana acts as a linguistic marker to identify the person as a relative or kin.
Examples in context
- He kaikuaʻana kēia.This is an older brother.
- Ua hele ka kaikuaʻana i ka hale.The older brother went home.
- Maikaʻi ka kaikuaʻana.The older brother is good.
Example conversation
Koa is introducing his family to Leilani.
- KoaE nānā i kēia kiʻi.Look at this picture.
- LeilaniʻO wai kēia?Who is this?
- KoaʻO ia koʻu kaikuaʻana.That is my older brother.
- LeilaniHe kanaka loaʻa ʻo ia.He looks like a great person.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry kaikuaʻana, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kaikuaʻana, CC BY-SA 4.0.
