What does tiki mean?
A tiki is a carved or depicted figure from Polynesian traditions, often representing a deity, ancestor, spirit, or other protected figure. In English, the word also names the rum-and-fruit cocktails associated with mid-20th-century tiki bars, whose décor and presentation drew heavily on Polynesian imagery, tropical colors, and themed entertainment. As a result, modern listeners may encounter “tiki” in several contexts: a museum label for an ancestral figure, the name of a cocktail, or part of the branding of a themed bar or restaurant. The word can also refer informally to a person of Polynesian ancestry, although that usage is dated and may be offensive. Overall, tiki is most useful as a cultural and culinary term, linking a Polynesian artistic tradition with the popular image of the exoticized tiki bar. Its history makes it especially interesting: a religious and artistic object became a widely recognized symbol of retro bar culture.
nounA carved or depicted figure representing a Polynesian deity, ancestor, or spiritual being; in modern usage, also a rum-based fruit cocktail associated with tiki bars. The term has also been used informally, and sometimes datedly, for a person of Polynesian ancestry.
- A carved or depicted figure representing a Polynesian deity, ancestor, or spiritual being.
- A rum-based fruit cocktail served in a tiki bar or made in a Polynesian-inspired style.
- An informal, dated, and sometimes derogatory term for a person of Polynesian ancestry.
"The gallery displayed a row of small tiki figures carved from wood."
"The museum's collection includes tiki figures representing ancestors and protective spirits."
"She ordered a tiki with rum, pineapple juice, coconut, and lime."
Tikis is the regular plural for countable figures and cocktails.
"The collection included several carved tikis from different Pacific cultures."
A tiki began as a Polynesian carved figure and later became the emblem of the colorful mid-20th-century tiki bar, where rum, fruit juices, and tropical décor created its distinctive cultural style.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tiki come from?
English borrowed the word from Hawaiian tiki, meaning an image, figure, or deity, within the wider Polynesian linguistic and cultural world. It entered English with reference to Polynesian figures and later became associated with American tiki bars, especially during the mid-20th century. The English word has close counterparts in other Polynesian languages, including Māori tiki, where it also refers to an image, likeness, or figure.
How tiki is actually used
The word is respectful when referring to traditional Polynesian figures and is common in the names of bars, drinks, and decorative objects. As a term for a person, it is dated and may sound reductive or offensive; use “Polynesian” or a more specific community identity where appropriate.