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aloha

a Hawaiian greeting or farewell, expressing love and goodwill

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Where does the word "aloha" come from? It comes from Hawaiian aloha, and was adopted directly into English (1800s-1900s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "aloha" come from? It comes from Hawaiian aloha, and was adopted directly into English (1800s-1900s).

Aloha’s story begins in Hawaiian: aloha meant “love, greeting.” Meaning "love", "affection", or "compassion", used as a greeting. It reached English by 1800s-1900s as aloha. American missionaries and later tourism spread the greeting; Hawaii was nicknamed the 'Aloha State' in 1959. Today, aloha means a Hawaiian greeting or farewell, expressing love and goodwill.

  1. Stage 1 · Hawaiian · ancient aloha "love, greeting", meaning "love", "affection", or "compassion", used as a greeting.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1800s-1900s aloha "a greeting or farewell", American missionaries and later tourism spread the greeting; Hawaii was nicknamed the 'Aloha State' in 1959.

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