The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that developed on the Hawaiian islands. It was the primary language spoken in the Kingdom of Hawaii until the 1890s when its use started to decline. Today, Hawaiian is an official language of the state of Hawaii along with English. The Hawaiian language contains many wonderful and melodic words, including several different terms for “baby.” In this article, we will explore the main Hawaiian words for baby, their meanings, and how they are used.
Keiki – The Most Common Word for Baby
The most common Hawaiian word for baby is “keiki.” This term can refer to a newborn infant or a young child. According to Hawaiian dictionary Wehewehe.org, keiki means “child, offspring, descendant; baby, infant.” It is a general term for a child of any age.
Some examples of keiki being used include:
– Ua hanau mai kaʻu keiki mua. – My firstborn child was born.
– He keiki maikai ia. – She is a good child.
– E hoʻi maila nā keiki mai ka hālāwai. – The children will come home from the meeting.
Keiki is used in many common Hawaiian phrases about children and babies. Here are some examples:
– keiki hamohamo – baby, infant
– keiki o ka ʻāina – child of the land
– Nui ke aloha o nā keiki no nā kūpuna – The children have much love for their grandparents.
So in daily Hawaiian conversation, “keiki” is the most versatile and commonly heard term meaning “baby” or “child.”
Opio – Hawaiian Word for Baby or Youth
Another word that can mean “baby” or “child” in Hawaiian is “opio.” It is related to the word keiki but has a more specific meaning. According to Ulukau.org Hawaiian dictionary, opio means:
1. youngster, youth, adolescent
2. baby, infant, neonate (usually plural)
So opio can refer specifically to a baby or infant, especially when used in the plural form “na opio” to mean “babies.” Some examples are:
– Ua lawe ʻia akula nā opio i ke kula. – The babies were taken to school.
– Ua maʻemaʻe nā opio. – The babies are clean.
However, opio more commonly refers to older children in the “youth” stage. It refers to young people who are no longer children (keiki) but not yet adults. Here are some examples:
– He mau makahiki au i noho ai ma Hawaiʻi, a he nui nā ʻopio Hawaiʻi aʻu i ʻike ai. – I lived in Hawaii for several years, and I saw many Hawaiian youth.
– E aʻo aku i nā opio e mālama i ka honua. – Teach the youth to care for the earth.
So in summary, opio can sometimes mean “baby” but it more often means “young person”, “youth”, “adolescent” etc. It refers to older children than the general term keiki.
Pēpē – Hawaiian Word for Newborn Baby
The most specific Hawaiian word referring only to a newborn baby or infant is “pēpē.” According to Ulukau.org, pēpē means a human infant, a baby in arms.
Some examples of pēpē in sentences are:
– He pēpē uʻi kona. – She has a cute baby.
– Nānā nō i ka pēpē. ʻOiai, he ʻano loli. – Just look at the baby. My, how cute.
– Ua loaʻa he pēpē kāne nou. – You got a baby boy.
Pēpē refers exclusively to a tiny newborn or infant that is still cradled in arms. It does not refer to older babies who have grown bigger. To summarize, pēpē specifically means “newborn baby” in Hawaiian.
Makuahine Kēiki – Mother and Child
In Hawaiian phrases and names, the term “kēiki” is sometimes used to mean “child” or “baby.” This is seen in the common phrase makuahine kēiki which means “mother and child.”
Some examples are:
– Ua hele aku lāua nei, he makuahine kēiki. – The two went, the mother and child.
– He pono nō ka mālama ʻana o nā makuahine i kā lākou mau kēiki. – It’s proper for mothers to care for their children.
The use of kēiki here emphasizes the close bond between mother and baby. Other versions like makuahine keiki or mākou kēiki (mother and children) are also heard.
Using Baby Terms in Names and Nicknames
In Hawaiian tradition, it is common for names and affectionate nicknames to include words meaning “baby”, “little one”, “child”, etc. Here are some examples of Hawaiian names using the terms we’ve discussed:
– Keikikāne – boy child
– Keikiwahine – girl child
– Opio – youth
– Pēpē – newborn infant
– Kēiki – child
Hawaiian parents will frequently use names like this to convey love and endearment for their children. Kēiki and pēpē are especially common components in baby names and nicknames. For example:
– Kaleiopio – Beloved youth
– Kamakapepē – Eye of the infant
– Pualani – Heavenly flower
Conclusion
In summary, the main Hawaiian words for “baby” are:
– Keiki – general word for baby or child
– Opio – youth, adolescent, baby (plural)
– Pēpē – newborn, infant
– Kēiki – child, used in phrases like makuahine kēiki
The most common everyday word is keiki, used for babies and children of all ages. Opio and pēpē have more specific meanings related to infants and newborns. Kēiki appears in set phrases about mother and child. These beautiful Hawaiian terms reflect the strong culture of aloha and caring for children in Hawaii. When you hear these words, know that they convey the deep love parents have for their precious little ones.
Table of Hawaiian Baby Terms
| Hawaiian Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Keiki | Baby, child, offspring |
| Opio | Youth, adolescent, baby (plural form) |
| Pēpē | Newborn, infant |
| Kēiki | Child, used in the phrase makuahine kēiki (mother and child) |