aloha hou
/aˈlo.ha ˈhou̯/word by word
The English phrase "welcome back" is translated into Hawaiian as aloha hou.
Meaning: welcome back (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of aloha, meaning love, greeting or affection and hou, meaning new or again.
How does it change in a sentence?
aloha hou is used as a greeting and does not change its form based on the number of people being welcomed.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /aˈlo.ha ˈhou̯/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- In Hawaiian culture, the spirit of aloha is not just a greeting but a legal and ethical principle of mutual respect and harmony used in community mediation.
- The word aloha actually traces its origins back to an ancient Austronesian word meaning 'to beckon' or 'to wave'.
- While aloha hou welcomes someone back, the word aloha alone is also used to say 'goodbye' to someone who is departing.
Examples in context
- Aloha hou iā ʻoe.Welcome back to you.
Example conversation
Kai greets Noelani at the airport.
- KaiAloha hou, Noelani!Welcome back, Noelani!
- NoelaniMahalo, Kai!Thank you, Kai!
- KaiHaʻawele mai kou maluhia.Bring your peace with you.
- NoelaniUa haʻalele au i ka lei.I left the lei behind.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (aloha, hou) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aloha, hou, CC BY-SA 4.0.
