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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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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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3
Action English Slang Compliment People

hammah (HAH-mah)

sometimes: hammer

Noun A hammer (tool).

"Dat guy stay one hammah in da gym."

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kolohe

Adjective Mischievous, naughty, or acting like a rascal, usually referring to a high-spirited child.
5

hana hou

Expression Do it again, repeat, or encore; commonly shouted at the end of a performance to request one more song.
6

ʻehu

Noun The natural reddish tint in dark Hawaiian hair, often caused by sun and salt water exposure.
7

māhū

Noun In traditional Hawaiian culture, a respected person embodying both male and female spirits; a healer or keeper of cultural knowledge.
8

no ka `oi

Idiom The best; truly the best; superior or excellent.
9

moi moi

Verb To sleep, take a nap, or rest; often used affectionately as baby talk.
10

faka

Vulgar A derogatory term for a person, equivalent to the English profanity it derives from.
11

lōkahi

Noun Togetherness, unity, harmony, or a collective agreement and mutual support within a group or community.
12

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.
13

bumbai

Slang Later, eventually, or in the future.
14

e komo mai

Expression Welcome, come inside, or enter; a warm invitation to join.
15

chee hoo!

Slang An exclamation of extreme excitement, celebration, or agreement, similar to 'woo hoo' or 'yee haw'.
16

fosho

Slang For sure; absolutely; totally.
17

braddah

Noun A brother, male friend, or general term of address for a male (dude, bro).
18

e kala mai

Idiom Excuse me, I am sorry, or please forgive me.
19

pilau

Adjective Stinky, putrid, spoiled, or rotten; emitting a foul stench.
20

bachi

Noun Bad luck, bad karma, or a negative consequence; the concept that what goes around, comes around.
21

kaka

Noun Poop, feces, or crap; a mild term often used with children to describe a bowel movement or something dirty.
22

kine

Noun Kind, sort, or type.
23

buggah

Slang A guy, dude, person, or sometimes an object or thing.
24

lōlō

Slang Crazy, stupid, foolish, or absent-minded.
25

kālā

Noun Money, cash, currency, or income.
26

shishi

Noun Urine or pee.
27

cherreh

Slang Awesome, perfect, beautiful, in pristine condition, or excellent.
28

popo

Slang Police officers, cops, or law enforcement.
29

ʻaʻole

Expression No, never, not at all, or certainly not.
30

high maka maka mada faka

Vulgar A highly pretentious, stuck-up, or arrogant person who acts superior to everyone else.
31

pūpū

Noun Appetizers, snacks, finger foods, or hors d'oeuvres typically served before a meal or at a party.
32

maka

Noun Face, eye, or center of something.
33

ʻōkole

Noun Butt, bottom, behind, backside, rear end.
34

yessah

Slang An enthusiastic affirmative; yes; absolutely; yes sir.
35

hui

Noun A group, club, syndicate, partnership, or organization, often formed for a specific purpose or shared interest.
36

tūtū

Noun A grandmother or elderly woman; an affectionate and respectful term for a female elder.
37

ʻāina

Noun Land, earth, or the physical environment; deeply connected to the concept of homeland and ancestral roots.
38

akamai

Adjective Smart, clever, intelligent, or sharp-witted.
39

maikaʻi

Adjective Good, fine, well, or excellent.
40

pākē

Noun A person of Chinese descent or heritage in Hawaii.
41

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.
42

moke

Noun A tough, rugged local man, often associated with a hyper-masculine, protective, or intimidating demeanor. The female equivalent is a tita.
43

sample dat

Verb To try, taste, or experience something, such as food or a new activity.
44

pohō

Adjective Useless, wasteful, or a waste of time, money, or effort.
45

shootz

Slang Okay, alright, sounds good; an expression of agreement or confirmation.
46

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).
47

rajah

Slang Roger, affirmative, yes, or understood.
48

niele

Adjective Nosy, inquisitive, or overly curious about other people's business.
49

kai

Noun The sea, ocean, tide, currents, or seaside.
50

all pau

Idiom Completely finished, all done, or empty.
51

puka

Noun A hole, perforation, or opening, such as a tear in clothing or a doorway.
52

aloha kākou

Expression Greetings or hello to everyone present, inclusive of the speaker.
53

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.
54

kanaka

Noun A Native Hawaiian person; an indigenous person of Hawaiian descent.
55

manaʻo

Noun A thought, idea, belief, opinion, or intention; one's personal perspective or mind.
56

ʻaʻole pilikia

Expression No trouble, no problem, it was nothing, you're welcome.
57

bibadeez

Noun Underwear, specifically men's or boys' briefs (tighty-whities).
58

skeezah

Slang A creep, a weirdo, or someone acting sketchy and untrustworthy.
59

haole

Noun A Caucasian person; a white person.
60

kefe

Vulgar A Samoan swear word used to express anger, frustration, or disbelief, roughly equivalent to 'fuck' or 'bullshit'.
61

hammajang

Slang Messed up, disorganized, broken, or in a state of chaotic disrepair.
62

auē

Verb To cry, weep, lament, or mourn.
63

nai nai

Slang Night night; time to go to bed or sleep.
64

bolo head

Noun A bald head; a person with no hair.
65

holoholo

Verb To wander, roam, go for a drive, or cruise around without a specific destination.
66

ainokea

Slang I don't care; whatever.
67

boto eatah

Vulgar A person who performs oral sex on a male.
68

sole

Noun A person of Samoan descent; often used as a familiar term for a Samoan male.
69

pau

Adjective Done, finished, completed, or over.
70

howzit?

Greeting How are you?; how is it going?; hello.
71

bumboocha

Slang Extremely big, huge, large, or monstrous in size.
72

unko

Noun An older man; a term of respect used for any male elder, regardless of blood relation.
73

hale

Noun A house, home, or building.
74

kōkua

Noun Help, assistance, or support.
75

make

Adjective Dead, deceased, or broken and non-functional (such as a machine, engine, or battery).
76

hanabada

Noun Mucus, snot, or boogers. A portmanteau of the Japanese word 'hana' (nose) and the English/Pidgin word 'bata' (butter).
77

kūkae

Noun Feces, poop, excrement, or dirt.
78

pakalōlō

Noun Marijuana, cannabis; literally translated from Hawaiian as 'crazy tobacco'.
79

ʻamaʻama

Noun Mullet (Mugil cephalus), a highly prized indigenous fish in Hawaii often raised in traditional fishponds or caught along the shoreline.
80

bocha

Verb To bathe, take a bath, or wash up.
81

aunty

Noun A term of respect and affection for an older woman, whether she is a blood relative or not.
82

kanak attack

Slang A food coma; the overwhelming feeling of drowsiness and lethargy that occurs after eating a large, heavy meal.
83

yessah blessah

Slang An exclamation of extreme happiness, agreement, or approval; an enthusiastic yes.
84

ʻŌpala

Noun Garbage, trash, rubbish, or litter; something worthless or of no value.
85

sistah

Noun Sister, female relative, or a close female friend.
86

luna

Noun The boss, foreman, supervisor, or manager.
87

pau hana

Noun The time after work; the end of the workday.
88

wakea

Noun The Hawaiian sky father deity; god of light and the heavens, who with Papa (earth mother) created the Hawaiian islands.
89

buss

Slang Broken, damaged, beat up, or busted.
90

ʻOno

Adjective Delicious, tasty, or highly flavorful.
91

mayjah

Slang Extreme, intense, or significant; used to describe something that is either very good, very bad, or of great magnitude.
92

walaʻau

Verb To chat, converse, gossip, or talk incessantly.
93

hewa

Adjective Wrong, incorrect, mismanaged, or messed up; the opposite of pono.
94

grindz

Noun Food, a meal, or delicious things to eat.
95

doo doo

Noun Poop, crap, feces, or excrement.
96

i mua

Verb To go forward, move ahead, or advance.
97

ʻauʻau

Verb To bathe, take a shower, or wash up.
98

piko

Noun Belly button, navel, or umbilical cord; culturally, the center or connection point.
99

kumu

Noun A teacher, instructor, or master of a specific Hawaiian cultural practice, such as hula, language, or music.
100

mauka

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