Where does “ki” come from?
Ki is a Hawaiian word of unknown origin and meaning, with no established etymology tracing to earlier languages.
ki (English): Ti, a plant native to the Pacific islands and...
Definitions
- Ti, a plant native to the Pacific islands and...
Ancestry of “ki”, step by step
ki traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Hawaiian kī
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaiian | kī | ti, Cordyline fruticosa; key |
| 2 | English | key | An object designed to open and close a lock; An... |
| 3 | English | cay | A small, low island largely made of sand or coral |
| 4 | Spanish | Cayo | key island |
| 5 | Taíno | cayo | small island |
via Japanese 気
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japanese | 気 | spirit, mood; inclination, will, mood, urge;... |
| 2 | Middle Chinese | 氣 | spirit; breath |
via Chinese 氣
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chinese | 氣 | — |