poni
/ˈpo.ni/
The Hawaiian word for the color purple is poni or mākuʻe.
Meaning: colour (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hawaiian | IPA |
|---|---|
| poni | /ˈpo.ni/ |
| mākuʻe | /maːˈku.ʔe/ |
Both poni and mākuʻe can function as either a noun to name the color or an adjective to describe an object that is purple.
Which one should you use?
While both words refer to the same color, mākuʻe is the more traditional or formal way to refer to purple.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables: /ˈpo.ni/. The stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The traditional word for purple, mākuʻe, originally described a type of sea urchin called the 'slate-pencil urchin'.
- In traditional Hawaiian culture, colors were often identified by the plants or animals they resembled rather than as abstract categories.
Examples in context
- Poni ka pua liʻiliʻi.The little flower is purple.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use the form poni as an adjective.Tatoeba #4856427 by nonong, translation #10161006 by ToxicFriu
Example conversation
Kai and Kiana are looking at a painting.
- KaiHe poni ka lani ma kēia kiʻi.The sky is purple in this picture.
- KianaʻAe, he poni nani kēlā.Yes, that is a beautiful purple.
- KaiHe poni kou punahele?Is purple your favorite?
- KianaʻAe, he poni koʻu punahele.Yes, purple is my favorite.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “purple” translations and entries poni, mākuʻe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mākuʻe, poni, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
