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The 100 Most Popular Hawaiian Pidgin Phrases
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The 100 Most Popular Hawaiian Pidgin Phrases

Discover the top 100 most popular Hawaiian Pidgin phrases and words. Learn the meanings of Hawaiʻi's most used slang and local expressions at Da Pidgin.

1
Description Hawaiian Compliment Slang Vulgar Anatomy Profanity

punani (poo-NAH-nee)

sometimes: nani, punnani, poonani, poonanny

Vulgar Woman's private parts, vagina, pussy.

"You so lolo always chasing da punani"

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Description Hawaiian Slang

kolohe (koh-LOH-heh)

sometimes: kalohe

Adjective Mischievous, naughty, or acting like a rascal, usually referring to a high-spirited child.

"Dat keiki stay so kolohe, always gettin into trouble."

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Slang Portuguese Ilocano Vulgar Insult

boto (BOH-toh)

sometimes: botos

Vulgar Male genitals, penis, dick.

"Da football wen hit his boto."

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hammah

Noun A hammer (tool).
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hana hou

Expression Do it again, repeat, or encore; commonly shouted at the end of a performance to request one more song.
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lōkahi

Noun Togetherness, unity, harmony, or a collective agreement and mutual support within a group or community.
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ʻehu

Noun The natural reddish tint in dark Hawaiian hair, often caused by sun and salt water exposure.
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moi moi

Verb To sleep, take a nap, or rest; often used affectionately as baby talk.
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tita

Noun A tough, strong, independent, and no-nonsense local woman; often used affectionately as a badge of pride, though it can be derogatory depending on context.
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chee hoo!

Slang An exclamation of extreme excitement, celebration, or agreement, similar to 'woo hoo' or 'yee haw'.
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bumbai

Slang Later, eventually, or in the future.
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no ka `oi

Idiom The best; truly the best; superior or excellent.
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faka

Vulgar A derogatory term for a person, equivalent to the English profanity it derives from.
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braddah

Noun A brother, male friend, or general term of address for a male (dude, bro).
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pilau

Adjective Stinky, putrid, spoiled, or rotten; emitting a foul stench.
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bachi

Noun Bad luck, bad karma, or a negative consequence; the concept that what goes around, comes around.
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ʻāina

Noun Land, earth, or the physical environment; deeply connected to the concept of homeland and ancestral roots.
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high maka maka mada faka

Vulgar A highly pretentious, stuck-up, or arrogant person who acts superior to everyone else.
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cherreh

Slang Awesome, perfect, beautiful, in pristine condition, or excellent.
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e kala mai

Idiom Excuse me, I am sorry, or please forgive me.
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buggah

Slang A guy, dude, person, or sometimes an object or thing.
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ʻaʻole

Expression No, never, not at all, or certainly not.
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yessah

Slang An enthusiastic affirmative; yes; absolutely; yes sir.
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kaka

Noun Poop, feces, or crap; a mild term often used with children to describe a bowel movement or something dirty.
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shishi

Noun Urine or pee.
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māhū

Noun In traditional Hawaiian culture, a respected person embodying both male and female spirits; a healer or keeper of cultural knowledge.
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lōlō

Slang Crazy, stupid, foolish, or absent-minded.
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moke

Noun A tough, rugged local man, often associated with a hyper-masculine, protective, or intimidating demeanor. The female equivalent is a tita.
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if can, can, if no can, no can.

Idiom If it is possible, we will do it; if it is not possible, we won't. A phrase expressing a laid-back acceptance of circumstances and limitations.
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kine

Noun Kind, sort, or type.
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pākē

Noun A person of Chinese descent or heritage in Hawaii.
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pohō

Adjective Useless, wasteful, or a waste of time, money, or effort.
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akamai

Adjective Smart, clever, intelligent, or sharp-witted.
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ʻōkole

Noun Butt, bottom, behind, backside, rear end.
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maka

Noun Face, eye, or center of something.
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maikaʻi

Adjective Good, fine, well, or excellent.
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da kine

Slang A universal placeholder word used for any noun, verb, or adjective when the exact word is forgotten or assumed to be known; thingamajig, whatchamacallit, that kind.
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manaʻo

Noun A thought, idea, belief, opinion, or intention; one's personal perspective or mind.
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shootz

Slang Okay, alright, sounds good; an expression of agreement or confirmation.
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fosho

Slang For sure; absolutely; totally.
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popo

Slang Police officers, cops, or law enforcement.
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rajah

Slang Roger, affirmative, yes, or understood.
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ke akua

Noun God, the divine, or a spiritual deity; often used in expressions of gratitude such as 'mahalo ke Akua' (thanks be to God).
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kanaka

Noun A Native Hawaiian person; an indigenous person of Hawaiian descent.
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tūtū

Noun A grandmother or elderly woman; an affectionate and respectful term for a female elder.
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pūpū

Noun Appetizers, snacks, finger foods, or hors d'oeuvres typically served before a meal or at a party.
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kai

Noun The sea, ocean, tide, currents, or seaside.
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hui

Noun A group, club, syndicate, partnership, or organization, often formed for a specific purpose or shared interest.
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haole

Noun A Caucasian person; a white person.
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niele

Adjective Nosy, inquisitive, or overly curious about other people's business.
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skeezah

Slang A creep, a weirdo, or someone acting sketchy and untrustworthy.
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nai nai

Slang Night night; time to go to bed or sleep.
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ainokea

Slang I don't care; whatever.
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wakea

Noun The Hawaiian sky father deity; god of light and the heavens, who with Papa (earth mother) created the Hawaiian islands.
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all pau

Idiom Completely finished, all done, or empty.
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boto eatah

Vulgar A person who performs oral sex on a male.
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auē

Verb To cry, weep, lament, or mourn.
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ʻaʻole pilikia

Expression No trouble, no problem, it was nothing, you're welcome.
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pakalōlō

Noun Marijuana, cannabis; literally translated from Hawaiian as 'crazy tobacco'.
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sole

Noun A person of Samoan descent; often used as a familiar term for a Samoan male.
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puka

Noun A hole, perforation, or opening, such as a tear in clothing or a doorway.
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pau

Adjective Done, finished, completed, or over.
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hammajang

Slang Messed up, disorganized, broken, or in a state of chaotic disrepair.
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bocha

Verb To bathe, take a bath, or wash up.
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e komo mai

Expression Welcome, come inside, or enter; a warm invitation to join.
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pau hana

Noun The time after work; the end of the workday.
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holoholo

Verb To wander, roam, go for a drive, or cruise around without a specific destination.
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kefe

Vulgar A Samoan swear word used to express anger, frustration, or disbelief, roughly equivalent to 'fuck' or 'bullshit'.
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kanak attack

Slang A food coma; the overwhelming feeling of drowsiness and lethargy that occurs after eating a large, heavy meal.
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kālā

Noun Money, cash, currency, or income.
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i mua

Verb To go forward, move ahead, or advance.
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hele

Verb To go, leave, or move from one place to another.
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hewa

Adjective Wrong, incorrect, mismanaged, or messed up; the opposite of pono.
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grindz

Noun Food, a meal, or delicious things to eat.
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make

Adjective Dead, deceased, or broken and non-functional (such as a machine, engine, or battery).
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mauka

Direction Inland, towards the mountains; the opposite of makai.
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ʻŌpala

Noun Garbage, trash, rubbish, or litter; something worthless or of no value.
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bumboocha

Slang Extremely big, huge, large, or monstrous in size.
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kau kau

Noun Food or a meal.
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ʻOno

Adjective Delicious, tasty, or highly flavorful.
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bolo head

Noun A bald head; a person with no hair.
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buss

Slang Broken, damaged, beat up, or busted.
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hale

Noun A house, home, or building.
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doo doo

Noun Poop, crap, feces, or excrement.
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boom kanani

Slang An exclamation of excitement, success, or approval; equivalent to 'oh yeah!', 'bam!', or 'nailed it!'
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piko

Noun Belly button, navel, or umbilical cord; culturally, the center or connection point.
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hanabada

Noun Mucus, snot, or boogers. A portmanteau of the Japanese word 'hana' (nose) and the English/Pidgin word 'bata' (butter).
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mo’ bettah

Idiom Much better; superior; the best option.
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sistah

Noun Sister, female relative, or a close female friend.
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pōpolo

Noun A Black person or someone of African descent.
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bulai

Noun A liar; a lie or falsehood.
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yessah blessah

Slang An exclamation of extreme happiness, agreement, or approval; an enthusiastic yes.
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stink eye

Idiom A dirty look, mean face, or hostile glare given to express disapproval or anger.
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unko

Noun An older man; a term of respect used for any male elder, regardless of blood relation.
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maka piapia

Noun Sleepy dust, eye crust, or eye gunk that accumulates in the corners of the eyes after sleeping.
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mayjah

Slang Extreme, intense, or significant; used to describe something that is either very good, very bad, or of great magnitude.
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bento

Noun A single-portion takeout or home-packed meal, typically consisting of rice, a main protein, and side dishes packed in a box.
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batu

Slang Crystal methamphetamine, ice, or meth.
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humbalah

Expression An exclamation used when witnessing someone doing something wrong, breaking a rule, or acting shamelessly; similar to saying 'uh-oh' or 'you're gonna get it'.
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hauna

Adjective Smelly, stinky, or foul-smelling; often used to describe bad odors like rotting fish, garbage, or body odor.