Da kine wurd/frayze/turm uv da day: da kine (duh kine)
Da kine is a catch-all term used in most Pidgin’ English conversations. In fact, the term is used to denote the speaking of Pidgin’ — as in: “We stay tokeen da kine!”
It can be used as a noun, adjective, adverb, title, as well as any uddah kine parts of speech that aren’t included in any English Grammar Reference Books! LOL!
Examples: “Eh, wot da name uv da kine wahine? No, not dat kine, da uddah kine tita!”
It is equivalent to whatchamacallit or thingamajig in English. Germans would say dingsbums.
More examples of usage: “Eh try look da kine; da buggah teenk he sumbuddy oh wot, but!”
“Hoo da kine lau lau broke da mout, lah dat!”
“Eh, I like borrow yu da kine kahweelah; can?”
“No mayk da kine, brah!”
“Hoo, I stay feelin’ da kine, but!”
A favorite term used for anything and everything needed to be connected to Hawaii. There are food and beverage joints all over the world using this term. You can buy clothing, backpacks, sauces, salves, kookbooks, water, dictionaries, T-shirts and tobacco flavoring called da kine ________ .
How about a local TV show called “Eh, You Da Kine, Ah?” … or kick back and listen to da kine sounds.
Pau.
Wally Camp is a Big Island resident and linguist who writes a biweekly column, Pidgin’ on da loose. He can be reached at hilowally@gmail.com
