You don't need Patois to visit Jamaica. English is the official language, and Jamaicans will switch to it for you. But a little Patois goes a long way: it helps you understand drivers, vendors and the conversations around you, and it shows respect. The most valuable skills aren't phrases at all. Greet people properly, ask before assuming, and use any Patois naturally instead of putting on an accent. The phrases below come from the Patois Pal Travel & Road and Bare Essentials lessons.
Greetings come first
Always greet before you ask for anything. Walking up to a vendor or driver with a question and no greeting can come across as rude.
Mawnin!
Good morning!
Evenin.
Good evening. (from the afternoon on)
Wah gwaan?
What's up? (casual, with people your age)
If someone asks you Wah gwaan?, you can reply Mi deh yah ("I'm good"). Full guide: how to say hello.
Polite basics
| Patois | English |
|---|---|
| Beg yuh… | Please… (with a request) |
| Beg pardon | Excuse me |
| Thanks / Give tanks / Respect | Thank you |
| Mi sorry | I'm sorry |
| Mi nuh undastand | I don't understand |
| Mi nuh know | I don't know |
| Yeah man! | Yes, of course! |
| Walk good | Take care (goodbye) |
Getting around
Route taxis are shared cars that run set routes. Check where it's going and agree the fare before you get in.
Dis taxi a guh a town?
Is this taxi going to town?
How much fi guh a beach?
How much to go to the beach?
Let mi off right yah so, driva.
Let me off right here, driver.
Mi a get off a di next stop.
I'm getting off at the next stop.
Drive easy, nuh rush.
Drive slowly, no rush.
Phrases you'll hear from drivers and fellow passengers:
- Small up yuhselves, one more can come een. "Squeeze together, one more can fit."
- Wi soon reach. "We'll be there soon." The timing is flexible. See soon come.
- Di bus full up, wait pon di next one. "The bus is full, wait for the next one."
- Town usually means downtown, and in Kingston that's downtown Kingston.
Directions
Mi cyaan find mi way.
I can't find my way.
Which way fi guh a Half Way Tree?
Which way to Half Way Tree?
Weh di nearest bathroom deh?
Where is the nearest bathroom?
Di market far from yah so?
Is the market far from here?
Answers you might get:
- Guh straight dung di road. "Go straight down the road."
- Tun lef a di corna. "Turn left at the corner."
- It likkle bit far. "It's a little bit far." This can mean anything from five minutes to an hour.
- Di road mash up, up deh so. "The road is damaged up there."
You'll also be asked Weh yuh a go? ("Where are you going?") or Which paat yuh deh? ("Where are you?"). Place nicknames are common, for example Ochi for Ocho Rios and Mobay for Montego Bay.
Food
Weh mi can get some good food roun yah?
Where can I get good food around here?
Mi waan nyam some jerk chicken.
I want to eat some jerk chicken.
Di food nice!
The food is delicious!
Mi belly full.
I'm full.
Nyam means "eat". If someone warns Di food have nuff pepper, it's very spicy, and with scotch bonnet peppers they mean it. More vocabulary in Jamaican food words.
Shopping, markets and prices
How much dis?
How much is this?
Bwoy, dat dear!
Wow, that's expensive!
Dat price too high, come dung likkle.
That price is too high, come down a little.
Gi mi two ripe mango.
Give me two ripe mangoes.
Mi need fi change some money.
I need to change some money.
Bargaining is normal at markets and craft stalls, but keep it friendly. A vendor will happily come down likkle, but haggling hard over small amounts can come across badly. Shops with marked prices aren't the place for it. In tourist areas, ask whether a price is in Jamaican or US dollars. More in numbers, money and time.
Beach and weather
Di sun hot today eeh!
The sun is hot today!
Di sea rough today.
The sea is rough today.
Rain a come, look pon di cloud dem.
Rain is coming, look at the clouds.
Mine yuh slip, di ground slippy.
Careful you don't slip, the ground is slippery.
Words you'll hear a lot
- soon come: I'll be back, I'm on my way (in flexible time).
- irie: good, fine, at ease. Everyting irie.
- likkle: little. nuff: plenty.
- yaad: home, and to Jamaicans abroad, Jamaica itself.
- smaddy: somebody.
- kiss teet: the sharp sucking-teeth sound of annoyance. If you hear it, someone's displeased.
Etiquette that matters more than vocabulary
- Greet first, every time. Shops, buses, guesthouses, someone's yard.
- Respect elders. Use Miss, Mister or Aunty, and don't open with slang.
- Don't put on an accent. Plain English with a few natural Patois words is welcome. A performed Jamaican accent usually isn't. See speak Patois naturally.
- Leave the swear words alone. Words like bumboklaat are funny online but genuinely offensive in Jamaica. Read Jamaican curse words explained so you can recognize them.
- Ask before photographing people. Vendors and their stalls included.
- Don't call everyone "mon". Yeah man is real and friendly, but tacking "mon" onto every sentence is a tourist cliché.
To practice, the app's Story Mode includes "Route to Negril", where you negotiate a route taxi, and "Lost Inna Kingston", where you ask a peanut vendor for directions.
Questions people ask
Do I need to speak Patois to visit Jamaica?
No. English is Jamaica's official language, and people will switch to English with visitors. Learning Patois helps you understand what's said around you and shows respect, but you don't need it to get by.
Will Jamaicans be offended if I speak Patois?
Usually not, if it's natural and respectful. A few words and a proper greeting tend to be welcomed. What can go down badly is an exaggerated accent, Patois used as a joke, or swear words.
What does 'soon come' really mean?
Literally 'I'll be back soon' or 'I'm on my way'. In practice, the time frame is flexible, and it can mean minutes or much longer. Plan accordingly.
What is a route taxi?
A shared taxi that runs a set route, picking up and dropping off passengers along the way. Check the destination and agree the fare before you get in.