wahine

Where does the word "wahine" come from? It comes from Hawaiian/Maori wahine, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).

Wahine’s story begins in Hawaiian/Maori: wahine meant “a woman.” The general word for woman across Polynesian languages. It reached English by 1800s as wahine. Hawaiian surf culture spread it in 1950s–60s California. Today, wahine means a woman, particularly used in Hawaiian and Maori contexts.

1. Stage 1 · Hawaiian/Maori · ancient wahine "a woman", the general word for woman across Polynesian languages.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1800s wahine "a woman, especially in Polynesian contexts", Hawaiian surf culture spread it in 1950s–60s California.