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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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2
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
Description Hawaiian Surfing Nature

ʻehu (EH-hoo)

sometimes: ehu girl, ehu boy, 'ehu, ehu

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

"My baby get cute ʻehu hair, shine like da sun."

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4

kolohe

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

bachi

Noun Bad luck, bad karma, or a negative consequence; the concept that what goes around, comes around.
6

boto eatah

Vulgar A person who performs oral sex on a male.
7

bumbai

Slang Later, eventually, or in the future.
8

no ka `oi

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

pohō

Adjective Useless, wasteful, or a waste of time, money, or effort.
10

faka

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

shootz

Slang Okay, alright, sounds good; an expression of agreement or confirmation.
12

hammah

Noun A hammer (tool).
13

moke

Noun A tough, rugged local man, often associated with a hyper-masculine, protective, or intimidating demeanor. The female equivalent is a tita.
14

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.
15

moi moi

Verb To sleep, take a nap, or rest; often used affectionately as baby talk.
16

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.
17

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.
18

chee hoo!

Slang An exclamation of extreme excitement, celebration, or agreement, similar to 'woo hoo' or 'yee haw'.
19

kaka

Noun Poop, feces, or crap; a mild term often used with children to describe a bowel movement or something dirty.
20

e kala mai

Idiom Excuse me, I am sorry, or please forgive me.
21

yessah

Slang An enthusiastic affirmative; yes; absolutely; yes sir.
22

puka

Noun A hole, perforation, or opening, such as a tear in clothing or a doorway.
23

braddah

Noun A brother, male friend, or general term of address for a male (dude, bro).
24

kine

Noun Kind, sort, or type.
25

akamai

Adjective Smart, clever, intelligent, or sharp-witted.
26

pilau

Adjective Stinky, putrid, spoiled, or rotten; emitting a foul stench.
27

makani

Noun Wind or breeze.
28

niele

Adjective Nosy, inquisitive, or overly curious about other people's business.
29

buggah

Slang A guy, dude, person, or sometimes an object or thing.
30

ʻāina

Noun Land, earth, or the physical environment; deeply connected to the concept of homeland and ancestral roots.
31

you know dat

Idiom Yes, definitely; absolutely; I strongly agree with what you just said.
32

kau kau

Noun Food or a meal.
33

pakalōlō

Noun Marijuana, cannabis; literally translated from Hawaiian as 'crazy tobacco'.
34

uncle

Noun Any older man deserving of respect, regardless of blood relation.
35

hammajang

Slang Messed up, disorganized, broken, or in a state of chaotic disrepair.
36

rajah

Slang Roger, affirmative, yes, or understood.
37

māhū

Noun In traditional Hawaiian culture, a respected person embodying both male and female spirits; a healer or keeper of cultural knowledge.
38

cherreh

Slang Awesome, perfect, beautiful, in pristine condition, or excellent.
39

nai nai

Slang Night night; time to go to bed or sleep.
40

high maka maka mada faka

Vulgar A highly pretentious, stuck-up, or arrogant person who acts superior to everyone else.
41

hui

Noun A group, club, syndicate, partnership, or organization, often formed for a specific purpose or shared interest.
42

bocha

Verb To bathe, take a bath, or wash up.
43

pākē

Noun A person of Chinese descent or heritage in Hawaii.
44

mo’ bettah

Idiom Much better; superior; the best option.
45

malama my boto

Vulgar Take care of my penis; a satirical insult mocking someone's behavior by applying a sacred Hawaiian concept (mālama) to male genitalia.
46

IYKYK

Slang An acronym for 'If you know, you know,' used to indicate an inside joke, a hidden local spot, or a shared cultural understanding that does not need further explanation.
47

all pau

Idiom Completely finished, all done, or empty.
48

choke

Slang Lots, many, an abundance of something.
49

ʻaʻole

Expression No, never, not at all, or certainly not.
50

makaʻāinana

Noun Citizen, commoner, or everyday person of the land; the general public or grassroots community as opposed to the elite or government.
51

haole

Noun A Caucasian person; a white person.
52

bumboocha

Slang Extremely big, huge, large, or monstrous in size.
53

unko

Noun An older man; a term of respect used for any male elder, regardless of blood relation.
54

who da guy?

Expression Who is that unfamiliar person?; who is that stranger?
55

buss

Slang Broken, damaged, beat up, or busted.
56

manini

Noun A small reef fish with black and white stripes, also known as the convict tang.
57

pau

Adjective Done, finished, completed, or over.
58

you like eat, eh?

Question Do you want to eat?
59

lōlō

Slang Crazy, stupid, foolish, or absent-minded.
60

hele

Verb To go, leave, or move from one place to another.
61

make

Adjective Dead, deceased, or broken and non-functional (such as a machine, engine, or battery).
62

maka

Noun Face, eye, or center of something.
63

kai

Noun The sea, ocean, tide, currents, or seaside.
64

ʻōkole

Noun Butt, bottom, behind, backside, rear end.
65

kamaʻāina

Noun A local resident, native-born person, or someone who has lived in Hawaii for a long time.
66

skeezah

Slang A creep, a weirdo, or someone acting sketchy and untrustworthy.
67

aunty

Noun A term of respect and affection for an older woman, whether she is a blood relative or not.
68

ainokea

Slang I don't care; whatever.
69

boom kanani

Slang An exclamation of excitement, success, or approval; equivalent to 'oh yeah!', 'bam!', or 'nailed it!'
70

maka piapia

Noun Sleepy dust, eye crust, or eye gunk that accumulates in the corners of the eyes after sleeping.
71

maikaʻi

Adjective Good, fine, well, or excellent.
72

puʻili

Noun Bamboo rattles used as percussion instruments in hula dancing, made by splitting a length of bamboo into thin strips.
73

suk suk

Vulgar To perform oral sex; a slang term for sexual intercourse.
74

ʻŌpū

Noun Stomach, belly, or abdomen; can also refer to tripe or giblets in certain culinary contexts.
75

hala

Expression An exclamation used to express shock, mild scolding, or to say 'shame on you' when someone does something wrong.
76

chicken skin

Noun Goosebumps, goose-pimples, or the physical reaction to being scared, cold, or deeply moved.
77

shishi

Noun Urine or pee.
78

yessah blessah

Slang An exclamation of extreme happiness, agreement, or approval; an enthusiastic yes.
79

bulai

Noun A liar; a lie or falsehood.
80

kālā

Noun Money, cash, currency, or income.
81

bahjuju

Slang A vague or unspecified place someone is going; somewhere.
82

kanaka

Noun A Native Hawaiian person; an indigenous person of Hawaiian descent.
83

ʻOpihi

Noun An edible limpet or mollusk found clinging tightly to ocean rocks, highly prized as a local delicacy.
84

cabbage

Slang Funny, stupid, crazy, silly, weird, or strange; a catchall word for unusual, particularly unique to Kaua'i.
85

wana

Noun A spiky sea urchin, known for its long, venomous black spines that easily break off in the skin.
86

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).
87

ʻOno

Adjective Delicious, tasty, or highly flavorful.
88

pilikia

Noun A problem, trouble, difficulty, or issue.
89

irraz

Slang Irritating, annoying, or bothersome; feeling irritated.
90

cancel

Verb To stop, end, terminate, or reject something.
91

hauna

Adjective Smelly, stinky, or foul-smelling; often used to describe bad odors like rotting fish, garbage, or body odor.
92

pōpolo

Noun A Black person or someone of African descent.
93

get nutz

Idiom To go crazy, act wild, or give maximum effort in a situation.
94

kapakahi

Adjective Crooked, lopsided, twisted, or physically not straight.
95

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'.
96

pūpū

Noun Appetizers, snacks, finger foods, or hors d'oeuvres typically served before a meal or at a party.
97

hewa

Adjective Wrong, incorrect, mismanaged, or messed up; the opposite of pono.
98

e komo mai

Expression Welcome, come inside, or enter; a warm invitation to join.
99

tako

Noun Octopus, specifically when prepared or caught for food.
100

koa

Noun The largest native Hawaiian tree, known for its fine, red wood. Highly valued for making canoes, surfboards, calabashes, furniture, and ukuleles.