kānaka
In Hawaiian, the English word 'dude' is translated as kānaka.
kānaka is used as a colloquial noun meaning man. In local Hawaiian contexts, different slang terms may be used to address close friends, such as the slang broda (similar to 'bro' or 'brah') or the Pidgin term brah, which is a shortened version of brahda.
Meaning: colloquial: man (noun)
Did you know?
- While kānaka means 'man' today, it historically referred to any human being regardless of gender.
- The word kānaka is the foundation for the phrase kānaka maoli, which specifically identifies indigenous people of Hawaiian descent.
- The term brah functions as a rhythmic punctuation mark in Hawaii, appearing at the end or beginning of sentences to maintain conversational flow.
Examples in context
- E mālama, brodaTake care, bro.
Example conversation
Keanu and Leilani are talking about a new neighbor.
- KeanuHe kānaka hou kēia.This is a new dude.
- LeilaniHauʻoli ʻoe, Keanu?Are you happy, Keanu?
- KeanuʻAe, he kānaka maikaʻi ʻo ia.Yes, he is a good dude.
- LeilaniWelina kēlā kānaka.Welcome that dude.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry kānaka, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
