kaikuahine
/ˌkai̯ˌku.aˈhi.ne/
The English word sister is translated into Hawaiian as kaikuahine. Wiktionary also lists kaikuaʻana and kaikaina.
Meaning: woman or girl having the same parents (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hawaiian | IPA |
|---|---|
| kaikuahine | /ˌkai̯ˌku.aˈhi.ne/ |
| kaikuaʻana | /ˌkai̯ˌku.aˈʔa.na/ |
| kaikaina | /kai̯ˈkai̯.na/ |
Which one should you use?
The term kaikaina is used for a younger sibling regardless of whether they are male or female, though it is often used for a younger sister.
How does it change in a sentence?
The term kaikaina is used to refer to a younger sibling regardless of their gender.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 5 syllables and the stress is on the 4th syllable: /ˌkai̯ˌku.aˈhi.ne/.
Did you know?
- The term kaikuaʻana refers to an older sibling of the same sex, meaning a woman would use it for her older sister but not her older brother.
- Hawaiian kinship terms like kaikuaʻana are much more precise than English, as they encode the birth order directly into the name of the sibling.
- In Hawaiian culture, the distinction between an older sibling kuaʻana and a younger sibling kaina carries significant social weight regarding respect and responsibility.
Examples in context
- He kaikuahine kēia.This is a sister.
Example conversation
Ikaika introduces a family member to Malia.
- IkaikaE nānā i ka kaikuahine.Look at my sister.
- MaliaHe nani ʻo ia.She is beautiful.
- IkaikaʻO ia ka kaikuahine hou.She is the new sister.
- MaliaAloha e ka kaikuahine!Hello, sister!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sister” translations and entries kaikuahine, kaikuaʻana, kaikaina, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kaikaina, kaikuahine, kaikuaʻana, CC BY-SA 4.0.
