Friday 5 for January 15: Groovy, rad, lit - It Is What It Is

Questions are taken from the weekly Friday 5 blog.

1. Which slang term from your youth, no longer in common use, do you remember fondly?

I think this one is a pidgin term that I haven't heard for a long time. I am not sure how to spell it either.

Footoo - pronounced foo-too - kind of like tutu... maybe even spelled like tutu...Futu.

Definition - 1. Funny, strange, ugly, gross.

Oh look dat car... da paint job is soo footoo.

2. What slang do you still use, ‘though it’s no longer in common use?

I can't think of one right now.

3. Which current (or sorta recent) slang terms do you particularly like?

It is what it is! - Yes.. my favorite. A great substitute way to end all discussion. Can't fix it? It is what it is! Huh! I love the finality of it. And while you  may not like it, a lot of people use it to end a conversation or topic. There is no further discussion. It is what it is.

If it ain't broke don't fix it. - Why should I buy the latest Android phone while mine running Android 7 just simply works. Plus it has a removable battery! Ugh. It's not broken. I don't want to fix it. It goes the same for the constant, nagging updates that pop up on MacOS, Android, iOS and even Windows. Ugh. The current version of my software is working perfectly fine... there is no need to update. It's not broken. I don't need to fix it.

4. Which slang terms, past or present, do you especially dislike?

I hated "Puuinsai"... gross! Figure it out if you are not from Hawaii.

"Eh brah!" - I hate when people call out at me with that term. A bra is something women wear. I am not a bra. I am a human being.

5. What slang terms are specific to your geographical region?

The two listed above as well as the kind of obsolete one in question #1 are all generic to Hawaii. Additional Hawaii specific slang terms, most of which I don't like.

 

Shaka brah. - I don't much like it and when it is combined with brah, ugh! I don't much care for "shaka" by itself either, nor the hand sign.

Da Kine. - I hate it when I occasionally catch myself saying this. Too local! Ugh!

Grindz - I don't much care for this one. What a bad substitute for "food". Name food for what it is. A hamburger... plate lunch... bento are all better terms that "grindz".

Aloha - I guess this overused word has reached epic slang proportions in Hawaii. I use it in professional correspondence, greetings, whatever. I try not to overuse it, but I still do. Be there... aloha! (Jack Lord)

Haole - This slang word for caucasian people has recently become politically incorrect. I try to avoid using this.

Popolo - The opposite of white, is black. This term is sometimes used to refer to black people. I never use it. In today's world it is probably more polite to use the term African American... though I think Black is still OK... Popolo rises about a few steps over the much hated N word.... but is way below other words.

Mahalo - Thank you. Used a lot I think second to "aloha".

Kanaka - It was once frowned upon to call Hawaiian people "kanaka". Many Hawaiian people like to now refer to themselves as "kanaka ma'oli". Whatever. I rarely ever use either terms.

Lua - Toilet. I rarely ever use this term. I just say I am going to the bathroom.

Benjo - Toilet. Same as above though I think this one is Japanese in origin.

Pau Hana - Done working. A popular term to describe that and then the gathering afterwork for "pupus" and drink. I use the term occasionally but rarely ever go out to socialize afterward.

All Pau - Done, finished, the end.

Pake - (pronounced pa kay - short a after p) - Chinese, tightwad, frugal.

OK... that is good enough of a list. There are probably many other words unique to Hawaii. Most of them contribute to our mix of English, Hawaiian and terms from Asian cultures, which turns out to be "Pidgin" that linguists probably argue over or at least study in academic circles. Do they?

It is what it is!