Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Either of two triggerfishes, Rhinecanthus aculeatus or R. rectangulus, native to warm coastal waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
[Hawaiian humuhumu-nukunuku-ā-pua‘a, trigger fish with a blunt snout like a pig's : humuhumu, small trigger fish (from reduplication of Proto-Polynesian *sumu, trigger fish) + nukunuku, small snout : reduplication of nuku, snout + ā, like + pua‘a, pig.]
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word humuhumunukunukuapua'a.
Examples
-
• How you pronounce humuhumunukunukuapua'a, a new fish at Hastings Blue Reef Aquarium
-
You might have guessed that hula is the official state dance, surfing the official individual sport (outrigger canoe paddling holds the team title) and the humuhumunukunukuapua'a the official fish.
SFGate: Top News Stories Jeanne Cooper 2010
-
(or, although apostrophes are non-standard in spelling bees, humuhumunukunukuapua'a)
Jen Is Famous 2010
mikeropology commented on the word humuhumunukunukuapua'a
Omg, I know that word! It's the Hawaiian state fish!!
January 17, 2008
super-julia commented on the word humuhumunukunukuapua'a
indeed it is! and it is also the word i had the hardest time with in my hula lessons with my grandmother. it's in the song, "My Little Grass Shack in Kealakekua Hawaii".
January 17, 2008
oroboros commented on the word humuhumunukunukuapua'a
...where the you guessed it! goes swimming by...
January 18, 2008
reesetee commented on the word humuhumunukunukuapua'a
Earworm alert! I can hear my dad singing it now, while strumming his ukulele.... :-)
January 18, 2008
super-julia commented on the word humuhumunukunukuapua'a
no, you've said it, you've gone and said the word..i..can't..stand..earworm!! and now look, you've made me say it, too.. oh, it's just too awful..
*shaking head i can't hear you la la la*
January 18, 2008
reesetee commented on the word humuhumunukunukuapua'a
Sorry. You'll definitely need to add it to your "Do Not Like" list. :-)
January 18, 2008
super-julia commented on the word humuhumunukunukuapua'a
it's okay. ukulele makes up for it. almost. ;)
January 18, 2008
mollusque commented on the word humuhumunukunukuapua'a
Also listed as humuhumunukunukuapuaa, humuhumunukunuku�?puaʻa, humuhumu-nukunuku-a-pua‘a, and humuhumunukunukua'apua, ghosted as humuhumunukunukuâpua`a, shortened to humuhumu, and commented variously.
January 18, 2008
patra commented on the word humuhumunukunukuapua'a
Translates to "triggerfish with a snout like a pig." Cute but vicious.
March 19, 2008
rolig commented on the word humuhumunukunukuapua'a
For the general enjoyment, the song mentioned below is here.
April 16, 2009