Maybe you end up walking on the beach or stopping to see if a friend is home. You so lolo." Top Hawaiian Words and Phrases: ‘Aina – land, earth; Akamai – smart, clever, intelligent; Ali’i – royalty “We go to da beach, brah? Don't miss out on the latest trends - sign up for our newsletter today! Also, certain features of Hawaiian Pidgin pronunciation make it strikingly different than pronunciations in Standard American English. You can use this insult as a substitute for the word stupid in your English sentences. Example: A: “You wanna eat?” | B: “Shoots! Stakki: This Jamaican insult means a mad or mentally unstable person. Hawaiian consonants are often pronounced the same as they are in SAE with some exceptions—like W, sometimes pronounced like V, as in Hawaii (huh-vah-ee). Join a Nature and You hiking tour to head Mauka into the Oahu rainforest to a tour of Manoa Falls. ui: oo-ee. Hawaiian Pidgin English, also known as Hawaiian Creole English or simply Pidgin, is the language spoken in Hawaii by the locals besides the official languages of English and Hawaiian taught in school. Pidgin is a simplified version of a language spoken by people without a common language between them. da kine – the ultimate catch phrase that can mean just about anything. This is one of our favorites and you’ll see us doing them a lot on the Dolphin and You tour. Example: “Everyone in Hawaii is filled with aloha for each other”. The ‘okina adds a glottal stop between words or sounds, like saying “uh-oh.”. Palekaiko - (H) - "Paradise", also "Bird of Paradise" plant. Literally, “ma” (in, on, at) and “kai” (ocean), meaning toward the ocean. Hawaii is a wonderful mixing bowl of different cultures and no where is this more noticeable than in the local Hawaiian slang that you hear when visiting the islands. But there’s also a third unofficial language, which is spoken by many locals in everyday conversation: Hawaii Pidgin English. A meal or food. The meaning and pronunciation! Some are lacking completely, while others are combined based on their soul, nds. ... That is what I like to call a Hawaii Visitors Bureau term that has been perpetuated a long time. Hana hou Didn’t even mind the commercials but I need more. Excellently made! No Ka 'oi - (H) - "It's the best". British slang for an annoying, stupid and/or bitchy woman. Traveling to new and different places (or revisiting places you love) is a thrilling adventure no matter where you’re going. Thank goodness!”. If you need some help pronouncing this one, try “I no care” slowly … and there you have it. Hawaiian slang is mostly based on the long standing local pidgin dialect that has made its way into popular culture and used by most of the local folks on the islands. This popular slang phrase has become a popular brand name seen on shirts and logos around Hawaii. Literally, hole or pit. Example: “After I pau hana I’m heading to a lu’au at my friend’s house.”, You’ve probably heard this one. This tropical greeting is known around the world, but its literal meaning is ‘love’. Also a type of salmon. Example: “Oh man. You’ll have lots of chances to practice all of the Hawaiian slang you just learned. A non-native or foreign person, especially a white or caucasian person. Haole is a Hawaiian word for non-native Hawaiian or Polynesian people, often referring to white people. You’ll also often hear “rahja” or “rahja dat”, which is derived from “roger that”, and can also mean “okay”, but usually with a bit more emphasis. It stems from “ha” and “ole,” meaning “without breath,” as the first foreigners to come to Hawaii did not kiss as a greeting, but instead shook hands. Example: “Hey! Let me put on my slippahs.”. Shoots is slang for okay or an acknowledgment. Shoots!”. However, despite the name, Hawaiian slang is technically a creole—an entirely new language derived from two or more separate languages. “Yo, dat some ono kau kau!”. Literally, “ma” (in, on, at) and “uka” (inland), meaning toward the mountains or go inland. [My grandmother used to say cunfunnit, not with a “g.”]. Nā mea “insults” / Entries tagged “insults” He papa hapa kēia ʻoiai ʻaʻole i lēpili ʻia nā mea a pau. We have a lot of influence in Creole from contemporary Hip Hop. We’ll start with our favorite one, which you’re likely to hear everywhere you go! This used to be a derogatory that was mainly used in the former Portuguese African colonies, but is a word that the Portuguese have decided to own. Brah is slang for brother and refers to any other male person, not just one’s brothers by blood relation. Kane is for the men and wahine is for the ladies.howzit – the all around Hawaiian-style greeting asking in easy going short form, “How is everything going?”shaka – the universal hand gesture of Hawaii that can be used as a form of thanks, a greeting, or a good bye. An’ you know, we no like insult any particular group of people in da islands — we jus’ like kid everybody. Want to test your knowledge? Join a Dolphins and You guided dolphin swim tour to snorkel with dolphins and sea turtles on the west coast of Oahu. ever hear an older person say (in scolding) “gun fun it”! “Gunfunit!” comes from “confound it,” a very old fashioned way of expressing frustration. The word lū‘au itself actually refers to leaves of the taro plant, which has great significance in the Hawaiian culture. Example: “Go down two miles and then stop when you see the big banyan tree on the makai side of the road. / This only a partial list as word tagging is not complete. VIEW TOUR DETAILS. If you’re a haole (pronounced howlee) like me, you probably don’t know your a’a (ah-ah) from your pāhoehoe (puh-hoy-hoy) when it comes to Hawaiian slang words. If you see signage that says Kapu, it means “Keep Out!”, Crazy or stupid. See Answer. … One of the difference is the use of slang words. It also means west when in Honolulu. Also small white shells found on Pacific island beaches, especially Hawaiian beaches, often strung into necklaces. The language adopted many loanwords from these other languages, and people began speaking it outside of plantations in the 19th and 20th century. Hawaiian Pidgin noticeably lacks in consonants or consonant sounds, or there are consonants in use where speakers of SAE aren’t expecting them. So tasty it broke the mouth! This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. See pau hana. Whatever happens, happens, you go with the flow because it’s all part of the adventure. Typically refers to sandals or flip-flops. Instead of having the kids grow up saying that. It is often used when giving directions to indicate if you should be heading towards the water or towards the mountains. Hawaiian slang is referred to linguistically as Hawaiian Pidgin or Hawaiian Pidgin English. Use Aloha kakahiaka to say, ‘good morning’, Aloha ‘auinalā for ‘good afternoon’ and Aloha ahiahifor ‘good evening’. Example: “Ho, brah. Lychee: a popular local fruit sort of like a rambutan. Ohana - (H) - "Family", something appropriate for the whole family. Mango: Hawaiians: Reference to the mongoloid … ʻai lepo - Pukui-Elbert; aweawe poi - Pukui-Elbert; ʻenakōī - Pukui-Elbert; hīnālea - Pukui-Elbert; kahuna ʻai pilau - Pukui-Elbert; kākepakepa - … Here is a great video we found quizzing some of these Hawaiian slang (and one or two that we didn’t cover). Da kine is an excellent example. Aloha can mean lots of things, like Hello, goodbye, love, affection, kindness, or graciousness. Phrase meaning talking among friends or acquaintances. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. That was some ono kalua pig we had at the poi factory!”, Means after work or also an after work drink, kind of like happy hour. Asked by Wiki User. “Hey, dat’s ‘ono grindz!”, From broke the mouth, meaning incredibly delicious food. Definitely a first stop after flying for hours over the Pacific Ocean! Just click here to learn more and book your tour today! And you should definitely go to one while you’re here. Konyen – slang for sex Grenn si – dirty crouch (male) Tete si – dirty breast (not washed under) Malpwopte – person who’s never clean Tèt langyèt – pussy lips (labia) Kalanbè – woman who doesn’t wash after sex. Tuga is slang for a typical Portuguese person (a Portuga). Movie references aside, ʻohana isn’t strictly blood-related, and can be used to describe a close group of friends, or employees of the same company. It consistently ranks as one of the happiest states in the country, and its unique mixture of cultures, spirit of aloha, and carpe diem lifestyle can all be summed up in the words -- or rather, the slang -- of the islands' kama'aina, the people who call Hawaii home. VIEW UPDATED SAFETY PROTOCOLS. Let’s go!”. Sounds funniest when spoken in a Glasgwegian accent. lua – bathroom. If you join us on the Island and You tour, you might just hear the story of how this symbol was started on the Windward side of Oahu. Often used when referring to someone whose ancestry is partly Asian or Pacific Islander. Delicious or tasty. Some from other ethnic groups have used the word "Haole" as a racial slur or insult in incidents of harassment and physical assault towards white people in Hawaii, including tourists, residents, and military personnel. The actual word is lumi ho'opau pilikia. Try pronouncing the following words out loud as we introduce you to some popular Hawaiian slang words. He ʻōpihi paʻa wale i ka pōhaku nui ostensibly means “A limpet firmly stuck on the large boulder.” 20 Words That People from California Say There is always something different and unique in a place. Kāne male means married man. You pronounce Pau like pow. Hobbledehoy rhymes with boy: that's an easy way to remember whom this 16th century term insults. Mowly: (Means stinking or smelly in English). Today, many Hawaiian locals prefer to speak an English-Hawaiian hybrid language known as a Pidgin dialect when it comes to daily life. Chupid: (Means stupid in English). Even more Jamaican insults. Hawaiian Slang Words You Should Know Before You Visit Hawaii. "What, you locked your keys in the house? Like “my dolphin tour is pau, but I wanna hana hou!”, Example: “You got any plans for pau hana?”. [mee kee oi' !] Finished, ended, or completed. Used when giving directions. If you have a lot of something, then you got “choke” things. Da ting (the thing) is one example. In Hawaii, Aloha means more than ‘hello’; it expresses wishes for a positive and respectful life. Shoots? Both pau and haole use combinations of vowels called diphthongs, which have specific pronunciations: Also, some Hawaiian words have special characters (diacritics), including the ‘okina, and the kahakō. Ready to learn some more Hawaiian? And you know these slang words are legit because when I read them to my three teenagers to make sure I was using them correctly, they said, and I … Pronounced a-lo-ha Okay, so this is an easy one to remember. It’s Gud Funnit and it’s akin to saying “God Dammit”, but without taking the Lord’s name in vain. This is a catch-all word that can mean just about anything. OTHER TOURS TO REOPEN IN THE FUTURE. Ono - (H*) - "Delicious", seen on many restaurant menus. Maika'i Poi - (H English might be the universal language that everyone is familiar with, some cities still managed to create their own. It’s the universal hand gesture of Hawaii that can be used as a form of thanks, a greeting, or a good bye. It’s usually put on the end of a sentence to mean man. Example: “I saw my friend down the way and threw him a shaka.”. Manini is the transliterated name of a well-known Spanish immigrant, Francisco de Paula Marin, who knew Kamehameha for more than 25 years, who introduced many fruit trees to Hawai`i and was not inclined to share his bounty with others. The garland, wreath, or necklace of flowers most frequently associated with Hawai’i symbolizing peace, love, honor, or friendship for another. Haw to Eng. ‍ 12 Hilarious Italian Insults That You Wish You Knew Sooner Make sure the person you are using this insult on is really stinking or smelly. Here’s the Most Popular Hawaiian Slang aloha. You play the ukulele so good! The store you’re looking for is on the mauka side.”. Hawaiian language consonants are not an exact when it comes to translation from SAE. Its also where the name of the famous surf and skate brand came from. This one was made famous by the animated movie Lilo & Stitch. Hana hou!”. I go anyway.”, This comes from the English for “Broke the Mouth” and is something you say after you had food that was so delicious you couldn’t stand it. Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website. Miki`oi! Example: “I got one hapa friend who likes to surf.”. Lolo: Dumb, idiot, dummy. A smart haole coworker told me “da kine” is an idiomatic expression. Lomi Lomi (low-mee-low-mee) Massage. Example: “Wow! If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii (huh-vah-ee), learning some Hawaiian slang can be fun, might help you seem a little less like a tourist, and also shows respect to the locals (kama’aina – ka-ma-aye-na), who are very proud of their island heritage. “Hey, da ‘ono grindz broke da mout!”. ‘Ohana is family, the center of traditional Hawaiian life like in many cultures. To get you ready for your Hawaiian vacation, we’ve put together a list of words that you’re likely to hear while visiting Hawaii! what the heck does that mean? I grind so much ono food I brok da mout!”. Learning the ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian language) and its slang is fun and a skill you can build on really quickly just by listening to the kama’aina. Everything from Japanese, Portuguese, English, Chinese, Korean and Filipino mixed with the local Hawaiian and nearby Polynesian languages to form a Hawaiian Creole, or pidgin. 8. Most haoles (like me) grew up speaking Standard American English (SAE) at home as a first or second language. … A creole language is an entirely new language formed from two or more languages. Delicious, scrumptious. ʻOhana is the Hawaiian word for family, and family means nobody gets left behind, or forgotten. Example: “You better stay out of the military base. Ainokea. The length of one's cursing is also a big contributor to how great an insult is. The following is a list of ethnic slurs (ethnophaulisms) that are, or have been, used as insinuations or allegations about members of a given ethnicity , or to refer to them in a derogatory (that is, critical or disrespectful), pejorative (disapproving or contemptuous), or otherwise insulting manner. The ‘okina is the single quote at the beginning of the word or between two vowels. Some examples: Da kine, likely derived from the kind, is an all-purpose substitution word or placeholder name for a person, object, or abstract concept. Top Answer. If you plan to visit or live in Hawaii, you will need to know how to pronounce the following commonly used words and phrases. To pronounce it, pretend you're trying to say "cheetah" after consuming a bottle of vodka. We’ll start with our favorite one, which you’re likely to hear everywhere you go! The idea of swearing is a modern one, although Hawaiians were experts at insults, taunts, slights, innuendo, euphemisms, and multiple-entendre in extremely poetic ways that defy concise explanation. Pá is a commonly used slang word. One pronounces Hawai’i (ha-vah-ee) differently than Hawaii. If you want to impress (and you mean it), say “Mahalo nui loa!” or Thank you very much! This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Hawaiian Pidgin has evolved from the old plantation days, when immigrants came from different countries to work in Hawaii’s sugar cane fields. Usage can be in an insulting or pejorative manner, but it usually refers to a foreigner or tourist. And while there’s no reason to learn Hawaiian before your vacation, you may want to familiarize yourself with the most basic and popular terms (including Pidgin slang) you’re likely to hear on your upcoming trip. Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences! Learn how your comment data is processed. Example: “You wanna go get some grindz? Pá. While English swear words tend to be short and to the point, the best Italian insults are sentences long. It’s also the name of the system of social law that existed in ancient Hawaii where many things were forbidden. Brah is the equivalent of dude in American slang. Manini is slang for stingy, and has nothing to do with the striped reef fish. Also known as a patois. Not unlike slang used in American English, linguists agree that Hawaiian Pidgin features enough distinctions from its parent languages to be considered a unique form of speaking all its own. The lua is a bathroom. Kama’aina are locals or Hawaiian residents regardless of ethnicity. This one was made famous by the animated movie. This article will provide some help with pronouncing Hawaiian words, and teach you some popular Hawaiian phrases you should know before visiting the islands. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. “We wen da ‘ono grindz, shoots?” Also, see rajah dat (roger that). Da (the) substitutes d for th, and kine (kind) drops the ending d. If you’re ready to learn even more of the culture and ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i, here are some additional resources: So, as you enjoy some pau hana on the lanai, take a few minutes to review some of the basics, shoots? There are exceptions, of course, like in basically all languages. That place is kapu for civilians.”. Example: “I went snorkeling out by Makua Beach and the water had choke opihi.”. We love Hawai’i, an’ we love pidgin, an’ dass da main ting we trying fo’ say. Hawaii is made up of many volcanoes. After flying for hours over the Pacific Ocean, one of your first stops will proably be the lua. Without further ado, we present you our top Italian insults to enjoy on your own or with friends. "Th" is not typically pronounced like "th" as in "the" in standard English when at the start of a word. The official languages of the state of Hawaii are English and Hawaiian. Man or male, husband, male sweetheart. For example, if you jump in the water and you see 100 dolphins swimming under you, then the water got “choke dolphins”. It’s what we say when describing the amazing food you’ll eat on the Island and You tour of Oahu! Lua (loo-ah) slang for restroom. One makes this gesture by taking your closed hand and extending the pinky and thumb, holding your hand with the palm facing the body, and waving your hand bank and forth in half rotational motion at the wrist. Both terms mock the pale appearance of foreigners, though the ‘amo version relies for its effect on the appearance of amo as a component of Keamolewa, the Hawaiian pronunciation for Klamath, Oregon, familiar to Islanders as a source of salted salmon. Someone who was born in Hawaii. Example: “I heard the Dolphins and You boat has a lua. Just click here to learn more and book your tour today! Shaka is meant as a greeting, a farewell, and can be used to express agreement or approval. Let’s take a brief look at the history of Hawaiian slang. Hawaiian Creole has influences from Chinese, English, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Hawaiian. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. Example: “During the holidays I’m going to go visit my ohana on the mainland.”.