honu
/ˈho.nu/
The Hawaiian word for sea turtle is honu.
honu is a noun used to refer to any turtle that inhabits the oceans.
Meaning: any turtle that inhabits oceans (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable. It is pronounced /ˈho.nu/.
Did you know?
- The root of honu is part of a massive linguistic family that stretches all the way back to the Austronesian expansion, linking it to words in languages spoken as far away as Madagascar.
- In some traditional Hawaiian contexts, honu can be used as a name for a person who is perceived as calm, patient and steady.
- While honu refers to the sea turtle, the word for a land turtle or tortoise in Hawaiian is honu pōhaku, which literally translates to 'stone turtle'.
Examples in context
- Ua ʻike aku au i ka honu.I saw a sea turtle.
- Eia ka honu.There is the sea turtle.
Example conversation
Ikaika and Noelani are snorkeling at the beach.
- IkaikaNoelani, e nānā i ka honu!Noelani, look at the sea turtle!
- NoelaniHe honu nani loa ia.It is a very beautiful sea turtle.
- IkaikaKe ʻanu nei ia i ka kai.It is swimming in the ocean.
- NoelaniʻAʻole hiki mai ana kākou kokoke.We cannot get too close.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry honu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries honu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
