dis

"Dis" is the universal Hawaiian Pidgin pronunciation and spelling of the English word "this." It is used by virtually everyone in Hawaii, from young children to elders, across all ethnicities and social backgrounds. Because Pidgin phonology typically replaces the English "th" sound (a dental fricative) with a hard "d" or "t" sound (an alveolar stop), "this" naturally becomes "dis." It functions exactly like its English counterpart, serving as a demonstrative pronoun to point out specific objects, people, or situations immediately present.

While "dis" is completely appropriate in casual conversation, text messages, and everyday local interactions, it is generally avoided in formal writing, academic papers, or professional corporate communications where standard English is expected. However, in local advertising, comedy, and storytelling, using "dis" (often paired with "dat") is a deliberate choice to establish authenticity and connect with a local audience. It is a foundational building block of Pidgin vocabulary, essential for anyone trying to understand or participate in daily island life.

Tyler gripped the steering wheel of his Tacoma, idling near the tire center at the Kahului Costco. The parking lot was a complete gridlock of lifted trucks and stray shopping carts. Up ahead, a shiny rental Mustang was trying to reverse into a compact stall while blocking two lanes of traffic.

"Look at dis guy," Wendy muttered from the passenger seat, shaking her head as the Mustang tapped the curb for the third time. "He tink he going fit dat boat in dat space? Dis exactly why I tell you we should come on Tuesday mornings, not Saturday afternoon."

Kristi leaned forward from the back seat, pointing past Tyler's shoulder. "Nah, forget him. Look at dis lady walking out with three flatbeds of toilet paper. What, get one hurricane coming we don't know about? Dis whole place is out of control today. Just park by the gas station and we walk."