puaʻa
/puˈa.ʔa/
The Hawaiian word for pig is puaʻa.
The word puaʻa refers to a pig, a mammal of the family Suidae.
Meaning: mammal of family Suidae (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable. The IPA transcription is /puˈa.ʔa/.
Did you know?
- The Hawaiian word puaʻa is etymologically related to the Tahitian word for 'horse', which literally translates to 'a stretch pig' in certain compound forms.
- Historically, the arrival of puaʻa in the islands occurred via the voyaging canoes of the first Polynesian settlers.
- In traditional Hawaiian culture, the puaʻa was a highly prized animal often reserved for royal feasts and sacred rituals.
Examples in context
- ʻO kaʻu mau makua i hoʻouna mai i kekahi puaʻa no mākou.My parents sent a pig for us.
- He puaʻa kēlā.That is a pig.
- Ua ʻai ka puaʻa i ka meaʻai.The pig ate the food.
Example conversation
Kai and Kiana are walking in the forest.
- KaiHe puaʻa kēlā!That is a pig!
- KianaʻAe, he puaʻa nō ia.Yes, it is indeed a pig.
- KaiHe puaʻa ʻino kēlā.That is a wild pig.
- KianaE holo kāua!Let's run!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pig” translations and entries puaʻa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries puaʻa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
