Huli pau!
The Hawaiian phrase for "cheers" is Huli pau!
Huli pau! is used as a celebratory toast when finishing a drink or a task.
Meaning: toast when drinking (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "Turn/change finished!"
Did you know?
- The word huli is used in many contexts beyond drinking, such as when telling someone to 'turn around' or when describing a plant that is 'turning' toward the sun.
- The word huli shares a common ancestor with the Tahitian 'huri' and Māori 'huri', showing a linguistic link across the vast Pacific Ocean.
- While Huli pau! is used for drinking, pau is a versatile word in Hawaiian used to signal the end of almost any activity, from a meal to a work shift.
Example conversation
Keanu and Malia are having drinks at a party.
- KeanuHuli pau!Cheers!
- MaliaHuli pau! Mahalo, Keanu.Cheers! Thank you, Keanu.
- KeanuE inu kākou!Let's all drink!
- MaliaʻAe, e inu kākou.Yes, let's drink.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries huli, pau, CC BY-SA 4.0.
