kaikamahine uʻi
/ˌkai̯.ka.maˈhi.ne ˈu.ʔi/word by word
The Hawaiian phrase for "pretty girl" is kaikamahine uʻi.
This phrase is used to describe a young female person who is considered attractive or beautiful.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of kaikamahine (girl or young woman) and uʻi (beautiful or pretty).
How does it change in a sentence?
In Hawaiian, the adjective uʻi follows the noun kaikamahine to describe it.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˌkai̯.ka.maˈhi.ne ˈu.ʔi/. It has 7 syllables, with the stress on the 4th syllable.
Did you know?
- In Hawaiian culture, beauty is often linked to pono, meaning righteousness or balance, so uʻi can imply a beauty that comes from inner goodness.
- The word uʻi can be used as a name for both girls and boys in Hawaii, though it is more common for girls.
- In traditional Hawaiian chants, describing a person as uʻi often serves as a way to honor their ancestry and the beauty passed down through generations.
Examples in context
- He kaikamahine uʻi.She is a pretty girl.
- ʻO kaikamahine uʻi kēlā.That is a pretty girl.
- Huli i ka kaikamahine uʻi.Look at the pretty girl.
Example conversation
Ikaika and Kiana are talking about a family photo.
- IkaikaHe aha kēia kiʻi?What is this picture?
- KianaʻO kaikamahine uʻi kēlā ka makuahine.That pretty girl is the mother.
- IkaikaUʻi loa ʻo ia.She is very beautiful.
- KianaʻAe, he kaikamahine uʻi loa ʻo ia.Yes, she is a very pretty girl.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (kaikamahine, uʻi) and can differ in connected speech.
