kalamai
Meaning: sorry
Usage: A polite way to say sorry, excuse me or pardon me: to apologize, or to get someone's attention before asking for help.
"Kalamai, I didn't mean to bump you."
"Kalamai for being late."
"Kala mai, I didn't mean fo' say dat."
"Kala mai, can you help me wit' dis?"
Origin: Hawaiian
What does "kalamai" mean in Hawaiian Pidgin?
"kalamai" means "sorry" in Hawaiian Pidgin. A polite way to say sorry, excuse me or pardon me: to apologize, or to get someone's attention before asking for help..
How do you pronounce "kalamai"?
"kalamai" is pronounced "kah-lah-MY". Click the "Hear Pronunciation" button above to listen!
How do you use "kalamai" in a sentence?
Example: "Kalamai, I didn't mean to bump you."
"Negative sentences in Pidgin often use 'never' for past tense, as in 'I never see him' (I didn't see him)."
"The kahakō (vowel with a macron) indicates a long vowel sound in Hawaiian words."
Want to learn more? Try whole sentences in our English to Pidgin translator, check out our Learning Hub, or Talk Story with Kimo!