keʻokeʻo
/ˌke.ʔoˈke.ʔo/
The Hawaiian word for the color white is keʻokeʻo.
keʻokeʻo is used as a noun to denote the color white. It can also function as an adjective to describe something as bright and colourless.
Meaning: color (noun)
Which one should you use?
While keʻokeʻo refers to the color white, the word haole is used when referring to Caucasians or foreigners.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables. The stress is on the 3rd syllable. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌke.ʔoˈke.ʔo/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use keʻokeʻo to describe a person's race. Use haole to refer to Caucasians or foreigners.
Did you know?
- In traditional Hawaiian chants and poetry, the use of keʻokeʻo or keʻo often evokes the image of clouds or sea foam, tying the color to specific natural elements of the Pacific landscape.
- The word keʻokeʻo is formed by repeating the root word keʻo, which means 'white' or 'clear'. This process of doubling a word is called reduplication and is common in Hawaiian to add intensity or emphasis.
- The glottal stop, represented by the symbol ʻ in keʻokeʻo, is a full consonant in Hawaiian. It is a brief closure of the vocal cords and is essential for the word to be understood correctly.
Examples in context
- Ke'oke'o ka hulu o ke kiwi.The fur of the rabbit is white.
- He keʻokeʻo ka hale.The house is white.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “white” translations and entries keʻokeʻo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries keʻokeʻo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
