lua
/ˈlu.a/
The Hawaiian word for toilet is lua. Wiktionary also lists ipu lua.
Meaning: fixture used for urination and defecation (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hawaiian | IPA |
|---|---|
| lua | /ˈlu.a/ |
| ipu lua | /ˈi.pu ˈlu.a/ (word by word) |
The term refers to a fixture used for urination and defecation.
What does it mean word for word?
The word lua literally means 'hole'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈlu.a/. The stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word lua is a homonym in Hawaiian, meaning it can refer to a 'hole' or the number 'two'.
- The word ipu originally referred to a 'coconut shell cup' before it became a general term for a container.
- The Hawaiian language often uses descriptive compound words like ipu lua to adapt traditional vocabulary to describe modern Western technology.
Examples in context
- Ma hea ka lua?Where is the toilet?
Example conversation
Kiana and Koa are visiting a house.
- KianaKoa, aia ka lua?Koa, where is the toilet?
- KoaAia ma luna o ka hale.It is upstairs in the house.
- KianaMahalo, e hele au i ka lua.Thank you, I will go to the toilet.
- KoaʻAe, hele mai.Yes, go ahead.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “toilet” translations and entries lua, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ipu, lua) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ipu, lua, CC BY-SA 4.0.
