mahi-mahi
UK[ˈmɑːhiːˌmɑːhiː]US[ˈmɑhiˌmɑhi]
n
A brightly coloured tropical marine fish, also known as the dolphinfish or dorado, valued as a food fish.
Etymology
The word 'mahi-mahi' is a direct borrowing from the Hawaiian language, where 'mahi' means strong. The reduplicated form 'mahi-mahi' is the common name for the fish, likely referring to its powerful, fighting nature when caught on a line. This term entered English in the early 20th century, particularly through the fishing and culinary industries in the Pacific region. It serves as a specific example of how local vernacular names for flora and fauna become standardized in global English, often displacing more ambiguous common names like 'dolphinfish' to avoid confusion with the marine mammal.
Analysis
The word is a reduplication of the Hawaiian word 'mahi', meaning 'strong'. It is a loanword from Hawaiian into English.
Examples
The grilled mahi-mahi was served with a mango salsa.
We caught a brilliant blue and yellow mahi-mahi while trolling offshore.
Mahi-mahi is a popular choice for fish tacos due to its firm texture and mild flavor.