aliʻi
/aˈli.ʔi/
The Hawaiian word for royalty is aliʻi.
The term aliʻi is used to describe the hereditary ruling class of Hawaiian society, encompassing chiefs, kings, queens and nobility.
Meaning: monarch and their families treated as a group (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word aliʻi functions as both a singular noun meaning a chief or royal person, and as a plural noun meaning chiefs or royalty.
How do you pronounce it?
It is pronounced /aˈli.ʔi/. The stress is on the second of the three syllables.
When do people say it?
In a traditional Hawaiian context, aliʻi symbolizes the group of chiefs, kings, queens and nobility who held power within the society.
Did you know?
- The status of an aliʻi was so sacred that certain commoners were forbidden from even looking directly at them to show respect.
- The Hawaiian word aliʻi is used today to describe not only historical royalty but also people who are masters or leaders in a specific field of knowledge.
- The word aliʻi is related to the Proto-Polynesian word *qariki, which is a distant relative of many other terms for leaders across the Pacific islands.
Examples in context
- Ke ali'i Wahine o Hawai'i.The Queen of Hawaii.
- 'O (name), ua like 'oe me he ali'i nui lā.(Name), you are like a great ruler.
- He aliʻi ka ʻohana.The family is royalty.
- Ua hoʻomaikaʻi ʻia ka aliʻi.The royalty was honored.
- He kānaka aliʻi ʻo ia.He is a person of royalty.
Example conversation
Kai and Kiana are looking at old photographs in a museum.
- KaiMai nānā i kēia kiʻi.Look at this picture.
- KianaHe aliʻi paha kēia?Is this perhaps royalty?
- KaiʻAe, he aliʻi koʻikoʻi ʻo ia.Yes, he is high royalty.
- KianaHe nani loa kona kīkī.His clothing is very beautiful.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry aliʻi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aliʻi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
