Pidgin is a beautiful, expressive language. It was originally created so that the immigrants, the Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese and Filipinos as well as the Hawaiians and the Americans could do business. What evolved is a true language. Almost all people who live here weave some pidgin into their daily conversation, education and upbringing notwithstanding. The tourist or newcomer should listen and attempt to understand it, but refrain from speaking it unless very capable of doing so. Here are some examples of the more common pidgin you will hear on Big Island. I have attempted to give you a pronunciation, where necessary and an example of usage.

akamai (ah-kah-MY). Smart, intelligent. Actual Hawaiian word as well. Dat Jimmy Boy plenny akamai. He wen mek one computah.

anyJust coasteeng, bruddah! kine (enee kyne) . Anything. No listen to dat tita, she say any kine, brah.

an den (en den). What's up or expression of boredom. An den? Coasteeng, brah, how you?

ass why. That is the reason. Grind too much, ass why you come so momona.

boddah you? Are you disturbed by this? Darlene wen go foa da beach wid me. Wot? Boddah you?

brah. Brother. Eh, brah, get one nuddah beer?

brok da mout. Broke the mouth. Absolutely delicious. Ho, Tutu's malasadas so ono, brok da mout.

bruddah, braddah. See brah.

buggah. A chap, fellow. Ho, lolo dat buggah, Junior.

bumbye. By and by, eventually. Eh! You get dirty lickins bumbye you no stop dat!

choke. A vast amount. Ho, get choke mangoes dis yeah, brah!

cockaroach. To steal. Eh, who wen cockaroach all da manapua?


da cute. Oh how precious! Did you see Pua's new keiki? Da cute!

foa. For, used in place of "to". Easy foa say, hahd foa do.

geev 'um. Give them. Go for it. Ho, look at Waltuh Boy on dat beeg wave. Eh, geWot? You one lobstah?ev 'um, brah!

grind. To eat. So what you like grind? We no moa da kine. No worries, brah, I grind any kine.

hana hou. Once more, again. Chee, LaVerne, do dat hana hou!

haole (HOW-lay). Person of Anglo persuasion. Another actual Hawaiian word.Can be explanatory or insulting. 1)My mom guys all haole, but my dad guys Hawaiian. 2) @#$*@ haole!

hapai (ha-PIE). With child. Charlene wen come hapai, ass why she no moa surfing.

howzit? How are you? Eh, howzit, brah. You get any da kine?

kay den. All right. Kay den, I no show you mine.

like beef? Would you like to fight with me? Not a choice of entrees. Eh, haole boy, you like beef? Kay den.

lolo. The antithesis of akamai. Not smart. Dat Junior, he so lolo he wen call Dwayne one mahu an he wen crack him. Now Junior stay all bus up.

mahu. A homosexual. See above.

moke (rhymes with coke). A very big, very local Hawaiian. See Dwayne in definition of lolo.

momona (mo-MO-nah). Actual Hawaiian word, meaning obese or ripe. In pidgin it always mNo moa momona now I hula!eans fat. I thought Charlene stay momona, but she come hapai

no can. Unable to. I like foa go, but no can.

no moa. Completely out of, no more, none. Chee, we get no moa da kine. Bummahs.

one. Used in place of "a". Eh, can get one ride foa da beach, brah?

ono (OH-no). Actual Hawaiian word, meaning delicious. In pidgin can also mean several other things. Ho, Junior, look at dat Charlene. She so ono, yeah?

pau (pow). Actual Hawaiian word, used constantly, meaning finished or done. Chee, I thought you pau already!

pau hana (pow HAH-nah). Another actual Hawaiian phrase. Means after work. Also after work drink. Junior wen bus up his truck. Get too many pau hana.Local style

slippah (SLEE-pah). Thong, slipper. Chee, I wen bus my new slippah in dat puka.

stink eye. Dirty look. Ho, brah, Pua wen spok me in da cah wid Charlene an geev me stink eye.

tita (TIT-ah). Usually large, always tough, very local female version of moke. Eh, brah, nevah mess wid dat tita, she go'n bus you up.

try. Please. Try wait, eh? I come back bumbye. Get plenny customahs.

For further elucidation and erudition the inquisitorial and analytical reader may peruse the following outstanding websites. Also highly recommended are all the Pidgen to the Max books from Peppo.




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