Real Jamaican conversations

• Asking questions in Jamaican Patois

  Patois questions keep normal statement order: put the question word first and let your voice rise.

• Common responses in Jamaican Patois

  The replies you'll use most are Yeah man (yes), Seen or Zeen (got it), Dun know (of course), Fi true?

• Expressing feelings in Jamaican Patois

  Patois feelings work without 'am': Mi vex (I'm angry), Mi fraid (I'm scared), Mi tired (I'm tired), Mi irie (I'm feeling good).

• Greetings and small talk in Jamaican Patois

  Open with Mawnin, Wah gwaan or Everyting criss?, answer with Mi deh yah, chat about the weather or your day, and sign off with Walk good, Likkle…

• Hanging out with friends in Jamaican Patois

  Make plans with Mek wi link up or Weh yuh deh pon later?, say yes with Mi ready long time, praise the vibe with Di vibes nice or Everyting irie, and…

• Jamaican humour in Patois conversation

  Jamaican humour leans on teasing (ramp), wild exaggeration, quick comebacks, vivid proverbs and nicknames, and almost all of it depends on tone.

• Meeting someone new in Jamaican Patois

  Greet first (Wah gwaan or Mawnin), give your name with Mi name…, ask theirs with Weh yuh name?, and close with Nice fi meet yuh.

• Ordering food in Jamaican Patois

  Greet the vendor, say what you want with Mi waan…, ask the price with How much dis?, and say please with Beg yuh.

• Talking about family in Jamaican Patois

  Family words are madda (mother), faada (father), granny, bredda (brother), sista (sister) and pickney (child).

Play the conversation

Story Mode in Patois Pal turns these situations into branching conversations where your replies decide how it goes. Scenarios include:

• The First Link
• First Day Pon Di Job
• Route to Negril
• Sunday Dinna a Aunty Yard
• The Second-Date Cook-Off
• Meeting Di Crew
• Pay Day Runnings
• Market Day Wid Miss Cherry
• Lost Inna Kingston
• Beach Day Lime
• Granny Bush Tea Clinic
• Dominoes Night Wid Di Cousins