pele
In Hawaiian, the English phrase "volcano" is expressed as pele. If unsure, use pele. Wiktionary also lists lua pele.
Meaning: mountain containing a magma chamber (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hawaiian |
|---|
| pele |
| lua pele |
The term refers to a mountain containing a magma chamber.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase lua pele literally means "hole of Pele".
Did you know?
- Some residents of Hawaii avoid using the word pele when speaking of the volcano in certain contexts to avoid drawing the goddess's attention or anger.
- The word lua has a surprising dual meaning in Hawaiian, referring to both a 'hole' and the number 'two'.
- In Hawaiian culture, the phrase lua pele is not just a description of a crater but is often viewed as the actual home or doorway of the deity Pele.
Example sentences for Hawaiian are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Two friends are hiking on a mountain.
- NoelaniE nānā, he pele kēia!Look, this is a volcano!
- IkaikaHe pele nui loa ia.That is a very big volcano.
- NoelaniUa hōʻike mai ka pele.The volcano showed itself.
- IkaikaHe mea kupaianaha kēia pele.This volcano is amazing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “volcano” translations and entries pele, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
