Mauna Kea

English

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Hawaiian Mauna Kea (literally “White Mountain”), presumably in reference to its seasonal snow cover.

Pronunciation

• (US, UK) IPA^(key): /ˌmaʊnə ˈkeɪə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌmɔnə ˈkeɪə/
• Rhymes: -eɪə

Proper noun

Mauna Kea

1. A dormant volcano in Hawaii; the tallest mountain in the world from its base on the sea floor.

Further reading

• Mauna Kea on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Hawaiian

Etymology

Literally, “White Mountain”, presumably in reference to its seasonal snow cover. Sometimes explained as a contraction of Mauna a Wākea (“Mountain of Wākea”), in reference to the Hawaiian sky god.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmau̯.na ˈke.a/, [ˈmɐw.nə ˈkɛ.jə], [ˈmɔw.nə ˈkɛ.jə] (rapid speech)

Proper noun

Mauna Kea

1. Mauna Kea (a dormant volcano in Hawaii)