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- Everyday expressions
Dictionary category · 20 entries
Everyday expressions in Jamaican Patois
The small words and phrases that fill a normal Jamaican day.
- BareOnly / nothing but“Bare rice deh inna di pot.”: There's only rice in the pot.
- BrawtaA little extra / a free bonus“Miss, gi mi likkle brawta, nuh?”: Miss, give me a little extra, please?
- Deh dehBe there / there“Mi wi deh deh.”: I will be there.
- EverytingEverything“Everyting criss.”: Everything is cool.
- GwehGo away“Gweh!”: Go away!
- InnaIn / inside / into“Di tool dem inna di truck.”: The tools are in the truck.
- Kaas-kaasQuarrel / squabbling“Mi nuh want no kaas-kaas inna mi yard.”: I don't want any quarrelling in my yard.
- LabrishGossip / idle chat“Stop di labrish an do yuh chores.”: Stop the gossiping and do your chores.
- LikkleLittle“It likkle bit far”: It's a little bit far.
- MassiveThe crowd / the people / a crew“Big up di whole massive!”: Shout-out to the whole crowd!
- NuffPlenty, a lot“Nuff traffic deh inna town”: There's a lot of traffic in town.
- NuttenNothing“Win or lose — nutten nuh beat family time.”: Win or lose — nothing beats family time.
- PonOn / upon / at“Look pon dat.”: Look at that.
- SmaddySomebody / someone / a person“Yuh deh wid smaddy?”: Are you seeing anybody?
- Su-suWhispering / gossip“Wah unnu a su-su bout?”: What are you all whispering about?
- TingThing“Mi deh pon a work ting.”: I'm on a work thing / busy with work.
- WidWith“Yuh a come wid wi?”: Are you coming with us?
- YaadHome / Jamaica itself“Mi jus reach a yard”: I just got home
- Yah soRight here“Let mi off right yah so, driva.”: Let me off right here, driver.
- YardieA Jamaican“Mi a yardie, born an grow.”: I'm Jamaican, born and raised.