humuhumu
/ˌhu.muˈhu.mu/
The Hawaiian word for "stitch" (referring to a single pass of the needle in sewing) is humuhumu.
humuhumu is used to describe a single pass of the needle during the process of sewing.
Meaning: single pass of the needle in sewing (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has four syllables, pronounced /ˌhu.muˈhu.mu/. The stress is on the third syllable.
Did you know?
- In the name of the state fish, humuhumu describes the fish's appearance as being 'stitched' together with colorful patterns.
- Because humuhumu is also the name of a well-known fish, using the word in a sentence requires careful context. One mistake in setting the scene could lead someone to think you are sewing a fish instead of making a stitch.
- Historically, before the introduction of metal needles, humu involved using bone or thorns. The word describes the action of the hand rather than the tool itself.
Example conversation
Koa and Noelani are sewing a piece of cloth together.
- KoaHe humuhumu pono kēia, Noelani?Is this a correct stitch, Noelani?
- NoelaniʻAe, he humuhumu maikaʻi kēlā.Yes, that is a good stitch.
- KoaE kōkua mai i kēia humuhumu.Help me with this stitch.
- NoelaniE hana pū kāua, Koa.Let's do it together, Koa.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry humuhumu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
