Da kine wurd/frayze/turm uv da day: ass why hah’d, but! ADVERTISING Da kine wurd/frayze/turm uv da day: ass why hah’d, but! As discussed in my last column, here again we have the word but added on, for emphasis! Today’s term/phrase
Da kine wurd/frayze/turm uv da day: ass why hah’d, but!
As discussed in my last column, here again we have the word but added on, for emphasis!
Today’s term/phrase is hard to translate directly. Literally it means: “that’s why it’s hard!” Hard (hah’d), as in hard luck! It is used to convey disappointment or to imply that nothing can be done to change what has transpired, or how or why something didn’t turn out as planned.
It can be used to convey helplessness. As in: “You can’t fight City Hall.” Another way to say it is: “No kan help!” (It can’t be helped!)
When Hilo’s County Fair is rained out for the 28th year in a row, “Ass why hah’d, but! No kan help!”
You reach into the Coleman cooler to grab another Primo, only to find da buggah stay puka! (it’s empty!) Your good buddies might say: “Ass why hah’d, brah! Time fo go dahlah-dahlah!” (Nothing you can do about it, brah! It’s time to take up a collection for a beer run!)
Your team is favored by 2.5 points, but the other guys kick a 68-yard field goal to pull it out, in overtime! Those same buddies who drank the last Primo might say: “Ass why hah’d, brah!” “No kan help!”
Hawaiians would say: “Auwe!” or “Poho!” Brits might say: “Alas, better luck next time!”
“Eh Moke, yu wen flunk da tess ahgen? Ass why hah’d, but!” (Eh, Moses, you flunked the test again? Nothing you can do about it.”)
“Wot’chu meen I no kan tay’k my dog eensai deah?” “Ass da rools, lah dat, but!” “No kan help, brah!” “Ass why hah’d!” (What do you mean I can’t take my dog with me? That’s the rules! Nothing you can do about it!)
You might hear this sentiment spoken often after an act of God. If a parade or game is cancelled due to rain, a flood occurs, or lava closes the road (again!): “Ass why hah’d, brah, bumbye we go try chance’um ahgen!” (Nothing we can do about it! We’ll try again another time!)
Nex wun: manini, skoshi
Pau fo nau.
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
