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opelu

Meaning: mackerel scad fish

Pronunciation: oh-PEH-loo
food intermediate

Meaning

mackerel scad fish
prized local scad fish

Usage: Mackerel scad fish, highly prized in island waters as a staple food fish and premier live bait for big pelagic game fish.

Examples

"We wen catch one bucket of opelu off da ledge."

"Crispy fried opelu with poi stay da best."

Origin & Cultural Context

Origin: Hawaiian (ʻōpelu)

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "opelu" mean in Hawaiian Pidgin?

"opelu" means "mackerel scad fish" in Hawaiian Pidgin. Mackerel scad fish, highly prized in island waters as a staple food fish and premier live bait for big pelagic game fish..

How do you pronounce "opelu"?

"opelu" is pronounced "oh-PEH-loo". Click the "Hear Pronunciation" button above to listen!

How do you use "opelu" in a sentence?

Example: "We wen catch one bucket of opelu off da ledge."

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Pidgin & Local Culture Corner

Pidgin Grammar Tip

"To indicate past tense, Pidgin often uses 'wen' before the verb (e.g., 'I wen go' for 'I went')."

Local Culture Fact

"Many Pidgin words have roots in Portuguese, Cantonese, Japanese, Filipino, and Hawaiian."

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