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.

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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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"

discuss

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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

HAH-mah

Noun A hammer (tool).

moi moi

moy-MOY

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

ʻehu

EH-hoo

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

tita

tee-TAH

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.

faka

FAH-kah

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

bumbai

bum-BYE

Slang Later, eventually, or in the future.

no ka `oi

noh-kah-OY

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

chee hoo!

CHEE-hoo

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

bachi

BAH-chee

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

braddah

BRAH-dah

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

pilau

pee-LAU

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

kaka

KAH-kah

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

ʻāina

EYE-nah

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

e kala mai

eh KAH-lah MYE

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

buggah

BUG-gah

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

yessah

YES-sah

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

pohō

poh-HOH

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

da kine

duh-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.

shishi

SHEE-shee

Noun Urine or pee.

if can, can, if no can, no can.

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.

high maka maka mada faka

HIGH MAH-kah MAH-kah MAH-dah FAH-kah

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

lōlō

loh-LOH

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

hana hou

HAH-nah HOH-oo

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

fosho

fo-SHOW

Slang For sure; absolutely; totally.

moke

MOKE

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

akamai

ah-KAH-my

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

haole

HOW-lee

Noun A Caucasian person; a white person.

pākē

pah-KAY

Noun A person of Chinese descent or heritage in Hawaii.

cherreh

CHEH-reh

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

māhū

mah-HOO

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

kine

KINE

Noun Kind, sort, or type.

shootz

SHOOTS

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

tūtū

TOO-too

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

pūpū

POO-POO

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

kanaka

kah-NAH-kah

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

maikaʻi

my-KAH-ee

Adjective Good, fine, well, or excellent.

maka

MAH-kah

Noun Face, eye, or center of something.

nai nai

nigh-NIGH

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

popo

POH-poh

Slang Police officers, cops, or law enforcement.

hui

HOO-ee

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

hele

HEH-leh

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

ʻōkole

oh-KOH-leh

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

ʻaʻole

ah-OH-leh

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

boto eatah

BOH-toh EE-tah

Vulgar A person who performs oral sex on a male.

niele

NEE-eh-leh

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

ʻaʻole pilikia

ah-OH-leh pee-lee-KEE-ah

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

rajah

RAH-jah

Slang Roger, affirmative, yes, or understood.

all pau

ahl-POW

Idiom Completely finished, all done, or empty.

puka

POO-kah

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

bocha

BOH-chah

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

pakalōlō

pah-kah-LOH-LOH

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

kanak attack

KAH-nak ah-TAK

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

skeezah

SKEE-zah

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

pau

POW

Adjective Done, finished, completed, or over.

ainokea

eye-no-KAY-ah

Slang I don't care; whatever.

manaʻo

mah-NAH-oh

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

hammajang

hah-mah-JANG

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

lōkahi

LOH-kah-hee

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

auē

ow-WAY

Verb To cry, weep, lament, or mourn.

pau hana

pow-HA-nah

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

ke akua

keh ah-KOO-ah

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

boom kanani

BOOM kah-NAH-nee

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

sole

so-LEH

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

hewa

HEH-vah

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

kai

KYE

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

ʻOno

OH-no

Adjective Delicious, tasty, or highly flavorful.

make

MAH-keh

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

stink eye

STINK-eye

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

doo doo

DOO-doo

Noun Poop, crap, feces, or excrement.

ʻŌpala

OH-pah-lah

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

kau kau

KOW-kow

Noun Food or a meal.

humbalah

hum-BAH-lah

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'.