robot

jam-noun

robot (plural robot dem, quantified robot)

Mi n'ave nuh big money fi spen' pon taxi. See one robot a come deh. Mek wi tek it.

I don't have a lot of money to spend on a cab. Here's an illegal taxi. Let's take that.

“Slang expression for a vehicle that is operating as a taxi without the proper license that is required. […]”

2013, “Robot – Patois Definition”, in Jamaican Patwah (in English):


de

Im de kom.

Torkl de swim.

Pikni dem de nyam di fuud.

present progressive tense marker used before verbs


de

uova de


dat

Dat de pus a uol.


die

Di neks die, dat a did di Sabat die[…]

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 27:62:

The next day, which was the Sabbath day […]


star

Me full ah gun pon di Gaza. Run some boy file and find out dem a barber. Jah know star, what dem ah try?

2008 August 26, “Kill Dem” (track 9), in Most Wanted, performed by Vybz Kartel:

I empty a gun on the Gaza. I run some boy's file and find out they're a barber. God knows mate, what are they trying to do?

Whe dem a go run go, Whe dem a go run go star? Start way dem caan run go far.

2009, “Whe Dem A Go Run Go”performed by Vybz Kartel, 01:58-02:01:

Where are they going to, where are they going to run to friend? They start to go away but they can’t get far (before getting shot).


man

Dat no miin se man kyan du widout uman ar uman widout man, kaaz Gad neva mek dem fi du widout dem wan aneda.

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

So then, I have to insist that in the Lord, neither is woman inferior to man nor is man inferior to woman.

"No-no, not a man a get this pretty one."

2002, Frederic Cassidy Gomes, Dictionary of Jamaican English:

"No no, nobody is going to have this pretty one."

a fellow, friend, person (of any gender)


man

man daag, uman daag


bot

Im waan unu nof taim, bot unu naa lisn.

He warned you many times, but you didn't listen.


big

jam-adj

big (comparative biga, superlative bigis)

[…]weda unu likl ar big, priez im!

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Revilieshan 19:5:

[…] whether you're small or big, praise him!

Wi did de de wen Faada Gad imself ana Jiizas big taim, wen im ier di vais fram di riil big Wan — di wan we big an powaful. Di vais se, “Dis a fi mi pikni we mi lov an im mek mi wel api.”

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 2 Piita 1:17:

Jesus heard the voice of God, the Greatest Glory, when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice said, “This is my Son, whom I love, and I am very pleased with him.”


Jamaica

From Taíno Xaymaca (“land of wood and water”).

der

Jamieka (alternative)
Jumieka (alternative)

Jamaica (an island and country in the Caribbean)


mi

Mi born a Westmoreland.

“Mi nearly dead wid laugh wen mi read wa Fieldgar post pon Gleaner website bout mi column, "Hair Policy Infested With Racism". […]”

2020, Carolyn Cooper, “Junjo inna di judge wig”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in Jamaican Creole):

I nearly died of laughter when I read what Fieldgar posted about my column on Gleaner's website, "Hair Policy Infested with Racism" […]

Yuh can see mi?

“Si dat now! If yuh did only listen to mi!” […]”

2019, “Hello Mi Neighbour - Reduce your speed on the roads”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in English):

Shucks! If only you had listened to me […]

A mi suitcase dat.

“Mi just done cook mi pork and mi rice and peas 'cause I didn't get to cook yesterday […]”

2020, Andre Williams, “PORK POT SAFE - Senior glad after receiving COVID compassionate grant”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in English):

I've just finished cooking my pork and my Jamaican rice and peas because […]


it

Derived from English it. Compare English hit, Gullah i, Antigua and Barbuda Creole English it, Guyanese Creole English ii, Hawaiian Creole it, Nigerian Pidgin it, Vincentian Creole English e, Yola yt, Old English ġit, Proto-Germanic *hit.

Third-person singular neuter pronoun: it

Third-person singular neuter accusative pronoun: it


el

Ef unu rait yai a mek unu sin, tier it out an dash it we! Aftaraal it beta fi luuz onggl wan badi paat, dan di wol a di badi get fling dong a el.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 5:29:

If your right eye makes you sin, gouge it out and throw it away! After all, it is better to lose one body part than for the whole body to be thrown into hell.


an

So im se tu di man se, “Chrech out yu an.” Di man chrech out im an, an im an get beta.

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

Then he told the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man held out his hand, and his hand was healed.


an

Bot Paal an Baanabas tan a Antiyak an tiich an priich Gad wod. An nof muor tiicha an priicha did iina di choch.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Aks 15:35:

But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, and taught and proclaimed the word of God along with many others.


cyan

cyaan (alternative)
cyaa (alternative)
cyah (alternative)
cyahn (alternative)
cyar (alternative)


bai

Evribadi av di rait fi uon prapati bai demself ar wid ada piipl.

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 17:

Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.


bai

Wen im fain wan we wot uol iip a moni, im sel evriting we im uon an go bai it.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 13:46:

When he found the most expensive pearl ever he went and sold all he had and bought it.


bat

Duppy bat still a fly like hawk.

Black witch moths are still flying around like hawks.

“Hundreds of species of butterflies and moths live in Jamaica. Jamaicans call large moths "bats." The black witch moth is known as "the duppy bat." A duppy is a spirit in Jamaican culture that sometimes causes mischief. Duppy bats have brown [...]”

2003, Amber Wilson, Jamaica: The Land (in English), page 30:


bat

When yu get one lick from me wid di bat... yu wi know.

If I hit you once with this bat, you'll understand.

bat (instrument for hitting or striking)


so

Wa mek unu kip dis-ya ruum so chaka-chaka?


so

yaso

deso


we

Uman we a mada an pikni disorv speshal kier an elp.

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

Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance.


we

Wen im go iina wan ous, tel di uona fi di ous se, "Di tiicha se fi aks yu se: We di ges ruum de we mi kyan nyam di Paasuova fuud wid mi speshal falara dem?"

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

and when he goes into a house, ask the owner where I and my disciples can celebrate the Passover.


chat

Dem did a chat bout evriting wa apm.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Luuk 24:14:

They talked about everything that happened.

Mi suun kom luk fi yu, so wi kyan sidong an chat.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 3 Jan 1:14:

I hope to see you soon and talk face to face.


did

Im did wel rich. Nou im puo.

Saiman Piita did av wan breda niem Anju. Nou, Anju a did wan a Jan tuu falara dem we did fala Jiizas afta dem ier wa Jan did se bout im.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Jan 1:40:

Simon Peter had a brother named Andrew. Andrew was one of John's two followers that followed Jesus after hearing what John said about him.


fling

So im tel dem se, “Fling uova unu net pan di rait-an-said a di buot an unu wi fain som.” So dem du dat, an dem kudn pul op bak di net, siek-a di uol iip a fish we dem kech wid it.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Jan 21:6:

He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.


go

“Di bwai se, ‘Mi naa go no we.’ Bot lietaraan im chienj im main an go.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 21:29:

The son answered, ‘I won't [go],’ but afterwards he was sorry for what he said and he did go.

Evribadi av di rait fi lef eni konchri, iivn im uona konchri, an kyan go bak a im uona konchri enitaim im waahn.

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 13.2:

Everybody has the right to leave any country, even his own country, and can go back to his own country anytime he wants.

to go; going; went. (tense is determined from context)


hit

From Jamaican Creole it, from English it
IPA⁽ᵏᵉʸ⁾: /hɪt/


du

Shi aks im fi du sitn fi ar.

Singin muotaim du ina gruup a ada myuuzishan

Singing is often done in a group of other musicians

Mi kyan du eniting, kaaz Krais Jiizas gi mi di powa fi du it.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Filipiyan 4:13:

I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength [to do it].


long

[Verse 2]: Him seh 'im love di way mi bubble how mi tan pon hi' long. Mek me talk Chinese like me live Hong Kong.

2019 October 21, “Bruk It”performed by Spice (musician) and Jugglerz:

For a lengthy duration (see usage notes).


worship

Evribadi av di rait fi bi frii fi tingk bout tingz, fi nuo we rait fram we rang an uu dem worship, dis ya rait ya miin se yu kyan chienj uu yu worship ar uu yu biliiv ina, an fi bi frii, aida bai demself ar ina dem komyuuniti wid ada piipl an ina poblik ar praivit fi shuo uu dem worship ar biliiv ina chruu we dem tiich, praktis, ar chruu worhip an di sorvis dem we dem kip

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 18:

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance

Wen dem si im, dem worship im, bot som a dem neehn tuu shuor ef a im.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 28:17:

And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.


sofa

So ef wi sofa, wi a sofa kaaz wi waahn fi elp unu an wi waahn unu fi kip chrang. An ef wi get elp, unu wuda a get elp tu. Kaaz unu wi nuo se wen unu a sofa laik wi, fi unu elp wi kom. An dat wi mek unu gwaan kip chrang wen chobl tek unu.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 2 Korintiyan 1:6:

If we are in distress, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are being comforted, it is for your comfort, which results in you patiently bearing the same sufferings that we suffer.

to suffer, to be troubled, to be distressed


pear

Mi waan sum ackee an pear.


fier

an bieli manij fi riich a wan plies niem Fier Ievnz nier Lasiiya toun.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Aks 27:8:

and we barely managed to reach a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.


beta

Enibadi we av iez — beta lisn gud!

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 11:15:

Anybody who has ears – better listen good!


respect

A: Wah gwaan? B: Respect!

A: Tek it easy. B: Respect!


respect

Run whey di two a dem, dem nuh have nuh respect fi yuh.

Get rid of both of them. They have no respect for you.

“Our problem is that the police dem nah deal with people wid nuh respect. […]”

2020, Romardo Lyons, “Mixed reactions to state of emergency”, in The Jamaica Star (in English):

Our problem is that the police aren't approaching the people with respect. […]


respect

Yuh done know seh mi respect yuh whole heap.

You already know that I respect you a lot.

“Dem a tek too much risk wid dem life and nuff a dem nuh respect dem body […]”

2020, “DANCING DEATHTRAPS - Dancers risking serious injuries doing stunts”, in The Jamaica Star (in English):

They're taking too many risks with their life and a lot of them don't respect their body. […]


fag

Bot wa unu nuo buot tumaro? Unu no iivn nuo ou unu laif a-go go tumaro. Unu laif komiin jos laik fag. Di fag kom dong fi likl bit, an den az di son kom out so, di fag jos disapier.

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

Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. Your life is like a fog that comes in for a little while, then when the sun comes out the fog vanishes away.


si

Mi wuda laik si im tu.


si

Si Jan ya.

Si yu buk-dem ya.


ar

Evribadi av di rait fi uon prapati bai demself ar wid ada piipl.

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 17:

Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.


ar

Wen shi riich uom shi si ar pikni lai dong pan ar bed an di diiman gaan outa ar.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Maak 7:30:

She went home and found the child lying on the bed, the demon gone.


se

Bot wen im si uol iip a piipl fram di Farisii an Sadyusii gruup a kom fi im baptaiz dem, im se tu dem se, “Unu siniek pikni unu! A uu waan unu fi ron we fram di jojment we a kom?

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 3:7:

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?


se

Bot wen im ier se a Erad pikni, Arkelos, tek uova an did a ruul Judiya, im kech im fried an neehn waahn go de-so. An kaa Gad did waan im aaf iina wan jriim, im lef go Gyalalii insted.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 2:22:

But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee.

(relative) that (which, who; representing a subject, direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition)


tu

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.


wan

Kaaz a onggl wan Gad de bout, an Jiizas Krais a di migl man, di onggl wan we kyan bring Gad an piipl tugeda.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 2:5:

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,


wan

So nou, di Samaritan uman se tu Jiizas se, “Yu a wan Juu an mi a wan Samaritan uman.[…]

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 4:9:

he Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria? […]


Jamaican

Jamiekan (alternative)
Jumiekan (alternative)

A normal Jamaican ting dat.

“[…] Yuh sure yuh a Jamaican gyal? […]”

2019, Zalika Reid-Benta, Frying Plantain: Longlisted for the Giller Prize 2019 (in English), →ISBN:

[…] Girl, are you sure you're Jamaican? […]


Jamaican

jam-noun

Jamaican (plural Jamaican dem, quantified Jamaican)

dem (Jamaican plural)
Jamaican (quantified)
Jamiekan (alternative)
Jumiekan (alternative)

Mi haffi tell unnu dat mi a Jamaican.

I must say (to you all) that I'm a Jamaican.

“[…] 'nutten eena di world nuh sweet like when fi mi Jamaican dem go fi spoke […]”

2005, Mervyn Morris, Making West Indian Literature (in Jamaican Creole), →ISBN, page 80:

[…] nothing in the world is better than when Jamaicans attempt to speak eloquently […]


ax

“Well she sey one a de man dem come right up to har car window an show har fe him sign wid him finga, order har outa de plaza like sey it was him personal yaad an ax har if she tink sey chu hooman a go tun Prime Minista she can jus come park which part she have a mind. […]”

2006, Amina Blackwood-Meeks, “Aiming at your dreams”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in Jamaican Creole):

So she said one of the men walked right up to her car window and pointed at his sign with his finger and ordered her to leave the plaza as if it were his own home. He asked her if she thought that the fact that a woman was going to become Prime Minister that she could just park anywhere she wanted to. […]


don

Derived from English don, particularly in the sense of a crime boss.

Dem figet seh mi a di one don?

Have they forgotten that I'm the one true leader?

From di word start go roun' seh him want turn di don, a whole heap a man start pree him and warn him fi be careful.

As soon as word got around that he wanted to become the community leader, a lot of people took notice of him and warned him to be careful.

don, leader, community leader, crime boss, head of a garrison


don

Afta dem don lisn di king, dem lef go we. Az dem a go bout dem bizniz so, no di sed staar we dem did si iina di Iis said kom bak agen! It galang infronta dem til it riich wich paat di pikni did de, an a uova de-so it tap.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 2:9:

After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.

(auxiliary, taking a past tense) Used as a remote past marker

As an auxiliary verb:
Used as a remote past marker


da

An da nyuuz de pred aal uova da ieriya de.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 9:26:

News of what happened spread throughout that region.


staat

Wen mi si di man, mi fling dong miself a im fut an no muuv — laik se mi ded. Den im chrech out im rait an, an toch mi an se tu mi se, “No bada fried. Mi a di fos an mi a di laas — evriting staat wid mi, an evriting don wid mi.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Revilieshan 1:17:

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last,


bes

Du yu bes an mikies kom si mi.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 2 Timoti 4:9:

Do your best and make haste to come see me


aal

di daag iit aal di fuud


ed

Wen unu kip we fram fuud fi worship Gad, ail unu ed an wash unu fies man,

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 6:17:

But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,


wen

Dem lov wen piipl gi dem speshal oudi wen dem go a maakit, an wen dem kaal dem, 'Tiicha'.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 23:7:

They love [when] people to greet them with respect [when] in the marketplaces, and they love to have people call them 'Teacher'.


uova

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.


dem

mi fren dem

(postpositive) placed after a noun phrase to mark it as plural; -s


ton

Jiizas ton roun an se tu dem[…]

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Luuk 23:28:


big up

Me just want to say big up yourself, General.

I'd just like to say that you have my respect, Sir.

“Yuh kno seh a bear tings a go gwaan from wi touch six form. Big up wi teacha dem […]”

2010, Ardenne High Grade 13 (class of 2010), Ardenne High Grade 13 Year book 2010 (in Jamaican Creole), page 18:

You knew that we were going to get up to a lot of stuff once we entered 13th grade. Teachers, we respect you […]

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

Big up yuhself!

good to see you; nice to see you (greeting)

Big up Miss Lou!


buck

And ‘im go pon i’, and when ‘im a go in a di river now, him buck up Brer Alligator.

1985, Daryl C. Dance, Folklore from Contemporary Jamaicans, page 17:

And he goes on it, and when he goes in the river now, he encounters Brother Alligator.

Well from deh so to when she stop ah get me bottom bruise, mi chess batta an a bite me tongue ‘bout three time when me chin buck up pon fi har neck back

1989, Charles Hyatt, When Me was a Boy, page 66:

Well from there to where she (the horse) stopped I got my bottom bruised, my chest battered and I bit my tongue about three times when my chin bumped into the back of her neck.

Hear him, ‘Mussirolinkina, Mussirolinkina,’ an all de way to him yard him sey de name ovah an ovah. (Dat time he stick up him big toe eena da air, fe hinda him buck i’ an fegat da name.

1996, Louise Bennett, The Routledge Reader in Caribbean Literature, page 150:

Hear him say, “Mussirolinkina,Mussirolinkina,” and all the way to his yard he said the name over and over. (That time he stuck up his big toe into the air, to stop him from bumping it and forgetting the name.

Me buck up pon a hot gal factory, me know me haffi win. See the gal them a rock, see the gal them a swing.

2005 September 27, “Send It On”performed by Sean Paul:

I come across a hot girl factory, I know I have to win. See the girls rocking, see the girls swinging.

He buck de tree, ‘crape off all de bark.

2014 April 25, George Barret, Jamaican Anansi Tales and Stories: 84. The Hunter. A. The Bull turned Courter:

He bumped into the tree, scraped off all he bark.

(usually followed by up pon) To bump; To bump into; To encounter

You ever buck a gal weh deep like a bucket?

1997 December 9, “Who am I? (Sim Simma)” (track 2), in Many Moods of Moses, performed by Beenie Man:

Did you ever fuck a girl who has a vagina as deep as a bucket?

Mr. Vegas: Trilala-lala-lala, boom-boom, shi-laay. I and I buck a hot gal today

2000 March 28, “Haffi Git Da Gal Yah (Hot Gal Today)” (track 5), in Stage One, performed by Sean Paul and Mr. Vegas:

Trilala-lala-lala, boom-boom, shi-laay. I will fuck a hot girl today.

When yuh buck har, trick har and fuck har. Nuh box nor chuck har, trick har and fuck har. Listen, nuh suck har, trick har and fuck har

2004, “When Yu Buck Har”performed by Vybz Kartel:

When you fuck her, trick her and fuck her. Don't hit her or throw her around, trick her and fuck her. Listen, don't suck her, trick her and fuck her.

She never buck a man, fi dweet mek she cry, mek she feel like she go up inna di air like she a fly

2011 February 25, “Look Gyal Hard”, performed by Elephant Man:

She's never fucked a man before, to do it makes her cry, it makes her feel like she's going up into the air like she's flying.


kip

Kip unu yai dem uopm, tan op chrang fi wa unu biliiv, no fried a notn an gwaan kip chrang.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 1 Korintiyan 16:13:

Keep your eyes open, stand up for what you believe in, fear nothing and keep strong.

It was Saint Thomas in the east / There some bearded man keep a big feast

1972, “Beardman Feast”, performed by Max Romeo, (acrolectal):

It was Saint Thomas (parish) in the east / There some bearded men held a big feast

Ascorden to one Gleaner report weh come out Monday gone, prime minister Andrew Holness keep one big meeting pon Internet fi di Jamaican dem a farin.

2022 December 18, Carolyn Cooper, “Jamaica a ‘poster child’ fi true”, in The Gleaner:

According to a Gleaner report that came out last Monday, prime minister Andrew Holness held a big meeting on the Internet for foreign Jamaicans.


lik

So im get som ruop an tek dem mek wan wip. Den im yuuz di wip an ron out di uol a di sela dem outa di yaad: dem an dem kou an dem shiip an dem dov. Im lik uova di piipl dem we a chienj out moni kain dem, an im ton uova aal a dem tiebl dem.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Jan 2:15:

He got some rope and made a whip. He used the whip to drive all the sellers out of the temple, along with their cattle, sheep, and doves. He struck the moneychangers and turned over their tables.


op

git op, wiek op, uopm op, bon op


kom

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.


trace

Mi big bad and brave bwoy. Duh weh yuh wah fi duh. Yuh sey a your place. Duh weh yuh wah fi duh. And yuh nuh watch face. Duh weh yuh wah fi duh. It just trace yuh a trace.

2011 June 25, “Big Bad and Brave (Duh Weh Yuh Wah Fi Duh)”performed by Vybz Kartel:

I'm big, bad and brave, boy. Do whatever you want to do to me. You say to meet you at your place to fight. Do whatever you want to do to me. Any you don't care about my reputation. Do whatever you want to do to me. It's just bullshit that you're chatting.


trace

The war him trace. Man haffi run if it a squeeze and press, yeah.

2007 January 1, “Ay Ya Ay Ya” (track 14), in Riddim Driven: Shadowz(2008), performed by Blak Rino:

He talks idly about war but he has to run if I squeeze and press the trigger of my gun.


beli

Derived from English belly, from Middle English bely, beli, bali, below, belew, balyw, from Old English bielġ (“bag, pouch, bulge”), from Proto-West Germanic *balgi, *balgu, from Proto-Germanic *balgiz, *balguz (“skin, hide, bellows, bag”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰelǵʰ- (“to swell, blow up”).

der

Afta Jiizas neehn nyam notn fi uol-a faati die an faati nait, im beli did a baal tu ou im onggri.

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

After Jesus hadn't eaten anything for forty days and forty nights in a row, his stomach rumbled, due to how hungry he was.


yard

jam-noun

yard (Cassidy/JLU orthography spelling yaad)

Unnu love people yard too much.

Y'all love spending time in other people's homes too much.

Nuh weh nuh nice like yard.

“You say use a condom and dem say, "Mi naah use condom, mi have mi wife a mi yard and mi wife clean and me clean."”

1999, Kamala Kempadoo, Sun, Sex, and Gold: Tourism and Sex Work in the Caribbean (in English), →ISBN, page 138:

You say use a condom and they say, "I'm not going to use a condom. My wife's at home and my wife and I are both clean."


yard

yard dem (plural)
yard (quantified)
yaad (alternative)
yawd (alternative)


di

Is a riddim mi love from birth. Di harmonies, di lyrics; everything perfect.

It's a rhythm I've always loved. The harmony, the lyrics ... everything's perfect.


av

Evribadi av di rait fi uon prapati bai demself[…]

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 17:

Everyone has the right to own property alone […]


batty man

batty man (plural batty man dem, quantified batty man)

batty man dem (plural)
batty man (quantified)


batty boy

batty boy (plural batty boy dem, quantified batty boy)

batty boy dem (plural)
batty boy (quantified)


ackee

ackee (plural ackee dem, quantified ackee)

ackee dem (plural)
ackee (quantified)
akee (alternative)
aki (alternative)

Possibly from Akan aŋkye or Kuwaa a-kee.

Nuttn nuh nice like ackee and saltfish an' fry dumplin' fi breakfast.

There's nothing better than ackee and salted codfish with fried dumplings for breakfast.


wai

[…]Uu kyan se wai im mek op im main fi du di sitn dem we im du?[…]

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Ruoman 11:33:

[…] You can see why he made up his mind to do the things he does?


Babylon

(historical) Babylon (an ancient city, the ancient capital of Babylonia in modern Iraq, built on the banks of the Euphrates)

A: Wah happen to di music? B: Babylon lock off di sound.

A: What happened to the music? B: The police shut down the sound system.

“Then she a-show I seh well right now she a-go call Babylon bwoy dem ofe carry I go gaol.”

1976, N. D. Williams · 1976, Ikael Torass, →ISBN, page 288:

So she was explaining to me that she was about to call the police so that they'd take me to jail.

“All inna Buckingham Palace Iyah. Herb haffi burn! De healin' ah de nation haffi burn ... Rasta, I an I ah go leave before de Babylon cum pan de seen, Zeen.”

2011, Marcus Bethel, Scars and Stripes: The Lasting Impression, →ISBN, page 83:

Yes Sir, even in Buckingham Palace. We have to smoke marijuana! The healing of the nation needs to be smoked ... Hey man, I'm going to leave before the cops get here, you know what I mean?

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

(slang) cops, police (law enforcement organisation)

Bun dung Babylon!

“[...] Black man can't live in a Babylon yu nah see it, we must return to our own land, back to Africa ; the Black man won't get no power , no justice inna Babylon [...]”

1987, Paul McGilchrist, Black Voices: An Anthology of ACER'S Black Young Writers Competition, →ISBN, page 110:

… Blacks shouldn't live in this oppressive system. Don't you see? We have to return to our land, back to Africa. Blacks won't get any power. There's no justice in this oppressive system.

(slang) an oppressive government or system


ou

ou iz it?

ou kom?

Juu tu ou Jamiekan a di wan langwij we bring evri Jamiekan tugeda;

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

Due to how Jamaican is the language that brings all Jamaicans together;


par

Yo, sexy ladies waan par wid us. Inna di car wid us, dem nah war wid us

2002 November 12, “Get Busy” (track 5), in Dutty Rock, performed by Sean Paul:

Yo, sexy ladies want to chill with us. In the car with us, they don't war with us.

DAMIAN MARLEY:Cause him too par with we, we here when Demus show love

2007 January 1, “The Traffic Jam” (track 5), in Mind Control, performed by Stephen Marley, Damian Marley, and Julian Marley:

Because he also associated with us, we were here when Chaka Demus showed love.

Mi na go par with T.Montana neither Pablo Escobar

2009 June 16, “No Cocaine” (track 2), in Escape From Babylon, performed by Alborosie:

I'm not going to hang out with Tony Montana or Pablo Escobar.


posse

posse (plural posse dem, quantified posse)

Nuh walk inna posse, mi nuh walk inna gang.

I don't belong to any criminal crews. I don't belong to any gangs.


bleach

From English bleach (whiten). A reference to the fact that as night turns to day the sky gets lighter, as if it is being bleached.

And that's why ah nuff little youth have up some fat 'matic with the extra magazine inna dem back pocket and a bleach a night time inna some black jacket.

2005 September 13, “Welcome to Jamrock” (track 3), in Welcome to Jamrock, performed by Damian Marley:

And that's why a lot of little youths carry large automatic guns with an extra magazine in their back pockets and stay up through the night in black jackets.

'Fraid of me, dem 'fraid. Me is a bwoy weh can bleach and wait.

2007 January 1, “Ay Ya Ay Ya” (track 14), in Riddim Driven: Shadowz, performed by Blak Ryno:

Afraid of me, they're afraid. I'm a boy who can stay awake through the night and wait.


batty

batty (plural batty dem, quantified batty)

Dem a wear buss batty pants.

They're wearing pants with rips by the butt.

A voice along with the music was “chatting” the lyrics, “Gal batty broad, she come in a mi yard, me tek off mi shirt and [...]”

2009, Hezie Samuels, Soul Sand Grains: The Cost of No Change (in English), →ISBN, page 12:

The girl's butt is wide. She came to my home. I took off my shirt and …


dovecot

dovecot (plural dovecot dem, quantified dovecot)

dovecot dem (plural)
dovecot (quantified)

Probably from Dovecot Memorial Park in Spanish Town, Jamaica (though there are three gravesites located in Jamaica with this name).

Me a talk wid gunshot, mi done chat. Send bwoy go Dovecot, mi love dat

2008 October 12, “Me Talk With Gunshot”performed by Vybz Kartel:

I talk with (a) gunshot, I'm done chatting. I send (the) boy to the grave, I love that

Tuff chatting, dovecot. Me kuff kaff him cause him love chat

2009, “Thug Anthem”performed by Blak Rhyno:

Tough chatting (leads to) the grave. I shoot him because he loves to chat (tough).

The grave (a sometimes metaphorical location of death, or the state of death itself)


nuo

Wen unu a gi we notn, no bada mek unu lef an nuo wa unu rait an a du

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 6:3:

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Mi nuo di man.

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


wid

Evribadi av di rait fi uon prapati bai demself ar wid ada piipl.

Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.


canna

Nobody canna cross it.

“Cues on various levels of linguistic description suggested that he was attempting to speak ‘proper English’ for the camera while at the same time clearly lacking the linguistic competence to do so. The interview with Brown became famous when Jamaican DJ Kevin Hamilton (’DJ Powa’) remixed samples from it over an electronic beat and published the result on the video-sharing website Youtube.^([sic]) The music video went viral and sparked a wave of subsequent interviews, parodies and meta-linguistic commentary. The title of the song – “Nobody canna cross it” – has become emblematic of this entire phenomenon. […]”

2013, Axel Bohmann, “Nobody canna cross it: An interactional perspective on discourse in motion”, in The University of Texas at Austin, Department of English (in English), page 4:


spar

I'm so far, my main spars dem no near mi. Singing my song to let my enemies hear mi.

2007, “They Fear Me” (track 6), in Gangsta for Life:The Symphony of David Brooks (2007), performed by Mavado (singer):

I'm so far better than the competition that my main friends aren't near me in ability. Singing my song to let my enemies hear me.


nanny

nanny (plural nanny dem, quantified nanny)


waif

“It rait dong se, ‘Eni man we lef dem waif fi gi ar di piepa we shuo se dem no marid agen.’ Bot ier wa mi a se: eni man we brok op wid im waif, an a no laik se shi did a kip man wid im ar a gwaan wid no ada seks sin, ef da uman de go marid wan neks man, a di fos ozban wuda mek shi a liv iina sin kaa nou shi wudaana sliip wid wan neks man. An di man we marid da uman de afta ar ozban lef ar, im a liv iina sin tu, kaa im a sliip wid wan neks man waif

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 5:31-32:

"It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.


boots

boots (plural boots dem, quantified boots)

Me fling weh di boots cah me waan gi' you a baby.

I got rid of the condom because I want to give you a baby.

I hear some of the lyrics "Yuh pum pum clean and ready,
 Suh mi dash weh di boots, And mi cum inna yuh belly
 Giddy up pon di cocky"
 Wha de rass.....? […]”

2014, Janelle James, Emotry: Self Expression (in English), page 32:

I listen to some of the lyrics, "Your pussy is clean and ready[/perfect]. So I throw away the condom and I cum in your belly. Ride my cock. Giddy up!" What the fuck? […]


boots

Mi nah boots no violence.

“An mi nah boots no violence, but if it should go to one on one, if you put me an Beenie inna de ring, take off all we jewel and put we inna two boxing glove, mi kill him. No Rasta gyal cyaah fight de general. I don't wanna go there. […]”

2012, Melville Cooke, “Story Of The Song: Boxing a musical contender”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in Jamaican Creole), archived from the original on 2021-06-18:

I'm not promoting any violence, but if there's ever a face off, and you put Beenie and me in the ring, take off all our jewellery and have us put on boxing gloves, I'll kill him. A Rasta girl can't fight the general. Let's not go there. […]


partner

partner (plural partner dem, quantified partner)

partner dem (plural)
partner (quantified)
pardner (alternative)
partnah (alternative)

A just me and mi partner 'Dread' know how fi entertain di people.

Only my partner, 'Dread', and I know how to entertain the people.

It a work and a it me a throw partner out of and a it all put food pan mi table.

It works and I use some of that money to contribute to the informal saving scheme I'm a part of. It puts food on the table.


wi

Derived from English we. Compare Sranan Tongo wi.

Wi cyaan tek it nuh more!

“If de herbs wi get is good, dem will want lots more by next week […]”

2011, Richard Bingy Brown, Living the Dream (in English), →ISBN, page 58:

Wi house a buil' a St. Catherine.

Our new house is being built in St. Catherine.

“All di nice time was fi dem,
Dem tek wi black sista and use dem,
Dem starve we di men,
Wanting us not to be friend.
Thinking we ago rebel against dem […]”

1986, Michael Parchment, My Freedom Voice (in Jamaican Creole), page 11:

Only they enjoyed themselves,
They took away our black sisters and used them,
They starved us -- the men,
They didn't want us to be friends.
They thought we would rebel against them […]

Dem see wi a mek it an' dem vex.

They see us getting ahead and they're angry.

“(Weh mi seh) young people mek wi arise
Mek wi trus God, pon him wi depen […]”

2010, Dave Collymore, 平和と愛の詩的表現: Poetic Expressions of Peace and Love (in English), →ISBN, page 128:

(What did I say?) Young people let us arise
Let us trust God who we depend on […]


mon

Ya, mon!

Yestideh di gyal chat nonstop, mon.

Vocative used to place emphasis upon something or someone; sometimes, but not always, when actually addressing a man.


fi

Mi head a hot mi. Yuh have supn can gimme fi it?

I have a headache. Can you give me something for the pain?

“A wanda how dem come fi tink dat di trial a di pastor is a fittin event fi a pikni witness. […]”

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

I asked myself how they could possibly think that the pastor's trial would be an appropriate event for children to see. […]

Wi wah fi know wah gwaan.

“Me look up to di platform and see about eight wooden chairs up deh. Me eyeball dem fi see which wan a dem me kuda move because some a dem carve outa solid wood and look well heavy. […]”

I looked up at the platform and saw about eight wooden chairs up there. I studied them to see which one I could move because some of them were made of solid wood and looked extremely heavy. […]

How dem fi do dat?

“How unnu fi walk an' nyam, an' litter di street?
Mi jus' cyaan andastan' how unno fi dweet. […]”

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

How can you walk and eat, and throw litter in the street?
I just can't understand how you can do it. […]

Im fi tap it. It a guh mash 'im up.

He/She should stop doing that. It's going to wreck him/her.

“Mi pickney unnu fi look n love nuff money
Horse pon track cah gallop without money […]”

2013, Selvin McRae, The Guilty Truth Revealed (in Jamaican Creole), →ISBN, page 108:

My children, you should seek and desire a lot of money
A horse on a track can't race without money […]


naw

No one naw cuss. No shot naw buss.

There isn't any fighting. There aren't any shots being fired.

Nutten naw gwaan, Rayman.

There aren't any opportunities, Raymond.

“WINSTON: If she tink me ah guh sign any paper and guh to any backside Court she bettah tink again
PARKIE: Suh you
naw guh see your wife and sort dis ting out? […]”

1990, Frances Gray, Women at the Albany Empire (in Jamaican Creole), →ISBN, page 62:

WINSTON: If she thinks I'm going to sign any papers and go to some damned courthouse, she has another thing coming.
PARKIE: Well, aren't you and your wife going to work this thing out? […]


naw

A: A you tief mi sweetie. B: Naw, a nuh me dweet.

A: You stole my candy. B: No, I didn't do it.

“"Naw, mi nuh know her ... Why?" […]”

2012, Jason Stephenson, “Short Story - Stop And Stare”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in English):


ital

Rastafari dun tell dem about Ital livity.

Rastafarianism has already shown them how to lead a healthy lifestyle.

natural, organic (grown without chemicals)

A ital food me cook enuh, without salt, but a that the guests them like.

I only cook without salt, you know? That's what the guests like.

Mi no eat meat, so my soup ital, but the people dem love it.

I don't eat meat, so my soup's always vegetarian. But the people love it.


spliff

spliff (plural spliff dem, quantified spliff)

Yuh can drink a beer but don't yuh dare bun a spliff.

You can have a beer but don't you dare smoke a joint.

A conical marijuana cigarette; a joint; a spliff.


maga

Sorry fe maga dog, maga dog, turn round bite you — Peter Tosh, Maga Dog, 1964


gi

Kaaz a di gif we Gad gi mi, mi a tel unu: No bada tingk se unu muor dan wa unu riili bi. Insted-a dat unu fi ombl unuself an joj unuself bies pan di fiet we Gad gi unu

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Ruoman 12:3:

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Den di ienjel shuo mi di riva wid di waata we gi laif. Di waata did a kom fram Gad an di Biebi Shiip chuon. Di waata did so klier it luk laik kristal.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Revilieshan 22:1:

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb

Evribadi av di rait fi bi frii fi se we dem waahn fi se an ekspres demself; dis miin se dem av di rait fi bi frii fi se we dem waahn fi se widout notn a get ina dem wie, an fi siik out, get an gi infamieshan an di tingz dem we dem tingk bout ina dem ed, bai eni miinz no mata di baada lain dem we set op ina dem konchri.

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 19:

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.


scheme

scheme (plural scheme dem, quantified scheme)

Foreigners if unno neva know ask di tourist board 'bout my scheme

2007 October 25, “My Scheme” (track 2), in Riddim Driven: Shadowz (2008), performed by Vybz Kartel:

Foreigners, if you don't know then ask the tourist board about my neighbourhood.

housing scheme; council estate; a housing project; neighbourhood.


browning

browning (plural browning dem, quantified browning)

browning dem (plural)
browning (quantified)
brownin (alternative)
brownin' (alternative)

Psst! Browning! Sexy dawta! Yuh nuh hear big man a call yuh?

Hey, light-skinned girl! Sexy lady! Don't you hear me calling you over?

One such song went thus:
 […]
 Dem a bleach up dem skin
 To look like browning
 […]

2002, Mervyn C. Alleyne, The Construction and Representation of Race and Ethnicity in the Caribbean (in English), →ISBN, page 225:

One such song went thus: […] They're using skin-lightening creams to look like light-skinned girls. […]


browning

Dis waan likkle supn. Put een likkle browning.

This needs a little something. Add a little browning.

“Preheat oven to 150ºC/300ºF. Grease a loaf pan with baking spray or margarine; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs until foamy, add vanilla, molasses (if use[sic]) browning, stout, melted butter and sugar, mix until the granules dissolve. […]”

2019, Krysta Anderson, “Bun in the oven?”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in English):


response

Mama cry out. You think dem response how much innocent yute die out

2008 January 28, “On The Rock” (track 3), in Mr. Brooks...A Better Tomorrow, performed by Mavado (singer):

(The) mother cries out. Do you think those responsible (care) how much innocent youths die out.

Who response fi di ghetto yute dem? Babylon a execute dem

2009 August 6, “The System”performed by Vybz Kartel:

Who's responsible for the ghetto youths? Babylon executes them.

Affi get that girl ya, me nuh response. It nuh matter if she put up resistance

2009 September 9, “Get You Girl”performed by Anthony B:

I have to get that girl here, I'm not responsible (for how). It doesn't matter if she puts up resistance.


coulda

Yuh coulda mek dem guh home.


woulda

Gyal, mi cyaan believe yuh woulda do dat to mi.

Girl, I can't believe you would do that to me.


natty

natty (plural natty dem, quantified natty)

natty dreadlocks
natty dreadlocks#Jamaican_Creole


natty

What a way yuh 'ead natty.

“Natty natty pon head, picky picky dung a chin. […]”

2010, Mel Cooke, “Mid-90s Rasta revolution withers”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in Jamaican Creole):


natty

'Im natty up him head.

“By his deeds shall a man be known
Natty up your head and worship Babylon throne […]”

2014, Gordon Robinson, “Tainted morality”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in English):

By his deeds shall a man be known
You've grown dreadlocks but you're still a slave to the system […]


ya

So ef sumadi go se, "Luk ya, im iina di dezot." No go out de. Ar ef dem se, "Luk ya! luk ya! Im a aid ya-so!" No lisn dem.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 24:26:

So if they tell you, "Look, he's out in the desert," don't go looking there; or if they say, "Look, he's secretly here," don't believe it.


laiv

Afta im tek it, di fuo laiv sitn dem an di twenti-fuo elda dem fling dong demself infronta di Biebi Shiip.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Revilieshan 5:8:

When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the believers.


hush

Georgie, mi sorry fi 'ear seh yuh mooma dead. Hush. Doan cry.

George, I'm sorry your mom died. There, there. Don't cry.

“Hush yah, Shaneke, such is life. […]”

2017, Kelly Daviot, “Hush yah, Shaneke, such is life”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in English):

There, there, Shaneke. Such is life. […]


hush

Chile, hush yu mouth!


pickney

pickney (plural pickney dem, quantified pickney) (Cassidy/JLU orthography spelling pikni)

pickney dem (plural)
pickney (quantified)
pickeney (alternative)
pikni (alternative)
pikny (alternative)

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

A: O much pickney yuh gat? B: Mi av a yute an two daughter.

A: How many children do you have? B: I have a son and two daughters.

“An' he have a bone-hole; when he ate de meat, t'row it into de hole. An' Anansi tak him wife an' t'ree pickney an' he say de five gwine to de house an' get into de pot eat de meat. […]”

2020, Martha Warren Beckwith, compiler, Jamaica Anansi Stories (in Jamaican Creole), →ISBN:

He had a hole for his bones. When he ate his meat, he threw the bone into the hole. Anansi gathered his wife, and their three children and he told them that the five of them were going to enter the house to eat from that pot of meat […]


craven

Da bwoy deh too damn craven. 'Im nuh come nyam off all a di food inna mi pot.

That boy's bloody greedy. Can you believe he ate all the food in my pot?

“Anancy .. walk home wid Puss an sey 'tap Bra Puss is how you dah play so nice wid Rat an noh eat him yet? Yuh no know sey Rat is nice meat?' Hear puss wid him craven self, 'true Bra Nancy?' […]”

2002, Frederic Gomes Cassidy, Robert Brock Le Page, Dictionary of Jamaican English (in English), →ISBN, page 128:

Anancy was walking back home with Cat and said "Wait a minute, Br'er Cat. How come you were playing so nice with Rat? Why didn't you eat him? Don't you know that Rat tastes great?' That greedy cat replied, 'Is that so, Br'er Anancy?' […]


punaany

punaany (plural punaany dem, quantified punaany)

punaany dem (plural)
punaany (quantified)


uu

“Kom nyam brekfas,” Jiizas se tu dem. Bot non a dem neehn bier fies inof fi aks im se, “A uu yu?” kaa dem did nuo se a did di Laad.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Jan 21:12:

Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.

(interrogative) who (asks for the identity of someone; used in a direct or indirect question)

Afta Erad ded, luk ya no: wan a di Laad ienjel dem no jriim Juozif wen im de a Iijip. 20Di ienjel se, “Git op, tek di pikni an im mada an gwaan a Izrel, kaa uu did a chrai fi kil di pikni, dem ded.”

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 2:19-20:

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead."

Evribadi uu wok av di rait tu gud and fier pie fi mek shuor se im an im fambili a liv a laif we mek im fiil gud bout imself an se im wot sopm ina laif, an kyan get eni ada saat a pie, if im niid it, bai eni ada sopuot we sosaiyati kyan aafa.

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 23:

Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

(relative) who (introduces a relative clause having a human antecedent)


Fraide

Fraide (plural Fraide dem, quantified Fraide)

Sonde · Monde · Chuuzde · Wenzde · Torzde · Fraide · Satde [edit]


a

a mi yaad

Yunaitid Stiet a Amoerka

Dem go a maakit. Mi a-go a skuul.

They go to the market. I'm going to school.


a

Jumieka a wahn ailan konchri.

Wi a api.

Mi a di tiicha.

A tuu apruoch tu Ort sayans.

There are two approaches to Earth science.

As a copulative verb:
(with there, or it) to exist.

continuous aspect
continuous aspect#English

Used with present participles of verbs to form the continuous aspect.


a

wan plies we dem a plie haki mach

Jan sidong de a laaf.
Sta Kiet op de-a baal

1968, Beryl Loftman Bailey, Jamaican Creole Language Course: (for English Speaking Students):

John sat there laughing
Sister Kate is up there crying


Gad

Bot a dis mi a tel unu se, unu no fi swier at aal at aal. No bada swier an kaal pan evn fi shuo se wa unu a se a chuu, kaaz a evn Gad tan an ruul fram.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 5:34:

But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,


K

One ting me haffi tell dem, Dutty got di woody woody. Frontway, backway, dutty K-man have di shooby shooby.

2002 November 12, “Like Glue” (track 4), in Dutty Rock, performed by Sean Paul:

One thing I have to tell them, I've got an erection, Forwards, backwards, the dirty gunman wielding a Kalashnikov has to shove it, shove it.

Any bwoy diss di link make di paper. Di 'K full him of hole like strainer

2007 January 1, “Ay Ya Ay Ya” (track 14), in Riddim Driven: Shadowz (2008), performed by Blak Rino:

If any boy cuts out the middle man to make money then the AK will fill him up with holes like a strainer.

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.


Monde

Monde (plural Monde dem, quantified Monde)


Nanny

Nanny (plural Nanny dem, quantified Nanny)

Nanny dem (plural)
Nanny (quantified)
nanny (alternative)

A portrait of Maroon leader Nanny is printed on the obverse, hence the term.

Bredren, yuh can bruck a nanny?

My friend, do you have change for a J$500?

“I do not know when the $100 became a 'bills', as it is commonly referred to (it has been more recently referred to as a 'dollar', no doubt as its purchasing power falls). Of course, the $500 note is known as a 'Nanny' and I am reminded of a story about a motorist's encounter with a traffic policeman. […]”

2007, Melville Cooke, “What can a 'bills' do?”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in English):


Nanny

Every Jamaican love Granny Nanny.

“The history of Jamaican national hero Nanny of the Maroons is also a narrative about the renegotiation of space — literal and figurative space. […]”

2006, Andrea Elizabeth Shaw, Andrea Shaw Nevins, The Embodiment of Disobedience: Fat Black Women's Unruly Political Bodies (in English), →ISBN, page 70:

Nanny of the Maroons
Nanny of the Maroons

(historical) Nanny of the Maroons — the Jamaican heroine.


Sonde

Sonde (plural Sonde dem, quantified Sonde)


Yard

No weh nuh better than Yard.

“Undeterred, D. repeated: "Consultant, dat is someone who advise people, help dem ina dem work, nuh true?" He didn't wait for confirmation." So really, is only 'bout we as Yard man yuh can advise dem." It was indisputable logic.” […]

1994, Victor Headley, Yush!, →ISBN, page 147:

Undeterred, D. repeated: "Consultant, that's someone who who advises people, helps them with their work, isn't that so?" He didn't wait for confirmation." So really, the only thing you can advise them about is us -- people from Jamaica. It was indisputable logic. […]


pon

From English upon. Compare Belizean Creole pahn.

Weh yuh deh pon?


buckra

buckra (plural buckra dem, quantified buckra) (Cassidy/JLU orthography spelling bakra)


irie

→ Bajan: irie

→ English: irie

Attested from the 20th century. Of uncertain and disputed origin. Theories include alteration from 19th century eerie (“hearty”); blend of I + free or merry in Iyaric; or perhaps from English all right.

Everyting irie.

“Reggae mek so many people from all over the world can visit Jamaica, fi come hol' a irie vibes and hol' a different meditation. […]”

2018, “5 questions with Chuck Fenda”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in English):

Reggae music has brought so many people from around the world to Jamaica, so that they can have a great time and change their perspective on life. […]

All right, cool, good, great, merry, nice.


sweetie

sweetie (plural sweetie dem, quantified sweetie)

sweetie dem (plural)
sweetie (quantified)

Unadapted borrowing from English sweetie.

ubor

She love sweetie, she know weh di lollipop is

2010 March 10, “Grab Up Yuh Crotches” (track 12), in Remedy Riddim, performed by Vybz Kartel:

She loves (to eat) sweeties, she knows where the lollipop is.


dong

Derived from English down. Compare Belizean Creole dong.

So Jiekob imself go dong a Iijip, an im an wi faada faada dem liv dong de til dem ded.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Aks 7:15:

So Jacob went down to Egypt where he and our fathers lived til they died.


scallion

jam-noun

scallion (plural scallion dem, quantified scallion)

scallion dem (plural)
scallion (quantified)

Scallion a $20, $30, but right now it a sell fi $120 because di rain naah fall.

Spring onions cost between J$20 and J$30, but they're being sold for J$120 at the moment because there hasn't been any rain.

bunching onion, green onion, leek, scallion, spring onion, Welsh onion


bawl

I am a Jamaican / Of course, If yuh eva tell mi di cost / Mi a guh bawl dung e price

jam


juu

Juu tu ou Jamiekan a di wan langwij we bring evri Jamiekan tugeda;

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

Due to how Jamaican is the language that brings all Jamaicans together;


juu

Di sitn dem we wi a tiich piipl komiin laik juu pan graas.

2021, “Wa Wi Kyan Lorn Fram Di Sitn Dem We Wi Si Iina Di Sang We Jeuova Did Tel Muoziz Fi Rait?”, in JW.org:

The things we teach people are like [as numerous as] dew drops on the grass.


batty rider

batty rider (plural batty rider dem, quantified batty rider)

batty rider dem (plural)
batty rider (quantified)

Yuh a wear batty rider wid yuh drop dung batty jaw. It look cayliss bad.

You're wearing booty shorts with a sagging butt. It looks sloppy.

“F8, 26 August 2001 batty rider(s) noun a very short and skimpy skirt or fashion shorts worn to expose as much as they conceal JAMAICA From BATTY (the buttocks). • By this time she had started to peel off her top and was unzipping her batty […]”

2015, Tom Dalzell, Terry Victor, The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English (in English), →ISBN, page 122:


sed

Jiizas se tu im se, “Mi a tel yu dis an a chuu mi a taak, bifuo di ruusta kruo tuu taim tide — da sed nait ya — yu a-go se yu no nuo mi chrii taim.”

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Maak 14:30:

Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, before a rooster crows twice — this very same night — you're going to say you don't know me three times.”


unu

How unu find them? Guilty or innocent?

2014, Marlon James, A Brief History of Seven Killings (in English), Oneworld Publications (2015), page 353:

How do you find them? Guilty or innocent?


afi

“We in fear of we life, but we afi stay […]”

2020 December 29, Andre Williams, “Rose Town Man Killed While Preparing Christmas Meal - Three Murdered On Christmas, Boxing Days”, in Jamaica Gleaner (in English):

We're in fear of our life, but we have to stay […]

Alternative spelling of haffi; have to; must


bara

“So, mii en ha fi fain mi uona wie fi se ina Jamiekan aal kain a sinting we piipl a taak bout wen dem a stodi langgwij . Mek mi shuo unu wa ... Mi bara di Rasta wod 'grounieshan' we dem yuuz fi seshan we dem miit an riizn . Mi tek i an yuuz i fi [...]”

1995, English World-wide, volumes 16-17, Julius Groos Verlag, page 214:

Well, I had to find my own way to express all sorts of things in Jamaican Creole which people talk about when they study languages. Let me show you what … I'm borrowing the Rasta word "Grounation" which they use for sessions where they get together and discuss important matters. I took it and used it to …


elda

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.


garrison

garrison (plural garrison dem, quantified garrison)

garrison dem (plural)
garrison (quantified)

Di yute dem nuh stop buss dem matic an' block road inna di garrison.

The young men are constantly firing their semi-automatic rifles and blocking streets in the gang-controlled slums.

“The gang structure was deliberately organized during the seventies to defend partisan poltiical turf. Whole sections of the capital city of Kingston and other large towns became what are called "garrison" communities. A garrison community is a poor, inner city area sometimes naturally divided by a geographic item such as an open drainage sewer (called "gully" in Jamaica e.g. "McGregor Gully") or sometimes arbitrarily. […]”

2005, Don Barker, The Fear Factor: an Analysis of Crime in Jamaica and the Search for Solutions (in English), →ISBN, page 11:

A de facto autonomous district controlled by a don and the don's armed gang, typically loyal to a political party; a favela; a slum.


yardie

yardie (plural yardie dem, quantified yardie)

yardie dem (plural)
yardie (quantified)
yaadie (alternative)
yawdie (alternative)
Yaadie (alternative)
Yardie (alternative)
Yawdie (alternative)

Nuff yardie weh live a farin wish dem coulda guh back a yard.

Many Jamaicans who live overseas wish they could go back to Jamaica.

“Nuff foreign yardie was flying dung fe de holidays. De fair skin airplane lady a de airport was preaching to evrybaddy fe please, Check on only two piece a baggage an carry de littlest one pon de plane.”

2011, Kamille Gentles-Peart, Maurice L. Hall, Re-Constructing Place and Space: Media, Culture, Discourse (in English), →ISBN, page 47:

Lots of overseas Jamaicans were heading back home for the holidays. The white air hostess at the airport announced that everyone should check only two items of luggage and take one item as a carry-on.


liv

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:

Everybody has the right to live and to be free and have control over their own body.


bills

bills (plural bills dem, quantified bills)

Yuh cyaan buy nuttn wid a bills again.

There isn't anything you can buy with a J$100 nowadays.

“Because she dance 'maddy maddy', the man dem use to give her a bills and she would skank dung di place. […]”

2020, “Caught my husband with a madwoman”, in The Jamaica Star (in Jamaican Creole):

She was a crazy dancer and so the men used to give her J$100 and she would go wild. […]


peas

Mek sure yuh soak di gungo peas good.

Why di peas dem (inna di rice and peas) cummn like sugar inna dem suh?

Why does it seem as if the beans (in this Jamaican rice and peas dish) have added sugar?


im

Mek im tek weh himself.

“An im seh, Yu nyaam me peas today? Him seh, nuo ma, me no eat non. […]”

2005, Kamau Brathwaite, The Development of Creole Society in Jamaica, 1770-1820 (in English), →ISBN, page 239:

And he said, did you eat my peas today? He said, no ma, I didn't eat them. […]

Shi sen' im a letter wah day.

“What de poor Bug do? Tek im pon im back an him travel, an him travel, an im travel. […]”

1984, Laura Tanna, Jamaican Folk Tales and Oral Histories (in Jamaican Creole), →ISBN, page 11:

What did poor Bug do? He let him go on his back and he travelled on and on. […]

Den im res' im han' pan di bench.

'Im frack look good.

Tanya deh yah? — Yeah, man. Im deh yah.


ramp

[…]ar som likl popi a ramp wid dem wan aneda.

2023, “Yuuz Di Sitn Dem We Jeuova Mek Fi Tiich Yu Pikni Dem Bout Im”, in JW.org:

[…] or like little puppies romping around with each other.


bak

Wi naa uol bak wi lov fi unu bot unu a uol bak fi unu lov fi wi.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 2 Korintiyan 6:12:

We don't hold back our love for you but you hold back your love for us.


bak

Mi bak de hat mi.


ello

“Ello? Ello? Wappen man? Yu nuh know a who a talk to yu? Tek two guess. […]”

2000, Jennifer Keane-Dawes, “The cellular”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in Jamaican Creole):

Hello? Hello? What's up, man? Do you know who you're speaking to? You have two guesses. […]


head

cow neva know di use a 'im tail till 'im lose it

/ˈkɔʊ̯ ˈnɛba ˈnʷoː ˈdɪ‿juːs a‿im ˈtʲel ˈtɪl ˈɪm ˈluːz‿i/

Literally, "A cow doesn't know what its tail is for until it's lost it."

“In the evening he called me back and told me that "Cow neva know di use ah him tail til' him lose it" […]”

2018, “Tell me Pastor - Caught between two men”, in The Jamaica Star (in English), archived from the original on 2020-10-19:

In the evening he called me back and told me, "you never miss the water till the well runs dry." […]


gud

Saalt gud, bot ef di ties gaan, ou yu a-go mek it ties laik saalt agen? Mek di Gud Nyuuz komiin laik saalt mongks unu an kaaz unu fi liv iina piis wid wan aneda.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Maak 9:50:

Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.


gud

Evribadi taak gud bout im an dem fraitn fi ier di nais sitn dem we im se. “Wiet! No Juozif bwai dis?” dem se.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Luuk 4:22:

And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, "Is not this Joseph's son?


baan

Jiizas did baan iina Betliyem, wan toun iina Judiya.

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

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a town in Judea.

Evribadi baan frii an iikwal wid rispek fi demself an wid raits.

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 1:

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.


welkom

Enibadi we welkom unu, welkom mi. An enibadi we welkom mi, welkom di wan we sen mi kom

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 10:40:

Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me


wa

Wa yu se?


cocky

jam-noun

cocky (plural cocky dem, quantified cocky)


ting

Di sed ting apm tu di sekan breda, di tord wan, an aal a dem dong tu breda nomba sevn.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 22:26:

The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh.

[…]mi kiah tel nof gud tingz deh du.

2014, Larry Change, Biesik Jumiekan: Introduction to Jamaican Language:

I can talk bout all the good things they do.

(endearing) a woman, especially one familiar to the speaker.


fos

Bot im did afi paas chuu Samieriya fos.

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

But he had to pass through Samaria first.


biga

Di biga bwai pikni did de a grong.[…]

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Luuk 15:25:


moles

... 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

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

We are not informers, we don't give information If someone is molesting me and my family I wouldn't run to […]


crep

→ English: crep


mek

Mek shuor se yu no tel nobadi.

No fi waant a tong mek kau no taak.

It is not for want of a tongue that a cow does not talk.

Di bwai mek mi staat kos badwod.

to do, to cause, to carry out, to perform

Mek mi tel yu sitn.

Mek wi no get ful-a wiself an tingk se wi beta dan ada piipl.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Gyalieshan 5:26:

Let us not become conceited […] of one another.


kunu

kunu dem (plural)
kunu (quantified)
kianuu (alternative)
kianu (alternative)


broda

broda (plural broda dem, quantified broda)


baro

“Mad smadi a baro maask! […]”

2020, Carolyn Cooper, “Govament a hide up di truth bout di virus?”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in Jamaican Creole):


fas

“Mine in deh bout eight weeks now an' mi nuh have no money fi clear so mi mek up mi min' not fi clear it cause a $40,000 mi pay fi get it back di other day an' dem tek it now an' judge seh mi fi pay $30,000. Mi caan fin' dat amount of money so fas. […]”

2005, Norman Grindley, “AUCTION - Impounded vehicles to go on sale”, in The Jamaica Star (in English):

Mine has been there for about eight weeks and I don't have any money to pay the fine. So I decided not to pay it because I paid $40,000 to get it back the other day and they've taken it again. The judge said I have to pay $30,000. I can't find that kind of money so fast. […]


lov

Lov unu wan aneda laik breda an sista an unu fi aalwiez put unu breda an sista bifuo unuself.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Ruoman 12:10:

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.


'im

“Well! Lloyd seh 'im see Danzo duppy all di while. 'Im seh, every time 'im see 'im, a one han' 'im have. […]”

2005, Lorrimer Burford, A Jamaican Storyteller's Tale (in English), →ISBN, page 76:

Well! LLoyd said he sees Danzo's ghost all the time. He said, every time he sees him, he only has one arm. […]


tek

Tek time pon di road.


fram

A town yuh come fram?

So fram Iebriyam go chriet baka Dievid, a fuotiin jinarieshan Jiizas did av. An fram Dievid taim op tu wen dem did tek we di Izrel piipl dem an fuos dem fi go wok a Babilan a fuotiin jinarieshan Jiizas did av de-so tu, an fram da taim de tu wen Krais Jiizas baan, a fuotiin jinarieshan dat tu.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 1:17:

So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

“Wen him see di caller a come outta har house him hear har a argue wid a man. Di man say him neva waan she order fram di restaurant an tell har not to eva order fram dem again. […]”

2018, Ragashanti, “Man a tell lie pon food”, in The Jamaica Star (in Jamaican Creole):

When he saw the caller exit her house, he heard her arguing with a man. The man said he didn't want her to order from the restaurant and told her not to ever order from them again. […]


guot

Bot im se tu im faada se, ‘Aal dem ier ya mi wok laka sliev fi yu an mi du evriting we yu tel mi fi du. Bot aal dem taim de no iivn wan dege-dege yong guot yu no gi mi fi selibriet wid mi fren dem

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Luuk 15:29:

but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.


rait

Evribadi av di rait fi uon prapati bai demself[…]

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 17:

Everyone has the right to own property alone […]


aks

Aks Teddy ef 'im a guh a farin nex' week.

Ask Teddy if he's going to the USA next week.

“"Mi cyan gi'e teh yeh deh t'ings yeh aks fuh [...]”

2013, Loron-Jon Stokes, Citizen Class 5, →ISBN, page 267:

I can't give you the things you've asked for.


naa

Mi naa taak.

So mi naa ron laik wan man we naa no we a ron go—mi ron chriet a di finish lain. Mi naa fait laik se mi a baks briiz.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 1 Korintiyan 9:26:

That's why I run straight in the right direction. I fight accurately, not punching the air.


kaal

Fi kanviinians, mek wi kaal di chrii gried ar rijista a Patwa J1, J2 ah J3.

2014 May 28, Larry Chang, Biesik Jumiekan: Introduction to Jamaican Language, Gnosophia Publishers, →ISBN, page 18:

For convenience, let us refer to three modes or registers of Patois as J1, J2 and J3.

Nataniyel se tu im se, “Ou kom yu nuo mi?” Jiizas ansa im an se, “Mi si yu fram wen yu did anda di fig chrii, bifuo Filip kaal yu.”

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

Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."


patty

patty (plural patty dem, quantified patty)

Dis need 10 more dalla fi buy patty and juice.

If you want a Jamaican patty and something to drink, you'll need ten dollars extra.

a Jamaican patty; a pastry that contains various fillings and spices baked inside a flaky shell, often tinted golden yellow with an egg yolk mixture or turmeric. (Jamaican pastry)


bumbaclot

(slang) Alternative spelling of bomboclaat


pree

→ English: pree

Unknown. Since all of Jamaica, Trinidad and Antigua where it is attested were British colonies, it may retain Scots pree, having gradually caught on until becoming more frequent in Jamaica in the 2000s due to music fashion. Or it may be an imala of pry.

Mi put it on and send him home and tell him go pree dat

2005, “Fight Over Man”performed by Spice (musician):

I put it on and send him home and tell him to go and check that out.


calaban

calaban (plural calaban dem, quantified calaban)

calaban dem (plural)
calaban (quantified)

“CALABAN […] A box-like trap made of sticks, used to catch ground-walking birds. […]”

2002, Frederic G. Cassidy, Robert Brock Le Page, Dictionary of Jamaican English (in English), →ISBN, page 89:

A box-and-stick type trap for birds. (bird trap)


quint

Baby, mi love when you quint it.

Girl, I love when you contract your vaginal muscles.

“Tight t-t-t-t-t-tight-t-t-t-t-t-tightesttt vaginaaa
Quint it like some gal a china eyes
Tight t-t-t-t-t-tight-t-t-t-t-t-tightesttt vaginaaa
Grip me, grip me, grip me, grip me baby […]”

2009, Busy Signal, “The Tightest”, in SongtexteMania (in Jamaican Creole):

Tight t-t-t-t-t-tight-t-t-t-t-t-tightesttt vaginaaa
Contract your vaginal muscles like some Chinese girls' eyes
Tight t-t-t-t-t-tight-t-t-t-t-t-tightesttt vaginaaa
Grip me, grip me, grip me, grip me baby […]

(vulgar) squeeze or contract the inner vaginal muscles, providing a tighter feel around the penis during intercourse.


Yardie

Yardie (plural Yardie dem, quantified Yardie)


no

Im av no sta.

No fi waant a tong mek kau no taak.

Not for want of a tongue that a cow does not talk.


no

Mi no nuo.

Bot dat no pruuv se wa mi a du rait.

But that doesn't prove that what I am doing is right.


lime

It sour like lime.

When the virus get drastic, mi a guh draw fi mi garlic and lime.

When the virus gets worse, I'm going to start taking garlic and lime.

hangout, get-together (social gathering)


bada

An wa ef im fren tan iina im ous an se, ‘No bada mi man. Mi duor lak aredi, an mi an mi pikni dem gaan a bed. Mi kyaahn get op an gi yu notn nou.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Luuk 11:7:

and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything'?


yuh

Yuh nuh have nuh sense.

“Meck me get it straight Mass Charlie
For me no quite undastan,
Yuh gwine kill all English dialect
Or jus Jamaica one? […]”

1998, Kevin O'Brien Chang, Wayne Chen, Reggae Routes: The Story of Jamaican Music (in English), →ISBN, page 66:

Let me get it straight Mr. Charlie
Because I don't quite understand,
Are you going to kill all English dialects?
Or just Jamaica's? […]

Keep yuh hands a yuh side.

“PASSION: Yu wud trus me wid yuh wheels?
RAS SIMI: Boss, me wud trus yu wid me life. […]”

2017, Marcia Layne, Off Camera (in Jamaican Creole), →ISBN:

PASSION: Would you trust me with your wheels?
RAS SIMI: Boss, I'd trust you with my life. […]


taak

Wen dem don taak, Jiemz taak op an se, “Breda unu lisn tu mi

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Aks 15:13:

When they finished [speaking], James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me

Me know wa me a taak bout because wan Sunday afternoon me had to mek dat choice, and is not like me get a letter in di mail dat give me a waanin ahead a time

2016, Sylvia Gilfillian, The Road to Timnath: Di Ruod Tu Timnat, AuthorHouse, →ISBN:

I know what I'm talking about because on Sunday afternoon, I had to make that choice and it wasn't like I got a letter in the mail that gave me warning ahead of time


higgler

higgler (plural higgler dem, quantified higgler)

higgler dem (plural)
higgler (quantified)
higgla (alternative)

Nuff higgler sell inna di market pon Saturday.

Many vendors sell in the market on Saturday.

“From Friday to Sunday, yuh can run it fi yuhself an' carry di higgler dem to Coronation Market. […]”

2015, H. Earle Watson, The One Way Out (in English), →ISBN:

From Friday to Sunday, you can use it to transport the vendors to Coronation Market. […]


yai

Kaaz wid mi uon tuu yai dem, mi si di sumadi we yu sen fi siev piipl.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Luuk 2:30:


dédekum

From English there they come, referring to the reflections in the mirror.

(Maroon Spirit Language, Moore Town) Mirror.

Maroon Spirit Language; Moore Town; Maroon Spirit Language; Moore Town


lépman

(Maroon Spirit Language, Charles Town) Toad.

Maroon Spirit Language; Charles Town; Maroon Spirit Language; Charles Town


junjo

/ˈd͡ʒʌnd͡ʒʌ/

Junjo inna di judge dem wig?

Nuh junjo nuh deh deh.


badi

badi dem (plural)
badi (quantified)
bady (alternative)

Ef unu rait yai a mek unu sin, tier it out an dash it we! Aftaraal it beta fi luuz onggl wan badi paat, dan di wol a di badi get fling dong a el.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 5:29:

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.

body (physical structure of a human or animal seen as one single organism)

body (organisation, company or other authoritative group)


rass

I suppose him did tek de judge fe a rass eediat!

I suppose he thought the judge was a fucking fool.

(vulgar): bloody, damn, fucking, goddamn, goddamned


uman

Dat no miin se man kyan du widout uman ar uman widout man, kaaz Gad neva mek dem fi du widout dem wan aneda.

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

So then, I have to insist that in the Lord, neither is woman inferior to man nor is man inferior to woman.


uman

uman daag, man daag


samfie

samfie (plural samfie dem, quantified samfie)

samfie dem (plural)
samfie (quantified)
sam fie (alternative)
samfi (alternative)

Nuh badda gi' 'im nuh money. Da bredda de a real samfie.

Don't give him any money. That guy is a known scammer.

“Mi a go tell yu di trut(h), mi naa go tell yu no lie
No bodder follow dem ya man, dem full up a samfie. […]”

1995, Carolyn Cooper, Noises in the Blood: Orality, Gender, and The"Vulgar" Body of Jamaican Popular Culture. (in English), →ISBN, page 153:

I'm going to tell you the truth. I'm not going to tell lies.
Don't emulate these guys. They're a bunch of scammers. […]

con artist, con man, scammer, swindler, trickster


muun

“Sain a-go de iina di son, di muun an di staar dem. Pan di ort, di piipl dem we a no Juu a-go twis an ton an no nuo wa fi du wen dem ier di sii a ruor.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Luuk 21:25:

"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves,


anoda

“"If wi can do betta, I don't t'ink wi should tek anoda deal," said a vendor. "I t'ink wi would be better off." […]”

2012, “Jamaicans anxious ahead of IMF meeting”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in English):


gwaan

Wa gwaan?

Nobadi no fi bi nobadi sliev ar liv ina slievri; slievri an aal saata sliev bizniz kyaahn gwaan.

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 4:

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Di kansrt gwaan gud, iihn?

Dem disorv iikwal raits fi get marid, wail di marij a gwaan an iivn wen di marij don.

2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 16.1:

They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

Wa mek yu a gwaan so?


tiit

tiit dem (plural)
tiit (quantified)
teet (alternative)

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 like women's hair, and their teeth like lions' teeth;


pardner

pardner (plural pardner dem, quantified pardner)

pardner dem (plural)
pardner (quantified)


breda

breda (plural breda dem, quantified breda)


kier

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:

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


kier

So unu fi ombl unuself anda Gad powaful an, so wen im redi im kyan bles unu. Evriting we unu a wori an fret bout, gi it tu im, kaaz im kier bout unu.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 1 Piita 5:6-7:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.


nyanga

nyanga (plural nyanga dem, quantified nyanga)

→ English: nang

Borrowed from Mende nyanga (“ostentation; showing off”).


punani

jam-noun

punani (plural punani dem, quantified punani)

punani dem (plural)
punani (quantified)
punany (alternative)
punaany (alternative)

Possibly from Akan oponaani (“keyhole”) or from Hawaiian pua nani (“beautiful flower”).

Watch 'ow di gyal punani phat an' sexy. Bloodclaat!

Look at how phat and sexy that girl's pussy is. Whoa!

“He is the narcissistic “stamina daddy,” a paramour who makes “gyal ben' down backways an' accept di peg.” The worship of his womb turner and conquest of the punani (pussy) are the subjects of his burlesque boasts. […]”

2002, Paula Ressler, Dramatic Changes: Talking about Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity with High School Students Through Drama (in English), →ISBN, page 96:


leta

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.


brinks

brinks (plural brinks dem, quantified brinks)

From the company of the same name which provides armoured trucks for transporting money and valuable goods.

Mi brinks..hairdresser mi wan fi go!

Hey, sugar daddy, I have to go to the hairdresser.

“brinks (brinks): n. - a wealthy person, usu. male; (slang) a sugar-daddy […]”

2006, Ras Dennis Jabari Reynolds, Jabari: Authentic Jamaican Dictionary of the Jamic Language (in English), →ISBN, page 18:


laad

laad dem (plural)
laad (quantified)
lawd (alternative)

“Likl muo, di ada yong gyal dem kom bak. Ier dem no, ‘Laad, laad, uopm di duor fi wi no!’. Bot im ansa bak, ‘Ier mi no, an a chuu mi a taak, mi no iivn nuo unu!’

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 25:11-12:

Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'

(historical) lord (master of the servants of a household or the master of a feudal manor)

A so Gad did plan it fi apm fram wie bak wen, an im mek Krais Jiizas wi laad mek it apm siem laik ou im did plan it.

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

This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord


bloodclaat

Literally, "blood cloth" -- traditionally, a sanitary napkin.

Dis bloodclaat joke nuh mek sense.

This goddamn joke doesn't make any sense.

“"Onoo too bloodclaat teef. Onoo fi guh luk wok duh." […]”

2013, Calvin Riley, Victor of Circumstances: Highlight the Day-to-Day Struggle that the Underprivileged Undergo to Find Love and Security (in Jamaican Creole), →ISBN, page 160:

"Y'all love to steal too fucking much. Go and get a job." […]

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


bloodclaat

Bloodclaat! Dem tief mi car!

A weh di bloodclaat a gwaan roun' ya?

“Bloodclaat! Dis dread ya is a artistic dread! […]”

1996, Daniel J. Wideman, Rohan B. Preston, Soulfires: Young Black Men on Love and Violence (in Jamaican Creole), →ISBN, page 347:

What the fuck! This Rastaman is an artist. […]

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


fies

Evribadi we did a sidong iina di plies we dem miit faasn dem yai pan Stiivn an si se im fies did a shain laik wan ienjel.

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

And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel


duppy

duppy (plural duppy dem, quantified duppy) (Cassidy/JLU orthography spelling dopi)

Possibly derived from Bube dupe (“ghost”) or Akan adɔpe. Compare Bajan duppy.

Yuh fraid a duppy?

Di duppy dem a mash up di place.

The poltergeists are wrecking the place.

“Duppy did inna me house one time. Dem did a mek me couldn’t sleep […]”

2018, “Man uses obeah to chase duppies from house”, in The Jamaica Star (in English):

Once there were poltergeists in my home. I had trouble sleeping because of them […]

ghost; an evil spirit; duppy; poltergeist (ghost)

Cassidy/JLU orthography
University of the West Indies Press


kaa

Im se, “Ton we fram unu sin, kaa di die suun kom wen evn a-go ruul uova di worl iina evri wie!”

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 3:2:

He [John the Baptist] said: "Atone for your sins, because the day will soon come when Heaven will completely rule over the world!"


Concorde

Concorde (plural Concorde dem, quantified Concorde)

Concorde dem (plural)
Concorde (quantified)

The Aérospatiale-BAC supersonic airliner; Concorde.

Inna di eighties, hundred dolla neva call "bills", dem time deh dem seh "Concorde."

In the eighties, people didn't call the J$100 banknote "bills". Back then, they said "Concorde."


night-bat

night-bat (plural night-bat dem, quantified night-bat)

night-bat dem (plural)
night-bat (quantified)


baal

Jiizas baal.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Jan 11:35:


jook

From Fula jukka. Compare Bahamian Creole jook, Nigerian Pidgin chook, Sranan Tongo dyuku, Grenadian Creole English djuck (“to stab”).

cog

'Im jook mi inna mi yeye.

Ow! Macca jook mi (inna mi foot bottom).

I jook him wit' de cutlass.

Shi jook im wid it.

Jook two time.

“He should have grabbed for the best mouldy carnival costume, selected his best wining partner and taken to the streets in an attempt to jook and jam his problems away. […]”

2018, Mark Wignall, “A sick hospital, carnival wine and Bible thumpers”, in The Jamaica Gleaner (in English):

(vulgar, slang) thrust with the pelvis (thrust)

When mi jook har pum pum wid it, she bawl out fi Jeezas.

When I fucked her with it, she cried out for Jesus.

(vulgar, slang) have sex, fuck (have sex)


banton

jam-noun

banton (plural banton dem, quantified banton)

“It's not clear whether the Banton name came from a local term used to describe a storyteller or from Jamaican performer Burro Banton (perhaps both)”

1998, Howard J. Blumenthal, The World Music CD Listener's Guide (in English), →ISBN, page 23:


dutchy

dutchy (plural dutchy dem, quantified dutchy)


iit

Bot Jiizas ansa ar se, "Mek di pikni dem iit dem beli ful fos. Kaaz it no rait fi tek di pikni dem fuud an gi daag."

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Maak 7:27:

And he said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."


falara

falara (plural falara dem, quantified falara)

Derived from English follower. By surface analysis, fala + -er.

Wen Jiizas si di kroud a piipl dem, im go op pan di mountn go sidong, an im falara dem kom tu im.

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

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him


lick

jam-verb

lick (Cassidy/JLU orthography spelling lik)

[…]I lick him hard upon his head.


faks

Jiizas se tu im se, “Faks av uol an di bod dem av nes, bot di Man we Gad Pik no av no we fi pudong im ed.”

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; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.”


cyaan

cyaa (alternative)
cyah (alternative)
cyan (alternative)
cyahn (alternative)
cyar (alternative)

Me cyaan dance now cause bar lock.

I can't go dancing because the nightclubs are closed.

We cyaan manage no hurricane now, we cyaan manage.

We can't withstand another hurricane at present under any circumstances.


nyam

Borrowed from Wolof nyam, nyami, nyamnyam (“food; to eat”), or from Fula nyama, nyami, nyamgo (“to eat”). Possibly via Ghanaian Pidgin English. Cognate of Sranan Tongo nyan (“food; to eat”). Many other West African languages use similar terms for "flesh" or "meat", such as: Chichewa nyama, Efik unam, Esimbi ɛnyimi, Hausa nama, Lingala nyama, Swahili nyama, and Zulu inyama. Also compare Hausa nyamnyam, yamyam (“cannibal”) and Luba-Kasai nyama (“animal”).


nyam

Dem man nyam di whole ah di bread. And wan' come gi' wi crumbs.

Those guys ate all of the bread, and now they want to give us crumbs.

We cyaan nyam everything weh we get. Wi haffi save some and invest some.

We shouldn't waste everything we get. We have to save and invest some of it.

Me jus go home and nyam di money.

I just went home. Then I spent all the money.

to consume, use up, (wastefully) spend, waste (waste)


bankra

jam-noun

bankra (plural bankra dem, quantified bankra)

Pack di bankra an ram dem in. For di bankra mus' full.

Stuff as many of them as you can into the basket, because this basket needs to be full.

“BANKRA / bangkra , bóngkra / sb chiefly dial ; 1868 bankra , 1877 bunkra , 1895 bancra , 1934 bonkra ; < Twi boŋkárá ... 1934 Williams 36 , The Ashanti bonkara , a travelling basket , is the Jamaica bonkra , or as it is sometimes spelt bankra.”

2002, Frederic G. Cassidy, Robert Brock Le Page, Dictionary of Jamaican English (in English), →ISBN, page 27:


runnings

Ef yuh waan eat a food out yah, yuh haffi know di runnings, yuh zimmi?

If you want to be successful in this place, you need to know how the system works, a'ight?

“DI RUNNINGS: The natural order of things, how things are done, what is to be expected etc. […]”

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

How a system or bureaucracy works; how people operate; the status quo


evn

“So, a so unu fi prie:
“‘Wi Faada we iina evn,
mek piipl av nof rispek fi yu an yu niem.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 5:9:

Pray then like this:
"Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.

(Christianity) heaven (abode of God and of the angels and saints in His presence)


MoBay

MoBay is Jamaica secon' city.

“Big up every youth inna MoBay. Wi seh one MoBay. […]”

2020, Yasmine Peru, “Cops want Tommy Lee again”, in The Jamaica Star (in English):

My respect goes out to all the youth in Montego Bay. We support a united Montego Bay. […]


Anansi

Ananse (alternative)
Anancy (alternative)
Anansy (alternative)

“Anansi gwan an gwan an gwan [ chops with arm ] til im bill off de whole pasture clean.”

1984, Laura Tanna, Jamaican Folk Tales and Oral Histories, →ISBN, page 99:

Anansi kept on going [ chops with arm ] until he'd used his machete to clear the entire pasture.

Anansi (trickster spider in West African and Caribbean folklore)


wies

Derived from English waist, from Middle English wast (“waist”), probably from Old English *wæst, *wǣst, *weaxt, *wæhst, from Proto-West Germanic *wahstu, from Proto-Germanic *wahstuz (“growth, development, stature, build”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂weg-s- (“to multiply, increase”).

der

Nou a kluoz we mek outa Kyamil ier Jan did wier, an im did av wan leda belt roun im wies. An fi im fuud a did graasapa an oni we im get outa di dezot.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 3:4:

Now, John wore clothes made out of camel's hair, and had a leather belt around his waist. And his food were grasshoppers and honey, which he found in the desert.

(anatomy) waist (part of the body between the pelvis and the stomach)


wies

Som a di ges dem get beks, an staat tu se tu dem wan aneda se, “Wa mek shi a wies da dier dier porfyuum de?

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

There were some who said to themselves indignantly, "Why was the ointment wasted like that?


wip

So im get som ruop an tek dem mek wan wip. Den im yuuz di wip an ron out di uol a di sela dem outa di yaad: dem an dem kou an dem shiip an dem dov. Im lik uova di piipl dem we a chienj out moni kain dem, an im ton uova aal a dem tiebl dem.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Jan 2:15:

And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.


ier

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.


ier

Iebriyam a did aalmuos wan onjrid ier uol, im did nuo se im suun ded an dat im waif kudn av no pikni, bot iivn wid aal a dat Iebriyam stil biliiv. No taim at aal im did biliiv se Gad naa go du we im pramis fi du.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Ruoman 4:19:

He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb.

Kaaz wen Gad did mek di pramis tu Iebriyam im did se, “Bout da taim ya neks ier, mi wi kom bak an Siera wi av wan bwai pikni.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Ruoman 9:14:

For this is what the promise said: "About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.


ier

Bot wi wuda laik fi ier wa yu tingk, kaaz wi nuo se piipl evriwe taak gens da gruup ya we yu bilang tu.”

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Aks 28:22:

But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.


joj

"No joj piipl laik se Gad kyaahn paadn dem, so di siem sitn wi no riich unu.

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


fuckery

fuckerie (alternative)
fuckries (alternative)

$257 fi one dozen ackee? Fuckery a gwaan man.

J$257 for a dozen ackees? That's bullshit, man.

Fuckery a gwaan an evrybaddi keep quiet.

This is a bloody injustice and nobody's saying a word.


shotta

jam-noun

shotta (plural shotta dem, quantified shotta)

Beware cause de shotta dem strap. Rastaman a tell de yutes dem fi low de Glock.

Be careful. The gangsters are strapped. We Rastas are telling the youngsters not to touch the Glock.


daag

Mi a waan unu, wach out fi di daag aat piipl dem. Wach out fi dem — dem a uol wikid. Wach out fi dem man de we aalwiez a kot kot op dem bad

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Filipiyan 3:2:

Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

“An, no tek unu gud kliin sitn dem, we a fi Gad, gi daag, an unu gud gud porl dash gi pig. Dem naa go tep tep op pan dem, den ton roun tier unu op.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 7:6:

"Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.


nuh

Nuh stay down mama, time fi get up


beks

Ef unu get beks bout sopm, no mek dat kaaz unu fi sin. An no mek di die don an unu stil beks wid wan aneda.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 4:26:

Don't sin by getting angry; don't let evening come and find you still mad.


fren

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.


bammy

bammy (plural bammy dem, quantified bammy)

bammy dem (plural)
bammy (quantified)
bammie (alternative)

Bammy!? Everybady else ah eat fry dumplin fi dem brekfas' Sunday mawnin, an' mi have fi a nyam stick root.

Bammy!? Everybody else got fried dumplings for their Sunday morning breakfast and here I am eating the root of a plant.

“Me have coakinat , skellion , toomatis an' Ole Harbour bammy. Wat yuh want mam? Pum'kin? yuh wi haffe buy cho-cho wid i, dem married, same like 'ow cassava Is married to yampi . Is me wan gat bammy dis week [...]”

1949, Louise Bennett, Mek Wi Talk: Jamaican Dialect Poems, →ISBN, page 128:

I have coconuts, spring onions, tomatoes and bammies from Old Harbour. What would you like, ma'am? Pumpkin? You'll have to take the chayote as well. They're a couple. The same goes for cassava. It's married to the yam. I'm the only one who has bammy this week. …


piis

Mi a lef go we, bot mi a-go mek unu av piis iina unu aat — di kain-a piis we mi av iina fi mi aat. A no di sed kain-a piis yu get fram di worl. No mek unu aat bada unu, an no kech unu fried.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Jan 14:27:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.


taim

Chrii taim di siem ting apm.


bwoy

bwoy dem (plural)
bwoy (quantified)
boy (alternative)
bwai (alternative)
bway (alternative)

Nancy love di bwoy whole 'eap suh shi tief weh a night time fi go look fi 'im.

Nancy loved the boy a lot, so she'd sneaked out at night to go see him.

Rasta one: Bwoy, no try dem kinda rhatid ting wid de I, Zeen? […]

2011, Marcus Bethel, Scars and Stripes: The Lasting Impression (in English), →ISBN, page 95:

Rasta one: Boy, don't play any fucking games with me, you dig? […]


bigis

Plos wi av wan priis we a wan a di bigis wan eva, an a im ruul uova Gad ous.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Iibruu 10:21:

And since we have a great priest over God's house


pramis

A dat mek mi did tingk it impuotant fi wi breda dem kom si unu bifuo mi kom dong de. Mi push dem fi go orli so dat dem kuda mek shuor se aal a di sitn dem we unu did pramis fi gi, gyada op an pudong. Kaaz ef evriting gyada op an redi wen mi riich de, it wi shuo se a gi unu riili waahn fi gi; it wi shuo se nobadi naa fuos unu fi du notn.

2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, 9:5:

So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction


pramis

pramis (plural pramis dem, quantified pramis)

Kaaz wen Gad did mek di pramis tu Iebriyam im did se, “Bout da taim ya neks ier, mi wi kom bak an Siera wi av wan bwai pikni.”

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

For this is what the promise said: "About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son."