ʻūpā
/ʔuːˈpaː/
The Hawaiian word for scissors is ʻūpā.
ʻūpā is a noun used to refer to the tool used for cutting.
Meaning: tool used for cutting (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/ʔuːˈpaː/
Did you know?
- The word ʻūpā is related to the Māori word kupā, which means 'to belch' or 'to throw up'.
- Since ʻūpā is a loanword introduced after contact with foreigners, it describes a tool that did not exist in traditional pre-contact Hawaiian society.
- If you omit the glottal stop at the start of ʻūpā, you may accidentally say a completely different word.
Example sentences for Hawaiian are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Leilani and Kai are doing a craft project.
- LeilaniKai, e aia ana ka ʻūpā?Kai, where are the scissors?
- KaiAia kēia ma luna o ka papa.They are there on the table.
- LeilaniMahalo, e hāʻawi mai i ka ʻūpā.Thanks, give the scissors to me.
- Kaiʻūpā ēia.Here are the scissors.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “scissors” translations and entries ʻūpā, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ʻūpā, CC BY-SA 4.0.
