Pidgin is not a corruption of English, nor is it slangâlinguists (scientists who study language) consider it a completely separate language from Standard English. It uses some English words, though differently and pronounced differently (which is why itâs hard to understand). It also uses words from Hawaiian, Japanese, and other languages
It has its own grammar, rhythm etc. Some important words and grammar are:
Stayâin Hawaiian Pidgin, âstayâ means âto beâ like in Portuguese âestarâ (location now, temporary state now)
Where you stay? (Where do you live right now?)
Da fishing stay GOOD! (Fishing is GOOD right now!)
Where da keys stay? (Where are the keys?)
Pau /pow/ (Pau means all done or finished.) This word is used all the time:
Pau eat (done eating, finished eatingâcleaned your plate)
Pau work (finished workâdone working)
Slippah (slipper) Slippah means flip-flop or thong sandalârubber sandals. The universal footwear, slippahs are worn constantly by everyoneâat some courtroom doors there are signs that worn âNo Slippahsâ
Try (please, attempt to)
Try look (please look at that, Look at that, attempt to look at..
Try come (please come)
Try eat (please eat this)
Like (prefer, if it be alright, ok)
You like go fish? (would you like to go fishing with me?)
No like (do not prefer, would rather not, would not like to, not ok)
Nah, I no like (no thanks, Iâd rather not)
Can (I am able, I can do it)
No Can (I am not able, I canât do it)
No have/Have (I donât have any, I have some)
Not! (thatâs not true, said about what one has just said or what someone else has just said, said in a joking tone usually, but usually meant)
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Try, in Hawaiian Pidgin, means make an effort at, attempt toâitâs a polite command:
Try look (please look at that, Look at that! attempt to look atâ¦)
Try come (please make a real effort to come)
Try eat (please eat thisâimplied that if you just try it, youâll like it)
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