kapu

Loanword

Meaning: Hawaiian: forbidden, off-limits.
Type: Loanword
Used in: Hawaii

What does “kapu” mean

From the Hawaiian word for sacred prohibition (the same root as 'taboo' in Polynesian languages), kapu is now used on Hawaiian property signs to mean 'Keep Out' or 'No Trespassing'. It carries cultural weight beyond a simple warning.

Where it's used

More from this region

shaka da kine broke da mouth howzit talk story rubbah slippahs haole ono bumbye choke pau hana keiki

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