🌺 Hawaiian phrases

How to Say "Dog" in Hawaiian

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
ʻīlio
"Dog" in Hawaiian · say it like ee-lee-oh

The most natural way to say "Dog" in Hawaiian is ʻīlio. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

pūlehu
used in some regions, especially for a specific type of dog

When to use it

You can use ʻīlio when referring to a dog in general. It is appropriate in both casual and formal conversations. If you are talking about a specific dog, you might add its name or description.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "Dog" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Hawaiian

HawaiianEnglish
He ʻīlio koʻu.I have a dog.
Common mistake
Some learners confuse ʻīlio with other animals; remember it specifically means dog.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear ʻīlio, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Hawaiian with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

What is the plural form of ʻīlio?

The plural form is ʻīlio, as Hawaiian often uses the same word for singular and plural.

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