pidgin

Samples of Hawaiian Pidgin

I’m sitting here with Sachi’s family and we’re talking about Hawaiian Pidgin, which is a local language that is part English with an influence of other languages. Pidgin came from workers who spoke different languages needing a common way to communicate.  Here are some favorites:

Broke Da Mouth -- This tastes really good; As in “Aunty Lottie’s chicken when broke da mouth.”

Ono Kine Grinds -- A flavorful kind of food; tasty; As in “I’m hungry, where can we get some ono kine grinds?”

How’s It? -- How are your doing?  As in “Hey Braddah,  how’s it?”

Bum Bye -- Soon or later-on.  As in “You betta clean up dat mess, bum bye, you gone get it.”

All Pau – All done, finished. As in “I went to help, but he was all pau.”

Shoots Brah – In agreement, confirmed.  As in “Let’s meet at da beach”… “Shoots brah”.

What, Like Beef? – Do you want to fight? As in a situation where two met meet in a bar, one says the other “What, like beef?”

I Stay Come, You Stay Go – I’ll stay here if you’re coming this way. As in “Da movie’s over and I need a ride- I stay come, you stay go?”

Deep Kim Chee – In big trouble.  As in “You know da guy down da street? He didn’t pay his taxes, now he’s in deep kim chee”.

She One Tita – A Large and Imposing Woman.  As in “Oh, she one tita, I bet she could kick my butt.”

 
If you want more, see Full On Pidgin.