aloha
UK[əˈləʊ.hə]US[əˈloʊ.hɑː]
interj
a hawaiian word used for greeting or farewell, expressing love, kindness, and compassion.
n
the spirit of warm, friendly greeting and hospitality in hawaiian culture.
Etymology
the word 'aloha' is a direct borrowing from the hawaiian language, where it carries a profound and multifaceted cultural significance. its roots are in the polynesian language family, ultimately traceable to proto-polynesian forms. the term embodies a complex concept of affection, peace, compassion, and mercy, far exceeding a simple greeting. when adopted into english, it retained its core association with hawaiian hospitality and spirit, becoming a lexical symbol for the islands' culture of welcome and farewell.
Analysis
this is a loanword from hawaiian, adopted into english as an unanalyzed simplex. it does not decompose into smaller meaningful parts using english spelling conventions.
Examples
the tourists were greeted with a warm "aloha" as they stepped off the plane.
the essence of hawaii is captured in the spirit of aloha.
she said aloha with a flower lei and a smile.