aloha
intjEtymology Borrowed from Hawaiian aloha (“love”), from Proto-Polynesian *qarofa. Doublet of aroha and aropa.
1
Hawaii Expressing good wishes when greeting or parting from someone; hello; goodbye.
aloha
nounUK /əˈləʊ.(h)ə/ · US /əˈloʊˌhɑ/
Etymology Borrowed from Hawaiian aloha (“love”), from Proto-Polynesian *qarofa. Doublet of aroha and aropa.
1
Hawaii Good wishes, love, compassion, peacefulness and affection.
- When I got back to Hawaii, a feeling of aloha flooded me, and my anxiety vanished.
- 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.2012, Julia Flynn Siler, Lost Kingdom, Grove Press, page 91:
1 more example
- Uncle Onio exemplifies aloha by sharing his broad knowledge of Hawaiian culture and weaving techniques.2026, Rebecca Fox, “Weaving with Aloha”, in Handwoven, volume XLVII, number 1, page 80:
2
Hawaii An utterance of aloha (see Interjection, below).
- Derived terms
- aloha party, aloha shirt, aloha snackbar, Aloha Spirit, Aloha State