original site
at Bajan Calypso Barn
links added by Kate Liu for World Literature in English
================================================================================
Patois Dictionary.
A -- C -- E
-- G -- I -- K -- M
-- O -- Q -- S --
T -- U --
PHRASES or PROVERBS
================================================================================
Compiled
by Mike Pawka / Kingsley
12/92 - 07/97
Added
Phrases Section
11/28/95
Last update
07/07/97 ; an updated version
(remote link)
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(DON) GORGON :
outstanding dreadlocks, a person who is respected
(GO) SATTA :
claim how spiritual you are
(HIM A) FISH :
a gay person
(THE) CAT :
a woman's genitals
(TO) DRAW CARD : the act
of fooling someone
(TO) GET SALT : to
be thwarted, to encounter misfortune
(TO) RAAS :
"really?", "damn!"
(TOO) LIKKY-LIKKY : title given to those who
like to eat any food they
encounter , without discretion
(TOO) NYAMI-NYAMI : title given to those who
like to eat any food they
encounter, without discretion
A
: prep. to as in "go a shop," from Spanish
A DOOR
: outdoors
A GO
: aux w/v. going to do, as in "Me a go tell him"
ABLE
: able for, fit to cope "i aint able with he"
ABOVE
: to the winward or western side
ACCOMPONG :
n. name of Maroon warrior, Capt. Accompong, brother
of Cudjo; also name of town. From the Twi name for
the supreme deity
ACID
: rum
ACK
: act
ACKEE
: n. African food tree introduced about 1778. From Twi
ankye or Kru akee
AFFECKIN' :
affecting
AFTER
: used in telling the time instead of past
AFTERNOON :
a euphemism for backside
AGEN
: again
AGONY
: the sensations felt during sex
AH
: a
AKS
: ask
ALIAS
: adj. (urban slang) dangerous, violent
ALDOH
: although
ALL'S RIGHT :
for all right
AMBRILLA
: Unbrella
AN
: than
ANETHUH
: another
ARFRITIS
: arthritis
ARMAGEDDON :
the biblical final battle between the forces of good
and evil
AS
: stress laid on means "as soon as"
ASHAM
: n. Parched, sweetened, and ground corn. From twi osiam
AUNTIE MAN :
a fussy, effeminate man
AWAY
: abroad, Overseas "He comes from away"
AX
: ask
B'LEMMUH
: but let me
B'LOOKA
: but look
BABYLON
: 1. the corrupt establishment, the "system," Church
and State 2. the police, a policeman
BACCHANAL :
big Party, noise do, confusion, heavy quarreling
BACK
: again "This can use back"
BACK BACK :
to go back
BACK CHAT :
argumentative, insolent response
BACKRA
: white person
BAD
: good, great
BAD BWAI
: (bad boy) 1. refering to a bold man; a compliment
2. One who has committed a crime (rude bwai, ruddy,
baddy)
BAD LUCKY :
unlucky
BAD MINDED :
evil minded
BAD NASTY :
refers to bad health
BADNESS
: hooligan behavior, violence for its own sake
BAFAN
: clumsy; awkward
BAFANG
: a child who did not learn to walk the 1st 2-7 years
BAFF
: bath
BAGGY
: underpants for a woman or child
BAG-O-WIRE :
a betrayer
BAKRA
: white slavemaster, or member of the ruling class
colonial days. Popular etymology: "back raw" (which
he bestowed with a whip.)
BALD-HEAD :
a straight person; one without dreadlocks, one who
works for babylon
BALMYARD
: n. place where pocpmania rites are held, healing is
done, spells cast or lifted
BAMBA YAY :
by and by
BAMBOOZAL :
to confuse or con with smart talk.
BAMBU
: rolling paper
BAMMY
: a pancake made out of cassava, after it has been
grated and squeezed to remove the bitter juice
BANDULU
: bandit, criminal, one living by guile a BANDULU
BIZNESS is a racket, a swindle
BANGARANG :
hubbub, uproar, disorder, disturbance
BANK
: to enjoy yourself on bank holiday "I hear you were
out
banking easter monday"
BANKA, BUNKA :
a sore or injured foot or leg wrapped in bandages
BANKRA
: a big basket, including the type which hangs over the
sides of a donkey
BANS
: from bands; a whole lot, a great deal, nuff, whole
heap
BARE
: nothing else
BASHMENT
: party, dance, session
BAT
: butterfly or moth. English bat, the flying rodent,
is
a rat-bat
BATCHIE
: a batchelor
BATH SUIT :
swim Suit
BATTY
: bottom; backside; anus
BATTYBWOY :
a gay person
BAWLIN'
: to be broke, without financial means
BAYHOUSE
: a house by the sea-side rented by the month
BAZOODEE
: drunk, giddy or shaken up. Also head over heels in
love - as in Tootoolbay.
BE CROAX! :
equivalent of "by christ"
BE OUT
: without
BEACH
: to kick a football high
BEAST
: a policeman
BEATING
: "Doctor, I got a beating in the head" - a bad headache
BECAUSIN
: because
BEEF
: to tie knots in clothing
BEENIE
: little
BEFO'
: before
BEFORETIME :
once upon a time
BELLY HURT :
belly ache
BELLYOLOGIST :
a glutton
BELONKS
: belongs
BELOW
: to the leeward or eastern side
BELONKS
: belongs
BEWZE
: abuse
BEX
: vex (verb), or vexed (adjective)
BHUTTU (BUHTUH) : an uncouth, out
of fashion, uncultured person Use:
Wey yu a go inna dem deh cloze? Yu fayva buttu
BIDNESS
: business
BIG BOUT YAH :
large and in charge. Superlative indicating status
(power, fame, money, talent, etc) within some social
group
BIRDSPEED :
very fast
BIRF
: birth
BIRFRITE
: birthright
BISCUIT
: cookie
BISSY
: cola nut
BITCH
: spoilt "The taylor completly bitched up my suit"
BITE
: to itch "my toes biting me too bad"
BLACK UP
: to blacken
BLACK LEAD :
pencil
BLAM
: slam (as in bang)
BLEDDY
: bloody
BLEND
: to join with someone in a financial enterprise
BLIGE
: oblige
BLINES
: curtains
BLY
: chance, "must get a bly", "must get a chance"
BOASIE
: adj. proud, conceited, ostentatious. Combination of
English boastful and Yoruba bosi-proud and
ostentatious
BOASIN TONE :
swollen penis or testicles
BOBO
: a slight abrasion
BOBO
: fool
BODY
: a person "I didn't recongnise dat body was you"
BOFE
: both
BOLEFACE
: brazen
BOTSY
: backside
BOO
: applicable to flies swarming on some object
BOONOONOONOUS : meaning
wonderful
BOSIE
: old boy, fellow
BOTSY
: backside
BOUT
: trying to find ones way
BOX
: To smack or to hit in the face
BOXEY
: back side
BRAA
: from BREDDA; brother
BRAATA
: a little extra; like the 13th cookie in a baker's
dozen; or an extra helping of food. In musical shows
it has come to be the encore
BRADARAX! :
echoism for sudden noise created when a light object
drops
BRAKES
: to avoid a situation or hide from someone. To back
out of a vulnerable or uncomfortable position.
BRAM
: a small party
BRAM HOUSE :
a small dancehall
BRASS UP
: a dressing down
BREADFRUIT SWOPPER : a cheap, ordinary sort of person
BREAK FIVES :
expression for "Put It There" (shake hands)
BREDREN
: one's fellow male Rastas
BREAVE
: breath
BREFF
: breath
BREIF
: a begging letter
BREK
: brake
BRIDE
: no model for good behaviour
BRINDLE
: to be angry
BRING DOWN :
to cause unpleasantness
BRINKS
: title given to a man who is supplying a woman with
money
BROADWAY
: highway
BRUDDER, BRUDDUH : brother
BRUGGADUNG! :
echoism for a sudden noise created by a falling object
BRUSH OFF :
"We brush off now" means we aint friends no more
BUBBIES
: females breasts
BUBU
: fool
BUCK UP
: meet
BUCKY
: home-made gun
BUD
: bird
BUFU-BUFU :
fat, swollen, blubbery; too big; clumsy or lumbering
BUGUYAGA
: a sloppy, dirty person, like a bum or tramp
BULL BUCKA :
a bully
BULLA
: a comon sugar and flour cookie or small round cake,
sold everywhere in Jamaica
BULLER/BULL :
a gay man
BUM BY
: a corruption of "bye and bye"
BUMBA CLOT,(TO GET) BUN to have one's spouse or girl/boy-friend cheat
on
oneself, to be cheated out of something
BUMBO
: bottom; backside. A common curse word, especially in
combination with CLOT (cloth), a reference to the
days before toilet paper
BUNG NAVEL :
a protruberant navel
BUNGIN'
: bounding
BUNGO
: n. racially pejorative. Crude, black, ignorant,
boorish person. From Hausa bunga-bumpkin, nincompoop
BUNKS
: to knock or bump against, from "to bounce", BUNKS MI
RES, catch my rest, take a nap
BUPP
: to bump ones head on something
BURYING
: a funeral
'BUSE
: to use abusive language
BUSINESS
: "That don't business me" that don't bother me
BUSYLICKUM :
a busybody
BUTT
: to get a Butt is to be on the receiving side of a
Horn. to be cheated on by your loved one. Usually
followed by a state of Tabanca.
BUTT OUT
: is used in directing someone to a place "Follow this
street and you will butt out on the main road"
BUTT UP
: to meet by accident
BUTTY
: sandwich
BWOY
: Boy
BY
: used as a conjunction, since
C'DEAR/CUH-DEAR : exlamation used
to denote sympathy
C'N
: couldn't
CAFFUFFLE :
to confuse
CAHN
: for can't
CALLALOU
: A spinach stew
CARD
: to fool someone
CARTOON
: used for carton
CAST
: a handful
CAST UP
: throw up, Vomit
CATCH ONESELF : the
phrase of returning from day dreaming
CATSPRADDLE :
spraddle
CEASE & SEKKLE! : stop everything
and relax!
CEPES
: (n.) - beard
CERACE
: a ubiquitous vine used for boiling medicinal tea, and
for bathing. It is proverbial for its bitterness
CHA! or CHO! :
a disdainful expletive (1) pshaw! (2) very common,
mild explanation expressing impatience, vexation or
disappointment
CHAKA-CHAKA :
messy, disorderly, untidy
CHANT
: (v.) - to sing, especially cultural or spiritual songs
CHAT, CHAT DOWN : to engage a girl
in flirtatious talk
CHEAP
: just as cheap, just as well
CHECK
: to stop, or to cause to stop
CHEESE
: a fool, an idiot
CHEESE ON! :
an expression for admiration
CHIMMY
: chamber pot.
CHINK
: bed bug
CHINKY
: stingy, miserly
CHIPS
: french Fries
CHO
: very common, mild explanation expressing impatience,
vexation or disappointment
CHOOKA CHOOKA : echo
work for old motorcar
CHOSSEL
: attractive member of the opposite sex
CHRISTUNS :
christians
CHUCK
: the rough push that is an invitation to a fight
CHUCK UP
: variant of chock, very close to
CHUH!
: denotes contempt or impatience
CHUPSE, STUPSE : to suck
ones teeth as a sign of distrust or sulking
CLAP
: hit, break, stride
CLEAN OUT :
used to express early dawn
CLOFF
: cloth
CLOT
: 1. cloth, an essential part of most Jamaican bad words,
such as bumbo clot, rass clot, blood clot, etc.
The essence of Jamaican cursing seems to be nastiness,
rather than the blashemy or sexuality which is
characteristic of the metropolitan countries. 2. to
hit or strike - from the verb "to clout". 3. literally
means a used tampon
COCK LOFT :
a small bedroom in the upper storey of a house
COCO
: a potato-like edible root, known elsewhere as the
taro or the eddo It was brought to Jamaica from the
South Pacific This is completely distinct from cocoa,
usually called chocolate
COHOBBLEOPOT :
a stew composed of a variety of ingredients
COIL
: money
COLE
: cold
COLLEGE
: secondary School
COLLIE
: n. (urban slang) ganja
COME DUNG :
come down, get ready (as to prepare to play a tune)
COME EEN LIKE : to
seem as if; to resemble
COME ROUND :
to give someone whats coming to them
COME YAH (cumyu) : come here
COMING
: expressing future time
CONFUFFLE :
to intentionally confuse or make a fool of someone.
CONTROL
: to be in charge of, responsible for, to own; to take
COO 'PON
: v. (origin unclear) Look upon!
COO YAH
: v. (origin unclear) Look here! pay attention
COOL OUT
: to sit and one's ease
COOL RUNNINGS : usually
used at a time of departure on a long journey
meaning have a safe trip
COOLIE
: the traditional Jamaican pithet for East Indians. It
is never used
It is never used for Chinese Jamaicans usually in the
form coolie-man or coolie-oman. It is not considered
polite today anymore than the term nega, but it is
still used widely in rural areas
COONOO-MOONOO : one
who is very foolish or acts as such.
COPYGOWCHIE :
a comical drawing a child might make
CORK UP
: jammed, filled, crowded
CORN
: 1. marijuana 2. money 3. a bullet
CORN
: to acquire in plenty "since he open de shop he
corning the money"
COTCH
: verb (cotch up), to support something else, as with
a
forked stick; to balance something or place it
temporarily; to beg someone a cotch, can be a place
on a crowded bus seat or bench; or it may mean to
cotch a while, to stay somewhere temporarily
COTTA
: a roll of cloth or vegetation placed on top of the
head to cushion the skull from the weight of a head
load
COURTING NUTS : peanuts
CRAB MASH :
to iron clothes badly
CRAB
: aside from it's usual meaning, it is a verb meaning
to scratch or claw
CRAVATTIN' :
coveting
CRAVEN
: greedy
CRIS
: crisp; popularly used for anything brand-new, slick-
looking
CRISSARS
: crisp, brand-new
CROCUS BAG :
a very large sack made of coarse cloth, like burlap
CROMANTY
: adj. from Corromantee, Blacks from the Gold Coast
believed to be rebellious
CROSS COMICAL : applied
to persons in the way of good-humoured abuse
CROSSES
: problems, vexations, trials; bad luck, misfortunes
CRUCIAL
: serious, great, "hard,", "dread"
CRUEL
: angry, or, not to be messed with
CUBBITCH
: covetous
CUDJO
: n. name of famous Maroon warrior; mn born on Monday,
from Fante, Twi kudwo
CULTURE
: reflecting or pertaining to the roots values and
traditions highly respected by the Rastas
CUSS-CUSS :
a quarrel or fracas, with lots of cursing
CUT
: a castrated animal is said to be cut
CUT & CONTRIVE : to inch
and pinch
CUT (ONES) EYES : to avoid eye
contact (to ignore)
CUT YAI
: to cut your eye at somebody is a very common means
of
expressing scorn or contempt, for example; one catches
the other person's eye, then deliberatly turns one's
own eyes as an insult
CUTE
: "I never see nobody look so cute" means that the
person looks ridiculous
CUTLASH
: a cutlass
CUTS
: book illustrations
CUTTER
: sandwich
CUTTERS
: finger food, snack, hors d'ouveres
CYAAN
: cannot, can't
D.J.
: a person who sings or scats along with dub music,
sometimes called "toasting"
DAAL
: split peas, usually a thick soup, from Indian cuisine,
from Hindi
DADA
: father
DALLY
: executive zig-zag movements on wheels or on foot to
ride a bicycle or motorbike with a weaving motion,
as when ones weaves around potholes
DAN
: than
DAN DADA
: the highest of DON'S
DAN DAN
: a childs dress
DARK EYES :
to be suffering from spells of dizzyness or faintness
DARKERS
: sunglasses
DARU
: rum
DASHEEN
: a big soft yam-like root, often slightly greyish when
cooked. It is related to the coco, but one eats the
"head" instead of the tubers
DAT, DAH
: that
DAWTA
: a girl, woman, "sister," girlfriend
DEAD
: a dead person, a corpse
DEAD HOUSE :
a mortuary
DEAD WOOD :
(the w is silent) = A man that can't perform sexually.
Impotent
DEADERS
: meat, meat by-products
DEADIN'
: dying
DEAF BELL :
a ringing noise in the ear
DEESTANT
: decent
DEGE or DEGE-DEGE : adjective, little, skimpy,
measly, only, as in a two
dege-dege banana
DEH
: there (place)
DEM
: them
DENIS
: "If he takes a dislike to you, boy, yuh name denis"
that is, you are in trouble
DEPUTY
: mistress, other woman
DERE
: there
DESE
: these
DESTROYFUL :
destructive
DEY
: v. to be, exist, as in "No yam no dey". From Ewe de
or
Twi de - to be
DEY 'PON
: (aux. v.) - to be engaged in action or continuing
activity
DI
: the
DIALECK
: dialect
DIBBY-DIBBIES : young
women only interested in the latest fads
DIG DOWN
: demolish
DINKI
: a kind of traditional dance at funerals or "nine
nights" ("set-ups"); now popular among school
children.
DIS or DIS YA : this
DISPATCH
: to serve a customer in a shop "dispatch me, i be
waiting here for long"
DISREMEMBER :
fail to remember
DITE
: corruption of doit
DJEW
: as a verb, rain a djew; as a noun, djew rain It means
a light rain or drizzle
DO FLICKY :
any small tool or gadget
DOG DEAD
: an expression of finality
DOGHEART
: a person who is especially cold and cruel
DOH
: though
DOLLY
: executive zig-zag movements on wheels
DON
: one who is respected, master of a situation
DONKYA
: from "don't care"; careless, sloppy, lacking ambition,
etc
DOMS
: dominoes
DOONDOOS
: an albino
DOOR MOUTH :
threshold
DOTI
: earth
DOWN, DOWN YONDER : taken to mental hospital
DOWNPRESSOR :
preferred term for oppressor
DOWNTHE ISLANDS : excursion to
West End Islands and area
DRAW
: to strike a match
DREAD
: 1. a person with dreadlocks 2. a serious idea or thing
3. a dangerous situation or person 4. the "dreadful
power of the holy" 5. experientially, "awesome,
fearful confrontation of a people with a primordial
but historically denied racial selfhood"
DREADLOCKS :
1. hair that is neither combed nor cut 2. a person
with dreadlocks
DREADY
: a friendly term for a fellow dread
DRESS DOWN/GEARED DOWN dressed in the height of fashion, to move
down in
order to make room
DROP
: a lift offered by motorists
DUB
: a roots electronic music, created by skillful,
artistic re-engineering of recorded tracks
DUCK-ANTS :
white ants, or termites
DUCK'S GUTS :
denoting in truble
DUH
: they
DUHSELF
: themselves
DUKUNU
: sweet corn-meal dumplings boiled in wrapped leaves
DUNCY, DUNCEY : like
a dunce
DUNDUS
: an albino
DUNGLE
: n. legendary West Kingston slum surrounding a garbage
dump, now cleared: From English dunghill
DUNS,DUNSA :
money
DUPPY
: a ghost
DUPPY AGENT :
undertaker
DUST BOX
: waste paper bin
DUTCHY
: dutch cooking pot, low round-bottomed heavy pot.
EARLY
: the phrase "in the early" may be noted "we gotta put
a stop to this in the early"
EARF
: earth
EARFQUAKE :
earthquake
EASE-UP
: to forgive, to lighten up
EASY HALL (LIVING AT having no job, an idle life
EDDICATION :
education
EF
: if
EFFIN
: a variand of if
ELSEWHEY
: elsewhere
EN
: am not, is not, are not
ENT!??
: isn't that so
EPCEP
: except
ESS
: corruption of ace - the ess of spades / a varient of
if
ETHUH
: other
EVAH
: ever
EVAHBODY
: everybody
EVAHT'ING :
everything
EVER SINCE :
a long time ago
EVERYTING COOK & CURRY all is well, all is taken care of
EXCEPT
: often used in conjunction meaning useless
EXPENSE
: to cause expense
EXPRESSIONS :
euphemistic term for bad language
FAASTIE
: impertinent, rude, impudent
FACK
: fact
FADDUH, FATHUH : father
FAIF
: faith
FAINTY, FAINTY-FAINTY faint
FALL (A)WAY :
to loose weight
FALLA FASHIN :
copycat
FAMILY
: often used to mean relative
FAN
: "Don't fan yourself about" is an injunction often
given to those recovering from illness
FAS'
: to be fast with, meaning to be rude, impertinent, to
meddle with sombody's business, to be forward, etc
FASH
: occasionally used in its correct sense of bother or
trouble "dont fash yourself"
FASHION
: to mean, not in season
FASSY
: eczema-like scratchy sores on the skin; also a verb
meaning to cause oneself to be covered with fassy by
scratching
FATHER GIVER :
to give the bride away
FAVOUR
: "This child favours his father, nuh?" to resemble in
features
FAYVA
: to favour, resemble, or look like; "fayva like" also
means "it seems as if"
FE
: the infinitive "to" as in "Have fe go" "a fe" Have
to
"fe dem" their
FEE-E-R-T-Y-T-VOO : a simpleton
FEEL NO WAY :
don't take offense, don't be sorry, don't worry
FENKY-FENKY :
(from finicky) choosy, proud, stuck-up.
FENNEH
: v. to feel physical distress, pain. From Twi fene-to
vomit; Fante fena-to be troubled; Lumba feno-to faint
FETE
: party
FI
: possessive. "fi me"-"mine" Can also mean "for" or "to",
as in "I ha' fi", I have to Yu num fi du dat = You
are not to do that
FIESTY
: impudent, rude, out of order, cheeky
FINGERSMITH :
a theif
FINNY
: withered or deformed
FIRE
: "Come lewwe fire one" - to have a drink
FIRE RAGE :
a quarrel
FIRST LIGHT :
tomorrow
FIT
: when used of fruits and vegetables, it means ready
to
pick, full grown, though not necessarily fully ripe
also means in good shape. ("You haffe fit!")
FITS
: to give anyone fits is to annoy or embarrass him
FLIMS
: films
FOLLER
: follow
FOLLOW PATTERN : imitative
FOOFOOLOO :
someone who is in a love-sick situation. Or an
extreme case of Tabanka. Also refers to a person who
lets others walk all over him.
FOR
: sort
FORCERIPE :
precious
FORENOON
: afternoon, never any period of time before noon
FORR'NER
: foreigner
FORTYLEG
: centipede
FORWARD
: 1. to go, move on, set out 2. in the future
FRAZMA
: a confused state of mind
FREENESS
: when something is obtained without cost
FRETTIN'
: getting upset
FRICTION
: a safety match
FRIENDSING :
holding hands, courting; as, "They have been
friendsing a long time"
FRONTA
: tobacco leaf used to roll herb
FRUPSE
: something of no account "It isn't worth a frupse"
FUCKERY
: wrong, unfair
FUH
: for
FUHGET
: forget
FUHGIVE
: forgive
FULLNESS,TO THE FULLNESS completely, absolutely, totally
FUNDS
: money
FUNNY UP
: odd, queer, contorted or deformed
FURTHUH
: further
FUSS BOX
: a fussy person
FUSSY
: used with the negative to express lack of interest
of
keeness
G'LONG
: go along
G'ROUN'
: go around
G'N
: going to
GAAN TO BED :
an adverbial phrase; following a verb of liking or
loving, it has a superlative meaning; can be used in
any context, such as "I love hafu yam gaan to bed!"
GALANG
: go along
GALAVANTING :
going out or travelling. Usually applies to someone
who is always going somewhere but not necessarily
for any particular reason.
GALLERYING :
showing off in front of others.
GANJA
: herb, marijuana
GANSEY
: t-shirt, any knit shirt
GANSY, GARNSEY : s wollen
jersey
GATES
: home, yard
GEAR DOWN :
dressed up
GEN
: pass tense of give
GENERAL
: cool operator
GET ON
: "just because you cant have your own way, look how
you
get on!"
GI
: give
GI'IN
: giving
GIG
: spinning top
GINE
: going "wey yuh gine?"
GINNAL
: n. trickster, con-man, an Amnancy figure as in
"Sunday ginnal"-a preacher or clergyman
GIMMERIT, GIMMUH : give it to me
GITTIMA
: a gift
GIVE OUT
: the housewife always gives out the dinner
GLAMITY
: a woman's genitals
GO
: (i) "Go away" - i dont beleive you, (ii) "is there
anything to go by" - is there any rum to hand (iii)
"He gone 'cross" - its all up with him (iv) "Those
two batsmen gone down, boy" - two batsmen are well
set (v) Gone down - eat quickly (vi) I gone - good
bye
GO FORWARDS :
sandals that have no heel strap; in such footware it
is difficult to step backwards
GOAT COLLECTION : refers to a large
collection of small coins
GOAT HEAVEN :
a state of bliss
GOAT MOUTH :
ill of luck
GOBBLE
: gob of spittle
GOD SPARE LIFE : i'll see
you tomorrow
GOGGLE
: the adams apple
GOOD
: (i) Extremly, (ii) accountable for no ones actions
GORGON
: outstanding dreadlocks
GRAVALICIOUS :
greedy, avaricious
GRIG
: grain
GRIND GINGER :
expressive phrase, denotes working oneself into a
temper
GRINDSMAN :
one who displays great prowess in bed
GROG
: rum
GROUNATION :
large, island-wide meeting and celebration of Rastas
GROUND
: home, yard
GRUMPUS BACK :
a surly person
GUV'MENT
: gouvernment
GUV'NUH
: governor
GYPSY
: meddlesome, officious
HABRA, DABRA AND THE CREW : Tom, Dick and Harry
HACKLE
: to hassle, bother, worry, trouble. As a noun, hackling
HAD NOT
: had it not been for
HADJA BUCK :
an uncouth, ill-bred person
HAFFI
: to have to...
HAG
: to worry, harass or pester
HAIL
: a greeting
HALFIE
: half bootle (small bottle)
HAND
: his entire arm "He got his hand broken just above the
elbow" (same applies for foot)
HAPPY DAYS :
a slang term for the breadfruit
HARD
: excellent, proficient, skillful, uncompromising
HARD EARS :
stubborn, doesn't listen
HARE RABBIT :
a Hare
HEAD
: "The women were heading the canes to the cart" - To
carry a load on the head
HEAD MAN JANCRO : n. albino buzzard
HEALF
: health
HEALFY
: healthy
HEART AFFECTION : a heart condition
HEETCH
: itch. Many such words could be listed under H, as
initial H is added to scores of words at will.
HEF(T)
: to lift to judge the weight
HEIGHT
: (i) "He wouldn't take my height" He wouldn't even
notice me (ii) "Made height down the road" He ran at
full speed down the road
HELLION
: a wild fellow
HENG
: hang
HERB
: marijuana
HEY
: here
HI
: to be noted in comination with gee and whoa as "He
won't hi, gee, nor whoa" i.e. he'll neither start,
move on, nor stop
HIEZ
: ears
HIEZ-HAAD :
ears-hard, thick skulled, stubborn, unwilling or
unable to hear
HIFALUTIN :
naughty
HIGGLERS
: higglers, who are primarly woman who buy and sell goods
that they have imported into the country. Some
higglers, however, do not make trips out of the
country to buy goods, but sell the goods that others
import. The connection between higglers and dancehall
culture is crucial as they form one of the strongest
international links between JA, North America, and the
Caribbean.
HIND CLAW :
referring to some means of financial support other
than one's recognised means of income
HITEY-TITEY :
upper class, high tone, "stoosh"
HOG THOMAS :
a ill mannered person
HOLD STRAIN :
"Take it easy"
HOMELY
: to be relaxed, comfortable, enjoying your home
surrounding
HOOD
: penis
HOOT
: to make discomfort or pain "The mosquitoes made me
hoot last night"
HOP AND DROP :
"He walks hop and drop" with a limp
HOPPING BALL :
tennis ball
HORN
: to cheat on your loved one. To be unfaithful. This
can cause Tabanca !
HORNIN'
: committing adultery
HORSPITTLE :
hospital
HORSTILISH :
hostile
HORTICAL (DON) : respected,
acclaimed
HOT-STEPPER :
fugitive from jail or gun court
HOUSE CLEAR :
a little pale from lack of sunlight
HUCJUM, HUKKUM : how come,
why?
HUMBUG
: to annoy, nuisance
HUMMUCH, HUMMUCHY : how much
HUSH
: shut up
I
: replaces "me", "you", "my"; replaces the first
syllable of seleted words (1) I and I, I&I: I, me,
you and me, we Rastafari speech eliminates you, me we,
they, etc., as divisive and replaces same with
communal I and I. I and I embraces the congregation in
unity with the Most I (high) in an endless circle of
inity (unity)
I-DREN
: (n.)- male Rastafarian
IEZ
: ears
IEZ-HAAD
: ears-hard, thick skulled, stubborn, unwilling or
unable to hear
IGNORANT
: an action that is rash or carefree, short-tempered,
easy to vex, irate
IG'RANT
: ignorant
ILIE
: adj. literally, "highly", valuable, exalted, even
sacred
I-MAN
: I, me, mine
I-NEY
: a greeting
INNA
: In the
INNA DI MORROWS : tomorrow
I-REY
: 1. a greeting 2. excellent, cool, highest
ILE
: oil
IRIE
: A Greeting. excellent, cool, highest adj. powerful
and pleasing
ISES/IZES/ISIS : praises
Praises to the almighty given by Rasta when
calling on the name of Jah for strength and assistance
for achieving progress in life
I-SHENCE
: herb
ISMS and SKISMS : negative term
denoting Babylon's classificatory
systems
I-TAL
: vital, organic, natural, wholesome; refers to way of
cooking and way of life in colors, red, green and
gold
ITCH
: scrath (my back)
ITES
: 1. the heights 2. a greeting 3. the color red,
great
JA, JAM-DOWN :
Jamaica
JACKASS ROPE :
homegrown tobacco, twisted into a rope.
JAH KNOW
: Lord knows
JAH
: God; possibly derived as a shortened form of Jahweh
or Jehovah
JAMDUNG
: Jamaica, "Jam" to press down "dung" down. Ironic
reference to social and economic conditions of the
masses
JAMMIN
: to be having a good time, to be dancing calypso/soca
JANCRO
: n. literally John Crow, buzzard
JANGA
: shrimp, crayfish
JELLY
: a young coconut, full of jelly
JENKINS
: mental hospital
JINE
: join
JON CONNU :
n. (John Canoe). Bands of elaborately masked dancers
appearing around Christmas. They ressemble the
ancestral dancers of West Africa, but the ety. of the
word is unclear
JOOK
: to pierce or stick, as with a thorn or a long pointed
stick, to stab
JUDGIN'
: adjective, everyday or ordinary clothes or shoes worn
in the yard or in the bush, as in "judgin' boot" Also
as a verb, to judge, with a similar meaning
JUS' NOW
: wait a minute, in a little while, whenever
JUST NOW
: immediatley
JUSTLY
: exactly
JUU
: as a verb, rain a juu; as a noun, juu rain, it means
a light rain or drizzle
KALI; COOLY :
marijuana
KALLALOO
: a dark, green leafy vegetable, very nutritious and
cheap
KASS KASS :
n. quarrel or contention. From combination of English
curse or cuss, and Twi kasa kasa-to dispute verbally
KATA
: a roll of cloth or vegetation placed on top of the
head to cushion the skull from the weight of a head
load
KAYA
: see ganja
KEEP
: "Stop keeping that noise" - stop making that noise
KEEP MISS :
kept woman
KEM
: deceive
KEMPS
: a little bit, a tiny piece, from skimps
KERNEL
: an enlarged gland in the groin
KETCH UP
: grapple
KIMBOES
: akimbo
KIN TEET
: see kiss teet
KISS ME NECK! : common
exclamation of surprise
KISS TEET :
to kiss one's teeth or to suck one's teeth is to make
the very common hissing noise of disappoval, dislike,
vexation or disappointment
KNOCK
: to knock around - hang around
KNUCK, KNUCKA : knuckle
KOUCHIE
: bowl of a chalice or chillum pipe
KRENG-KRENG :
an old-fashioned meat rack, hung up high over the
fire to catch the smoke
KU
: verb, look!
KU DEH!
: look there!
KU PAN
: look at
KU YA!
: look here!
KU YU
: To say "Look at you." To the person you are refering
to
KUMINA
: n. Ecstatic dance for the purpose of communicating
with ancestors. From Twi akom-to be possessed and
ana-by an ancestor
KYA
: 1. to care; "donkya", don't care, careless; "no kya"
means no matter, as in "no kya weh im tun", no matter
where he turns 2. to carry
KYAAN
: can't
KYAI
: to carry
KYAN
: can
LABA-LABA :
to chat, gab; gossip
LABRISH
: gossip, chit-chat
LACKEY, LACKY : a subservient
person
LAGGA HEAD :
dumb acts as if you have no common sense. Stupid "yu
dam Lagga head bud"
LAMBSBREAD :
a form of high-quality marijuana
LARGE
: respected
'LARMER
: an alarmist
LASH
: whipped
LATED
: belated
LAY BY
: "I'll see you after school lay by" - I'll see you
after school this evening
LEAD
: a lead pencil
LEAVE
: "I was so busy, the bus left me" - I missed the bus
LEGGO
: let go
LEGGO BEAS' :
wild, disorderly, like a let-go beast
LEH
: let
LEMMUH
: let me
LENGF
: length
LET ALONE :
to leave alone
LET OFF
: pay out
LICK
: To hit
LICK MOUTH :
a gossiper
LICKY-LICKY :
fawning, flattering, obsequious
LIKE
: look like
LILLY BIT :
little bit, tiny
LIMBLESS
: shocked
LIME OR LIMIN' : group of
people hanging out, loafing, pleasure
occasion
LIMER
: an idle person
LIMESKIN
: a felt has seen its best days
LION
: a righteous Dread, a great soul
LITTLE MORE :
see you later
LOCAL
: sometimes used with refernece to a person or
thing
of no account
LOOKA
: look at
LOTTA
: a lot of
LOW RATE
: to belittle
MAAMA MAN :
a gay person, an effeminate man, a weakling
MAAS
: n. from master or massa. Now freed from its class
origin; a respectful form of address to an older man
MACA
: thorn, prickle
MACO/MACOSHUS : one
who likes to mind other people's business.
MADDA
: mother
MAFIA
: big-time criminals
MAGA
: thin (from meagre)
MAGA DOG
: mongrel
MAGUFFY
: a person in authority
MAIN GUARD :
central police station
MAKING SPORT :
joking, playing around (verbaly)
MAKIN STYLE :
showing off
MAMAGUY
: to put someone on, to make fun of, to say things or
make promises to another to make the other person feel
good.
MAMAPOULE :
a fussy, effeminate man
MAMPI
: fat or overweight
MANACLES
: chains
MANNERS
: under heavy discipline or punishment. for example
when Kingston is under "heavy manners", they have a
curfew or call out the army
MARINA
: a man's undershirt, guernsey; a tank-top style
MARISH AND THE PARISH "Marish and the parish will be there"
- everyone
MAROON
: n. free black warrior-communities which successfully
resisted British hegemony during eighteenth century
and early nineteenth century. From Spanish
cimmaron-untamed, wild
MARRIEDIN' :
getting married
MAS
: masquerade
MASCOT
: denoting inferior status
MASH IT UP :
a huge success
MASH UP, MASH DOWN : destroy
MASSIVE
: respected, used with LARGE to add emphasis
MATEY
: mistress
MATTIE
: close friends
MAULSPRIG :
beat badly, thrash
MEAN
: "How yuh mean?" - what do you mean?
MEK
: make
MEK WE
: let Us
MENELIK, RAS :
n. Ethiopian nobleman who rallied his troops to
resist Italian aggression. Defeated Italians at Adowa
1896
MINCEMEAT :
hamburger
MIRACCALUS :
miraculous
MOCKSPORT :
harmless banter
MOCKSTICK :
a figure of ridicule
MOLLY-BOOBY :
a nitwit
MOOJIN
: an idiot
MONKS
: among
MORE TIME :
see you later
MORPHY
: hermaphrodite
MR. MENTION :
Talk of the town, originally talk of the females
signifying someone with many female conquests
MR. T
: the boss
MUCH
: to make to much of, to caress, or fondle
MUDDUH
: mother
MUH
: my
MURDERATION :
trouble, confusion
MURRACLE
: miracle
MUS MUS
: a rat
MUSSEE
: must be
MUSTER
: money is usually mustered, not saved
MY BABY MOTHER/FATHER the mother/father of my child
MYAL
: n. a form of benign magic oposed to Obeah, hence
myalman. From Hursa maye-wizard, person of mystic
power
NABLE
: navel
NAGAH
: n. pejorative for a black person
NAGO
: n. Yoruba person, practice or language. From Ewe
anago-Yoruba person
NAH
: adv. will not. Emphatic as in "Me nah do that"
NANA
: midwife; nanny or nurse
NANNY GOAT :
"What sweet nanny goat a go run him belly" is a
cautionary Jamaican proverb which translated means:
What tastes good to a goat will ruin his belly.
In other words - the things that seem good to you now,
can hurt you later...
NASH
: female genatalia
NASTY
: to make nasty
NATTY, NATTY DREAD, NATTY CONGO 1. dreadlocks 2. a person
with dreadlocks
NAZARITE
: Ancient Hebrew meaning to "separate", consecrated,
set
apart by choice and devotion
NEFFIN
: nothing
NEFFINARIAN :
a nobody or person of dubious morals
NEIDER
: neither
NEPSHA AND KIAH : Tom, Dick and
Harry
NEW BRAND :
brand New
NEXT
: other
NICK
: to throw dice
NIGHBERS
: neighbours
NIYABINGHI :
1. "death to all black and white oppressors" 2. East
African warriors who resisted colonial domination 3.
large Rastafarian meeting and spiritual gathering 4.
referring to orthodox, traditional Rastas 5. a variety
of drumming
NIYAMEN
: name for Rastas referring to Niyabinghi warriors of
East Africa
'NOUGHT
: a lot of
NO TRUE?
: isn't it so?
NOTCH
: don or top ranking badman
NOW FUH NOW :
instantly, while you wait
NOWHEY
: nowhere
NUFF
: enough
NUH
: added to an unanswered question
NUH
: interrogative at end of sentence; literally, "Is it
not so?"
NYAM
: eat
NYING'I-NYING'I : nagging, whining
OAR
: row
OBEAH
: traditional African "science", relating to matters
of
the spirit and spirits, spells, divinations, omens,
extra-sensory knowledge, etc
OBSOCKY
: odd, conpicuous, deserving of ridicule
OBZOKEE
: something that is unsightly in appearance. Out of
shape.
O-DOKONO
: boiled maize bread
OFFA
: of
OH GEED!
: an expression used when there is an offensive smell.
OHT FI
: about to, on the vergeof, as in "it hoht fi rain",
it
is about to rain, it looks like rain
OL TALK
: chit-Chat, idle chatter
ON' NEAT' :
underneath
ONCOUF
: uncouth
ONE LOVE
: a parting phrase, expression of unity
ONE SIDE
: aside
ONE TIME
: right now, immediately
ONE-ONE
: adjective, one by one, thus any small amount
ONGLE
: only
ONLIEST
: only
OPETIN
: open
OPINATED
: opinionated
ORDINARY
: common, vulgar, unrefined
OUT OUT
: to put out, extinguish
OUTA
: out of
OUTLORDED :
rude, good for nothing
OUTMAN
: a bogey man
OUTSIDE
: illegitimate (as outside child, outside woman)
OVER
: in the plural, things left over
OVERS
: to achieve another level of thinking usually better.
to move on past a trivial and into a superior position.
OWN WAY
: headstrong, or stubborn
PAIPSEY
: unattractive appearance
PAKI
: calabash, gourd
PAFF
: path
PANCART
: wheelbarrow
PAPAA
: pawpaw, or papaya melon
PARROR TOES :
toes turned inward when walking
PARTLY
: almost
PATOIS
: local dialect
PATU
: owl
PAYAKA
: heathen
PEA EYE
: peep at
PECK
: a pick, or pick axe
PEEL-HEAD :
bald-headed, usually certain chickens or vultures
PEENY, PINNY :
tiny
PEENYWALLY :
a kind of large fire fly, actually a type of flying
beetle
PEEONG
: someone who is addicted to something.
PEER
: avocado pear
PEGGERS
: teeth
PERJOHNNY :
a poor white
PERFICK
: perfect
PERLIX AN' POMPASETT to show off
PHENSIC
: JA equivalent to Tylenol, Excedrin, etc.
PHOTUH
: photograph
PICKY, PICKY HEAD : brush haircut
PICKY-PICKY :
1. finicky or choosy 2. Used of uncombed hair just
starting to turn into dreadlocks
PICONG
: ridicule
PIK'ANT
: thorn, Sharp point
PIKNY
: pickaninny, child
PILOT
: pimp, procurer
PINDA
: peanut
PING PONG :
a small photograph
PIPE
: tap
PIRA
: a low wooden stool
PISSTORATICALLY : stage of drunkennes
PITY-ME-LIKL :
a type of very tiny red ant whose bite is so hot and
long-lasting it resembles a sting
PIVVY
: denotoes the tiniest of degree of measurement
PLAY BAD
: to be aggressive or rude
PLAY PLAY :
make belive
PLEG
: plague
PO'GREAT POPPET : pretentious person
POCOMANIA, POCO : christian revival,
distinct drum rhythm
POLYTRICKS :
politics (by Peter Tosh)
POLYTRICKSTERS : politicians
(by Peter Tosh)
POOCH
: backside
POOMA
: old motorcar
POPPET, POPPIT : a laughing
stock
POPPY-SHOW :
from puppet show, it is used in the idiom, tek smadi
mek poppy-show, which means to make fun of someone or
shame them, making them look ridiculous.
POT HOUND :
usually refers stray dog that probably is not of a
specific breed or a dog that eats anything off the
street.
POUCH
: a tube
POXY
: pocky
'PRECIATE :
appreciate
PRESS
: wardrobe
PULL
: drawn
PULL BULL :
to use your private car as a taxi in order to earn
extra money. Also referred to as doing 'PH'.
PULL DOWN :
bad row
PUMP
: to get a free ride or drive
PUM-PUM
: a woman's genitals
PUNAANI or PUNNI : a woman's genitals
PUNISH
: to suffer
PUNKSEY
: spunky
PUPPALICK :
somersalt
PURTY
: pretty
PUSH BREADCART : a euphemism
to denote pregnancy
PUSSY CLOT :
a curse word ref. to a woman's sanitary napkin
PUTTIN' AWAY :
a preposition, meaning "except for", or "except"
PYAA-PYAA :
sickly, weak; feeble, of no account
PYAKA
: tricky or dishonest
PYU
: from spew; verb used of running sores or anything
similarly dripping or oozing
QUASHIE
: n. peasant, country bumpkin, coarse and stupid person;
racial pejorative generic term for blacks; originally
Twi name of a boy born on a Sunday
QUIPS
: 1. nouns (from squips) a tiny piece or amount 2. verb,
the Jamaican art of washing clothes making a "squips-
squips" sound
RAAFF
: to snatch something. To steal in a boldface manner.
RAATID!
: a common mild expletive of surprise or vexation, as
in "to raatid!". It is likely a polite permutation
of "ras", a la "gosh" or "heck"
RAB
: rabble
RACE
: to chase
RAG UP
: to embarrass someone by chastising or reprimanding.
RAHTID
: expression of surprise, or to be enraged. From
biblical"wrothed"
RAM
: full up
RAM GOAT
: slang for someone who deals with nuff ladies
RANKING
: highly respected
RAS CLOT,BLOOD CLOT: curse words
RAS or RASS :
backside, rump; a common curse is to rass! or rass
clot! a title used by Rastafarians meaning "lord" or
"head"
RASTA, RASTAFARIAN : a follower of Marcus Garvey
who worships the Almighty
in the person of haile Selassie
RAT
: a prostitute
RAT-BAT
: bat, the night-flying rodent
RATCHET
: a switchblade knife popular in Jamaica
RAZZY
: shabby
RED
: 1. very high on herb 2. mulatto color
RED EYE
: to want another persons belonging, envious. "You too
red eye", meaning, you're too envious
RED LEG
: a poor white
REMEMBUH
: remember
RENK
: 1. foul-smelling, raw-smelling 2. out of order,
impudent, as in a rank-imposter "Yu too renk!"
REVERSE BACK :
cars are reversed back, animals back backed
RHAATID
: a curse-exclamation, similar to "what the hell"
RHYGIN
: adj. spirited, vigorous, lively, passionate with
great vitality and force; also sexually provocative
and aggressive. Probably a form of English raging
RING JOINTED :
double jointed
RIPPING IRON :
a jacket with a slit up the back
ROCK STONE :
a stone of any size
ROCKERS
: reggae music, reggae music as it is played today,
the latest sound
ROCKINENGINE :
a steam roller
ROOTS
: 1. derived from the experience of the common people,
natural indigenous 2. a greeting 3. name for a fellow
Rasta
ROTI
: flat Indian pan breads
ROYAL, (RIAL) : n.
offspring of some other race and black, ass in
"Chiney-Rial," "coolie-rial"; humorous as in
"monkey-rial"
RUDE BOY
: a criminal, a hard hearted person, a tough guy
RUMMIE
: a drunkard
RUN-DUNG
: food cooked in coconut juice, obtained after grating
the dry coconut meat and squeezing it in water, thus
extracting the coconut cream
RUNNING BELLY : diarrhea
RUSH
: to have a crush on a girl
RYAL
: royal
SAL
: pal
SALT
: adjective, broke, empty-handed, low on funds or food,
as in "tings salt" or "i' salt"
SAL'TING
: 1. dishes cooked with saltfish or meat 2. that part
of
the meal which is served with the "food" (starchy
food, ground food) 3. by some strange extension, the
female organ, often simply called "sal"
SAM COW AND THE DUPPY Tom, Dick and Harry
SAMBO
: the colour between brown and black; someone who is
a
cross between a mullatto (brown) and a black
SAMFAI MAN :
trickster, conman
SANFI
: A manipulator - dishonest person. A person that will
sweet talk you out of love and money. "Dam Sanfi
Bitch"
SANKEY
: n. religious song of a paticularly lugubrious tone,
sung in the long or common meter. From Ira David
Sankey, evangelist and hymnalist
SARDUH
: saturday
SATA
: to rejoice, to meditate, to give thanks and praise
SATTA
: sit, rest, meditate, relax
SCIENCE
: obeah, witchcraft
SCIENTIST :
occult practitioner
SCOOPINICKIE :
a small child
SCOUT
: denoting inferior status
SCREECHIE :
to sneak by
SCREW
: to scowl, to be angry
SECCATERRY :
secretary
SECOND
: close friend
SEE THROUGH :
white rum
SEEN
: I understand, I agree
SEEN?
: Do you understand?
SEX
: party or associate "I aint no sex with you"
SHAG
: home-cured tobacco, straight from the field.
SHAKE OUT :
leave without haste, casually
SHAKE(A) HAND : wave
SHAMPATA
: n. sandal of wood or tire rubber. Span. zapato
SHE SHE
: effeminate man
SHEG (UP) :
verb, to bother, as in "all sheg up", all hot and
bothered, or or spoiled up (as of work)
SHEG-UP
: to be messed up, ruined
SHELL
: to drive or run fast "He went down the road shelling"
SHEPHERD
: n. leader of revivalist cult; also proprietor of
balmyard, healer and prophet
SHINNAVERICKS : a term
of endearment
SHOOB
: to shove
SHOULDA
: should have
SHUB
: shove
SHUNNA-FOOT :
knock-kneed
SIDDOWN
: sit down
SIDUNG
: sit down
SIGHT?
: do you understand?
SIH
: see
SINKL-BIBLE :
the aloevera plant
SINSEMILLA, SENSIE : popular, potent, seedless, unpollinated
female strain
of marijuana
SINTING
: something
SIPPLE
: slippery; slimy
SISTER, SISTREN : a woman, a friend,
woman Rastafarians
SITTIN'
: something
SIZE
: with the adverb up, to move up
SKANK
: to dance to reggae music, to move with cunning,
ulterior motives
SKIL
: kiln, as in "limeskil"
SKIN
: rolling paper
SKIN YOUR TEETH : smile
SKYLARK
: to make a joke of something or a situation that may
be serious.
SLABBA-SLABBA : big
and fat, slobby, droopy
SLACKNESS :
lewd, vulgar lyrics popular in DJ singing
SMADI
: somebody
SMALL BONES :
a woman making small bones is pregnant
SMALL ROOM :
rest room
SMOOD
: smooth
'SOCIATE
: associate
SOCIET
: "Me and him don't societ" - dont associate
SOFT
: not well done, amateurish; unable to cope, broke, no
money
SOMETIMEISH :
describes a moody or unpredictable person.
SOON COME :
wont be long
SO-SO
: only, solely, unaccompanied. weak, pallid
SOULCASE
: the human body
SOULIE
: my dear
SOUNDBWOY :
usually a derogatory way to refer to the selecter or
other personality in another sound system. This term
is most often employed in clashes, on dub plates
built for clashes, and so on. Sometimes it is not
used in such a negative manner, but most of the time one
refers to the someone in the crew as a soundman, not a boy
SPAR
: chum or pal
SPELL
: to beg for some favour
SPILE
: spoil
SPRANKSIOUS :
frisky, lively
SPRING
: to sprout, as of yams or cocos, making them inedible
STANNIN'
: standing
STRICKLY
: strictly
STUPE
: fool, idiot
SQUIZZY, SQUIZZYAZZY-VOO a squiggle
SQUULCH
: squelch or squash
STAR
: common term of affection, camaraderie
STEP
: to leave, to depart, briskly, quickly
STOMACH BONE :
chest
STOOSH/STOSHUS : upper class,
high tone, "hitey-titey"
STOP BRAM :
stop dead
STRAND UP :
reduced to strands or shreds
STRING UP :
a muscial rehearsal
STRUCTURE :
body, health
STUMP
: stub
SUFFERER
: a poor person stuggling to survive
SUMMUCH
: so much
SUNDUH
: sunday
SUPM, SINTING : something
SU-SU
: gossip, the sound of wispering
SWEET TO BADD : real
fine
SWEETIES
: candies
SWEETSKIN-BUCKY : a flashy dresser
SWING
: turn
SWINGE
: singe
SWIPE
: pinch, pilfer
TABANCA
: In a love sick state. Describes how someone feels
after being cheated on by their loved one .
TACK
: bullet
TACK BACK :
turn around
TACUMAH
: n. character in Anancy tales. Said to be the son of
Anancy. Twin'ticuma
TAKARI/TANKARI : stewed spicy
pumpkin
TAKE BACK :
to overtake
TAKE IN
: to be taken ill suddenly
TALL
: long
TALL UP
: very tall "He was a big, tall up man"
TALLOWAH
: adj. sturdy, strong, fearless, physically capable
From Ewe talala
TAM
: deep woolen hat, used by Dreads to cover their locks
TAMBRAN SWITCH : n. a flail
made from the wiry branches of the Tamarind
tree, braided and oiled. Effective and much feared in
the hands of Babylon
TAMBRIN
: tamarind
TAN'
: to stand; usually used in the sense of "to be" "A so
im tan", "that is what he is like"; "tan deh!" or "yu
tan deh!" means "just you wait!" "Tan tedy", stand
steady, means "hold still"
TANTALISE :
anger
TARRA-WARRA :
a polite way of expressing omitted bad words, a verbal
asterisk
TATA
: n. father. Affectionate and respectful title for an
old man. Fram many african languages. Ewe, Ge,
N'gombe
TATU
: a little thatched hut, often made of bamboo
TECHIN'
: touching
TEET'
: teeth
TEETH
: bullets
TEIF
: a theif, to steal
TEK
: take
TELEVIJUN :
television
TELL
: say
THE I
: (pron.) -you, yourself, yours
THE PUBLIC :
usually, the government
THENK
: thank
THRU'
: because
T'IEFIN'
: thieving
TILTMAN
: man on stilts
TING
: thing
TIP
: a small portion
TOAST
: (v.) - to rap or sing spontaneously over a dub track
TO-DO-MENT :
to do
TOE JAM
: foot fungus that smells on unclean feet.
TOOF
: tooth
TOOK
: crude musical sound
TOONKINS, TOONKUNS : terms of endearment used to
a child
TOOTOOLBAY :
In a confused state or in a daze because of love.
similar to Bazodee.
TOPANORIS :
uptown snobby person
TOTO
: coconut cake
TOUCHOUS
: touchy
TRACE
: to curse or speak abusively to someone
TRANSPORT :
vehicle
TRILDREN
: children
TRINI TERRIER : mongrel,
mixed breed of dog
TRIMBLE
: tremble
TROOF, TROOT :
truth
TUMPA
: from stump, as in "tumpa-foot man", a one-foot man
TUMMUCH
: too much
TUN
: turn
TUNTI
: female organ
TURRBLE
: terrible
TWANG
: accent
UNNA
: wanna
UNO/UNU
: you-all. pron. you, plural. In usage close to
Afro-American y'awl. From Ibo unu, same meaning
UM
: it
UPFUL
: postitive, encouraging
UPHILL
: positive, righteous
UPTOWN
: the upper classes
VANK
: (v.) - to vanquish, conquer
VEX
: to get angry
WA DAY
: adverbial phrase, the other day.
WA MEK?
: why?
WAE
: exclamation of pain
WAITER
: a tray or salver
WAKL
: wattle, a kind of woven bamboo work used to make
house walls
WANGA-GUT :
hungry-belly
WARES
: kitchen ware
WARRA-WARRA :
politely omitted bad words, same as "tarra-warra"
WAS
: frequently inserted after 'had'
WASH
: to denote a great number
WEALF
: wealth
WED
: past tense of weed
WEE
: ours
WEE WEE
: tiny
WEED
: an expert
WENCHMAN
: a kind of fish, "hail brother john, have you any
wenchman?" (from "Row Fisherman Row")
WESELF
: ourselves
WHAFEDOO
: we'll have to (make) do or we'll have to deal with
it
WH'APPEN? :
what's happening?
WHATLEF
: What's left over
WHEELS
: vehicle
WHEY
: where
WHEYEVER
: wherever
WHOLE HEAP :
a lot
WH'SIDE
: which Side?
WID, WIF
: with
WIDOUT, WIFOUT : without
WIFSTAN'
: withstand
WINDBALL
: tennis ball
WINE
: "wine" appears in every West Indian dialect, and is
literally a corruption of "wind." It means to dance,
sometimes seductively
WINJY
: thin and sickly looking
WIS
: vine, liana, from withe
WISH
: want
WIZZY WIZZY :
whispering
WOLF
: a non-rasta deadlocks
WOOD
: penis
WORDSMIFF :
a person with an impressive vocabulary
WOULDA
: would have
WUF
: worth
WUFLISSNESS, WUTLISSNESS worthlessness
WUH
: what
WUHEVER
: whatever
WUK
: work
WUK-UP
: a dance, normally to soca
WUN
: won't
WUNNA
: all of you
WUNNA
: unna
WUNTA
: wouldn't have
WURF
: worth
WUSS
: worth
WUTLISS
: worthless
YA
: hear, or here
YA NO SEE IT? : you
know?
YABBA
: a big clay pot
YAGA YAGA :
dancehall slang. a way to big up a brethren; to
express a greeting or attract attention, i.e. yo! or
yush! true friend; bonafide; brethren
YAHSO
: here (place)
YAI
: eye
YAM
: to eat ravenously
YARD
: home, one's gates, tenement
YOOMAN
: human
YOOMANITY :
humanity
YOUF
: youth
YOUTH
: a child, a young man, an immature man
YUH
: your
YUHSELF
: yourself
YUSH
: Yush talk is bad boy talk. Or it can be a way of
saying "YO". In other words it is a way for rude boys
to hail each other up
ZION
: Ethiopia, Africa, the Rastafarian holy land
ZUNGU PAN :
zinc pan
=======
PHRASES or PROVERBS
=======
"Me come yah fi drink milk, me no come yah fi count cow!"
(Deliver that which you promised, don't just talk about it!)
"Carry Go Bring Come" (gossip)
"A so im tan" (that is what he is like)
"tan deh!" or "yu tan deh!" (just you wait!)
"Tan tedy", stand steady, means "hold still".
Bunks Mi Res (catch my rest, take a nap)
"yu dam Lagga head bud" (stupid)
"What sweet nanny goat a go run him belly" is a
cautionary Jamaican proverb which translated means:
What tastes good to a goat will ruin his belly. In
other words - the things that seem good to you now,
can hurt you later...
"tek smadi mek poppy-show", which means to make fun of
someone or shame them, making them look ridiculous.
"You too red eye" (meaning, you're too envious)
Ya No See It? (you know?)
"the gal come wine up on me," it would mean that the girl came and was
dancing up on me.
"Chicken merry; hawk deh (is) near", it's a Jamaican
proverb which simply means, every silver lining has its
dark cloud
Even in the happiest times one must still be watchful.
"Fire de a Mus Mus tail, him tink a cool breeze". Set a Rat's tail
on fire and he's thinks there's a cool breeze. Used to describe
someone or something (the system for example) that is clueless.
This characterizes the delusional complacency of the upper classes.
"Me bleach hard lass night"
i partied straight through the night.
"A promise is a comfort to a fool".
"coo pon dat bwoy", "look at that boy"
"I no come to hear about how horse dead an' cow fat"
It's like telling somebody to knock off with irrelevant details.
"Me throw me corne but me no call no fowl"
It evokes the image of a farmer silently scattering who is
saying, in effect: "Don't call yourself a chicken just because you
eat my
feed; I never said I was endeavoring to feed the chickens." That is,
"You
are who you show yourself to be, not who you might say you are."
"Sorry for maga dog, maga dog turn round bite you". This metaphor extends
very well to all manner and sort of do-gooding and should be considered
before
any hasty acts of charity!
"Mi throw mi corn, but me no call no fowl". refers to the conversational
technique of throwing out a provocative statement (throw corn) in an
indirect
manner, thus forestalling any accusations of personal insult.
"Sweet nanny goat have a running belly". It's a barnyard analogy akin
to the
grass is always greener, but much coarser, noting that the sweet foliage
avidly
sought out by the nanny goat gives it diarrhea (running belly). It's
a blunt
way of warning someone off temptation.
"cock mouth kill cock" really can't be expanded upon any further, nor
can the
similar "If a fish coulda keep him mout' shut, him would neva get caught".
"Everyting Crash". The topic is social chaos. Also, "come bad in de
morning
can't come good a evenin'", and the even more pessimistic "every day
bucket
go a well, one day di bucket bottom mus drop out".
"Wanti wanti can't get it, getti getti no want it", i.e., the Have-nots
covet
what the Haves take for granted.
"Trouble no set like rain", that is, unlike bad weather, we are often
not
warned by dark clouds on the horizon.
Jamaican proverbs consistently counsel patience and forebearance, as
in the
beautiful image "time longer than rope". The child must "creep before
him
walk". And remember, "one one coco fill up a basket", take it easy
and fill
up your shopping basket one item at a time.
"Every mikkle makes a muckle", refers to thriftiness, similar to "a
penny
saved is a penny earned".
"No cup no broke, no coffee no dash wey". Even if disaster strikes your
home it's always possible
that all may not be lost.
"Heart No Leap", "See and Blind". These sayings are similar to "hear
no evil,
see no evil".
"mi come here fi drink milk, mi noh come here fi count cow". A remimder
to conduct business in a straightforward manner.
"The higher the monkey climbs the more him expose". A truly comic image
if
you've ever been to the zoo, and comforting to any of us whose backs
have been
used as a stepping-stone for someone else's success.
"A new broom sweeps clean, but an old broom knows every corner". A profoundly
witty statement that sums up any
number of current situations, including the state of today's music.
"dry land tourist". A Jamaican who's never been off the island but still
acts like a big shot.
"no one cyaan test" . no one can compete with.
"Mi a-go lef today". "I am leaving today"
"Im too hard of Aise". "He/She is too hard of ears"
"Him is badda than dem" "No badda mi". "He is worse than they are" "Don't
bother me" (25)
"Is bare dog down inna that yard". "Is only dogs in that yard"
"No badda bawl im soon come back". "Don't bother crying he'll soon be
back
"Dat is fe mi bredda". "That is my brother"
"The chuck need tree new tyres". "The truck will need three new tire"
"Cuyah, she gwan like she nice eee". "Look at that, she acts like she
is so nice"
"Choble nuh nice" "Yuh ina big choble". "Trouble is not nice" "You are
in big trouble"
"Did yuh see dat?" "A who dat?" "Did you see that" "Who is that"
" Yuh no dun yet?". "You have not finished yet?"
" Is the dutty duppy man dweet". "The dirty ghost do it"
"Ef yuh choble him 'im me a-go hit yuh". "If you trouble him I am going
to hit you"
"All a dem a me fambly". "All of them are my family"
" Yuh too fass and Facety". "You are too inquisitive and fresh"
"Galang bout yuh business". "Go along about you business"
"Mi back a hat mi". "My back is hurting me"
"An a jus Lass nite mi dideh". "And it was just last nigh I was there"
"Lef mi Nuh". "Leave me alone."
"Tek de neegle an sow de piece of clawt". "Take the needle and sow the
piece of cloth"
"How yuh nyam so much". "How do you eat so much."
"Is Mr Garden pickney dem". "It is Mr. Gordon children."
"Mi would rada you talk to mi"
Translation : "I would rather you not talk to me"
"Tandy tink sey im a-go help you." "Stand there thinking he is going
to help you."
"Tek you time an mine it bruk". "Take your time, you might break it."
"Wat a liiv an bambaie" Leftovers put aside to eat tomorrow (What is
left for
by-and by).
"gone a foreign" Gone abroad (from Jamaica)
"like mi a go maas" chil out
"gwaan go maas" go cool yourself
"mi a maas a money" (or item), it means you're going to
put it away or put it one side
"Every hoe ha dem stick a bush." The meaning of all that is "to
each his own"
It literally translates that for every size hoe there is a stick that
size in
the bush (or forest) for it. In JA theyuse tools similar to garden
hoe. They
use it to make yam hill - we use it to make path. There are different
sizes
for different chores. So it can also mean that there is someone
out there
for everyone.
"tan so back" (stand so back) laid back
"a peer rumors ah gwan" "Its pure rumors that are going on" in
other words
"Its all only rumors that's being spread"
"did deh deh" "I was there"
"Im sey dat yuh was to bring ting" "He or She said you were to bring
the
thing"
"Sumody tell mi sey yuh dida talk bout mi" "Somebody told me you were
talking
about me."
"Unnu can come wid mi" "You all can come with me."
"I dey 'pon haste" - "I am in a hurry"