aloha

See also: Aloha and ALOHA

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Hawaiian aloha (“love”), from Proto-Polynesian *qarofa. Doublet of aroha and aropa.

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: ə-lō’-(h)ə, IPA^(key): /əˈləʊ.(h)ə/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (US) enPR: ə-lō’-hä, ə-lō’-ə, IPA^(key): /əˈloʊˌhɑ/, /əˈloʊ.ə/
• Rhymes: -əʊhɑː, -əʊhə, -əʊə

Noun

aloha (plural alohas)

1. (Hawaii) Good wishes, love. [from 19th c.]
   • 2012, Julia Flynn Siler, Lost Kingdom, Grove Press, page 91:

     Traveling as the princess regent with a retinue that included Princess Ruth and Queen Kapi‘olani, Lili‘u was welcomed by enormous crowds and lavish outpourings of aloha, as her subjects clasped her knees and kissed her hands and feet to show their reverence.

2. (Hawaii) An utterance of aloha (see Interjection, below). [from 19th c.]

Derived terms

• aloha party
• aloha shirt
• aloha spirit
• Aloha State

Interjection

aloha

1. (chiefly Hawaii) Expressing good wishes when greeting or parting from someone; hello; goodbye. [from 19th c.]

Translations

hello — see hello

goodbye — see goodbye

Further reading

• “aloha”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Anagrams

• Ahola

Hawaiian

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *qarofa, from Proto-Oceanic *qalopan, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qaləpan, from Proto-Austronesian *qaləpan, from *qaləp (“to beckon, wave”). Cognate with Maori aroha.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aˈlo.ha/, [əˈlo.hə]

Interjection

aloha

1. hello, greetings

   Aloha kākou!

   Hello everyone!

2. goodbye, farewell

   Aloha e Kaleo!

   Bye Kaleo!

Synonyms

• welina

Derived terms

• aloha kakahiaka
• aloha awakea
• aloha ʻauinalā
• aloha ahiahi

Descendants

• → English: aloha

Noun

aloha

1. love, compassion, affection, mercy, sympathy, pity, kindness, sentiment, grace, charity
2. greeting, salutation, regards
3. sweetheart, lover, loved one

Verb

aloha

1. (transitive) to love, be fond of

   Aloha wau iā ʻoe

   I love you.

2. (transitive) to show kindness, mercy, pity, charity, affection
3. (transitive) to venerate
4. (transitive) to remember with affection
5. (transitive) to greet, hail
6. (stative) to be loving, kind
7. (stative) beloved, loving, kind, compassionate, charitable, lovable

Further reading

• Pukui, Mary Kawena, Elbert, Samuel H. (1986) “aloha”, in Hawaiian Dictionary, revised & enlarged edition, Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press, →ISBN