kālākiula
The Hawaiian word for the metal silver is kālākiula.
kālākiula is used to refer to the precious metal silver.
Meaning: metal (noun)
Did you know?
- In traditional Hawaiian culture, there were no native words for metals like silver because the islands had no indigenous metalworking.
- In the Hawaiian language, the word kālā can also mean 'to pay', making the word for silver etymologically tied to the act of transaction.
- While 'kālākiula' refers to the metal, the word 'kālā' alone is used in modern Hawaiian to refer to 'dollar'.
Example conversation
Malia and Koa are looking at jewelry.
- MaliaHe nani kou lei kālākiula.Your silver necklace is beautiful.
- KoaMahalo, Malia.Thank you, Malia.
- MaliaHe kālākiula maoli kēia?Is this real silver?
- KoaʻAe, he kālākiula maoli ia.Yes, it is real silver.
