Hula
/ˈhuːlə/noun
A Hawaiian dance performed with rhythmic movement of the body, often accompanied by chant or song.
Did you know?Traditional hula was tied to religious ritual and genealogy, and in precontact Hawaiʻi it was performed to honor gods, chiefs, and ancestral memory.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Contact Hawaiian
Hawaiian
hula
“To dance; dance, especially sacred or ceremonial dance”
19th Century
English
hula
“A Hawaiian dance introduced into English usage”
20th Century
English
hula
“The stylized dance form widely recognized outside Hawaiʻi”
Modern English
English
hula
“A Hawaiian dance characterized by expressive hand and body movements”
Explore more surprising origins