adj
Uncommon
Hawaiian
huh-WEYE-uhn
Hawaiian (adj) means relating to Hawaii, its people, or its culture. Example: “She wore a Hawaiian shirt covered in palm trees.”
adj
1
Relating to Hawaii, its people, or its culture.
"She wore a Hawaiian shirt covered in palm trees."
noun
1
A person from Hawaii, especially a descendant of its original Polynesian settlers.
"Native Hawaiians make up a small percentage of the state's population today."
2
A pizza topped with ham and pineapple.
"He always orders a Hawaiian with extra pineapple."
How to use Hawaiian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to Hawaii or its people — or, casually, a pizza with ham and pineapple.
Common pairings
Hawaiian shirt
Hawaiian pizza
native Hawaiian
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Word forms
- Plural
- Hawaiians
- Comparative
- more Hawaiian
- Superlative
- most Hawaiian
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She wore a _____ shirt covered in palm trees.
Etymology
From Hawaii plus the suffix -an, used to form adjectives and nationality nouns, as in "American" or "Canadian."
Rhymes for Hawaiian
See all rhymes for Hawaiian →Frequently asked questions
What does “Hawaiian” mean?
The word “Hawaiian” means relating to Hawaii, its people, or its culture. In plain terms, relating to Hawaii or its people — or, casually, a pizza with ham and pineapple.
How do you pronounce “Hawaiian”?
“Hawaiian” is pronounced huh-WEYE-uhn (/həˈwaɪ.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Hawaiian” in a sentence?
Here is “Hawaiian” used in a sentence: “She wore a Hawaiian shirt covered in palm trees.”
What part of speech is “Hawaiian”?
Depending on how it is used, “Hawaiian” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “Hawaiian” a common word?
“Hawaiian” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Hawaiian” have?
“Hawaiian” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to Hawaii, its people, or its culture.
Why is Hawaiian capitalized?
Hawaiian is capitalized because it is a proper adjective and noun derived from the place name Hawaii, following the standard rule that words describing nationality, ethnicity, or origin from a proper noun keep the capital letter. This applies whether it describes people, culture, or products like a Hawaiian pizza.
What is a Hawaiian pizza and why is it called that?
A Hawaiian pizza is a pizza topped with ham and pineapple. Despite the name, the combination was invented outside Hawaii, but the name stuck because pineapple is strongly associated with the islands.
Does Hawaiian refer only to the original Polynesian people of Hawaii?
Not exclusively. Hawaiian as a noun can refer specifically to a descendant of the islands' original Polynesian settlers, but as an adjective it more broadly describes anything relating to Hawaii, its residents, or its culture in general.
