noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   Alternative form of quena (“traditional flute of the Andes”). alt-of, alternative

Verb

1. 1
   To experience, receive, suffer, get or be affected by (something negative). ambitransitive, invariable

   "They all kena food poisoning."

2. 2
   Used before a verb to indicate the adversative passive voice. auxiliary, invariable

   "He kena fine $10."

Synonyms

All synonyms

gotget it

Example

More examples

"If they ever catch you jaywalking, you will kena."

Etymology

Borrowed from Malay kena (“to be struck, hit, affected by”).

Related phrases

kena sai

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.