- JLU spelling
- Maanin
- Also written
- Good mawnin, Marnin
What “Mawnin” means
Mawnin is the Patois word for "morning", and said on its own it is the everyday morning greeting, short for "good mawnin". It also works as an ordinary noun, as in "from mawnin" (since this morning) or "till mawnin" (until morning).
Examples
Mawnin, mawnin! Yuh reach early — good sign.
Morning, morning! You arrived early — good sign.
See yuh inna di mawnin.
See you in the morning.
How to use it
Say it to anyone you meet or pass in the morning, strangers included. Doubling it ("mawnin, mawnin!") sounds warm and lively.
Cultural context
Greeting people when you walk into a shop, a bus or someone's yard is basic good manners in Jamaica, and older people especially notice when someone skips it.