pau
C2/rareinformal, regional (Hawaiian English), poetic, niche cultural
Definition
Meaning
a Hawaiian word meaning 'finished', 'done', 'over', or 'completed'
In Hawaiian, it conveys finality or cessation; in English contexts, often used to signal the end of something, especially in Hawaiian-influenced speech or writing.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Mostly encountered in Hawaiian contexts or by speakers familiar with Hawaiian culture/language. In English, it's a borrowing used for local colour or to express finality with a Hawaiian flavour.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Virtually unknown in general British English. In American English, limited to Hawaii, diaspora, or cultural contexts (e.g., surfing, travel writing).
Connotations
British: exotic, foreign. American (Hawaii/local): natural, everyday finality; (mainland): exotic, vacation-related, informal closure.
Frequency
Extremely low in both; slightly higher in American English due to Hawaii's statehood.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] be pau[Subject] pau (intransitive)pau [object] (transitive in Hawaiian)get pau with [something]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pau hana (work is finished, time for after-work socialising)”
- “All pau (completely finished)”
- “Pau already? (expressing surprise that something ended quickly)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in Hawaii for 'pau hana' meaning end of workday.
Academic
Virtually never used, except in linguistic or cultural studies about Hawaiian.
Everyday
In Hawaii: common. Elsewhere: almost never.
Technical
No technical use.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- "Let's pau this project and go to the beach." (Hawaii English)
- "I just paued my lunch."
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- "She finished pau and left." (less common)
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- "Are you pau?"
- "The meeting is pau."
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The food is all pau.
- School is pau.
- Are you pau with your homework?
- The game was pau after the rain.
- We'll be pau with the renovations by Friday.
- Once the ceremony is pau, we can celebrate.
- The committee declared the inquiry pau, citing a lack of new evidence.
- His patience was utterly pau after the third delay.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine saying 'POW!' like a comic book punch to mean something is FINISHED/knocked out.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPLETION IS A JOURNEY'S END (pau marks the destination).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not related to Russian 'пау' (if attempting a transliteration) or any Slavic root.
- Avoid confusing with English 'paw' (лапа) which sounds similar.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling as 'pow'.
- Using it in non-Hawaiian contexts where it will not be understood.
- Pronouncing it as /pɔː/ (like 'paw').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'pau' most naturally used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a loanword from Hawaiian, used primarily in Hawaiian English and understood in some niche contexts elsewhere.
Generally no, unless writing specifically about Hawaiian culture or using it for deliberate local colour in informal contexts.
Semantically, they are synonyms. 'Pau' carries specific Hawaiian cultural connotations and is geographically restricted in usage.
It's a Hawaiian Pidgin phrase meaning 'work is finished', often referring to the after-work social time. E.g., "It's pau hana, let's get a drink."