According to Food Network, “mahi” is the Hawaiian word for “strong;” it became associated with this fish because of its ability to swim incredible distances. Per the Smithsonian, a typical mahi mahi fish can swim at speeds up to 40 miles-per-hour and travel up to 1,864 miles in a single month. (For the record, they’re able to keep up this workout by eating 5.6 % of their body weight per day, so they’re basically the Olympians of the sea.) As for the repetition in the name “mahi mahi,” the University of Michigan explains that it’s a form of reduplication, a linguistic process whereby a single word is repeated to convey new meaning, usually for emphasis. In this case, the fish isn’t just strong, it’s extra strong.
Beautiful, powerful, and delicious to eat, mahi-mahi also known as dolphinfish or dorado, is one of Florida’s most popular game fish. It’s also a well-loved food fish, a staple at seafood markets and restaurants around the state.
