- JLU spelling
- dopi
What “Duppy” means
A duppy is a ghost or spirit of the dead. Duppy stories are a long-standing part of Jamaican folklore, and the word turns up in many sayings.
Examples
Duppy know who fi frighten
Bullies pick on those who seem weak (literally: a ghost knows who to frighten).
Yuh fraid a duppy?
Are you afraid of ghosts?
How to use it
An everyday word, used both seriously and for fun. Older relatives' duppy tales are a classic of country childhoods.
Cultural context
Traditions such as nine-night, the gathering held in the nights after a death, are tied to beliefs about the spirit moving on. Duppy and Anansi tales are classic old-time storytelling.
Where it comes from
Probably from a West African language, though the exact source is debated.