puss in a bag

You just get ketch my yute. you go buy puss in a bag.

You sure got fooled, my boy. You bought a pig in a poke.


respeck

“Nuff, nuff respeck due to the runners-up Bad Gyal Jade and Hungupungeh, who consistently shelled di place from week to week. […]”

2018, Miss Kitty, “Dancehall is a Jamaican gold mine”, in The Jamaica Star (in English):

Lots of respect to the runners-up Bad Gyal Jade and Hungupungeh, who consistently stunned the crowd from week to week. […]


respeck

“Fram yuh honest wid people, dem hav fi respeck yuh. […]”

2017, Michael McMillan, Parv Bancil, Shelley Silas, Brother To Brother, →ISBN, page 275:

Provided that you're honest with people, they will respect you. […]


saalt

jam-noun

saalt (plural saalt dem, quantified saalt)

Ou fresh waata an saalt waata fi kom outa di siem spring, iihn?

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Jiemz 3:11:

Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?


choch

choch (plural choch dem, quantified choch)

church (Christian house of worship; a building where Christian religious services take place)

An ier wa mi a se no, yu a Piita, wan rak. An a pan dis ya rak mi a-go bil fi mi choch, an no powa dong a el naa go kyan mash dat op

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 16:18:

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Church (Christians collectively seen as a single spiritual community)


pum-pum

pum-pum (plural pum-pum dem, quantified pum-pum)

pum-pum dem (plural)
pum-pum (quantified)


escallion

escallion (plural escallion dem, quantified escallion)

escallion dem (plural)
escallion (quantified)


coco bread

coco bread (plural coco bread dem, quantified coco bread)

coco bread dem (plural)
coco bread (quantified)

/ˈkʷoːkʌ ˈbɹɛd/

Compound and shortening of coconut milk + bread.

Patty nuh nice widout coco bread.

I don't enjoy Jamaican patties without coco bread.

A Jamaican bread made with coconut milk.


gizzada

gizzada (plural gizzada dem, quantified gizzada)

gizzada dem (plural)
gizzada (quantified)

From guisado, past participle of Spanish guisar (“to prepare, to cook, to stew”).

der

A sweet Jamaican pastry with a coconut filling; gizzada.


red peas

jam-noun

red peas (plural red peas dem, quantified red peas)

red peas dem (plural)
red peas (quantified)

Compound of red (“red”) + peas (“bean, pea”).

Di red peas soup wah mi madda mek fi dinna sweet mi yo si.

I really enjoyed the kidney bean soup my mother made for dinner.


grater cake

grater cake (plural grater cake dem, quantified grater cake)

grater cake dem (plural)
grater cake (quantified)

Compound of grater (“grated”) + cake (“cake”).

University of the West Indies Press
w:University of the West Indies Press

A dessert consisting of shredded coconut in sugar paste; grater cake.


Bustamante backbone

Bustamante backbone (plural Bustamante backbone dem, quantified Bustamante backbone)

Bustamante backbone dem (plural)
Bustamante backbone (quantified)

Refers to the resoluteness of Sir William Alexander Clarke Bustamante, Jamaica's first prime minister.

Yuh see whentime you read it inna
Star seh stranger come in a district
And lickle more a pickney disappear?
Is Fallen Angel carry dem way
Fallen Angel love sweetie,
bulla cake or Bustamante backbone
and especially paradise plum.

1996, Honor Ford Smith, My Mother's Last Dance, page 80:

“The Bustamante Backbone was so very good, she remembered. They were a delicious jaw-breaking delight. The children called them "Busta". She could almost taste them, still. Verona wondered whether that particular candy was still being ... […]”

2006, L. A. Augustin, Sound Awareness (in English), →ISBN, page 62:

Bustamante backbone
Bustamante backbone#English


sky juice

sky juice (plural sky juice dem, quantified sky juice)

sky juice dem (plural)
sky juice (quantified)

Mi cyaan drink bag juice inna di sun hot. Sell me a sky juice, Fudgie.

It's too hot out to drink bag juice. I'd like a sky juice, Fudgie.

A snow cone served in a clear plastic bag instead of a cone ; sky juice


suck-suck

suck-suck (plural suck-suck dem, quantified suck-suck)

suck-suck dem (plural)
suck-suck (quantified)

Reduplication; derived from English suck because the drink is sucked out of the bag.

Yuh nyam too much bun an' cheese and drink too much suck-suck. A suh come yuh suh pop-dung.

You eat too much of that Jamaican sweet spice bread with cheese and you drink too much sky juice. That's why you're so weak.

A snow cone served in a clear plastic bag instead of a cone; sky juice


chuu

Go chuu di naro giet, kaa di wan we waid an iizi fi go chuu dat tek unu chriet dong a el, an a dong de-so unu wi don fi eva. An a wol iip a piipl go chuu dat de giet.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 7:13:

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.


chuu

Dem ada mesij de a no di chuu mesij […]

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Gyalieshan 1:7:

That is a fake "gospel" that is simply not true. […]


rassclaat

/ˈɹɑːsˌklɑːt/

Den a who dis rassclaat pussy?

“Leppo then started cursing me and said, 'Is you why Peter won't give us any bumbo Rassclaat money. […]”

2013, John Masouri, Steppin' Razor: The Life of Peter Tosh (in English), →ISBN:

Leppo then started swearing at me and said, 'You're the reason why Peter won't give us any fucking money. […]

(idiomatic, vulgar, slang) damn, damned, fucking, goddamn, goddamned


rassclaat

/ˈɹɑːsˌklɑːt/

A wah di rassclaat a gwan bredrin?

Rassclaat! Dem gaan wid mi settee!

“Bumbaclaat, Rass, Rassclaat, Bloodclaat: curse words in Jamaica are often used playfully or to express surprise, concern, excitement; […]”

2014, Esther Figueroa, Limbo: A Novel about Jamaica (in English), →ISBN:

(idiomatic, vulgar, slang) holy shit, fuck, damn


mampy

Mampy gyal a di lick now.

“Di crab peeple dem wheh dem neva waa yuh fi si, dem come bak wid di crab dem wid dem big mampy claw. […]”

2015, Oxy Moron, “Whaa gwaan Obaama?”, in The Jamaica Gleaner:

The crab vendors, who they didn't want you to see, came back with those crabs with the huge claw. […]


mampy

mampy (plural mampy dem, quantified mampy)

Mawga gyal cyaan satisfy me. A one real mampy mi waan.

A skinny girl can't satisfy me. I need a Big Woman.

“MAMPY: An extremely obese woman. Sexist Dancehall has not coined a special word for fat men so we still call them big belly man and believe it or not, they are in demand. […]”

2014, Joan Williams, Shawn Grant, Original Dancehall Dictionary: Learning to speak like a Jamaican (in English), →ISBN:


joog

joog verb 1 to have sex. Sometimes spelt 'jewg' JAMAICA 1942

2007, Eric Partridge, The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English (in English), United Kingdom: Routledge:


-dem

Di gyal-dem a come.


musmus

Reduplication; Derived from English mouse; Compare Sranan Tongo moismoisi.

Faya de a musmus tiel im tingk a kuul briiz.

A fire is at the mouse's tail but he thinks it's a cool breeze.


fass

The adjective form is likely a semantic shift of the word English fast in the dated sense of having immoral habits. The verb form is instead derived from the English verb "to fuss."

Mi cyaan ketch yuh. Yuh too fass fi mi.

I can't catch up to you. You're too fast for me.

Yuh too fass. Yuh fi stay outta people business.

You're too nosy. Don't get involved in other people's affairs.

“Mabel: "Gladys, nuh seh me fass. But wah mek yu fallah Ivan gone lib ova da cemetery?" […]”

2008, Jennifer Keane-Dawes, “Dear Jamaica: Living among the dead”, in The Jamaica Gleaner:

Mabel: "Gladys, please don't think I'm being inquisitive. But why did you decide to go live in the cemetery with Ivan? […]


fass

Wah mek yuh a fass inna di people dem business?

Why are you meddling in the people's affairs?

Miss May always a fass inna people business.

Ms. May is always meddling in other people's affairs.

“Tek Iris who fa love now, is fe fass inna people bisniss. Suh everytime people see him a shoob een him hearing aid an a tep like cock chicken a come, dem know fe tikya. […]”

2010, Jennifer M. Keane-Dawes, Dear Jamaica: Expressions of Indigenous Knowledge, →ISBN, page 31:

For example, there's Iris who loves to meddle in other people's affairs. Whenever people see her putting her hearing aid in, walking over like a rooster, they know they need to be careful. […]


butu

Derived from Akan butu (“to overturn, to stoop down”).

der+

Di new neighbour dem a some real butu. Mawnin', noon, an' night dem haffi blas' dem music an' mek up bere noise lakka dancehall dem deh.

The new neighbours are truly low-class people. They blast their music and create a commotion all day as if they were in a discotheque.

“butoo; butu (bü-tü): n. - a dummy; someone who is regarded as foolish, backward or loutish […]”

[2006, Ras Dennis Jabari Reynolds, Jabari: Authentic Jamaican Dictionary of the Jamic Language (in English), →ISBN, page 22:

An uncouth and stupid person; a boor; a low-class person.


osh

Aal a uu a baal nou, Gad bles dem, kaaz di taim a-go kom wen Gad a-go osh dem an mek dem api agen.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 5:4:

They are blessed who grieve, for God will comfort them.


memba

Derived from English remember. Compare Belizean Creole memba.

Unu fi memba di piipl dem we iina prizn, laik se unu iin de wid dem. An memba di piipl dem we a sofa tu, laik se a unu a sofa an a fiil di pien we dem a fiil

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Iibruu 13:3:

Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and [remember] those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering


elp

Siem taim di bwai faada baal out, “Mi biliiv, elp mi fi biliiv muo!”

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Maak 9:24:

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!"


elp

2. Uman we a mada an pikni disorv speshal kier an elp. Evri pikni, weda ar nat dem mada an faada did marid a di taim wen dem baan, fi enjai di siem protekshan we sosaiyati aafa.

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 25:

2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection


yanga

jam-noun

yanga (plural yanga dem, quantified yanga)

Possibly from or related to nyanga, from Mende nyanga (“ostentation; showing off”). Possibly influenced by Spanish yanga (“carelessly; without necessity”). Compare Proto-Bantu *-yȧng- (“dance in joy”) and Kongo -yangalala (“be happy”).


Manley

jam-noun

Manley (plural Manley dem, quantified Manley)

A portrait of former Prime Minister of Jamaica Michael Manley is printed on the obverse, hence the term.

O much patty a Manley can buy?

How many Jamaican patties can you buy with a J$1,000 note?

“Their battle cry is, "What have you done for me lately?" Or: "Let off a Manley ($1,000 bill) on mi nuh, boss." […]”

2012, Nitram Gemsingh, “Stop nurturing 'sufferer poor'”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in English):


blasom

“Kalaahi paas wail flowaz. “Du flowaz, gwaan blasom so mi kyan put yu ina mi ier.” […]”

(Can we date this quote?), Ursula Nafula, Jesse Pietersen, Georgette McGlashen, “Kalaahi talks to plants”, in Global Storybooks, page 5:

Kalaahi went by some wild flowers. "Oh, flowers. Please keep blooming so that I can put you in my hair. […]


Krais

Dis a di lis a Krais Jiizas faada faada dem go bak.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 1:1:


battyman

battyman (plural battyman dem, quantified battyman)

battyman dem (plural)
battyman (quantified)

“Den yuh hear him, 'Lawd!' Him cyaan fight. Di ongle ting him have a him mouth . Him trace like a any batty man […]”

1986, Honor Ford Smith, Sistren (Organization), Lionheart Gal: Life Stories of Jamaican Women, →ISBN, page 45:

Do you hear him? 'My God!' He can't fight. All he has his talk. He runs his mouth off like a fag […]

(vulgar, slang, derogatory) homosexual, fag (homosexual)


maaga

“Tosh uses the sound of a hound in Maga Dog, his song built upon the Jamaican proverb about ingratitude and treachery, Tosh singing, "sorry fi maaga dog, him tun roun' bite you". As he sings, the dog interrupts with a bark and Tosh, "same r....s ting me tell yu". […]”

2016, Mel Cooke, “Story of the song | Dogs, fowls and pets”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in English):


chos

kaaz mi ier bout ou yu chos iina di Laad Jiizas an ou yu lov aal a Gad piipl.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Failiiman 1:5:

because I hear of your trust in the Lord Jesus and your love for all believers.


Laad

Chrai fain out we di Laad riili waahn unu fi du.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Ifiijan 5:10:

and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.


maakit

maakit (plural maakit dem, quantified maakit)


mawga

True Zekel naw eat regular 'im start fi get mawga.

Ezekiel is becoming skinny because he hasn't been eating regularly.


heartical

Literally, "from the heart." English heart + suffix -ical.

your heartical brejrin

Unu fi gwaan use unu heartical language. But mind weh unu seh.

You should continue using your true language. But be careful what you say.

authentic, genuine, real, true (authentic)


enuh

Mi nuh feel nuh Christmas spirit enuh, cah nuh money nah mek enuh.

I'm so not feeling the Christmas spirit, because I haven't earned as much as I would have liked. You know what I mean?

Do you know what I mean
do you know what I mean

so, like, Do you know what I mean? (filler word)


kuol

Mi nuo evriting bout unu. Mi nuo se unu no kuol an unu no at. Mi wish unu did koul ar at.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Revilieshan 4:15:

"'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!


nyuu

Den Jiizas tel dem se, “Nobadi no tier nyuu kluoz fi pach op uol kluoz, kaaz di pach fram di nyuu wan naa go mach di uol wan.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Luuk 5:36:

He also told them a parable: "No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old.


guinep

guinep (plural guinep dem, quantified guinep)

The fruit of Melicoccus bijugatus — a tree of the Sapindaceae family, native to Central and South America.


guango

guango (plural guango dem, quantified guango)

After yuh pass the guango tree pon di lef hand side, guh roun di corner yu si wah cow tie pon a light post ...

Go past the rain tree on your left. Then go round the corner. There you'll see a cow tied to a lamppost ...

Albizia saman
Albizia saman#Translingual

Albizia saman, guango, monkey pod tree, rain tree


raasclaat

“EARL: Yeh, mon. But only 'pon de raasclaat X-Files! […]”

2002, Lloyd Withers, No Sweat (in English), →ISBN, page 33:

EARL: Yes, but only on the fucking X-Files! […]


raasclaat

“Yuh nuh 'fraid yuh get a shot in ha yuh raasclaat? […]”

2013, Calvin Riley, Victor of Circumstances: Highlight the Day-to-Day Struggle that the Underprivileged Undergo to Find Love and Security. (in English), →ISBN, page 166:

Aren't you afraid they'll shoot your ass? […]


grabba

grabba (plural grabba dem, quantified grabba)

If yu nuh put di grabba in dey, yu nuh get di right vibes.

If you don't mix it (cannabis) with tobacco, you won't enjoy it as much.

a form of tobacco normally added to cannabis before smoking


bowcat

bowcat (plural bowcat dem, quantified bowcat)

/ˈbɔʊ̯ˌkʲat/

From Brazilian Portuguese boquete (“blowjob”). Compare the derivation of Russian мине́т (minét, “fellatio”) likewise inexplicably switching the sexual organ.

bor

“bowcat (bow-k'at): n. - one who engages in oral sex […]”

2006, Ras Dennis Jabari Reynolds, Jabari: Authentic Jamaican Dictionary of the Jamic Language (in English), →ISBN, page 17:

(vulgar, slang, often derogatory) A man who performs cunnilingus.


cerasee

Mi bwile cerasee bush and medina.
I boil cerasee and medina herb.

“"Yu waahn dis mint or yu waahn cerasee?" […]”

2016, Sylvia Gilfillian, The Road to Timnath: Di Ruod Tu Timnat (in English), →ISBN:

Would you like mint tea or bitter melon? […]


haffi

Mi haffi cook dina fi miself.


fuckry

(slang, vulgar) alternative spelling of fuckery


kyan

Im kyan swim.

Piipl kyan kom tu Gad siek-a im an im kyan siev dem piipl de fi eva an eva. Im kyan siev dem fi eva kaaz im naa ded so im kyan aalwiez taak tu Gad fi dem.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 7:25:

As a result he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, living always to plead their case on their behalf.


yaso

Mi se tu miself se: "Mi naa go eva get out a yaso!"

I said to myself: "I'm never going to get out of here!


epistemalaji

Borrowed from English epistemology, from Ancient Greek ἐπιστήμη (epistḗmē, “science, knowledge”), from ἐπίσταμαι (epístamai, “I know”) + -λογία (-logía, “discourse”), from λέγω (légō, “I speak”).


guzu

Muma yuh wuk guzu!?


guzu

Sis mine him uncle guzu yu!

Sis, be careful, or his uncle might put a curse on you.

bewitch, curse, hex (use black magic on someone)


faada

jam-noun

faada (plural faada dem, quantified faada)

Iebriyam did a Aizak faada, an Aizak did a Jiekob faada, Jiekob pikni dem a did Juuda an Juuda breda dem.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 1:2:

Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,


bless up

“Yow Marshall, bless up mi kuzz I will reason wid yu later. Junior, deh yah now.' Junior: Bless up mi kuzz, nuff blessings fi de new year. […]”

2011, Richard Bingy Brown, Living the Dream, →ISBN, page 18:

Yo, Marshall. Hey, cuz! You and I'll talk later. Junior's here right now. Junior: Hey cuz! Happy new year! […]


bless up

Everything bless up?

“Yow, Santa, what a gwaan? Everything bless up? How Rudolph and di reindeer dem? Hear say Blitzen hoof did a gi him likkle trouble, him good now? […]”

2017, Daviot Kelly, “Kelly's World: Santa, mi have an excuse!”, in The Jamaica Gleaner:

Yo, Santa, wazzup? Everything okay? How are Rudolph and the reindeer? I heard Blitzen was having a little trouble with his hoof [/hooves]. Is he okay now? […]


bless up

Bless up yuself and enjoy your retirement, Mama P.

Mama P, I respect you; enjoy your retirement.

“Big up who fi big up and bless up who fi bless up. Di usual spec to all Ragashanti Live listeners. […]”

2018, Ragashanti, “Big money scam”, in The Jamaica Star:

Respect to those who deserve respect. Praise to those who deserve praise. As always, listeners of Ragashanti Live, I respect you. […]

(imperative) To be thought of as praiseworthy by someone else ; to have someone's respect. (display of affection or praise)


nobadi

Derived from English nobody. By surface analysis, no + badi. Compare Belizean Creole nobadi.

Di man did liv a di beriyin grong, an nobadi kudn tai im op no muor, no iivn wid chien

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Maak 5:3:

He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain

anybody, anyone (in a sentence that is already negative)


from me born

1975, Vera D. Rubin, Lambros Comitas, Ganja in Jamaica: A medical anthropological study of chronic marihuana use, Mouton & Co. (publ.), page 121.
When asked if ganja made him feel sociable, one subject replied, “Me social from me born.”

When asked if ganja made him feel sociable, one subject replied, “I have been social since I was born.”

1997, Opal Palmer Adisa, It Begins with Tears, Heinemann (publ.), page 150.
‘Praise be! From me born me neva see such wickedness.' Beryl heaved her chest and folded her hands in a gesture of defiance.

‘Praise be! Since my birth I have never seen such wickedness.' Beryl heaved her chest and folded her hands in a gesture of defiance.

“FROM […] chiefly dial; […] Esp in set phrases: from me born, from me a little boy, from me was a child, from me was at me knee […]”

[2002, Frederic G. Cassidy, Robert Brock Le Page, Dictionary of Jamaican English, 2nd edition (in English), University of the West Indies Press, →ISBN, FROM, page 190:

Mi bad from mi born / And that's why mi gwaan so.

2007, Munga Honourable, “Bad from Mi Born”, in Reggae Gold 2007:

I've always been a bad guy / That's why I behave like that.

from mi bawn
from mi bawn#Jamaican_Creole


bruck

Bruck an nah no money, but me no response.

I'm broke and I don't have any money, but I don't care.

Dat a one bruck up sinting weh can't fix.

That thing is broken and it can't be fixed.

“Miss Lize, Eena de middle a de night, Yuh shoulda hear di nize. […] Tap, mah, mi noh done yet. For de husban' whey dem beat up still a wait fi im bruck foot set . […]”

1986, C. Davies, Poetry Wales, volume 22, page 33:

Miss Lisa, You should hear the noise late at night. […] Stop, I'm not finished yet. Because the husband who they beat up is still waiting for his broken leg to heal. […]


bruck

Car, bus and truck a bruck down.

Cars, buses, and trucks are breaking down.

“Min' yuh bruck Jane collar-bone, Tom! Tek yuh foot off o' de desk, […]”

2001, Lindsay McNab, Imelda Pilgrim, Marian Slee, Skills in English: 2, →ISBN, page 45:

"Mind you don't break Jane's collarbone, Tom. Don't step on the desk, […]

Luv it when mi sink it you quint it a so mi bruck.

I love when I go deep inside of you and you contract your vaginal muscles. I can't help but cum.

“Cocky gone up inna har. She seh she feel sumpn tough inna har. Mi 4 pocket full up wid money but. Mi a fuck till mi bruck inna har. […]”

2012, Iyara, “Whine Up Lyrics - Iyara”, in Metrolyrics:

My cock went inside her. She said she felt something hard inside her. My 4 pockets were full of cash. I fucked her until I came inside of her. […]


bammie

bammie (plural bammie dem, quantified bammie)


quattie

quattie (plural quattie dem, quantified quattie)

quattie dem (plural)
quattie (quantified)

From English quarter. A coin whose value was a quarter of a sixpence, i.e. 1½p.

Not a quattie worth sell.

The money we got for what we sold was chicken feed.

(idiomatic) chicken feed, a paltry sum (a neglible amount)


balmyard

balmyard (plural balmyard dem, quantified balmyard)

balmyard dem (plural)
balmyard (quantified)

/ˈbɑːm ˈjɑːd/

Mi a go carry him go a balm yard! For there is healing in the balm yaad.

I'm going to take him to the balmyard! Because there's healing in the balm yard.

“This healing is in many cases linked up with obeah, for if it is true that a man gets ill because a duppy has been set on him, then the obeahman or the 'balmyard' healer and not the doctor is the right person to give advice. This kind of healing ...”

1957, Michael Garfield Smith, Gerardus Johannes Kruijer, A Sociological Manual for Extension Workers in the Caribbean (in English), page 71:

A place where obeah and pocomania rituals are practised.


jewg

joog verb 1 to have sex. Sometimes spelt 'jewg' JAMAICA 1942

2007, Eric Partridge, The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English (in English), United Kingdom: Routledge:


gungo peas

/ˈɡʊŋɡʊ ˈpiːz/


bomboclaat

bomboclaat (plural bomboclaat dem, quantified bomboclaat)

bomboclaat dem (plural)
bomboclaat (quantified)

From bumbo (“vagina”) + claat (“cloth”).


bomboclaat

Money mi a pree fi da bomboclaat year yah.

I'm focused on the motherfucking dough this year.

“[…] me see di las' motherfuckin' one of dem in di grave. Every bomboclaat one a dem, mi tellin' unoo!' […]”

1983, Clyde Knight, We Shall Not Die (in English), →ISBN, page 133:

[…] I see the last motherfuckin' one of them in the grave. Every fucking one of them. You heard that? […]


bomboclaat

Bomboclaat, mi jus buck mi toe 'gainst di table.

Damn it. I just stubbed my toe on the table.

“"Bomboclaat!"
 "Yes! Yes! Fuck it! Fuck it!"
 "Raasclaat! Raasclaat! Spread it! Spread it!" […]”

2012, Ezekel Alan, Disposable People: A Novel Inspired by True Events (in English), →ISBN, page 14:

"Holy shit!" "Yes! Yes! Fuck me! Fuck me!" "Fuck! Fuck! Spread it! Spread it! […]


fi mi

An fi mi 'reality' now a nuh di same like fi plenty Jamaican.

My 'reality' now isn't the same as many other Jamaicans'.

Ah no fi mi own, Sar!

What is fi him is fi him and what is fi mi a fi mi.

What's his, is his and what's mine is mine.


dawg nyam yuh suppa

/ˈdɑːɡ ˈɲam ˈjʌ ˈsʌpa/

/ˈdɑːɡ ˈɲam ˈjʊ ˈsʌpa/

Literally, "The dog will eat your dinner."

Anytime, anyting good a gwaan fi yuh doan mek she know, else dawg nyam yuh suppa.

Whenever things are going great for you, don't let her know. Otherwise, you'll be in a world of trouble.

up the creek without a paddle
up the creek without a paddle

in a world of trouble
in a world of trouble

you'll be up the creek without a paddle ; you'll be in a world of trouble ; you'll be in trouble.


dawg nyam mi suppa

Literally, "The dog will eat my dinner."

Mi glad mi pass geography or else dawg nyam mi suppa.

I'm happy I passed geography. Otherwise, I would have been in a world of trouble.

I'm going to be up the creek without a paddle ; I'm going to be in a world of trouble ; I'm going to be in trouble.


dawg nyam har suppa

/ˈdɑːɡ ˈɲam ˈɑːɹ ˈsʌpa/

Literally, "The dog will eat her dinner."

Mi not even noe har but dawg nyam har suppa caw my family dem nuh ramp.

I don't even know her but all I can say is that she's in a world of trouble, because my relatives are dangerous people.

She'll be up the creek without a paddle ; She'll be in a world of trouble ; She'll be in trouble.


dawg nyam unnu suppa

/ˈdɑːɡ ˈɲam ˈʊnʊ ˈsʌpa/

Literally, "The dog will eat your (pl.) dinner."

Dog nyam unnu suppa thanks to that union.

You're all up the creek without a paddle thanks to that union.

You all are going to be up the creek without a paddle ; you all are going to be in a world of trouble ; you all are going to be in trouble.


dawg nyam im suppa

Literally, "The dog will eat his dinner."

Only Jesus can let him win his upcoming appeal. Dawg nyam im suppa.

There's no way he's going to win his upcoming appeal unless Jesus himself makes it happen. He's in a world of trouble.

He'll be up the creek without a paddle ; He'll be in a world of trouble ; He'll be in trouble.


dawg nyam dem suppa

/ˈdɑːɡ ˈɲam ˈdɛm ˈsʌpa/

Literally, "The dog will eat their dinner."

De yute dem too licky licky caz when dem sell dem vote, when unnu win dawg nyam dem suppa.

These youth are too greedy. When they sell their votes and you win, they're going to be up the creek without a paddle.

They are going to be up the creek without a paddle ; they are going to be in a world of trouble ; they are going to be in trouble.


dawg nyam wi suppa

Literally, "The dog will eat our dinner."

If we continue to bask in murder music, dawg nyam wi suppa.

If we keep tolerating music about murder, we'll be up the creek without a paddle.

We're going to be up the creek without a paddle ; We're going to be in a world of trouble ; We're going to be in trouble.


fi wi

A fi wi time yah now.

Miss Lou seh sort out fi wi life, den celebrate har.

Miss Lou told us to get our life in order before we celebrate her.

Jamaica a fi wi.


fi im

A fi im birthday but a wi get di present dem.

It's his birthday but we're the ones getting the presents.

All a dem a fi im.


fi yuh

Cock up yuh foot, draw fi yuh whisky and wait fi di announcement.

Put your feet up. Go get your whiskey, and wait for the announcement.

What a fi yuh cyaan be un-fi yuh.

What's meant to be yours will always be yours.

A fi yuh dat?


fi har

One a mi fren dem tell mi seh fi har short wig did cost $200,000.

A friend of mine told me that her short wig cost $200,000.

All a dem a fi har.


fi unnu

Mumma say a fi unnu fault.

“Mi a enjoy fi mi self. If unnu nuh waa enjoy fi unuself dat a fi unnu business. A unnu pay fi come in ya fi watch mi. […]”

2014, Shereita Grizzle, “LIME Comedy Café delivers laughter”, in The Jamaica Gleaner:

I'm enjoying myself. If you don't want to enjoy yourselves, that's your business. You are the ones who paid to enter and watch me (perform). […]

A did fi unnu own.


fi dem

A fi dem car dem a use carry dem go doctor.

It's their car that they're using to take them to the doctor.

Dem a handle the money like a fi dem.

They're treating the money as if it's theirs.


unnu

From Igbo únù. Compare Bahamian Creole yinna, Bajan wunna, Gullah oonuh, Sranan Tongo unu.

Wah mek unnu neva tek wan robot come?

Why didn't y'all take a route taxi to get here?

“If unnu know weh mi a go tru, unnu will understand. […]”

2020, Andre Williams, “Woman loses third relative to gun violence”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in English):

If you all knew what I was going through, you'd understand. […]

Yute man, unnu fi beat unnu book.

Youngsters, you need to study your books.

“A because unnu a young girl unnu nuh wah breastfeed unnu baby. […]”

2018, Candiece Knight, “Delivering at public hospitals – not so bad after all”, in The Jamaica Observer (in English), archived from the original on 2020-10-20:

It's because you're all young women that you don't want to breastfeed your babies. […]


mi teeth a hot mi

Literally, “my tooth is hurting me”. See usage notes.


wah gwaan

/ˈwɑː ˈɡwɑ̃/

/ˈwɑː ˈɡwɔːn/

/ˈwɑː ˈɡwɑːn/


badmind

Compound of bad (“evil”) + mind (“mind”)

Yuh too badmind.

“[...] puss an dawg no have di same luck , an me no waan nobody seh a bad mind me bad mind mek me a ask dem ya lickle question. ”

1989, Stephen Slemon, Helen Tiffin, After Europe: Critical Theory and Post-colonial Writing, →ISBN, page 56:

… the world isn't fair. I don't want anybody to say that I'm asking these questions because I'm envious.

How yuh badmind so?

“Miss Maldene, I hear dem talking bout how you bring obeah into the district, but I don't listen to dem, I say oonu too wicked and bad mind, not a thing more than the lady have a gift and she helping out her fellow man.”

2008, Curdella Forbes, A Permanent Freedom, →ISBN, page 12:

Miss Maldene, I've heard the rumours that you've brought black magic into our community. I don't pay attention to them. I told them that they're wicked and malicious. The only thing happening is the lady has a gift and she's helping others.

bitter, grudgeful, malicious, resentful, spiteful (malicious)


badmind

Badmind a wah a mash up di country right yah now.

Envy is what's destroying the country nowadays.

Bun bad mind!

“"Dem face no pretty but dem no ha bad mind," said Kapo's caption at his recent exhibition at Hills Galleries.”

1961, Spotlight: Caribbean Newsmagazine, volumes 22-23, page 30:

"Their faces aren't pretty but they aren't green with envy", said Kapo's caption at his recent exhibition at Hills Galleries.

Badmind a kill dem.

“Nex' ting yu know , one ah dem jus' get fed up an' decide to drop dead jus' for bad mind . She say some people does dead for spite.”

1984, Paul Keens-Douglas, Lal Shop: Short Stories and Dialect Poetry, →ISBN, page 106:

"The next thing you know, one of them just get fed up and decided to drop dead out of spite.

bitterness, malice, malicious nature, malicious ways, resentment, spite (malice)


yuh have pickney

do you have children
do you have children


rat bat

rat bat (plural rat bat dem, quantified rat bat)

rat bat dem (plural)
rat bat (quantified)


ratbat

ratbat (plural ratbat dem, quantified ratbat)

From English bat. The compound includes the word rat because of the animal's appearance.

Mi fraid a rat bat bad.

Some fly inna the market weh big like a ratbat.

There are flies in that market which are as big as bats.


anedda

Serve me anedda rum.

“anedda (a-né-dah): pron. - someone or something else; another; (see, anadda)”

2006, Ras Dennis Jabari Reynolds, Jabari: Authentic Jamaican Dictionary of the Jamic Language - Featuring Jamaican Patwa and Rasta Iyaric Pronunciations and Definitions (in English), →ISBN, page 2:

“Tenkyu, Jezas, fi mek mi see anedda day. Fi mi family an' fren dem, Jezas, mi pray. ”

2018, Shelley Sykes-Coley, Chat ’Bout!: An Anthology of Jamaican Conversations, →ISBN:

Thank you, Jesus for allowing me to see another day. I pray for my family and my friends, Jesus.


aneda

Evribadi av di rait fi bi frii tu get tugeda ina piis an jain wid dem wan aneda ina gruup fi taak bout tingz we bada dem ar we dem sopuot.

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 20.1:

Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.


dem shot mi

Beg yuh carry mi go a KPH. Dem shot mi!


yuh yeye dem pretty

/ˈjʌ‿jɑɪ ˈdɛm ˈpɹɪtɪ/

you have beautiful eyes
you have beautiful eyes


unnu tek credit card

/ˈʊnʊ ˈtɛk ˈkɹɛdɪt ˈkjɑːd/

do you accept credit cards
do you accept credit cards


gyallis

gyallis (plural gyallis dem, quantified gyallis)

gyallis dem (plural)
gyallis (quantified)

Man like me haffi have a bag a gyal. Mi a real gyallis.

A guy like me has to have a lot of girls. I'm a real player.

“Unuh know my style already, me nah push nuh gun lyrics, just nice motivation songs, gyallis songs and songs wid nice vibes weh people can hold a vibe to. […]”

2018, Shereita Grizzle, “Weh Dem Up To: Family man Specialist looking to make comeback”, in The Jamaica Star (in English):


crocus bag

crocus bag (plural crocus bag dem, quantified crocus bag)

crocus bag dem (plural)
crocus bag (quantified)

She use fi get di crocus bag from di wholesale.

She used to get her burlap bags at the wholesaler.


a bag a

Mi see 'im wah day wid a bag a phone a sell outta Cross Road.

I saw him selling a lot of cellphones in Cross Roads recently.

“Mi fat, mi fat, mi fat, mi fat so 'til, mi look like mi nyam a bag a chicken pill. Mi cyan [...] Tings start fi rub, dat neva used to rub before an' now 'pon top a dat, mi have cellulite galore; den mi have swollen ankles an' nuff joint pain, dat come een like a [...]”

I'm fat, fat, fat, fat, so much so that, it seems as if I'm taking lots of human growth hormone. I can … Parts of my body are starting to touch which didn't touch before. In addition, I have a lot of cellulite; my ankles are swollen and I have a lot of joint pain. It seems like …

a lot of; lots of; much; many (large amount)


a crocus bag a

Di man chat a crocus bag a fawt inna di meetin'.

He talked a whole lot of nonsense at the meeting.

[...] the new wig dem, frock, suit and boot tun up well loud! Some a di woman dem a step high like puss pon hot brick and a gwaan wid a crocus bag a tings.

2016, Miss Kitty, “Now the real test begins!”, in The Jamaica Star:

… the new wigs, dresses, outfits, and shoes were hot! Some of the women wore heels that made it seem as if they were cats walking on hot bricks; they were doing a whole lot of stuff.

a lot of, a whole lot of, a ton of (large amount)


Rolling Calf

/ˈrʷoːlɪn ˈkʲɑːf/

As a yute, mi cousin dem use fi tell me nuh fi guh a bush a night-time, for Rolling Calf deh a bush.

When I was little, my cousins used to tell me not to enter the forest at night, because the calf demon was there.

“And hear this - fi months nuhbaddy nuh walk back desso, because as far as they were concern - a rolling calf was on the loose […]”

2020, Simone Morgan-Lindo, “Woman believes demons killed her granddaughter”, in The Jamaica Star (in English):

Now hear this - nobody went there again for months, because as far as they were concerned, a calf demon was on the loose […]

a calf demon with fiery eyes which makes its presence known by rattling chains


Joe Grind

/ˈd͡ʒwoː ˈɡɹaɪn/

Literally, "Joe, the guy who makes love."

'Im come home and ketch 'im woman an' Joe Grind a duggu-duggu.

He came home and caught his wife and her lover in the act.

“'Yu better go home to yu yard because Joe Grind is there doing de good t'ings to yu woman dat you should be doing, but can't do them because yu are here,' Serius jokes. […]”

2011, Richard Bingy Brown, Living the Dream (in English), →ISBN, page 333:

(idiomatic) The man with whom another man's wife is having an affair; side guy; wife's male lover (male paramour)


Dutch pot

Dutch pot (plural Dutch pot dem, quantified Dutch pot)

Dutch pot dem (plural)
Dutch pot (quantified)

Nuff time mi see di pothole dem and mi feel seh dat ah people dig dem fi spite as dem shape too perfect! Some look lakka dutch pot!

I often see potholes and I get the impression that people intentionally create them as their contours are so even! Some of them even resemble Dutch ovens.

a cast iron pot for roasting, baking, and frying; Dutch oven (Dutch oven)


from mi bawn

→ English: from me born

From mi bawn mi neva see nuhbady nyam patty wid knife an' fork.

In all my life I've never seen anyone eat a Jamaican patty with a knife and fork.

“Mi dis know sey sinting no too right. Far im a bawl like im soon dead. Mi dis run fi come tell yuh, Mek yuh know bout wha' deh gwan, Far im mud-up, mud-up from head to foot. Mi neva see nutten soh from mi bawn.”

1983, Valerie Bloom, Touch Mi, Tell Mi, →ISBN, page 28:

I just knew that something wasn't quite right, because he was crying as if he was about to die. I just ran over to come tell you, to let you know what was happening. He was full of mud from head to toe. I've never seen anything like it in all my life.


gungo

Possibly from a coastal dialect of Kongo ngungu.


bandwagonist

bandwagonist (plural bandwagonist dem, quantified bandwagonist)

bandwagonist dem (plural)
bandwagonist (quantified)

From English bandwagoner with the suffix -ist.

“Little Jamaica is a big deal because of our athletes. So mi no want nobody a bash dem and a talk negative about dem. Some a di bandwagonist dem need fi go hide under dem bed and no come out at all!”

2017, Miss Kitty, “Salute our athletes no matter what”, in The Star:

Little Jamaica is a big deal because of our athletes. So I don't want anybody to bash them or to say bad things about them. These bandwagoners ought to go hide under their bed and never come out from under it!


a suh it guh

/a ˈsʌ(ʰ)ɪt ˈɡʌ/

A: Dem fire mi fram di work mi get wah day. B: A suh it guh.

A: I lost the job I got recently. B: That's life.

“FAT MAN, a suh it guh ... wi haffi duh what wi haffi duh, anyway listen up to how it ago guh [...] ”

2018, I.D. Seymour, Most Wanted: A Jamaican Story, →ISBN, page 69:

FAT MAN, such is life... We have to do what we have to do. In any case, listen up! This is how it's going to be …


natty dread

natty dread (plural natty dread dem, quantified natty dread)

natty dread dem (plural)
natty dread (quantified)

/ˈnatɪ ˈd͡ʒɹɛd/

Compound of natty (“knotty”) + dread (“dreadlocks”).

natty dreadlocks
natty dreadlocks#Jamaican_Creole

Cut who fa hair? Doah run dem joke wid natty dread.

Cut whose hair? Don't make those kinds of jokes around the Rasta man.

“In Jamaica, Rastas are sometimes referred to as Natty Dread due to their thick dreadlocked hair. […]”

2014, Annette Lynch, Mitchell D. Strauss, Ethnic Dress in the United States: A Cultural Encyclopedia (in English), →ISBN, page 248:


a suh di ting set

/a ˈsʌ dɪ ˈtɪŋ ˈsɛt/

Literally, “that's how the thing is set”. Likely an eye dialect spelling of "as such the thing [is] set."

lit

A: Dollar gaan up an' mi business mash up. B: A suh di ting set still. Yuh jus' haffi gwaan hol' di faith.

A: The value of the dollar has increased and my business has suffered as a result. B: Such is life. You've just got to keep holding on.

“Di wife mus a feel like dawg sideway, cuz di man meds a mash up har head, but if she really luv him she will mek him do him ting one last time suh him and har can RIP. None a it nuh rite mi luv, but a suh di ting set suh jus' gwaan wuk wid it!”

2011, Ragashanti, “Funeral mix-up response”, in The Jamaica Star:

The wife must feel like crap because the man's way of thinking is messing with her head. But if she really loves him, she will let him do his thing one last time so that he and she can live out their days in peace. None of this right, my dear, but that's life. Just take it in stride.

“A Suh Di Ting Set Up: That's life....usually used when another party is complaining about how unfair life is or things beyond their control.”

2014, Joan Williams, Shawn Grant, Original Jamaican Dancehall Dictionary: Learning to speak ..., →ISBN:


wagonist

jam-noun

wagonist (plural wagonist dem, quantified wagonist)

wagonist dem (plural)
wagonist (quantified)

Dem a war wagonist, dem a two side cutlass.

(literally, “They're war opportunists. They're a double-edged machete.”)

They're opportunists who love contention. They're two-faced.


rude bwoy

rude bwoy (plural rude bwoy dem, quantified rude bwoy)

rude bwoy dem (plural)
rude bwoy (quantified)

Di rude bwoy dem a lick shot.


raatid

Traditionally taken to be a Jamaican form of English wrathed or English wrothed, or possibly from or reinforced by English rotted, but other origins have also been proposed.

Dis raatid fassy a get pon mi nerves.

This bloody asshole is getting on my nerves.

“raatid (rä-tid): int./adj. - an exclamation of surprise, scorn or contempt; unscrupulous; feisty; worrisome […]”

2006, Ras Dennis Jabari Reynolds, Jabari: Authentic Jamaican Dictionary of the Jamic Language (in English), →ISBN, page 104:


raatid

Raatid! But a wha dis?

A mus lie dem a tell to raatid!

(literally, “It must be that lie they are telling. Bloody hell!”)


batty bwoy

batty bwoy (plural batty bwoy dem, quantified batty bwoy)

batty bwoy dem (plural)
batty bwoy (quantified)

“[...]
 "Batty bwoy fi burn in hellfire."
 "Gainst all natural law."
 "I never tell you how I fix that batty bwoy on Flatbush. Me see him walking one night in [...] Me turn to Chalice, me tell him, lewwe beat this batty bwoy [...]"”

2004, Noel D. Williams, Julie Mango: Stories (in English), →ISBN, page 196:

"… Homosexuals should burn in hell. They go against all natural law." "Did I ever tell you how I messed up that faggot on Flatbush? I saw him walking one night in … I turned to Chalice and said let's beat this queer up.

(vulgar, slang, derogatory) homosexual, fag, faggot, queer (homosexual)


pum pum

pum pum (plural pum pum dem, quantified pum pum)

pum pum dem (plural)
pum pum (quantified)

Memba mi seh, yuh cyaan dun pum pum but pum pum can dun you.

Mark my words, you can't slay all the pussy there is, but pussy can slay you.

“Lawd help mi tiday, di likkle gyal pum pum smell a fish […]”

2015, Deanne Heron, Contemplation, →ISBN:

Lord, help me today. This girl's pussy smells like fish […]


tun up

My yute, yu haffi deh a di party. It a guh tun up.

Dude, you have to be at the party. It's going to be da bomb.

“Right now if you are in a party and the party is dead, all you have to do is drop the Buy Out riddim and the whole place tun up” he said. […]”

2019, Anthony Turner, “Tony Kelly’s Buy Out riddim sampled on new pop single”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in English):

cool, da bomb, hot, great, off the chain, off the hook, wonderful


Accompong

From the name of an early Maroon leader, probably from Akan Onyaŋkõmpoŋ.

Accompong. A historical Maroon village located in the Cockpit Country in Jamaica.


tambrin

tambrin (plural tambrin dem, quantified tambrin)

tambrin dem (plural)
tambrin (quantified)

“TAMBRAN, TAMBRIN sb dial; the common folk pronunc of tamarind (through normal loss of -d, effect of vowel harmony changing i>a, and articulative intrusion of b after m). Tamarind. […]”

2002, Frederic G. Cassidy, Robert Brock Le Page, Dictionary of Jamaican English (in English), →ISBN, page 437:


tallawah

Wi likkle but wi tallawah!

“Dem young but dem tallawah. "Me seh, 'Yes, Aunty Roachy, dem tallawah fi true […]”

2003, Louise Bennett, Mervyn Morris, Aunty Roachy Seh, →ISBN, page 51:

They're young but they're strong. "I said, 'Yes, Aunty Roachy, they're really strong […]


peenie wallie

peenie wallie (plural peenie wallie dem, quantified peenie wallie)

peenie wallie dem (plural)
peenie wallie (quantified)

/ˈpiːnɪ ˈwɑːlɪ/

What a way di peenie wallie dem pretty a night time.

It's so lovely to see the fireflies at night.

“Den now, when night come, everybaddy bungle up pon de porch inna di darkness. Wid peenie wallie a flash like when matches hard fe light. […]”

2010, Jennifer M. Keane-Dawes, Dear Jamaica: Expressions of Indigenous Knowledge, →ISBN, page 9:

And so, when it got dark, everyone huddled together on the porch in the darkness, with fireflies blinking like a match which you're having trouble lighting. […]

A firefly. A nocturnal beetle that emits a flashing light.


Patwa

From English patois, borrowed from French patois (“regional dialect or language”).

der

Yuh (can) chat Patwa?

“Depen'in 'pon how wi waan fi deal wid a matta
wi can switch fram English to Patwa
or reach fi Rasta fi a positive vibe;
 or proverbs, fi some wisdom prescribe.
Wi mek up new wud right 'pon di spot
 to add to wi cultural meltin' pot
 of language dat mek Patwa so sweet,
even di soun' when we kiss we teet' […]”

2018, Shelley Sykes-Coley, Chat ’Bout!: An Anthology of Jamaican Conversations, →ISBN:

Depending on how we want to handle a situation. We can switch from English to Patwa or even to Rasta talk for a positive vibe; or sayings, if we want to impart wisdom. We make up new words right on the spot to add to our cultural melting pot of language which makes Patwa so sweet; even the sound we make when we suck our teeth […]

The basilectal form of Jamaican Creole; Patwa.


Jamdown

/ˈd͡ʒamˌdʌŋ/

“Josey Wales' son get kill in Jamaica and whoever do it must be connected to Ranking Dons in some way or nother. You lucky you manage to run far away from Jamdown, but for the rest of we Jamdown follow right back o' we. […]”

2014, Marlon James, A Brief History of Seven Killings (in English), →ISBN, page 635:


all fruits ripe

/ˈɑːl ˈfɹuːts ˈɹaɪp/

“[…] "Like my own father used to say, 'All fruits ripe if mi get what mi want.'" […]”

2006, Lisa Alvarado, Ann Hagman Cardinal, Jane Alberdeston Coralin, Sister Chicas (in English), →ISBN:

"Like my own father used to say, 'Everything will be A-OK if I get what I want.' […]

(dated, idiomatic) things are going well; everything's fine


June plum

jam-noun

June plum (plural June plum dem, quantified June plum)

June plum dem (plural)
June plum (quantified)

Jeezas! Da June plum yah sour bad!

“June plum (Spondias dulcis Parkinson) […]”

2019, David R. Katerere, Wendy Applequist, Oluwaseyi M. Aboyade, Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge Systems in the Modern Era (in English), →ISBN:

Spondias dulcis
Spondias dulcis#Translingual

Spondias dulcis or its fruit; ambarella; June plum.


politrickster

politrickster (plural politrickster dem, quantified politrickster)

politrickster dem (plural)
politrickster (quantified)

Yuh cyaan trus di politrickster dem. A ongle election time yuh see dem.

You can't trust those crooked politicians. You only see them when there are elections.

“(Sake of yuh really cyaan trus' how long
yuh politrickster frien' dem
cyan hold down de pot lid […]”

1978, Joe R. Pereira, Profiles & Poemics, Valley Publications, page 38:

(Because you really can't trust how long
your crooked politician friends
will keep the lid on the situation […]


likkle more

Awright, likkle more mi wi come check you.

“Jah sen de sun
Jah sen de rain
Likkle more wi have
Whole heapa corn grain […]”

God gave us the sun
God gave us the rain
Later we'll have
A whole lot of corn grain […]


likkle more

A: Yow, mi a cut. B: Awright, likkle more.

A: Yo, I'm outta here. B: All right. See you later.

“"Likkle more," he said.
"Yes, time for me to turn in too," I said. […]”

1997, Noel D. Williams, Prash and Ras (in English), →ISBN, page 74:


cerfiticket

cerfiticket (plural cerfiticket dem, quantified cerfiticket)

cerfiticket dem (plural)
cerfiticket (quantified)

Mi a guh a RGD fi pick up mi pickney birth cerfiticket.

I'm going to the RGD to collect my child's birth certificate.

“I giamaicani spesso invertono l'ordine delle lettere o le cambiano, dicendo per esempio flim al posto di 'film', o cerfiticket invece di 'certificate' (certificato). […]”

2009, Richard Koss, Giamaica (in Italian), →ISBN, page 348:

Jamaicans often invert the order of letters or change them, saying, for example, flim instead of 'film', or cerfiticket instead of certificate […]


chargie

chargie (plural chargie dem, quantified chargie)

chargie dem (plural)
chargie (quantified)

→ English: chargie (MLE)

/ˈt͡ʃɑːd͡ʒɪ/

Possibly from English charged. Literally another person charged for the same crime, a partner in crime.

Yuh a mi chargie.

“Socio-linguistically speaking, it is normalised for Jamaican men to express manly affection by saying, "nuff/much love", "mi rate yuh", or "yuh a mi chargie" to each other. […]”

2020, Oneil Madden, The Jamaica Gleaner (in English):


prekeh

What a prekeh! Yuh nuh hear wah gwaan dung deh?

What a scandal! Haven't you heard what's happening over there?

“What a prekeh! Bangarang time again inna Jamaica! Unuh know seh when election inna di air, tingz nuh normal! […]”

2017, Miss Kitty, “Hell, fire and bangarang”, in The Jamaica Star, archived from the original on 2020-10-17:

What a scandal! It's controversy time once again in Jamaica! You all know that when it's election season, nothing is normal! […]


flim

Tek out di flim outta di camera.


forty leg

forty leg (plural forty leg dem, quantified forty leg)

forty leg dem (plural)
forty leg (quantified)

/ˈfɑːtɪ ˌlɛɡ/

Some centipedes literally appear to have forty legs. Compare Hindi चालीसपद (cālīspad), Turkish kırkayak.

If forty leg bite yuh, yuh fenneh.

If a centipede bites you, you'll be in a lot of pain.

“Me seh fi stop spread propaganda pon di dread
Cause di dread nuh have nuh forty-leg inna him head […]”

2018, Michael Abrahams, “Stop spread propaganda pon di dread”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in English):

I'm asking you to stop spreading propaganda about the Rastaman
Because the Rastaman doesn't have centipedes in his hair […]

A centipede. A segmented arthropod of class Chilopoda.


manley

manley (plural manley dem, quantified manley)


cocobay

From Akan kokobé. Cognate of Sranan Tongo kokobe.

“A kind of leprosy or elephantiasis once prevalent among negroes in Jamaica. […]”

2002, Frederic G. Cassidy, Robert Brock Le Page, Dictionary of Jamaican English (in English), →ISBN, page 113:

“(Having) a skin that looks diseased or repulsive with sores. […]”

2003, Richard Allsopp, Jeannette Allsopp, Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage (in English), →ISBN, page 161:

Any skin condition that displays bumps, warts, sores, or a scaly appearance.


Jamdung

“Jah-Mek-Ya, Jamdung: Jamaica […]”

1990, Harry S. Pariser, Jamaica: A Visitor's Guide (in English), →ISBN, page 38:


sorry, wi nuh tek credit card

/ˈsaɹɪ wɪ‿nʌ‿tɛk ˈkɹɛdɪt ˈkjɑːd/

sorry, we don't accept credit cards
sorry, we don't accept credit cards


cocobeh

“COCOBEH, COCOBEY see COCOBAY. […]”


dead lef

Compound of dead + lef. Literally, "what the dead have left behind."

Di pickney dem a malice dem one anedda an' a fight over dead lef.

The children aren't speaking to each other and they're fighting over the legacy.

“Di noise dem a meck
would a meck anybody def
an through wha
why you tink dem a gwan so
no true di grampa riches
as di ole man close im eye
dem start fi war over di dead lef
 […]”

2003, Easton Lee, Encounters: Voices and Echoes : Poems from a ..., →ISBN, page 78:

The noise they were making
would make anybody deaf
And for what reason?
Why do you think they're behaving like that?
It's because of grandpa's riches
As soon as the old man closed his eyes
They started to fight over the legacy […]

nine night

Caribbean funerary tradition consisting of a wake lasting several days


forty-leg

forty-leg (plural forty-leg dem, quantified forty-leg)

forty-leg dem (plural)
forty-leg (quantified)


head

/mɪ kʌm ja fɪ‿d͡ʒɹɪŋk mɪlk mɪ‿nʌ‿kʌm ja‿fɪ‿kɔʊ̯nt kɔʊ̯/

Literally, "I came here to drink milk, I didn't come here to count cows."

DEALER: Di summer hot. Mek wi look pon couple AC before we talk 'bout di fridge.
CUSTOMER: Listen man, mi come yah fi drink milk, mi nuh come yah fi count cow.
DEALER: The summer's hot. Let's look at a few AC's before we talk about the fridge.
CUSTOMER: Listen man, let's get to the point.

“// BW 125:957, "You come to drink milk an' no fe count cow, i.e., not pry into my affairs"; TU 31; "Many people carry out their business in a straightforward manner, but others are merely a 'bag of mouth,' in such cases it may become necessary to remind them 'mi come here fi drink milk, mi noh come here fi count cow'" […]”

2001, Anand Prahlad, Reggae Wisdom: Proverbs in Jamaican Music (in English), →ISBN, page 260:

CO-WORKER: Yow, yuh nuh hear seh di boss an' di secretary a gwaan wid tings? YOU: Listen man, mi come yah fi drink milk, mi nuh come yah fi count cow.

CO-WORKER: Hey, did you hear that the boss and the secretary are fooling around? YOU: Listen man, I'm just trying to mind my own business.

“Patois: "Mi cum ya fi drink milk; mi no cum ya fi count cow."
English:I came to drink milk; I did not come to count the cows.
This cautions you to always remember your purpose and never get involved in things that are outside of your responsibility (in other words, mind your own business). […]”

2018, Canute B. White BSc (Hon), MSc (Psy), MSc (Org. Stud.), Awah So?: A Collection of Jamaican Proverbs for Therapy and Empowerment (in English), →ISBN, page 114:

mind your own business
mind your own business

A: Yuh haffi do six month a training fi get yuh licence. B: No, sistren. Mi come yah fi drink milk, mi nuh come yah fi count cow.

(literally, “I don't have time for that.”)

A: You have to do six months of training to earn your licence. B: Lady, I'd like to get that licence much faster.

“He smiled when he added, "Now, we all know that Jesus is black and that white Christian preachers have been perverting scriptures to conceal that fact, but, Star, mi bredda mon, me think ya cum fi drink milk, ya nuh cum ya fi count cow." […]”

2002, Ron Ehrens, Blue Moon (in English), →ISBN, page 154:

I desire reward without effort. I do not have time for that.


likkle

Da one deh too likkle. Gimme wan nex' one.

That one's too small. Give me another one.

“When me was a boy — likkle boy — my mother use to dress me up inna pretty 'dan dan' when ah going out y'see. […]”

1989, Charles Hyatt, When Me was a Boy, →ISBN, page 23:

When I was a boy — a little boy — my mother used to dress me up in a fancy 'child's outfit' when I was going out, you see. […]


likkle

Miss T, beg yuh likkle flour, nuh?

“Next time, quail a bird-pepper leaf in di wood fire an tie it on wid likkle kerosene oil from di lamp. Mek sure is oil dat use, di one from di lamp, not new oil. […]”

2019, Curdella Forbes, A Tall History of Sugar, →ISBN:

Next time, soften the bird-pepper leaf in the wood fire and tie it on with a little kerosene oil from the lamp. Make sure that you're using the old oil from the lamp, and not fresh oil. […]


brown man

jam-noun

brown man (plural brown man dem, quantified brown man)

brown man dem (plural)
brown man (quantified)

Shi seh a brown man shi want. Mi tell her seh di darka di berry, di sweeta di juice.

She told me she wanted a light-skinned guy. I told her the darker the berry, the sweeter the juice.

“There was one striking exception of a brown man breaking out of stereotype. He was either loading or unloading a washing machine or dryer with his right hand; and holding a baby quite precariously in his left hand. […]”

2018, Carolyn Cooper, “Black man + brown woman = perfect match?”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in English):


chrii

chrii (plural chrii dem, quantified chrii)

Wan gud chrii kyaahn bier bad fruut, an wan bad chrii kyaahn bier gud fruut. Notn no go so.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 7:18:

A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.


chrii

[…]Pan evri wan a di said dem, yu did av chrii giet: chrii pan di naat said, chrii pan di sout said,[…]

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Revilieshan 21:13:

[…] On every side there are three gates: three to the north side, three to the south side […]


rawtid

“RAWTED, RAWTID see raatid […]”

2002, Frederic G. Cassidy, Robert Brock Le Page, Dictionary of Jamaican English (in English), →ISBN, page 376:


leggo beast

leggo beast (plural leggo beast dem, quantified leggo beast)

leggo beast dem (plural)
leggo beast (quantified)

/ˈlɛɡʌ‿biːs/

let + go + beast. Literally, "an animal which has been let loose."

A dutty gyal dat, shi come een like leggo beast.

That's a nasty girl. She acts like a slut.

“In 1982, Steel Pulse, the reggae masters would launch their True Democracy album, featuring the track "Leggo Beast," which one site commentator described as an indictment of a blast at prostitution. "Leggo beast, lips of flattery / eyes of lust / leggo beast, she says carnal lust is a must." […]”

2014, Steinberg Henry, Calypso Drift (in English), →ISBN, page 50:

(vulgar) slut, whore (promiscuous woman)

Di man call di people dem pickney leggo beast true dem carry on bad an' run weh di teacha.

He called their kids wild animals because they'd behaved badly and chased away their teacher.

“'Government hang the man and leave the youths with neither mother or father and nobody to take care of them. Now them beat from one relative to the other. I hear that one of the biggest boy get mad. Him is like leggo beast in the district.' […]”

1981, Neville Farki, Countryman Karl Black (in English), →ISBN, page 60:

(vulgar) hothead; tearaway; a wild animal (wild, unruly person)


fenneh

From Akan fè (“to vomit”) and Akan nè (“to cack”).

'Tap ramp wid di dawg. If 'im bite yuh, yuh fenneh!

(literally, “you'll be in a lot of pain”)

Stop teasing the dog. If he bites you, you'll be sorry!

Di gyal pretty yuh fenneh.

(literally, “The girl is so pretty, you'd faint.”)

to become sick; to feel faint; to be in distress; to be in pain


carochies

/kʌˈɹʷoː.t͡ʃɪz/

Tek yuh carochies an' come outta mi house.

“CAROCHIES, CAROCHY /karúochiz, koróchi/ sb chiefly dial (usually plur); <Amer Sp corotos, playthings, tools of trade, chattels, trumpery, trash, stuff (Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Colombia). Things of little value; rubbish. […]”

2002, Frederic G. Cassidy, Robert Brock Le Page, Dictionary of Jamaican English (in English), →ISBN, page 92:


Blackheart Man

Compound of black (“black”) + heart (“heart”) + man (“man”).

com

When time di pickney dem 'ear seh Blackheart Man deh near, dem tek off lakka rocket.

As soon as the kids heard that the bogeyman was nearby, they ran like the wind.

“There is also the mythical "Blackheart man," a shadowy and dangerous bearded figure believed to eat living human hearts and abduct children by enticing them with sweets. […]”

[2009, Charles Price, Becoming Rasta: Origins of Rastafari Identity in Jamaica (in English), →ISBN, page 24:

a man from a Jamaican urban legend who kidnaps little children; bogeyman


dunce bat

jam-noun

dunce bat (plural dunce bat dem, quantified dunce bat)

dunce bat dem (plural)
dunce bat (quantified)

“dunce bat (bat): n. - an extremely ignorant or illiterate person […]”

2006, Ras Dennis Jabari Reynolds, Jabari: Authentic Jamaican Dictionary of the Jamic Language (in English), →ISBN, page 43:


cool runnings

Compound of cool (“cool/good”) + runnings (“state of affairs”).

compound

A: Yow, mi a fly out tomorrow. When mi touch een mi wi shout yuh. B: Aye mi boss. Cool runnings.

A: Yo, I'm flying out tomorrow. When I arrive, I'll contact you. B: OK, my friend. All the best.

“cool runnings a greeting that means things are going well […]”

2009, John Bigley, Jamaica - Montego Bay, Port Antonio and Ocho Rios (in English), →ISBN:


follow fashion

Di neighbour dem suh follow fashion. Everyting mi buy put inna mi yard, dem haffi buy too.

The neighbours are such copycats. Whenever I buy something for my home, they buy the same thing too.

“FOLLOW-FASHION adj and sb; cf OED follow v. 8. G
A. adj. Imitative; tending to copy what is done by others. […]”

2002, Frederic Gomes Cassidy, Robert Brock Le Page, Dictionary of Jamaican English (in English), →ISBN, page 184:


fassy

'Im woulda look good ef 'im skin neva suh fassy-fassy.

He would look good if his skin weren't so full of sores.

“FASSY: In the olden days, fassy was an adjective used to describe parts of the body covered with sores. […] In modern language however, fassy has become a noun. Sometimes it means a male homosexual and at other times it means a traitor or one who deliberately lets down or huts his friends. […]”

2014, Joan Williams, Shawn Grant, Original Dancehall Dictionary: Learning to speak like a Jamaican (in English), →ISBN:


fassy

jam-noun

fassy (plural fassy dem, quantified fassy)

Nuh deal wid da guy deh. Di man a real fassy.

Don't have any dealings with that guy. He's a real asshole.


cockroach nuh business inna fowl fight

Literally, “A cockroach never gets involved when hens fight”.

lit

“The Caribbean proverb about the vulnerability of one species in relation to another, imaged in "Cockroach nuh business inna fowl fight" or "Cockroach never right in front of fowl" […]”

[2001, Kathleen E. A. Monteith, Glen Richards, Jamaica in Slavery and Freedom: History, Heritage and Culture (in English), →ISBN, page 110:


mi throw mi corn, mi neva call nuh fowl

/mɪ t͡ʃ(ʴ)ʷoː mɪ kɑːn

Literally, "I scattered my corn; I didn't invite the chickens."

“"Mi throw mi corn, mi neva call nuh fowl." Who the cap fits? Usually means they make general statements without convicting anyone in particular. […]”

2016, “Top ten Jamaican proverbs and what they mean”, in loopjamaica.com (in English), archived from the original on 2020-12-19:

if the cap fits, wear it
if the cap fits, wear it

if the shoe fits, wear it
if the shoe fits, wear it

if the cap fits, wear it; if the shoe fits, wear it


mouth a massy

jam-noun

mouth a massy (plural mouth a massy dem, quantified mouth a massy)

mouth a massy dem (plural)
mouth a massy (quantified)

Compound of mouth (“mouth”) + a (“have”) + massy (“mercy”).

compound

Lawd, da mouth a massy cyaan 'tap talk now, man?

Lord, please make this chatterbox stop talking.

Me nuh chittie, me nuh do chatty
Me nuh likkle mouth a massy […]

2020, Shenseea (lyrics and music), “Bad habit”:

I'm not a talker
I'm not a chatterbox […]

Every day dis mouth a massy talk bout 'ow 'im woulda neva lef yard, an see it deh, from 'im get visa, we nuh see 'im again.

This hypocrite always spoke about how he'd never leave Jamaica but once he got that visa, he was gone.

Say dem a fenky fenky, mouth-a-massy
Nuff of dem a chatty chatty
Gwaan like dem a Tikki tikki
Dem a make I sicky sicky […]

2013, Supa Squad (lyrics and music), “System Ovaload”:

They're weak hypocrites
Many of them talk too much
They're like little river fish
They make me sick […]


outta road

/ˈɔʊ̯ta ɹʷoːd/

Compound of outta (“beyond/by/in/on/out of”) + road (“road/street”).

Dem a keep dance outta road. Y'a guh?

There's a street party going on. Are you going?

(literal) in the street, on the street, into the street, onto the street

Pickney, a time yuh 'tap do dem ting outta road. Y'a big man now.

Child, it's high time you stopped doing that kind of thing in public. You aren't a little kid any more.

““Aren’t you going to shower?” She ask him if him would really want har fi shower now wid him wife out deh a beat dung di door. Di man say she nuh fi worry bout dat and dat she mus go shower cause she can’t go outta road so nasty. […]”

[2019, Ragashanti, “Daring balcony ride”, in The Jamaica Star:

"Aren't you going to shower?" She asked him if he really wanted her to go shower right now with his wife knocking incessantly at the door. The man told her not worry and that she should go take a shower because she shouldn't be in public without having washed herself […]


pongonut

jam-noun

pongonut (plural pongonut dem, quantified pongonut)

pongonut dem (plural)
pongonut (quantified)

Probably the dialectal pronunciation of pomegranate.

Pongonut a nuh fi me. 'Im too sour.

(literally, “A pomegranate isn't for me.”)

I'm not a fan of pomegranates. They're too sour.

“alright <,> this is Jamaica nice and that was <,> medicine chest reminding you that medicine chest <,> was brought to you <,> courtesy of ocean spray cranberry pongonut juice <,> ocean spray drink to life and Benjamin’s a trusted name for over a century medicine chest Jamaica nice soon come back […]”

[2019, Michael Westphal, “A History of Jamaican Creole in the Jamaican Broadcasting Media”, in association for anglophone postcolonial studies (in English), archived from the original on 2020-12-29, page 252:


soon come

Literally, “return soon”, or more loosely translated as “be there soon”. See usage notes.

lit

Mi lef mi billfol' a yard. Mi a guh fi it now. Soon come.

I left my wallet at home. I'm going to go get it. I'll be right back.

A: Mi tink se yuh did seh yuh a come a 5 o'clock. B: Soon come. Soon come.

I thought you said you were coming at 5 o'clock. I'll be there soon.

mi soon come
mi soon come#Jamaican_Creole

Ellipsis of mi soon come; (literal) I'll be right back; I'll be there soon

mi soon come

MISS P: Painter, yuh nuh seh yuh woulda come look pon mi wall fi mi? PAINTER: Soon come, Miss P. Soon come.

MISS P: Painter, didn't you say you were going to take a look at my wall? PAINTER: One day, Miss P. One day.

“Nowhere to turn. No plan. Begging bowl in hand would not do. Not this time. Corporate Jamaica and other sponsors wanted a plan. There was none, hence "soon come" became the irritating response to the future of Tappa. […]”

[2018, Paul Wright, “When soon never came”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in English):

one day, some day (used to evade responsibility)


mi soon come

Literally, “I'll return soon”, or more loosely translated as “I'll be there soon”.

Mi a guh fi supn an' den mi wi circle back. Mi soon come.

I'm going to go get something and then I'll come back here. I'll be right back.

A: Yuh naw forward, don? B: Mi soon come. Mi deh roun' di corna.

A: Bro, where are you? B: I'll be there soon. I'm just around the corner.

“"Mi soon come," she said.
"Noh tan lang yu know, the driver soon come," said Janie. […]”

[2016, Linford Sweeney, Dreams of Freedom (in English), →ISBN, page 116:

"I'll be right back," she said.
Okay, but hurry, the driver will be here soon," said Janie. […]

(literal) I'll be right back; I'll be there soon


affi

Y'affi trang if yuh waan mek it inna di worl'.

You have to be strong if you want to make it in the world.

Mi a try mi best because mi affi deh yah fi mi son.

2020 December 31, Jason Cross, “Man Shot Dead On Quick ATM Run On Christmas Day”, in Jamaica Gleaner (in English):

I'm trying my best because I have to be here for my son.

Alternative spelling of haffi; have to; must


DWL

Compound of dead (“dying”) + wid (“with”) + laugh (“laughter”)


ram puss

jam-noun

ram puss (plural ram puss dem, quantified ram puss)

ram puss dem (plural)
ram puss (quantified)

Compound of ram (“male [of an animal]”) + puss (“cat”).

compound

Da ram puss yah waan dash weh. Afta 'im naw ketch nuh mice-rat.

This tomcat is no good. He doesn't catch any mice.

University of the West Indies Press
w:University of the West Indies Press


a bagga

For example, a woman can wear sexy clothes and talk a bagga things, but dem have to know how far to take things,” he said.

2020 October 28, Shereita Grizzle, “Erotic Dancehall Acts Will Be ‘Purged’ - Selector Compares Music To Mother Earth”, in Jamaica Gleaner:


anuh

Compound of a (“am/is/are/was/were”) + nuh (“not”).

A: A me tell yuh fi dweet? B: Anuh yuh but mi know seh a dat yuh woulda seh.

A: Did I tell you to do it? B: No, it wasn't you, but I knew that's what you would say.

Can you imagine if technology never out and COVID come in, anuh the virus woulda kill we innu, just the fact dat yuh nah see nobody, hear from nobody alone woulda kill we.

2021 January 5, Shereita Grizzle, “Bellyful Of Laughter At ‘Comedy Cook-Up’”, in Jamaica Gleaner:

Am not; is not; are not; was not; were not.


same knife stick sheep, stick goat

Literally, "the same knife which sticks the sheep, also sticks the goat."

[Andrea Campbell (2012) Jamaican Sayings - Character (in English), →ISBN, page 41: ““121. Same knife stick sheep stick goat

Whatever someone does to another he can also do to you; beware of such people! […]”]”

The same knife that sticks a sheep will stick a goat

Mi see se yuh loud up Peter bad bout di one likkle mistake weh 'im mek, but memba mi seh same knife stick sheep, stick goat.

I noticed that you really came down hard on Peter for that tiny mistake he made. Mark my words: what goes around, comes around.

what goes around, comes around
what goes around, comes around


miggle

Nuff space deh inna di bus. Guh dung likkle more and siddung inna di miggle.

There's a lot more space in this bus. Go a little further and sit in the middle.

“Dog an all know seh 'prosperity' a di JLP slogan. It big an broad pon dem website, "Partnership For Prosperity". One green bell inna di miggle a di 'o' inna 'Prosperity'. […]”

[2016, Carolyn Cooper, “JLP no own prosperity!”, in The Jamaica Gleaner:

Everybody and their dog knows 'prosperity' is the JLP slogan. "Partnership For Prosperity" is displayed prominently on their website. There's a green bell in the middle of the 'o' in 'Prosperity'. […]


young bud nuh know storm

Literally, "A young bird has never experienced a storm."

[Ntozake Adwoa Onuora (2015) Anansesem: Telling Stories and Storytelling African Maternal Pedagogies (in English), →ISBN: ““Ave some respek fiyuh eldas, 3 my stepmother, or some aunt would say or, "Young bud nuh know storm," 4,5 words reminding me to unquestioningly submit to their eldership. This was the part of being a child that I abhorred. […]”]”

Dem seh young bud nuh know storm: Di elda dem a tek di vaccine an' di yute dem a run weh fram i'.

It is said that experience is the best teacher: seniors are taking the vaccine while youngsters are shunning it.

experience is the best teacher
experience is the best teacher


bollo work

Possibly a clipping and compound of combolo (“friend/comrade”) + work (“work”).

Di party seh a nuh bollo work, but everybody dun know seh true election deh near mek dem dweet.

The party pointed out that these weren't temporary emergency jobs, but we all knew that they created them because elections are approaching.

It’s not a vote-buying, ‘bollo work’ public works programme, we are led to believe.

2018 November 16, Martin Henry, “Martin Henry”, in Jamaica Gleaner:

Temporary emergency jobs created by the government to reduce unemployment.


muos

Di sekan muos impuotant Laa a dis: ‘Yu fi lov yu nieba siem laik ou yu lov yuself.’ No ada Laa no muo impuotant laik dem tuu ya.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Maak 12:31:

The second most important law is this: You must love your neighbour the same as you love yourself. No other law is more important than these two.


kolcha

jam-noun

kolcha (plural kolcha dem, quantified kolcha)

Evribadi av di rait fi fiil frii fi jain ina di laifstail (kolcha) a di ieriya we dem liv (komyuuniti), fi enjai di kriyietiv skil dem an shier di pruogres we mek ina saiyans an di gud tingz dem we kom fram da pruogres de

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 27:

Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.


Chiney

Chiney (plural Chiney dem, quantified Chiney)

Dem shoulda memba say di Haskell a spray, di sixpance a play. Weh dem a guh wid dem Chiney K?

2008 September 12, “Weh Dem A Go” (track 46), in Jamaican Style, Vol.3, performed by Vybz Kartel,Jah Vinci:

They should remember that the Haskell(Hi-Point) 45 ACP Semi-auto Pistol sprays (bullets), the six-shooter will play. Where are they going with their (imitation) Chinese Kalashnikovs?

Me get a K from Vagga from De La Vega weh mek Chiney man skin black like naega

2008 December 27, “Last Man Standing” (track 24), in Pon Di Gaza 2.0, performed by Vybz Kartel:

I get a Kalashnikov from my friend Vagga from De La Vega which makes a Chinese man's skin black like a nigga's.

Inna middle day, gun play. Bad man ah beat di Chiney K. Night turn to day, all mama pray. Dem ah beat di Chiney K.

2008, “Chiney K” (track 18), in Gaza vs Gully EP Part 1, performed by Mavado:

In the middle of the day, there's gun play. Bad men shoot the Chinese imitation Kalashnikovs. Night turns to day, all mothers pray. They shoot the Chinese (imitation) Kalashnikovs.

Mi know dem ends like mi design di map. Rifle with the spikey back, K from Chiney clap

2017 December 8, “Up Top”, in Strictly the Best, Vol. 59, performed by Teejay:

I know the ends like I designed the map. The rifle with the spikey back, the Kalashnikov from China claps.


Chiney K

Chiney K (plural Chiney K dem, quantified Chiney K)

Chiney K dem (plural)
Chiney K (quantified)

They should remember that the Haskell(Hi-Point) 45 ACP Semi-auto Pistol sprays (bullets), the six-shooter will play. Where are they going with their imitation Chinese Kalashnikovs?

Put di body ah di spot right where di box keep. Park di Chiney K, di Russian chopstick.

2009, “Real Killer (No Chorus)” (track 9), in Mr. Brooks... A Better Tomorrow, performed by Mavado:

Put the body on the spot where the box is kept. Spark (shoot) the imitation Chinese Kalashnikov, the Russian chopstick (gun).

Chiney K (Chinese-made imitation Kalashnikov rifle)


kaaz

Nobadi nofi luuz dem prapati widout gud kaaz.

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 17.2:

No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.


kaaz

[…]protekshan fram tingz we wi kaaz dem fi no av no wok.

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 23.1:


jinarieshan

jinarieshan (plural jinarieshan dem, quantified jinarieshan)

jinarieshan dem (plural)
jinarieshan (quantified)

kaaz im si an memba mi im puo sorvant. Fram nou aan, evri jinarieshan a-go se mi a Gad-bles uman

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Luuk 1:48:

for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed


difrant

A nof difrant langwij de iina di worl an iina evri wan a dem, di wod dem miin sopm, so piipl kyan andastan dem.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 1 Korintiyan 14:10:

There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning,

Kaaz wi tel unu bout Jiizas an unu tek di Uoli Spirit we Gad gi unu an unu biliiv di mesij we wi priich. Bot mek sumadi nyuu kom an tel unu bout wan difrant Jiizas an unu redi fi lisn an tek di spirit we dem a gi an biliiv di mesij we dem a priich.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 2 Korintiyan 11:4:

For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.


konchri

konchri (plural konchri dem, quantified konchri)

konchri dem (plural)
konchri (quantified)

Nou, chuu Gad did don waan dem aaf, an tel dem iina wan jriim se dem no fi go baka Erad, dem tek wan neda wie go baka dem konchri.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 2:12:

And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

An juu tu ou di konchri a selibriet di 100 bortdie a di Anarebl Louise Bennett Coverley, uu a did wan a di bigis champian fi di Jamiekan langwij;

2019, “Recognize Patois As An Official Language; Says UWI”, in JamaicanInsider.com:

And whereas, as part of Miss Lou 100, the country is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Honourable Louise Bennett Coverley, one of the biggest champions of the Jamaican language;

country, land (set region of land having particular human occupation or agreed limits, especially inhabited by members of the same race, speakers of the same language etc., or associated with a given person, occupation, species etc.)


powaful

jam-adj

powaful (comparative muo powaful, superlative muos powaful)

muo powaful (comparative)
muos powaful (superlative)

Mi tek waata baptaiz unu fi shuo se unu ton we fram sin. Bot sumadi a kom we muo powaful dan mi. Mi no iivn gud inof fi aal kyari im slipaz. Im wi tek di Uoli Spirit an faiya, an baptaiz unu.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 3:11:

I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.


uoli

Afta dat, di devl tek Jiizas kyari im go Jeruusilem, di uoli siti. Im mek im go tanop pan di taalis paat a Gad ous,

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 4:5:

Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple


Jiizas

Derived from English Jesus, from Latin Iēsus, from Ancient Greek Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs), from Biblical Hebrew יֵשׁוּעַ (yēšū́aʿ).

Wen Jiizas don tel im twelv falara dem wa fi du, im lef de-so an staat tiich an priich iina dem toun

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 11:1:

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities

(Christianity) Jesus (first-century Jewish religious preacher and craftsman held to be a prophet, teacher, the son of God, and the Messiah)


yaad

Wen Jiizas riich a Piita yaad, im si se Piita mada-in-laa did lai dong iina bed. Shi did av fiiva

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 8:14:

And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever

yard (small, usually uncultivated area adjoining or (now especially) within the precincts of a house or other building)


simitri

jam-noun

simitri (plural simitri dem, quantified simitri)

simitri dem (plural)
simitri (quantified)


worl

"Ef di piipl dem iina di worl iet unu, memba se dem did iet mi fos

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Jan 15:18:

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you

Mi lef fram wich paat mi Faada de an kom iina di worl. Rait ya nou, mi a lef di worl fi go baka mi Faada."

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Jan 16:28:

I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father."


Revilieshan

Derived from English Revelation, from Derived from Middle English revelacioun, from Old French revelacion, from Latin revēlātiō (“disclosure”), from revēlō (“to disclose”), re (“again”) + vēlō (“to cover”).

(biblical) Revelation (final book of the New Testament of the Bible)


a yaad

"Laad, mi sorvant de a yaad a lidong an kyaahn muuv. Som wikid pien a lik im."

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 8:6:

Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly."


aatagrafi

aatagrafi (plural aatagrafi dem, quantified aatagrafi)

aatagrafi dem (plural)
aatagrafi (quantified)

Sens lietli, di Jumiekan LangwijYuunit op a Yunivoersiti a di Wes Indiz tek di Cassidy sistim fi divelopi, kandok pailat prajek ina skuul, ah inchajuusi tu di poblikaz di tandad aatagrafi.

2014 May 28, Larry Chang, Biesik Jumiekan: Introduction to Jamaican Language, Gnosophia Publishers, →ISBN, page 63:

Latterly, the Jamaican Language Unit at the University of the West Indies took the Cassidy system to develop it, conduct pilot projects in schools, and introduce it to the public as standard orthography.


suod

Dem stuon som a dem, an tek saa kot dem iina tuu an yuuz suod kil dem aaf tu[…]

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Iibruu 11:37:

They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword […]

Ef nobadi fi get lak op iina prizn, a dat a-go apm tu dem. Ef nobadi fi get kil wid di suod, dem a-go get kil wid di suod[…]

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Revilieshan 13:10:

If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain […]


fingga

fingga (plural fingga dem, quantified fingga)

Dem tai aan evi luod pan piipl shuolda we aad fi kyari, bot dem no iivn waahn lif op wan fingga fi elp dem

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 23:4:

They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.


evribadi

Derived from English everybody. By surface analysis, evri + badi. Compare Belizean Creole evribadi.

“A no evribadi we kom tu mi an kaal ‘Laad, Laad,’ a-go get fi kom ton wan a dem we Gad ruul uova yu no; onggl di piipl dem we du wa mi Faada iina evn waahn.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 7:21:

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.


jred

(relational) Rastafarian (of or pertaining to Rastafarian)


laaf

im se tu dem se, “Di uol a unu kum out! Kum out! Di pikni no ded; a sliip shi a sliip.” An di piipl dem staat laaf aafa im.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 9:24:

he said, "Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him.

Im a laaf afta wi.

2015, The Open Grammar Project, A Learner’s Grammar of Jamaican:


pikni

pikni (plural pikni dem, quantified pikni)

Derived from English pickaninny. Compare Bajan pickney, Bislama pikinini, Pijin pikinini, and Tok Pisin pikinini.


faambli

faambli (plural faambli dem, quantified faambli)

faambli dem (plural)
faambli (quantified)


fambili

fambili (plural fambili dem, quantified fambili)

fambili dem (plural)
fambili (quantified)

Di sumadi uufa iez Piita did chap aaf, did a fambili wid wan a di liida fi di priis dem sorvant dem. Ier im tu Piita, “No yu mi si wid im iina di gyaadn?”

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Jan 18:26:

One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?"


demself

Den som a di Laa tiicha dem se tu demself se, “Bot wiet, a uu da man ya riili tingk im bi — a dis im a disrispek Gad!

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 9:3:

And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming."


fuud

“So mi a tel unu, no bada fret bout unu laif, a wori op unuself bout wa unu a-go iit ar jringk, ar wa unu a-go wier. Kaaz laif no muo impuotant dan fuud, iihn? An di badi no niid muo dan kluoz?

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 6:25:

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?


ienjel

ienjel (plural ienjel dem, quantified ienjel)

Den wen Juozif wiek op, im du jos wa di ienjel tel im fi du. Im tek Mieri an go marid ar.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 1:24:

When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife


infamieshan

... infamieshan wi no gi If a man a moles mi an mi famili Mi naa ron fi poliis ar sikuoriti Mi uda chek fi mi ruud bwai kompini [We are not informers, we don't give information If someone is molesting me and my family I wouldn't run to[…]

1995 February 8, Carolyn Cooper, Noises in the Blood: Orality, Gender, and the"Vulgar" Body of Jamaican Popular Culture, Duke University Press, →ISBN:


ozban

ozban (plural ozban dem, quantified ozban)

“Mi no av no ozban,” shi se tu im.[…]

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Jan 4:17:

"I have no husband", she said to Him. […]


siniek

siniek (plural siniek dem, quantified siniek)

Wich wan a unu we a faada, wuda gi unu pikni wan siniek wen dem aks unu fi wan fish?

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Luuk 11:11:

Which father among you would give a snake to your child if the child asked for a fish?


kraani

Yu si di nyuu puosmisis yet? Im winji an kraani so tel, bot im nais fi-truu.

Have you seen the new postmistress yet? She is very frail and skinny, but she is very nice indeed.


jringk

Tap jringk waata wan bot yu fi jringk likl wain tu fi elp yu tumok an fi mek yu no so siki-siki.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 1 Timoti 5:23:

Stop drinking just water, but also drink a little wine to help your stomach and other infirmities.


dongluod

Unu kyan dongluod di vidiyo.


laiyan

laiyan (plural laiyan dem, quantified laiyan)

Dem ier luk laik uman ier, an dem tiit komiin laik laiyan tiit.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Revilieshan 9:8:

Their hair looks like women's hair, and their teeth like lion teeth.


nuoz

An iivn duo mi siknis did mek tingz aad fi unu, unu neva kin op unu nuoz pan mi ar ton unu bak pan mi.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Gyalieshan 4:14:

And even though my sickness made things hard for you, you never turned up your nose at me nor turned your back on me.


panlain

Di Piipl Dem We Yu A Taak Tu Panlain, Yu Riili Nuo A Uu Dem Bi?

The people you talk to online, do you really know who they are?


ischri

Fi di fos taim iina ischri, Jeuova a gyada tugeda miliyanz a piipl fram aal uova di ort fi worship im iina chuut

2024 March 7 (last accessed), “Wa Mek Gad Av wan Aaganaizieshan?”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name):

For the first time in history Jehova Witnesses will gather million of people from all over the world to worship Him in truth


iez

Kaaz dem piipl ya blak dem main,
brok tik iina dem iez,
an lak dem yai dem,
so dem kyaahn si wid dem yai dem,
ar ier wid dem iez dem
an andastan wid dem main,
an ton we fram wa rang, an mi wuda iil dem.’

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Aks 28:27:

For this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed;
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.'


chrezha

chrezha (plural chrezha dem, quantified chrezha)

chrezha dem (plural)
chrezha (quantified)

No bada gyada op chrezha fi unuself, we de ya-so pan ort. Yu si ya-so, worm an dem sitn de wi kom nyam nyam op unu sitn dem, an dem wi get rosti an mash op. Plos tiif de ya, an dem wi kom brok iin an tek we unu sitn dem.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 6:19:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.


jojment

Bot notn no lef fi wi du dan fi wiet an fried a Gad jojment we a kom, plos di wikid wikid faiya we im a-go tek bon op di piipl dem we fait gens im.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 10:27:

but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.


frii

Den di king dem pan ort, di impuotant piipl dem, di aami liida dem, rich piipl, evribadi, weda dem a sliev ar dem frii, ron go aid iina kiev an baka di mountn rak dem.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Revilieshan 6:15:

Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains,


paadn

“A wa rang wid da man ya duo iihn? Ou im fi se dem sitn de? Im a disrispek Gad! No onggl Gad wan kyan paadn sin?

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Maak 2:7:

"Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"


sofarieshan

sofarieshan (plural sofarieshan dem, quantified sofarieshan)

sofarieshan dem (plural)
sofarieshan (quantified)

English:

English: sufferation

Dong in di geto we mi baan an gruo / sofarieshan we mi riili nuo / mi mama lok di duo mi afi sliip outaduo / mi duohn av no bed mi afi sliip on di fluo / sofarieshan we mi nuo

1982, Tapper Zukie (lyrics and music), “Raggy Joey Boy”:

Down in the ghetto where I was born and raised / I know what sufferance is / my mama locked the door and I had to sleep outdoors / I had no bed I had to sleep on the floor / I know what sufferance is

Bot mi afi go chuu som siiros sofarieshan, an mi aat evi til it don!

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Luuk 12:50:

But I have to go through some serious suffering first, and my heart is heavy until it is done!

Dat miin se di Centre a go du nof wok fi mek shuor se wi no figet bout wi ischri an di sofarieshan we wi lang-taim piipl dem go chruu iina slievri diez.

2018, Carolyn Cooper, “Two crocodile, one belly”, in Jamaica Gleaner:

That means that the Centre will make sure that we don't forget our history and the suffering our ancestors went through during slavery.


piipl

piipl (plural piipl dem, quantified piipl)

We di piipl dem ina wan sosaiyati waahn, afi bi di foundieshan a di aatariti a di govament;

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 21.3:

The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government;


uona

Evribadi av di rait fi liv, an fi bi frii an av kanchruol uova dem uona badi.

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 3:

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and the security of person.


uona

Di uona stil sen wan neda sorvant, bot dem kil im.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Maak 12:5:

The owner sent another of his servants, and they killed him.


iina

Mi kom iina di worl laka wan lait, so dat dem we chos iina mi no gweehn tan iina daaknis.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Jan 12:46:

I have come as a light shining into the world, so if you trust in me you won't remain in the dark.


Wenzde

Wenzde (plural Wenzde dem, quantified Wenzde)


Chuuzde

Chuuzde (plural Chuuzde dem, quantified Chuuzde)

Chuuzde dem (plural)
Chuuzde (quantified)


Satde

Satde (plural Satde dem, quantified Satde)


waahn

Evribadi av di rait fi get wok, fi chuuz friili di taip a wok dem waahn, fi av gud an fier workin kandishanz an protekshan fram tingz we wi kaaz dem fi no av no wok.

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 23.1:

Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.


futbaal

Derived from English football. By surface analysis, fut + baal.

association football
association football


kiangkro

kiangkro (plural kiangkro dem, quantified kiangkro)

kiangkro dem (plural)
kiangkro (quantified)

Kiangkro waah go liiwod siibriiz koh bluo im de. Ebri tob mek fisidong pan yuona batam. Wen kiangkro simaaga kou, ih ruos plaahn fiim. No wiet teljrom biit bifuo yu grain yu hax. Uu no vii no vaa, ah uu no vaa no vii[…]

2014 May 28, Larry Chang, Biesik Jumiekan: Introduction to Jamaican Language, Gnosophia Publishers, →ISBN, page 100:

turkey vulture (common New World vulture)

(figuratively, colloquial) vulture (person who profits from the suffering of others)


dayalek

dayalek (plural dayalek dem, quantified dayalek)

dayalek dem (plural)
dayalek (quantified)


Torzde

Torzde (plural Torzde dem, quantified Torzde)


sopm

Evri chaans unu get fi du sopm gud, du i.

Every chance you get to do something good, do it.


kyaahn

Im kyaahn swim.

Laad, mi sorvant de a yaad a lidong an kyaahn muuv. Som wikid pien a lik im.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 8:6:

Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly."


sitn

Shi aks im fi du sitn fi ar.

Az yu andastan aal a di gud sitn dem we Gad gi wi kaaz wi an Krais Jiizas a wan, mi prie se di fiet we yu shier wid wi an aal a Gad piipl wi gruo.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Failiiman 1:6:

I pray that you will put the generous nature of your trust in God into action as you recognize all the good things we share in Christ.


foundieshan

foundieshan (plural foundieshan dem, quantified foundieshan)

foundieshan dem (plural)
foundieshan (quantified)

Di fambili a di riil foundieshan we faam ina sosaiyati, an disorv di protekshan a sosaiyati and di govament.

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 16.3:

The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.


neehn

Fos Jiizas se, “A neehn sakrifais an aafrin yu did waahn, yu neehn waahn dem fi tek no uol-a animal an bon mek sakrifais gi yu an yu neehn waahn no sin aafrin niida. Dem sitn de neehn mek yu api” — duo bies pan di laa a dem sitn de piipl did fi gi.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Iibruu 10:8:

As mentioned above, “You didn't want sacrifices or offerings, and burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin gave you no pleasure,” (even though they are offered in accordance with the law's requirements).

not (negates the meaning of the modified verb)


oudi

Derived from English howdy, or how do you do.

der+

Epafras we iina prizn jos laka mi kaaz im tiich bout Jiizas, sen oudi fi yu.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Failiiman 1:23:

Epaphras who is here in prison with me sends his greetings.


speshal

Da leta ya a kom fram mi, di elda — tu mi speshal fren, Gaiyos. Mi fren, mi riili riili lov yu.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 3 Jan 1:1:

This letter comes from the elder to Gaius, my dear friend, whom I love in the truth.


smadi

Evribadi evriwe av di rait az smadi we av akses tu di sorvis dem a di laa.

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 6:

Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Alternative form of sumadi (“somebody; someone; some person; a person”)


laif

Evribadi av di rait tu a kwaliti a laif we gud inof fi di elt an welnes (welbiin) a imself an im fambili[…]

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 25.1:

Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family […]


sumadi

Sumadi we taak fi imself a luk big op fram piipl, bot sumadi we wok so dat di wan we sen im get big op, a gud sumadi an wa im taak a chuu sitn. Dem no lai.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Jan 7:18:

Those who speak for themselves want to glorify themselves, but someone who glorifies the one who sent him is truthful and not deceitful.

somebody; someone; some person; a person


alaiv

Kaaz ef nobadi kyaahn kom bak alaiv, den Gad neva mek Jiizas kom bak alaiv niida.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 1 Korintiyan 15:16:

If the dead are not raised, then Christ hasn't been raised either.


big op

Siin az di konchri dem we a paat a da dakyument ya bout Di Raits dem we Evribadi Av ina di Worl, don alredi pramis demself tugeda wid di Yuunaitid Nieshan, fi big op an spred rispek evriwe (worlwaid rispek) fi di selibrieshan a di raits dem we piipl av an di biesik tingz dem we dem frii fi du,

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl Introduction:

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,


chruu

Evribadi av di rait fi tek paat ina di govament a dem konchri, schriet op bai demself ar chruu piipl we frii fi pik dem.

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 21.1:

Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.


chruu

Dem ada mesij de a no di chuu mesij […]

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Gyalieshan 1:7:

That is a fake "gospel" that is simply not true. […]


notn

Notn ina dis ya dakyument ya bout Di Raits dem we Evribadi Av ina di Worl fi get yuuz outa plies bai eni konchri[…]

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 30:

Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State […]


biliiv

Bot sumadi we biliiv iina Gad kyari wan neda sumadi we biliiv go kuot—wos kyari dem go infronta wan joj we no biliiv iina Gad.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 1 Korintiyan 6:6:

Instead one believer takes another believer to court, and places the issue before unbelievers!


a-go

We im a-go?

We im a-go iit?

Bokit a-go a wel aal die, wan die di batam wi drap out.

A bucket that goes down the well all day long, one day the bottom will drop out.

Mi a-go tel unu wa unu a-go si, so wen unu si dat unu a-go nuo se a im. Unu a-go si wan biebi rap op iina wan biebi blangkit an a lidong iina di baks we di animal dem nyam outa.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Luuk 2:12:

You will recognize him by this sign: you will find the child wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.

present indicative, participle, and gerund of go.


uol

An nobadi, afta dem jringk uol wain, no waahn nyuu wain, kaaz dem se, 'Di uol wan beta.'

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Luuk 5:39:

And nobody after drinking old wine wants new wine, for they say, 'the old tastes good.'


uol

Jiizas se tu im se, "Faks av uol an di bod dem av nes,[…]"

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Luuk 9:58:

Jesus said unto him, "the fox has its hole, and the birds have their nests, […]


uol

Mi lov di uol a unu, an siek-a Jiizas Krais di uol a wi a wan.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 1 Korintiyan 16:24:

I love all of you, and because of Jesus Christ all of us are one.