Mahalo
everyday, Hawaii
In Hawaiian Pidgin people say Mahalo for "thank you", a Hawaiian word everyone in Hawaii uses. Tanks is the Pidgin form of "thanks", and Mahalo plenty means "thank you very much".
Meaning: expression of thanks (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Hawaiian | Note |
|---|---|
| Mahalo | everyday, Hawaii |
| Tanks | casual, Pidgin |
| Mahalo plenty | emphatic |
Mahalo fits shops, restaurants and family. You can hear it from cashiers and see it on signs and trash bins around Hawaii.
Which one should you use?
Tanks is the casual spoken form. The Hawaiian phrase Mahalo nui loa means "thank you very much" and is a bit more formal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Pidgin often says "da" for "the" and "fo" for "for", so "thanks for the ride" can come out as "tanks fo da ride".
Did you know?
- Hawaii visitors often see Mahalo printed on trash bins as a polite thank you.
Examples in context
- Mahalo, Auntie.Thank you, Auntie.
- Tanks fo da ride, brah.Thanks for the ride, bro.
- Mahalo plenty fo everyting.Thank you very much for everything.
Example conversation
Kalani gets a ride home from his friend Makana.
- MakanaHere we go, brah.Here we are, bro.
- KalaniTanks fo da ride.Thanks for the ride.
- MakanaNo worries. Laters.No problem. Bye.
