Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • interjection Used as a traditional greeting or farewell.
  • noun Friendliness, kindness, or affection.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • interjection hello
  • interjection goodbye
  • interjection I love you
  • noun an utterance of aloha

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Hawaiian.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Hawaiian aloha ("love"), in turn from Proto-Polynesian *qarofa

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Examples

  • “Claire set the right tone when she explained the different meanings of the word aloha.”

    The Aloha Quilt Jennifer Chiaverini 2010

  • “Claire set the right tone when she explained the different meanings of the word aloha.”

    The Aloha Quilt Jennifer Chiaverini 2010

  • “Claire set the right tone when she explained the different meanings of the word aloha.”

    The Aloha Quilt Jennifer Chiaverini 2010

  • The word aloha, in foreign use, has taken the place of every English equivalent.

    The Hawaiian Archipelago Isabella Lucy 2004

  • The word aloha, in foreign use, has taken the place of every English equivalent.

    The Hawaiian Archipelago 1867

  • As a doctrine of universal acceptance, Hawaiian "aloha" - resonates with Hebraic "rachmones" -- universal empathy, and with the Zulu "ubuntu" -- universal harmony so often cited by Bishop Tutu.

    Barack Obama and the Summer of Aloha 2008

  • Outsiders may be puzzled to learn that "aloha" - is employed as well both as a salutation of greeting, and a benediction for departure.

    Barack Obama and the Summer of Aloha 2008

  • Prompted perhaps by the easeful climate and available plenty with which the Hawaiian isles are endowed, "aloha" - at heart implies a quality of acceptance, in both people and place, an appreciation of things being what they are.

    Barack Obama and the Summer of Aloha 2008

  • In the midst of the dinners and lunches, the luaus (Hawaiian feasts) and poi-suppers, and swims and dances in aloha (love) to both of them, his time and inclination were claimed by the crowd of lively youngsters of old Kohala days who had come to know that they possessed digestions and various other internal functions, and who had settled down to somewhat of sedateness, who roistered less, and who played bridge much, and went to baseball often.

    THE KANAKA SURF 2010

  • In the midst of the dinners and lunches, the luaus (Hawaiian feasts) and poi-suppers, and swims and dances in aloha (love) to both of them, his time and inclination were claimed by the crowd of lively youngsters of old Kohala days who had come to know that they possessed digestions and various other internal functions, and who had settled down to somewhat of sedateness, who roistered less, and who played bridge much, and went to baseball often.

    The Kanaka Surf 1919

Comments

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  • A contronym meaning both hello and goodbye.

    January 31, 2007

  • Aloha in the Hawaiian language means affection, love, peace, compassion, mercy, goodbye, and hello, among other sentiments of a similar nature.

    _Wikipedia

    February 17, 2008

  • it functions like 'hi, there'!

    April 7, 2012

  • it functions like 'hi, there'!

    April 7, 2012