chotto matte
Meaning: wait a minute
Usage: A common loan phrase used in Hawaii conversation to tell someone to pause, slow down, or wait a second.
"Chotto matte brah, I still tying my shoes."
"Chotto matte, lemme check da directions first."
Origin: Japanese loanword
What does "chotto matte" mean in Hawaiian Pidgin?
"chotto matte" means "wait a minute" in Hawaiian Pidgin. A common loan phrase used in Hawaii conversation to tell someone to pause, slow down, or wait a second..
How do you pronounce "chotto matte"?
"chotto matte" is pronounced "CHOH-toh MAH-teh". Click the "Hear Pronunciation" button above to listen!
How do you use "chotto matte" in a sentence?
Example: "Chotto matte brah, I still tying my shoes."
chotto
a little, a bit, just a moment
aku eye
bulging eyes, bug-eyed, wide glassy eyes, staring blankly
benjo
restroom, toilet, bathroom
botan
button, snap fastener
daikon legs
thick legs, stocky legs
on da lo lo yo
on the down-low, secretly, quietly, under the radar
"To indicate past tense, Pidgin often uses 'wen' before the verb (e.g., 'I wen go' for 'I went')."
"The 'okina (ʻ) is a consonant in the Hawaiian language representing a glottal stop."
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