Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

kanaka

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 2.04 in modern English

Syllables
kana-ka
IPA
14
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
3
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A person of Hawaiian descent.

noun

Alternative letter-case form of kanaka.

Example Sentences

Etymology

1840. From Hawaiian kanaka (“person”), ultimately from Proto-Polynesian *taŋata.

Word Breakdown

  • Root: kanaka, *taŋata

Inflected Forms

Frequently Paired Words

Questions

What does kanaka mean?
A person of Hawaiian descent.
Where does kanaka come from?
1840. From Hawaiian kanaka (“person”), ultimately from Proto-Polynesian *taŋata.

How to pronounce kanaka

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “kanaka”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “kanaka”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “kanaka” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.