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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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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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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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hammah

Noun A hammer (tool).
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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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lōkahi

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

Verb To sleep, take a nap, or rest; often used affectionately as baby talk.
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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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no ka `oi

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

Slang Later, eventually, or in the future.
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faka

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Noun Urine or pee.
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maka

Noun Face, eye, or center of something.
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tūtū

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

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

Noun Kind, sort, or type.
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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.
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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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akamai

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

Adjective Good, fine, well, or excellent.
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rajah

Slang Roger, affirmative, yes, or understood.
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manaʻo

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

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

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

Slang Police officers, cops, or law enforcement.
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kai

Noun The sea, ocean, tide, currents, or seaside.
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e komo mai

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

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

Idiom Completely finished, all done, or empty.
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fosho

Slang For sure; absolutely; totally.
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kālā

Noun Money, cash, currency, or income.
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skeezah

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

Noun A Caucasian person; a white person.
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ʻaʻole pilikia

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

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

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

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

Slang I don't care; whatever.
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bibadeez

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

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

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

Adjective Done, finished, completed, or over.
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puka

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

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

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

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

Noun The Hawaiian sky father deity; god of light and the heavens, who with Papa (earth mother) created the Hawaiian islands.
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ʻamaʻama

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

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

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

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

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

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

Noun Food, a meal, or delicious things to eat.
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pau hana

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

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

Direction Inland, towards the mountains; the opposite of makai.
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bumboocha

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

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

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

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

Noun A house, home, or building.
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hanabada

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

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

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

Noun Rock, stone, or boulder.
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boom kanani

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

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

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

Noun A liar; a lie or falsehood.
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ʻOno

Adjective Delicious, tasty, or highly flavorful.
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kau kau

Noun Food or a meal.
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aunty

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

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

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

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

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

Slang Broken, damaged, beat up, or busted.
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maka piapia

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