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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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3
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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no ka `oi

Idiom The best; truly the best; superior or excellent.
5

kolohe

Adjective Mischievous, naughty, or acting like a rascal, usually referring to a high-spirited child.
6

hana hou

Expression Do it again, repeat, or encore; commonly shouted at the end of a performance to request one more song.
7

ʻehu

Noun The natural reddish tint in dark Hawaiian hair, often caused by sun and salt water exposure.
8

māhū

Noun In traditional Hawaiian culture, a respected person embodying both male and female spirits; a healer or keeper of cultural knowledge.
9

moi moi

Verb To sleep, take a nap, or rest; often used affectionately as baby talk.
10

e komo mai

Expression Welcome, come inside, or enter; a warm invitation to join.
11

moke

Noun A tough, rugged local man, often associated with a hyper-masculine, protective, or intimidating demeanor. The female equivalent is a tita.
12

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.
13

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.
15

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

kine

Noun Kind, sort, or type.
19

lōkahi

Noun Togetherness, unity, harmony, or a collective agreement and mutual support within a group or community.
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).
23

kaka

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

aloha kākou

Expression Greetings or hello to everyone present, inclusive of the speaker.
25

lōlō

Slang Crazy, stupid, foolish, or absent-minded.
26

ʻōkole

Noun Butt, bottom, behind, backside, rear end.
27

maka

Noun Face, eye, or center of something.
28

high maka maka mada faka

Vulgar A highly pretentious, stuck-up, or arrogant person who acts superior to everyone else.
29

ʻāina

Noun Land, earth, or the physical environment; deeply connected to the concept of homeland and ancestral roots.
30

shishi

Noun Urine or pee.
31

buggah

Slang A guy, dude, person, or sometimes an object or thing.
32

hui

Noun A group, club, syndicate, partnership, or organization, often formed for a specific purpose or shared interest.
33

pūpū

Noun Appetizers, snacks, finger foods, or hors d'oeuvres typically served before a meal or at a party.
34

maikaʻi

Adjective Good, fine, well, or excellent.
35

shootz

Slang Okay, alright, sounds good; an expression of agreement or confirmation.
36

ʻaʻole

Expression No, never, not at all, or certainly not.
37

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.
38

pākē

Noun A person of Chinese descent or heritage in Hawaii.
39

yessah

Slang An enthusiastic affirmative; yes; absolutely; yes sir.
40

cherreh

Slang Awesome, perfect, beautiful, in pristine condition, or excellent.
41

rajah

Slang Roger, affirmative, yes, or understood.
42

popo

Slang Police officers, cops, or law enforcement.
43

pohō

Adjective Useless, wasteful, or a waste of time, money, or effort.
44

kālā

Noun Money, cash, currency, or income.
45

tūtū

Noun A grandmother or elderly woman; an affectionate and respectful term for a female elder.
46

puka

Noun A hole, perforation, or opening, such as a tear in clothing or a doorway.
47

ʻaʻole pilikia

Expression No trouble, no problem, it was nothing, you're welcome.
48

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).
49

niele

Adjective Nosy, inquisitive, or overly curious about other people's business.
50

akamai

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

kefe

Vulgar A Samoan swear word used to express anger, frustration, or disbelief, roughly equivalent to 'fuck' or 'bullshit'.
52

all pau

Idiom Completely finished, all done, or empty.
53

howzit?

Greeting How are you?; how is it going?; hello.
54

hammajang

Slang Messed up, disorganized, broken, or in a state of chaotic disrepair.
55

nai nai

Slang Night night; time to go to bed or sleep.
56

aunty

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

bibadeez

Noun Underwear, specifically men's or boys' briefs (tighty-whities).
58

auē

Verb To cry, weep, lament, or mourn.
59

bocha

Verb To bathe, take a bath, or wash up.
60

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.
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

bruddah

Noun Brother; a male relative, friend, or peer.
64

skeezah

Slang A creep, a weirdo, or someone acting sketchy and untrustworthy.
65

unko

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

sample dat

Verb To try, taste, or experience something, such as food or a new activity.
69

haole

Noun A Caucasian person; a white person.
70

pakalōlō

Noun Marijuana, cannabis; literally translated from Hawaiian as 'crazy tobacco'.
71

kai

Noun The sea, ocean, tide, currents, or seaside.
72

bumboocha

Slang Extremely big, huge, large, or monstrous in size.
73

kōkua

Noun Help, assistance, or support.
74

pau

Adjective Done, finished, completed, or over.
75

manaʻo

Noun A thought, idea, belief, opinion, or intention; one's personal perspective or mind.
76

hanabada

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

kanak attack

Slang A food coma; the overwhelming feeling of drowsiness and lethargy that occurs after eating a large, heavy meal.
78

make

Adjective Dead, deceased, or broken and non-functional (such as a machine, engine, or battery).
79

boto eatah

Vulgar A person who performs oral sex on a male.
80

bolo head

Noun A bald head; a person with no hair.
81

yessah blessah

Slang An exclamation of extreme happiness, agreement, or approval; an enthusiastic yes.
82

pau hana

Noun The time after work; the end of the workday.
83

aloha nui loa

Expression Much love, fondest regards, or lots of affection.
84

ʻŌpala

Noun Garbage, trash, rubbish, or litter; something worthless or of no value.
85

sistah

Noun Sister, female relative, or a close female friend.
86

ʻŌpū

Noun Stomach, belly, or abdomen; can also refer to tripe or giblets in certain culinary contexts.
87

kūkae

Noun Feces, poop, excrement, or dirt.
88

hewa

Adjective Wrong, incorrect, mismanaged, or messed up; the opposite of pono.
89

maka piapia

Noun Sleepy dust, eye crust, or eye gunk that accumulates in the corners of the eyes after sleeping.
90

buss

Slang Broken, damaged, beat up, or busted.
91

grindz

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

kapakahi

Adjective Crooked, lopsided, twisted, or physically not straight.
93

ʻOno

Adjective Delicious, tasty, or highly flavorful.
94

ʻamaʻama

Noun Mullet (Mugil cephalus), a highly prized indigenous fish in Hawaii often raised in traditional fishponds or caught along the shoreline.
95

oof

Slang To have sex, intercourse, or a casual hookup.
96

a hui hou malama pono

Idiom Farewell and take care; until we meet again, take good care of yourself.
97

walaʻau

Verb To chat, converse, gossip, or talk incessantly.
98

piko

Noun Belly button, navel, or umbilical cord; culturally, the center or connection point.
99

hale

Noun A house, home, or building.
100

luna

Noun The boss, foreman, supervisor, or manager.