# shaka

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈʃɑːkə/ · frequency rank #45,650

## Definitions
1. A greeting gesture in which the thumb and little finger are extended while curling the three middle fingers in a semi-fist, used to express a variety of positive meanings including all right, hello and goodbye.

## Etymology
Origin uncertain. Shaka is not a word in the Hawaiian language, which lacks the /ʃ/ sound.

## Easily confused with
- **ska** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaka-vs-ska)
- **shaw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaka-vs-shaw)
- **soak** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaka-vs-soak)
- **sham** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaka-vs-sham)
- **Shea** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaka-vs-shea)
- **shan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaka-vs-shan)
- **shay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaka-vs-shay)
- **shat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaka-vs-shat)
- **Shek** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaka-vs-shek)
- **share** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaka-vs-share)
- **shall** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaka-vs-shall)
- **shape** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaka-vs-shape)
- **shame** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaka-vs-shame)
- **sharp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaka-vs-sharp)
- **shake** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaka-vs-shake)
- **snake** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaka-vs-snake)
- **stake** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaka-vs-stake)
- **shark** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaka-vs-shark)
- **Shane** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaka-vs-shane)
- **shave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaka-vs-shave)

## Common misspellings (7)
`hsaka`, `sahka`, `shaak`, `shakka`, `shhaka`, `shkaa`, `sshaka`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/shaka