nene

American  

[nay-nay] / ˈneɪ neɪ /

noun

• nene
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• nene
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of nene

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nene

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

Maui is a veritable Eden for species such as the wedge-tailed shearwater, white-tailed tropicbird, brown booby, myna, kiwikiu and nene — the state bird and the world’s rarest goose.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 3, 2022

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

A marriage must not take place between relations within the third degree, or tungal nene.

From The History of Sumatra Containing An Account Of The Government, Laws, Customs And Manners Of The Native Inhabitants by William Marsden

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