How to pronounce aloha
Say it like uh-LOH-hah. Aloha has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce aloha. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- LOH
- hah
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Aloha pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- hahKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of aloha
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: uh-LOH-huh.
What does aloha mean?
- Good wishes, love, compassion, peacefulness and affection.“When I got back to Hawaii, a feeling of aloha flooded me, and my anxiety vanished.”
- An utterance of aloha (see Interjection, below).
- Expressing good wishes when greeting or parting from someone; hello; goodbye.
Where does aloha come from?
Borrowed from Hawaiian aloha (“love”), from Proto-Polynesian *qarofa.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying aloha
How do you pronounce aloha?
Say uh-LOH-hah. The American pronunciation is /əˈloʊhɑ/. In British English it is /əˈləʊhə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in aloha?
Aloha has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LOH). Broken into parts: uh · LOH · hah.
Is aloha pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /əˈləʊhə/ (uh-LOH-huh).