Pau

/paʊ/ adjective

Definition

Hawaiian Pidgin English meaning finished, done, or completed.

Etymology

From Hawaiian pau meaning 'finished, ended, consumed, destroyed.' The word entered Hawaiian Pidgin English during the plantation era when diverse immigrant workers needed a common vocabulary.

Kelly Says

This simple three-letter word carries the laid-back Hawaiian philosophy of completion and closure. In Hawaii, saying 'pau' signals not just that something is done, but often that it's time to relax and move on to something more enjoyable.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.