nene

American  

[ney-ney] / ˈneɪ neɪ /

noun

plural

nene

1. a barred, gray-brown wild goose, Nesochen sandvicensis, native to Hawaii, where it is the state bird.

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nene British  

/ ˈneɪˌneɪ /

noun

1. a rare black-and-grey short-winged Hawaiian goose, Branta sandvicensis, having partly webbed feet

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Etymology

Origin of nene

First recorded in 1900–05, nene is from the Hawaiian word nēnē

Example Sentences

Anything can happen, he says—sometimes that means an eruption, sometimes a run-in with a nene, Hawaii’s endemic goose.

From Slate • Jul. 28, 2023

The department said the disease is a leading cause of death for nene.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 19, 2023

The money was used to pay law enforcement staff and rangers, including one who monitors endangered nene, or Hawaiian goose.

From Washington Times • Jan. 5, 2019

The nene goose, the state bird, was rescued from the brink of extinction through captive breeding and careful releases.

From Washington Post • Apr. 25, 2016

Onenh are oya eghdejisewayudoreghdonh, nene isewenh: 'Yahhonghdehdeyoyanere nene kenwedewayen, onwa enyeken nonkwaderesera; kadykenh niyakoghswathah, akwekonh nityakawenonhtonh ne kenyoteranentenyonhah.

From The Iroquois Book of Rites by Hale, Horatio