aloha

See also: Aloha

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Hawaiian aloha (“love”), from Proto-Polynesian *qarofa.

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: ə-lō’-(h)ə, IPA^(key): /əˈləʊ.(h)ə/
• (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, p. 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 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 at OneLook Dictionary Search

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Hawaiian

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *qarofa, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qaʀəp, (compare Javanese arep (“desire”), Malay harap (“hope”)).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aˈlo.ha/, [əˈlohə]

Interjection

aloha

1. hello
2. goodbye

Derived terms

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

Descendants

• → English: aloha

Noun

aloha

1. love, compassion

Verb

aloha

1. (transitive) to love
2. (transitive) to greet
3. (stative) to be loving, kind