kalaka
The Hawaiian word for truck is kalaka.
kalaka refers to a heavy motor vehicle designed to carry goods, such as a pickup truck or a semi-trailer truck.
Meaning: heavier motor vehicle designed to carry goods (noun)
Did you know?
- Because traditional Hawaiian had no words for wheels, kalaka belongs to a class of words that only exist after the arrival of Western technology.
- The word kalaka reflects the Hawaiian alphabet's lack of a 'tr' sound, forcing the English 'truck' to be broken into two distinct syllables.
- In modern Hawaii, speakers frequently switch between the English 'truck' and the Hawaiian kalaka within the same sentence, a practice known as code-switching.
Examples in context
- He kalaka kēia.This is a truck.
- Ua lawe ka kalaka i nā meaʻai.The truck carried the food.
- He kalaka nui kēlā.That is a large truck.
Example conversation
Kiana and Koa are looking at a vehicle in the driveway.
- KianaHe kalaka hou kēia, Koa?Is this a new truck, Koa?
- KoaʻAe, he kalaka hou ia.Yes, that is a new truck.
- KianaHauʻoli loa ʻoe!You are very happy!
- KoaʻAe, manaʻo au he kalaka maikaʻi kēia.Yes, I think this is a good truck.
