- Also written
- Maitey
What “Matey” means
In Jamaican slang, a matey is a woman who is involved with someone else's partner, the "other woman". Two women involved with the same man may each call the other a matey.
Examples
A she a im matey.
She's his other woman.
How to use it
Slang, frequent in gossip and dancehall songs about rivalry. It is an accusation and an insult when said to or about someone, so it is not a word for polite company.
Where usage varies
It does not mean "friend" or "mate" as in British English, a common confusion for visitors.