07/18/2015
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Glossary of Jamaican Reggae-
Rasta words, expressions, and
slang.
Select: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S
T U V W X Y Z
A
A (ah)- Means many things from: a, to, is, it,
the, will, ECT. ‘A’ is said before action will or
has taken place. This is the main Jamaican
preposition for nearly everything.
A door (ah do-ah)- Out doors; outside.
A go (ah go)- To go or will go. Mi a go a door.
(I am going outside).
Ackee- African fruit introduced in Jamaica in
1778; is Jamaicas national fruit and is the
second main ingredient of Jamaica’s national
dish combination, ackee and saltfish.
Agony (ah-gon-ee)- Sexual or**sm or sensation
of s*x.
Ah sey one (ah seh won)- Expression to say
that something is really cool and great.
Aile (i’ll)- Oil.
Aks (ax)- Ask.
A lie- Your lying; that is a lie.
All fruits ripe- Everything is just great. All is
good.
All di while- All the time; sometimes; the time
during. All the while dem depon di bashment.
(They are partying all the time.)
An- (ahn) And.
A nuh mi- Means that that’s not me … It’s not
me to...I am not one to…A nuh mi fi like it. (I
am not one to like that).
Aright (ah-rite)- All right, sure, yes, okay.
‘At- Hot; also hat.
‘At steppa- Hot stepper, a jail breaker and one
in trouble with the law.
A true- It is true; I am not lying.
B
Baan- Born. A weh ya baan? (Where were you
born?)
Baby madda- Mother of a child.
Babylon (bah-bee-lon)- A Rasta word for the
police and the corrupt system.
Backside (bok-side)- Refers to someone else’s
self, expressed towards another person. A rude
way to refer to someone. Move yu backside.
(Move your self).
Badda (bad-da)- Bother. Naa Badda mi. (Don’t
bother me.)
Bad like yaz- Expression for saying something
is really cool.
Bad man/bwoy- Criminal type guy. A really bad
individual. Bad man no flee. (Gangsters don’t
run away.) Dat a bad bwoy. (That is a
gangster.)
Bag juice- The cheapest fruit punch money can
buy.
Bait (be-it)- Scoundrel, punk, scum, and these
types of people. Ooman naa like bait. (Women
don’t like punks.)
Bald head- A Rasta label for one who is too
caught up with the evil system—Babylon. Also
is anyone who is a non-dreadlocks; usually
white people.
Bandu- A hair band worn by women.
Bandulu (ban-doo-loo)- criminal; crooked
activity; also means a fake passport/visa.
Bare (beer)- Only. Is bare pickney yahso.
(There’s only children here.)
Bash, Bashy- This is a popular slang term that
means cool, awesome, nice stuff, ECT.
Bashment- A great event or happening;
dancehall; party. Also the same as bashy
above. Dem bashment gyal. (They are girls who
like to party.). Wi gwaan hab a bashment time.
(We are going to have a great time.)
Batty- Primarily means butt; also signals to
homos*xuals. ‘Im a battyman. (He is gay).
Beg- To ask; also means to beg. Di man dem
beg fa jooks. (The men beg for s*x.)
Big up- This is a popular term for saying
what’s up and a gesture of tribute. Big up uno
dem. (Praise to all of them).
Bill- A basic Jamaican $100 bill. Worth just
over two U.S. dollars.
Blessed- A Rasta word; blessing(s).
Bling- Flashy and expensive; necklace or chain.
Look pon mi bling. (Look at my chain).
Bloodclot- Strong curse word.
Bloodfire (blud-fiah)- Hell.
Blouse an skirts- Politcally correct version of
the curse word bumboclot.
Bly- Favor or chance. Mi mus get a bly. (I
must get a chance.) Usually referring to driving
on the road.
Bobo dread- A certain sect of Rastas that wear
turbans and carry brooms to signify
cleansiness. They are of the Bobo Shanti order
and are true followers of Prince Emmanuel.
Bodderation (bod-da-ray-shun)- A comical
version of “Bother.”
Bokkle (bok-el)- Bottle.
Boots- Condoms; also shoes.
Bout- About. Naa worry bout it. (Don’t worry
about it).
Bow- to perform oral s*x; mostly on a woman.
Box- To fight and punch. She box ‘im face. (She
punched his face.)
Bredda- Brother.
Bredren- Fellow friends and collegues;
brothers in unity.
Browning- Complementing a black person of
light skin, and good complexion.
Bruk- Broke, broken, break. Nuh bruk it.
(Don’t break it).
Brukout- A climax of pure energy and
excitement; to act unruly. Usually at a party.
Buck- To accidentally bump into; to meet by
chance.
Bud- Bird.
Buddy- Male ge***al.
Bulla- Cake.
Bumboclot- King of curse words.
Bun- To get cheated on; also burn, kill, and to
smoke. She gi ‘im bun ka im bun whole heap a
herb. (She cheated on him because he smokes
a whole heap of herb.) Di Rasta dem say, “Bun
dung q***r!” (The Rastas say, “Burn down (kill)
the q***rs!”)
Bupps- Financially providing for a woman. She
bupps im out. ‘Im her bupps. (She played him
for money. He is her sugar daddy).
Bush w**d- A term for rendering poor quality
herb.
Buss- To bust; like to bust a move; burst out;
unruly.
Bwoy (b-why)- Boy. This is a common term for
anybody—male or female.
C
Ca (cah)- Because. Also can be the word “Can”.
Mi ca hab…? (Can I have…?)
Card- To play a joke or trick. Dem play a card
pon mi. (They tricked me).
Cargo- A big and heavy gold or expensive chain
one wears to show wealth.
Casco (kas-ko)- Imitation, fake designer
clothes.
Cat- Female ge***als. Mi nuh like fi bowcat. (I
don’t like to perform oral s*x).
Chaka-chaka- Messy and untidy.
Cha/cho- Expression of surprise. Cha! (What!)
Champion- A person who is extraordinary on
the dancefloor and in the bed.
Chalice- The Rasta water bong/pipe that is
made from a hollowed coconut.
Chatty-Chatty- Overly talkative to the point of
irritation.
Check it deep- Check it out. When mi check it
deep, a casco name brand. (When I checked it
out, it was a fake).
Chewsday- Tuesday.
Chi chi- Gay, homos*xual, q***r. Chi-chi man.
(Gay man.)
Chuck- Full-size truck.
Clean- Sexual expression for giving a bl***ob.
C**k it up- Aggressive s*x.
Coil- Term for money when dollars are
wrapped in a roll.
Coppa- Copper; a term for a coin valued less
than a dollar.
Coo- Look. Coo yah! (Look here!)
Coolie- Jamaican Indian from India.
Coolie hair- Straight hair.
Craven- Greedy. Craven choke puppy. This is a
famous line that depicts someone who wants
everything but, when they get it, they can’t
handle it.
Cris- Slang for cool and instyle. Dat cris. (That
is cool.)
Crosses- Problems and misfortunes. Mi always
inna crosses. (I always have bad luck.)
Culture (kul-cha)- Reflecting or pertaining to
the roots, values and traditions of Rastas.
Cuss-cuss- Shouting fight with bad words.
Cutchie- A clay-fired earth piece that fits into a
chalice needed to hold g***a; a cup.
Cutlass- A cutting instrument; a very large
knife.
Cutta- Cutter; can opener; cutting tool.
Cut yeye- Cutting your eye at someone by
turning the eyes the other way.
Cyar (key-ar)- Car.
D
Dan- Than
Dandimite- Dynamite
Darkers (dah-kahs)- Sunglasses, shades.
Dat- That
Dawta (doh-ta)- Daughter; woman, good
woman friend.
Dead- Dead, die, killed, to kill. ‘Im a dead. (He
is dead).
Dear- Expensive. Dat cost dear. (That is very
expensive.)
Deestant (dee-stant)- Decent.
Dege-dege (deh-geh deh-geh)- Measly or
skimpy.
Deh- There—as in place. Also asks where
something is. Weh ih deh? (Where is it?)
Deh ‘bout- Nearby, close to.
Dehya (deh-yah)- Here or there.
Dem- Them. Use dem after plural objects. Di
gal dem. (The girls.)
Depan (deh-pon)- On; on top of; upon.
Des- Desperate. Im sey im des fi a food. (He
said he’s desperate for food).
Dey (dayah)- They; there, as in to be or exist.
Dey nuh odda way. (There is no other way).
Nuh milk nuh dey. (There is no milk there). Dey
say. (They say.)
Di- The; did, was. ‘Im did dun di ting? (Did he
complete the thing?)
Dideh (di-dayah)- Was there or right over
there. ‘Im dideh. (He is/was there). Member
when wi dideh? (Do you remember when we
were there?)
Dis- This.
Disya- This right here.
Don- A term and name for one who is well
respected.
Doondoos (dune-deuce)- Referring to an
albino.
Downpress- Rasta word for “Oppress”.
Dread- Person who has dreadlocks, greeting to
friend, expression of a good idea.
Dreadnut- Rasta word for “Coconut.”
Drop legs- To dance.
Dub- Mixed music of electronicreggae.
Dun- Done, finished, over with; kill. Mi dun
feel bad. (I am done feeling bad). Mi dun
dweet. (I have finished doing it).
Dun know- Don’t know.
Dung- Down. Come dung. Sidung (Come down.
Sit down.)
Duppy (dup-pee)- Ghost.
Dutty- Dirty; also a popular slang expression,
as in Dutty yo.
Dutty gal- Tin mackerel. This is common food
for the poor.
Dween- Doing.
Dweet- Do it.
E
Ease-up- To relax. Ease up uno self. (Relax
yourselves.)
Eat unda sheet- Expression of performing oral
s*x.
Eaz haad- Ears hard. Means stubbornness or
thickskulled; one who doesn’t listen. Yu rass
claat haad eaz. (You are damn stubborn.)
Eff- If
Ends- A place. Mi a go pon one ends still. (I am
going to one place).
Eveling- Evening
Everything cook and curry- Everything is just
fine.
F
Fa- For. Wa mek yu dweet fa? (Why did you do
it for?)
Faas- Fast. Tap drive faas. (Stop driving fast).
Facety (fe-ast-ee)- Bad mannered and nasty;
acting fresh.
Fambly- Family.
Fass- Nosey.
Favor (fa-va)- Looks like; resembles. ‘Im a fava
a dinna pig. (He resembles the size of a pig.)
She fava har mudda. (She looks like her
mother.)
Feel no way- Not taken in offense; not to worry
or care.
Fi (fee)- To. This is the main Jamaican
prepostion. Mi naa waan fi do it. (I don’t want
to do it).
Fi mi, fi she, fi yu, fi ‘Im- Mine, hers, yours,
his. Shows possession. A fi mi cyar. (My car).
Fi dem. (Theirs.)
Fiah (fi-ah)- Fire; also used to designate the
smoking of g***a. More fiah! (More w**d!)
Fit- when used of fruits and vegetables, it
means that fruit is ready to pick and is fully
grown, though not necessarily fully ripe to eat.
Flim- Film; mostly camera film. Mi need fi buy
flim becaa’ no flim in’ai camra. (I need to buy
film because there is no film in the camera.)
Flex- To chill and hang out having a time; to
plan an activity.
Follow- To travel close to, to follow or seek.
Follow back a mi. (Follow me.) Di fly a follow
yu head. (The fly is seeking your head.)
Foot- Any part of the entire leg. ‘Im foot a
bruk means that his leg is broken.
Forward- Future; to go or to move.
Fren’- Friend.
Frock- Dress. Also an expression, e.g. Fit ‘n
frock means everything is good.
Fram- From; since. Mi dehya fram 6:00. (I
have been here since 6:00). Fram when mi a
pickney mi a dweet. (I have been doing it since
I was a kid).
Fresh- Not ready; still bitter or sour. Di juice a
fresh still. (The juice is still raw tasting.)
F**kery (fuk-ree)- A maljustice, something
wrong and unfair; this is not considered a bad
word. A f**kery dat. (That was a messed up
thing).
G
Gaan- Literally means gone. ‘Im gaan. (He is
gone.)
Gaan to bed- An expression of loving
something very much.
‘Gainst- Against. She fight ‘gainst mi. (She
fought against me.)
Galang- Go along.
G***a- Ma*****na.
Gansey- T-shirt.
Gates- Home. Many homes in JA have gates.
One’s “gates” is one’s home.
Get- To have, to have had, got, gotten. Mi get
fi realize. (I realize or I have realized.)
General- A cool and smooth operator.
Ginnal- Trickster, con-person. ‘Im so ginnal.
(He is a tricky person.)
Ginnygog- An influential person--derogative.
Gimme- Give me.
Give tanks- A expression of gratitude; a Rasta
expression.
Glamity- Womans’ s*xual private area.
Gleena- Newspaper; the Jamaican Gleener.
Godeh- Go there. Mi no go deh. (I’m not going
there)
Gone- Gone, passed, left. Mi see har di
Monday gone. (I saw her the passed Monday.)
Gorgon- Outstanding person and very well
respected. ‘Im a don gorgon. (He is a master
of situations).
Greetings- An opening greeting used heavily by
Rastas.
Grindsman- One who is great in bed.
Grow- To raise. She grow mi. (She raised me.)
Gwaan- Go on. Wa a gwaan? (What’s going on?)
Gwine (gween)- Going. Wi gwine adoor. (We are
going outside.)
Gweh- Go away.
H
Hab- Have
Haffi- Have to.
Half eediat (af ee-dee-at)- A very stupid
person.
Hanga- Closet; hanger.
Hangle- Handle.
Har- Her
Haste (hee-ase)- To be in a hurry. Mek haste.
(Hurry up)
Hat- Hurt
Higgla- A street vendor; comes from the
British word higgler.
Hol ih dung- Hold it down. Means keep it
steady; make a secret; not to be told.
Honor (hon-nah)- A Rasta word; greeting or
good-bye.
Hose- P***s. Mi kyaan lock mi hose off. (I can’t
keep it in side; in this case the speaker is
stating being excessively s*xually active.)
Hot steppa- Hot stepper, which is a criminal;
fugitive; escapee from jail.
Hush- Sorry. [Person 1] Ouch! Yu hut mi!
[Person 2] Hush. {1} You hurt me! {2} Sorry.
Although, someone saying ‘hush’ to you may
make you more angry, just remember that in
Jamaican Patois ‘hush’ means to be sorry; an
apology.
I
I an I- Rasta speech for me. Me, myself, and I.
I-cense- Rasta word for ganga, which is taken
from the Biblical word “Incense.”
I-ditate- Rasta word for “Meditate.”
I-dren- Rasta word for bredren, which is taken
from the Biblical word “Brethren.”
I-laloo- Rasta word for “Callaloo”, which is
spinach.
I-man / I-mon - Refers to the self. I-man waan
dat. (I want that). Rasta for: Me or you.
I-ney- A classic Rasta greeting.
I-ree- Rasta word for “Irie”, which means to be
happy.
I-sire- Rasta word for “Desire”
I-tal- Rasta term for “Vital”, which is a strict
diet and way of life. Most commonly Rasta
food that is pure, unprocessed, and unsalted.
I-tes- Rasta word for “Heights.” The I-tes color
for the Rasta is Red. This word is also used as
a greeting.
I-wah- Rasta word for “Hour.”
I-yah- Me (I) or you.
Ih (ih or ee)-It. Weh ih deh? (Where is it?)
‘Im- Him
Informa- (in-fah-mah )Informer. One who narcs
or tells on others--usually to the police.
Informers are not respected.
Inna- In the. This word can also be spelled
with only one ‘n’.
Inna di lights- Expression to say tomorrow. See
you inna di lights. (See you tomorrow.)
Irie (I-ree)- Means everything is alright.
Expression of feeling great and cool.
Iron bird (Irun-buud)- An Iron bird is an
airplane. Yu jus come off di ironbud. (You’ve
just come off the plane.)
Is- This means it is, it was, or was it? This is
can be used to repace the word it; and can
also pose a question if it comes first in the
sentence. Is ‘im a dweet? (It was him that did
it or can mean. Was it him that did it?)
J
Ja, Jamdown, Jamdung- Words for Jamaica.
Jacket- Bastard; a child that is raised by
another father. (Usually from the wife cheating
on someone else and the father never
knowing.)
Jah- Lord. Jah Bless. (God Bless.)
Jah guide- A Rasta farewell and good-bye.
Literally says that “God shall guide.”
Jah know- Lord or God knows; an expression of
agreement.
Jake, Johnny, Joe- Terms Jamaicans use to yell
and call out when they see white Americans.
Hey Jake!
Jancro- John Crow, which is the name for the
hated albino buzzard/vulture; also an
expression of hate.
Jesum Piece- A soft expresson of aggrivation.
Jester- To joke; kidding. Mi naa jesta. ( I’m not
kidding.)
Jook- To pierce or poke; to have s*x.
Jus begin fi dead- Expression saying that
people were really shocked or amazed, like
they could have dropped dead. Dem jus begin
fi dead when wi did wi ting. (They almost
dropped dead when we did our thing).
K
Ketch- To ketch; to get, to achieve.
Key- Slang for good friend. Similar to “My
main man.” Wa’ppun mi key? (What’s up man?)
This word also means the normal key we are
used to for opening doors.
Kill mi dead- Expression of certainty; I’ll do it
at all costs, no matter what. Mi muss a go kill
mi dead. (I’ll get there no matter what.)
Kiss teet- A facial expression when the lips are
pressed together kissing and the eyebrows up.
Makes a hiss. Also is a very rude jesture and
sound of the face and mouth.
Ku- Look. Ku pon dis. (Look at this).
Kya (Key-a) Care. Mi nuh kya. (I don’t care.)
Kyaan- Can’t; can not. Note: some spellings
have it as “Cyaan” or “Caan”.
Kyaan done- Can’t finish; never ending. Mi lub
yu kyaan done. (My love for you can’t end.)
Kyarri (key-ah-ree)- Carry.
L
Laas- Last; or lose.
Labba-Labba- Talking to much. Labba mout. (A
chatter mouth.)
Lambsbread- A Rasta term for high-grade
g***a.
Lang- Long. Lang time mi a wait. (I’ve waited
for a long time.)
Large (laaj)- Very well respected. Dat large.
(That’s popular). Also used as a slang term,
“Large up!” (Similar to “Big up”—a term of
fond greeting and appreciation.)
Lef- Leave, left, passed.
Leggo- To let go; leave, let’s go. She leggo har
numba. (She gave out her number.)
Legsus- A spoof on the luxury car, Lexus, but
expresses the walking power of the legs.
Liad (li-ad)- Liar. Yu a liad. (You are a liar).
Lickle- Little.
Lickle more- A saying of goodbye.
Light- Power; electricity.
Likky-Likky- One who is greedy about eating
everything seen. Yu too likky-likky.
Lilly- Little, tiny.
Link up- Slang for “Hooking up”; getting or
meeting together, ect. Mi link yu up layta. (I’ll
get with you later.)
Lock up- Closed. Di store dem a lock up. (The
stores are closed).
M
Machet- A machete.
Maga- Skinny and slender.
Man juice- S***m.
Manley- A Jamaican $1000 bill that has former
prime minister Michael Manley.
Mantell- Male gi**lo; a real player and w***e
of a man.
Marina- A sleeveless wifebeater T-shirt,
commonly netted.
Mas- An old and wise master; a old-timer who
deserves respect.
Mascot- Someone who is lame, inferior; can
mean gay.
Mash it up- Expression of doing well; like,
“Break a leg”; be a big success.
Mek- Let; make. Mek wi dweet. (Let us do it).
Mek up yu mind. (Make up your mind). Dat di
best eva mek. (That’s the best ever made.)
Memba- Remember.
Mi- Me, I, mine. Mi soon come. (I’ll be there
soon). [Can be pronounced Mee or Meh]
Mon- Perhaps the single most important
Jamaican word, “Mon” can represent every
person in Jamaica—man, woman, and child.
Yes mon! (Yes man, woman, or child!)
‘Mongst- Amongst
More time- Popular expression for saying
good-bye. This must be said with power and
voice. More time! (Later!)
Mos def- Most definitely. An expression
meaning, of course, yes, sure, ECT.
Mr. Mention- A real ladies man who is the talk
of the town so to speak.
Mudda- Mother.
Muss- Must.
Mussi- Must be.
My yute- My youth. Friendly expression of
calling a friend or youger one. Hey my yute.
(Hey my friend).
N
Naa- A variation of the word No.
Nanny- A Jamaican $500 bill worth about 11
U.S. dollars.
Neba- Never
Negga (neh-gah)- Negro. See Nyega.
Neegle- needle.
Neegle yeye- literally means “Needle’s eye”.
Has reference to something very small. Also
refers to the female s*xual organ.
Nize (niz)- Noise
Nuff- Plenty, too much, many, tons, a lot, ECT.
Nuh- No, now, or know.
Nuh true?- Expression of verifying the truth;
Isn’t it so?
Nuh easy- A very popular expression saying
one is acting a bit off the wall or uneasy, or
when ones manners are not in order. Yu nuh
easy!
Nutten- Nothen.
Nyabinghi- The traditional and orthodox
Rastafarian movement of black supremacy and
visions of the Ethiopian Zion; a Rasta spiritual
gathering with drumming and chanting.
Nyam (nee-ahm)- To eat. Mek wi nyam. (Let’s
eat.)
Nyami-Nyami- Expression of one who eats too
much.
Nyega (nee-yeg-ah)- term for black person;
ni**er. Dutty Nyega. (Poor and trashy person—
same as white trash in the U.S.) White nyega.
(Jamaican born white person.)
O
Obeah- The withcraft or spiritual science native
of Africa. It is the type of voodoo in Jamaica.
She a put Obeah pon ya. (She cast a spell on
you.)
Odda (ud-dah)- Other. Dey nuh odda way.
(There’s no other way.)
Ongle- Only.
Ooman- Woman.
Ooo- Who. Is fi ooo? (Whose is it?)
Ova- Over.
Ovastan- Rasta word for “Understand”.
Literally means “Overstand”.
P
Pear (peer)- Avocado.
Peas- Beans. Rice an peas. (Rice and beans).
Pickney- Child, children, kids.
Poas- Post; to mail.
Priors- Prayers.
Pull- To open. Pull di can a peas. (Open the
can of beans).
Pum, Punash, Punaani- Female ge***als.
Pussyclot- Curse word.
Pussyhole (pus-swhol)- Curse word.
Pyur (peer)- Only; used in conjunction with
things in large quantities. Always remember to
say this like peer. Pure gal waan mi. (Many
girls want me).
Q
Quashi- a peasant
Quips- a small portion
Quing-up : to compress
Quattie : of no value, the term is derived from
the name that was given to the 1/2 penny that
was used in Jamaica during Britsh rule.
R
Radda- Rather.
Ragga- The current name of popular regae
music. Ragga music relies heavily on a digital
equipment.
Raggamuffin- A Jamaican ghetto dweller. Naa
mess wit no raggamuffin. (Don’t mess with a
ghetto person.)
Rakstone- Rocks, stones. Rakstone inna mi
shoe. (I have rocks in my shoes.)
Rass/Raas (rass/rahz)- Common word and
expression meaning ass; also it can add
intensity to objects or basic words in normal
speech. Ending a word with clot makes it a
curse word.
Ray Ray- This is a term used when someone is
talking too much or telling a story. Similar to
saying blah blah.
Ready- A person, usually always a woman, who
is s*xually attractive.
Red- High or drunk. Also is the color of a
person who is not fully Black. E.g. Red Rat.
Red yeye- One who is covetous and jelous of
things. Yu yeye too red.
Reespek- Respect. A very popular Rasta
greeting that shows courtesy.
Renk- Foul; smelling bad; very rude.
Response- Responsible. Response fi ooo?
(Responsible for whom?)
Rest- To relax and settle down. Rest mon!
(Calm down!)
Rhaatid (rah-tid)- A mild exclamation of
surprise or irritation. Similar to gosh, heck,
and damn.
Righted- Correct and with sense. Dat nuh
righted. (That was with out sense).
Rockas- Music to “rock” to. Slang for music
and enjoying such.
Romp- To mess with or play. Yu wanna romp
wit me? (Do you want to mess with me?)
Rope een- To join in or come in on an activity
going on.
Rude bwoy (rood bwhy)- A basic slang term.
Can be a common greeting to a cool friend or
it can describe a tough guy, rebel, or criminal.
Wa’ppun rude bwoy? (What’s up man?) ‘Im run
di rude bwoy bizness. (He runs the criminal
business).
Run a boat- A saying where many people will
cook and eat a big dinner.
S
Sa (sah)- Sir.
Salt (saál)- Bad luck, unlucky. Mi get salt. (I
was unlucky.)
Samfi (sam-fi)- A trickster and conman out to
get money. ‘Im a samfi man. (He is a conman).
Sapps- A man who is controlled by a woman.
Satday, Satnight- Saturday and Saturday night.
Sciecne- A term for the following of the Obeah
witchcraft cult practice. She a scientist becaa
she follow di Science people dem. (She is an
occult practitioner [Obeah] because she
follows people of that cult.)
Scenty (sent-tee)- Smelling good; a good scent.
Mi put mi turn on perfume an mi scenty. (I
put on my “Turn on” perfume [turns on the
woman] and I smell good.)
Screw- To be angry. Screw face. (An angry
face.)
See it - Slang for “Do you understand or do
you see”.
Shorty- This is a slang expression similar to
saying ‘chick’ or girl.
Shot- To shoot, shot, to have been shot. Dem
shot ‘im dead. (They shot him dead.)
Sidung- Sit down.
Sight- A Rasta term for, “Do you SEE or
UNDERSTAND?”
Sistren- A reference or greeting to a group of
women—usually formal; sistren are the
opposite of “bredren or bredrin”. Hi sistren!
(Hi ladies!)
Si’ting (si-tin)- Something; a thing that you
don’t feel like calling the proper name. Mi a go
get dat sinting. (I am going to get that thing).
Skettle- A ho girl or slut; also means anything
really cheap. A skettle name brand dat. (Those
are cheap brand clothes.) Sket is a shortened
version; also a cheap boxed drink.
Skin teet- Smile. Check yu’self befo yu skin ya
teet. Check yourself befor you smile.
Slam/Slap- Slang words for s*x.
Slump- The slums or ghetto. Dis a di slump.
(This is the slum.)
So- Like that; such as that, like such, ECT. This
is just a common expression used to decribed
anything. Almost always comes at the end of
the sentence. Wa mek yu galaan so?(Why are
you behaving like such?) Wa mek yu sweet so?
(Why are you so sweet?)
Soon come- Term used for general replies in
saying that one will be back. However, it does
not mean necessarily that one will actually
come promptly. Mi a soon come. (I’ll come
soon.)
Spliff- A very large cone-shaped ma*****na
cigarette.
Speaky-Spokey- This is when a Jamaican tries
to speak like an American or Englishman.
Usually when a Jamaican returns from a
vacation overseas he or she will carry over an
accent and a friend will say, Wa mek you so
speaky spokey? (Why are you trying to speak
like an foreigner?
Stamina- Sexual endurance. Di ooman dem
wanna stamina daddy, ya hear. (Women want a
man with pleanty of s*xual endurance.)
Star- To sport something or an event in style;
also slang for “Man”. Yu mus star dem threads.
(You have to sport and wear those clothes like
you are the king). Wha’ppun, star? (What’s up,
man?)
Stay- To leave alone or let be; to wait; the way
someone is. Mek it stay. (Let it be.) Jus stay
deh. (Just you wait.) See ‘ow yu stay? (Do you
see how you are?)
Step- To leave. Mi step out yah. (I am leaving
now.)
Stoosh- Any person that is rich; a rich object.
Dis computa stoosh! (This computer is
“stoosh”!) Mi live inna stoosh place. (I live in a
rich place.)
Strong money- Just a saying to denote the
superiority of American money. Is a strong
money dat a come fram foreign. (It is strong
money that comes from the U.S.)
Su-Su (sue-sue)- To gossip and spread rumors.
The sound of whispering in one’s ear denotes
gossip and backbiting. Nuh su-su pon mi back.
(Don’t gossip behind my back.)
Sufferation (suf-fa-ray-shun)- Major suffering,
poverty, and trials. A pyur sufferation inna
gwaan inna di ghetto. (There is pure suffering
going on in the ghetto.)
Sum’ady- Somebody.
Sup’m (sup-hm)- Another way of saying
“Something”.
Swaaty- Fatty.
T
Tack- Bullet.
Tall- Long. Har hair tall, ee? (Her hair is long,
huh?)
Tallowah- Strong and sturdy.
Tam- A large oval-shaped Rasta hat used to
cover dreadlocks.
Tan- Stand, stay, wait and see; also to be as in
to be such a way. Tandeh. (Stay there, just you
wait). A so ‘im tan. (That’s the way he is).
Tanks- Thanks.
Tan pon it lang- Expression of having s*x for a
long time.
Ten toe turbo- An funny expression meaning to
walk and use your feet. It must be known that
the majority of Jamaicans walk for
transportation.
Teet- Teeth.
Teif- Thief; to steal. Di teif a teif mi tings. (The
thief has stolen my things.)
Tek- Take or get. Tek time. (Take time / slow
down).
Tess- Test. Yu waan tess mi? (Do you want to
test me?)
Trash an ready- A popular slang expression
meaning to be very stylish and fashionable.
Tree- Tree; also the number three. ‘Im a tree
bunna. (He cheats “burns” on three women.)
Truu- Truth; true; through; threw.
Truss mi- Trust me.This is an ever-popular
expression used when agreeing with some one.
Basically means: “Oh yeh, believe me, I know”,
ect.
Truut- Truth past tense. ‘Im tol di trut. (He told
the truth.)
Tun- Turn. Im tun deh. (He turned there).
U
Unda gal pickney- Expression for what is
“Under the girls’ pants”.
Undastan (un-dah-staan)- Understand.
Uno or unno (uh-no)- The plural form of you,
you all, the all of you, ECT. Also means all. Uno
yu. (All of you.)
Upful- Positive feelings. Yu so upful. (You are
cheerful.)
Usband- Husband.
V
Van- Pick-up truck.
Vank- To beat, eliminate, or conquer. Comes
from the word vanquish.
Version (ver-shun)- Version; popularly an
instrumental version.
Vex- This the key word that is used to mean
angry, mad, upset, furious, ECT. Naa mek mi
vex, mon! (Don’t make me mad!)
W
Wa (wah)- What.
Wa day-The other day. Memba wa day weh wi
dweet? (Do you remember the other day when
we did it?)
Wa mek? - Why
Waan- Want; need.
Wanga gut- One who has a fat stomach; one
who likes to eat and seems hungry all the time;
a hungry-belly.
Wa’ppun- What’s happening? This is the most
popular greeting used. Always say this instead
of the American, “What’s up.”
Weh- Where; past tense of was; present tense
of is; that is.
Wear- To wear; it is worn, worn, wears. Batty
ridas still a wear by di gal dem. (Short shorts
are still worn by the girls.)
Wheels- Car.
Whole heap- Slang for very large quantities; a
lot, a whole heap. Very common to use.
Wi- We, us, our, ours. Naa touch wi tings.
(Don’t touch our things). Yu a come wit wi?
(Are you coming with us?)
Wicked- Slang for bad or evil. Dat wicked, nuh?
(That’s cool, huh?)
Winji- Very thin and unattractive. She too
winji. (She’s too thin.)
Wit- With.
Wrap up- Slang for kidding or joking. Mi naa
wrap up. (I am not joking.)
Wood- P***s.
Work (wuk)- Slang for s*x.
Wutless- Worthless. When used in conjunction
with a man it means one who is lousy in bed.
‘Im a wutless bwoy. (He is a worthless, s*xually
useless, man.)
X
X amount- Countless; many. Mi get x amount a
lovin. (I receive plenty of love/s*x.)
Y
Ya, Yah- You, here, also can mean yes.
Yahso- Over here; right here.
Ya nuh see it? - Slang for, you know?
Yaad- Yard, place of residence, house, home.
Tek mi a mi yaad. (Take me home.) Mi baan a
Jamaican Yardi. (I was born a Jamaican.)
Yeh- Yes.
Yeye (yi)- Eye.
Yeyewata- To shed tears, cry.
Yuut- Youth. A popular name for calling a
friend; can also refer to someone younger.
Also popular using man as ending. Yu a mi
bredrin fram yuuts. (You’re my friend from
youth.)
Z
Zed- The letter Z. Fram A to Zed. (From A to
Z).
Zeen- Understand, you know, you see, okay,
yeh, ECT. One of the most popular words,
zeen. Zuke a mi lass name, it a begin wit zed,
zeen. (Zuke is my last name, it begins with the
letter z, you see). Zeen can signal a question or
agree with a statement.
Zion- This is the holy land talked about the
Rastas, which is in Ethiopia.
Zutopong : someone who low class also
zutopeck.
Do friends ever laugh at you when trying
to "SPEAK JAMAICAN"?
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