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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.
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no ka `oi

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

Noun A tough, rugged local man, often associated with a hyper-masculine, protective, or intimidating demeanor. The female equivalent is a tita.
10

moi moi

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

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

Vulgar A derogatory term for a person, equivalent to the English profanity it derives from.
14

bumbai

Slang Later, eventually, or in the future.
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chee hoo!

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

e kala mai

Idiom Excuse me, I am sorry, or please forgive me.
17

bachi

Noun Bad luck, bad karma, or a negative consequence; the concept that what goes around, comes around.
18

lōkahi

Noun Togetherness, unity, harmony, or a collective agreement and mutual support within a group or community.
19

kine

Noun Kind, sort, or type.
20

pilau

Adjective Stinky, putrid, spoiled, or rotten; emitting a foul stench.
21

fosho

Slang For sure; absolutely; totally.
22

braddah

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

Noun Poop, feces, or crap; a mild term often used with children to describe a bowel movement or something dirty.
24

lōlō

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

maka

Noun Face, eye, or center of something.
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ʻōkole

Noun Butt, bottom, behind, backside, rear end.
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high maka maka mada faka

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

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

Expression Greetings or hello to everyone present, inclusive of the speaker.
30

shishi

Noun Urine or pee.
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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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pūpū

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

Expression No, never, not at all, or certainly not.
34

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.
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cherreh

Slang Awesome, perfect, beautiful, in pristine condition, or excellent.
36

maikaʻi

Adjective Good, fine, well, or excellent.
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shootz

Slang Okay, alright, sounds good; an expression of agreement or confirmation.
38

kālā

Noun Money, cash, currency, or income.
39

popo

Slang Police officers, cops, or law enforcement.
40

yessah

Slang An enthusiastic affirmative; yes; absolutely; yes sir.
41

pākē

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

Adjective Useless, wasteful, or a waste of time, money, or effort.
43

rajah

Slang Roger, affirmative, yes, or understood.
44

ʻāina

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

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).
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tūtū

Noun A grandmother or elderly woman; an affectionate and respectful term for a female elder.
47

puka

Noun A hole, perforation, or opening, such as a tear in clothing or a doorway.
48

niele

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

ʻaʻole pilikia

Expression No trouble, no problem, it was nothing, you're welcome.
50

akamai

Adjective Smart, clever, intelligent, or sharp-witted.
51

all pau

Idiom Completely finished, all done, or empty.
52

kefe

Vulgar A Samoan swear word used to express anger, frustration, or disbelief, roughly equivalent to 'fuck' or 'bullshit'.
53

bibadeez

Noun Underwear, specifically men's or boys' briefs (tighty-whities).
54

nai nai

Slang Night night; time to go to bed or sleep.
55

hammajang

Slang Messed up, disorganized, broken, or in a state of chaotic disrepair.
56

aunty

Noun A term of respect and affection for an older woman, whether she is a blood relative or not.
57

sample dat

Verb To try, taste, or experience something, such as food or a new activity.
58

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.
59

ainokea

Slang I don't care; whatever.
60

skeezah

Slang A creep, a weirdo, or someone acting sketchy and untrustworthy.
61

sole

Noun A person of Samoan descent; often used as a familiar term for a Samoan male.
62

kanaka

Noun A Native Hawaiian person; an indigenous person of Hawaiian descent.
63

kai

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

holoholo

Verb To wander, roam, go for a drive, or cruise around without a specific destination.
65

auē

Verb To cry, weep, lament, or mourn.
66

unko

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

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

Greeting How are you?; how is it going?; hello.
69

haole

Noun A Caucasian person; a white person.
70

bocha

Verb To bathe, take a bath, or wash up.
71

bruddah

Noun Brother; a male relative, friend, or peer.
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kōkua

Noun Help, assistance, or support.
73

manaʻo

Noun A thought, idea, belief, opinion, or intention; one's personal perspective or mind.
74

pau

Adjective Done, finished, completed, or over.
75

bumboocha

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

hanabada

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

make

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

boto eatah

Vulgar A person who performs oral sex on a male.
79

bolo head

Noun A bald head; a person with no hair.
80

yessah blessah

Slang An exclamation of extreme happiness, agreement, or approval; an enthusiastic yes.
81

ʻŌpala

Noun Garbage, trash, rubbish, or litter; something worthless or of no value.
82

kanak attack

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

sistah

Noun Sister, female relative, or a close female friend.
84

kūkae

Noun Feces, poop, excrement, or dirt.
85

ʻŌpū

Noun Stomach, belly, or abdomen; can also refer to tripe or giblets in certain culinary contexts.
86

pau hana

Noun The time after work; the end of the workday.
87

hewa

Adjective Wrong, incorrect, mismanaged, or messed up; the opposite of pono.
88

maka piapia

Noun Sleepy dust, eye crust, or eye gunk that accumulates in the corners of the eyes after sleeping.
89

buss

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

ʻamaʻama

Noun Mullet (Mugil cephalus), a highly prized indigenous fish in Hawaii often raised in traditional fishponds or caught along the shoreline.
91

grindz

Noun Food, a meal, or delicious things to eat.
92

piko

Noun Belly button, navel, or umbilical cord; culturally, the center or connection point.
93

ʻOno

Adjective Delicious, tasty, or highly flavorful.
94

hale

Noun A house, home, or building.
95

walaʻau

Verb To chat, converse, gossip, or talk incessantly.
96

kapakahi

Adjective Crooked, lopsided, twisted, or physically not straight.
97

oof

Slang To have sex, intercourse, or a casual hookup.
98

luna

Noun The boss, foreman, supervisor, or manager.
99

a hui hou malama pono

Idiom Farewell and take care; until we meet again, take good care of yourself.
100

i mua

Verb To go forward, move ahead, or advance.