puna
In Hawaiian, the English word 'spring' is translated as puna.
puna refers to the season between winter and summer found in temperate climates.
Meaning: season between winter and summer in temperate climates (noun)
Did you know?
- The Hawaiian word puna primarily means a 'spring of water' rather than a season. Because Hawaii is tropical, the word for 'spring' as a season is a translation of the English concept using the word for a water source.
- The concept of 'spring' as a season is a borrowed or adapted concept, as the Hawaiian Islands do not experience temperate seasons.
- The word puna has a linguistic relative in Māori, where it can mean 'ankle', a much more specific anatomical term.
Example conversation
Kai and Malia are talking about the weather in a temperate country.
- KaiHe wela loa kēia puna.This spring is very hot.
- MaliaʻAe, he wela loa ia.Yes, it is very hot.
- KaiMakemake ʻoe i ka puna?Do you like the spring, Malia?
- MaliaʻAe, makemake au!Yes, I do!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry puna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries puna, CC BY-SA 4.0.
