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The 100 Most Popular Hawaiian Pidgin Phrases
Most Popular

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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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.
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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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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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no ka `oi

Idiom The best; truly the best; superior or excellent.
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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.
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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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e komo mai

Expression Welcome, come inside, or enter; a warm invitation to join.
13

bumbai

Slang Later, eventually, or in the future.
14

chee hoo!

Slang An exclamation of extreme excitement, celebration, or agreement, similar to 'woo hoo' or 'yee haw'.
15

lōkahi

Noun Togetherness, unity, harmony, or a collective agreement and mutual support within a group or community.
16

fosho

Slang For sure; absolutely; totally.
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e kala mai

Idiom Excuse me, I am sorry, or please forgive me.
18

pilau

Adjective Stinky, putrid, spoiled, or rotten; emitting a foul stench.
19

bachi

Noun Bad luck, bad karma, or a negative consequence; the concept that what goes around, comes around.
20

kine

Noun Kind, sort, or type.
21

braddah

Noun A brother, male friend, or general term of address for a male (dude, bro).
22

kaka

Noun Poop, feces, or crap; a mild term often used with children to describe a bowel movement or something dirty.
23

buggah

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

lōlō

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

high maka maka mada faka

Vulgar A highly pretentious, stuck-up, or arrogant person who acts superior to everyone else.
26

shishi

Noun Urine or pee.
27

kālā

Noun Money, cash, currency, or income.
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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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hui

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

Expression No, never, not at all, or certainly not.
32

cherreh

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

Slang Police officers, cops, or law enforcement.
35

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.
36

maikaʻi

Adjective Good, fine, well, or excellent.
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yessah

Slang An enthusiastic affirmative; yes; absolutely; yes sir.
38

moke

Noun A tough, rugged local man, often associated with a hyper-masculine, protective, or intimidating demeanor. The female equivalent is a tita.
39

pākē

Noun A person of Chinese descent or heritage in Hawaii.
40

pohō

Adjective Useless, wasteful, or a waste of time, money, or effort.
41

tūtū

Noun A grandmother or elderly woman; an affectionate and respectful term for a female elder.
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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).
43

shootz

Slang Okay, alright, sounds good; an expression of agreement or confirmation.
44

ʻāina

Noun Land, earth, or the physical environment; deeply connected to the concept of homeland and ancestral roots.
45

rajah

Slang Roger, affirmative, yes, or understood.
46

aloha kākou

Expression Greetings or hello to everyone present, inclusive of the speaker.
47

akamai

Adjective Smart, clever, intelligent, or sharp-witted.
48

niele

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

sample dat

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

ʻaʻole pilikia

Expression No trouble, no problem, it was nothing, you're welcome.
53

kefe

Vulgar A Samoan swear word used to express anger, frustration, or disbelief, roughly equivalent to 'fuck' or 'bullshit'.
54

kai

Noun The sea, ocean, tide, currents, or seaside.
55

bibadeez

Noun Underwear, specifically men's or boys' briefs (tighty-whities).
56

skeezah

Slang A creep, a weirdo, or someone acting sketchy and untrustworthy.
57

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.
58

kanaka

Noun A Native Hawaiian person; an indigenous person of Hawaiian descent.
59

hammajang

Slang Messed up, disorganized, broken, or in a state of chaotic disrepair.
60

nai nai

Slang Night night; time to go to bed or sleep.
61

howzit?

Greeting How are you?; how is it going?; hello.
62

manaʻo

Noun A thought, idea, belief, opinion, or intention; one's personal perspective or mind.
63

haole

Noun A Caucasian person; a white person.
64

auē

Verb To cry, weep, lament, or mourn.
65

sole

Noun A person of Samoan descent; often used as a familiar term for a Samoan male.
66

ainokea

Slang I don't care; whatever.
67

holoholo

Verb To wander, roam, go for a drive, or cruise around without a specific destination.
68

kōkua

Noun Help, assistance, or support.
69

bolo head

Noun A bald head; a person with no hair.
70

unko

Noun An older man; a term of respect used for any male elder, regardless of blood relation.
71

boto eatah

Vulgar A person who performs oral sex on a male.
72

pakalōlō

Noun Marijuana, cannabis; literally translated from Hawaiian as 'crazy tobacco'.
73

hanabada

Noun Mucus, snot, or boogers. A portmanteau of the Japanese word 'hana' (nose) and the English/Pidgin word 'bata' (butter).
74

aunty

Noun A term of respect and affection for an older woman, whether she is a blood relative or not.
75

bumboocha

Slang Extremely big, huge, large, or monstrous in size.
76

pau

Adjective Done, finished, completed, or over.
77

make

Adjective Dead, deceased, or broken and non-functional (such as a machine, engine, or battery).
78

bocha

Verb To bathe, take a bath, or wash up.
79

kūkae

Noun Feces, poop, excrement, or dirt.
80

hale

Noun A house, home, or building.
81

sistah

Noun Sister, female relative, or a close female friend.
82

hewa

Adjective Wrong, incorrect, mismanaged, or messed up; the opposite of pono.
83

ʻŌpū

Noun Stomach, belly, or abdomen; can also refer to tripe or giblets in certain culinary contexts.
84

ʻamaʻama

Noun Mullet (Mugil cephalus), a highly prized indigenous fish in Hawaii often raised in traditional fishponds or caught along the shoreline.
85

kanak attack

Slang A food coma; the overwhelming feeling of drowsiness and lethargy that occurs after eating a large, heavy meal.
86

yessah blessah

Slang An exclamation of extreme happiness, agreement, or approval; an enthusiastic yes.
87

ʻŌpala

Noun Garbage, trash, rubbish, or litter; something worthless or of no value.
88

buss

Slang Broken, damaged, beat up, or busted.
89

ʻOno

Adjective Delicious, tasty, or highly flavorful.
90

grindz

Noun Food, a meal, or delicious things to eat.
91

pau hana

Noun The time after work; the end of the workday.
92

walaʻau

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

luna

Noun The boss, foreman, supervisor, or manager.
94

piko

Noun Belly button, navel, or umbilical cord; culturally, the center or connection point.
95

maka piapia

Noun Sleepy dust, eye crust, or eye gunk that accumulates in the corners of the eyes after sleeping.
96

i mua

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

mayjah

Slang Extreme, intense, or significant; used to describe something that is either very good, very bad, or of great magnitude.
98

kapakahi

Adjective Crooked, lopsided, twisted, or physically not straight.
99

oof

Slang To have sex, intercourse, or a casual hookup.
100

doo doo

Noun Poop, crap, feces, or excrement.