Standard Lemma guide

hapa

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: /ˈhɑpə/
  • US: /ˈhæpə/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A person of mixed ethnic heritage, especially half East or Southeast Asian or Pacific Islander and half White.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: California, Hawaii

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A mesh cage-like structure placed in the water to hold fish.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Middle English half English halfbor. Hawaiian hapabor. English hapa Borrowed from Hawaiian hapa, from English half. Doublet of half.