◊Yaady Dictionary
/yaa-di dic-tion-ery/
A vocabulary of Jamaican terms or Patois, used on my blog, translated into English.
◊Patois
/pat-wa/
A language spoken in Jamaica, it is not recognized officially as a language but as an English Creole.
◊A
/a/
Used in place of “is/are” in the present tense.
◊Bawl
/baw-luh/
Cry, especially in an excessive manner.
◊Big up yuhself/unnu self.
/big up yuh-self/ unn-u/
Give props to yourself or congrats. Unnu=You(plural)
◊Bredrin
/bre-drin/
Bredrin comes from bredda which is brother, so it is a similar term; a male that is a close friend.
The term may also be used for strangers in some cases.
◊Bere
/bare/
A lot, plenty.
◊Buddy/Cocky
/bud-dy/coc-ky/
Penis.
◊Cya
/ki-yaa/
Cannot, Can’t.
◊Dem
/de-em/
Them.
◊Dead Wid Laugh/DWL
/ded wid laaf/
Dying with laughter, the Jamaican equivalent to “lmao” or “laugh my ass off.”
◊Di
/di/
The.
◊Do Road
/do road/
To go out.
◊Dung
/duh-ngh/
Down.
◊Fi
/fi/
Should.
◊Fulljoy
/full-joy/
To enjoy.
◊Fyah
/fi-yah/
Fire.
◊Give Thanks
/gi-ve tha-nks/
To be thankful of a situation or event that occurred.(also used in place of thank you.)
◊Grabba
/grab-ba/
Tobacco, also called Hot Grabba.
◊Juss
/jus/
Just.
◊Mek
/mek/
Make.
◊Mi
/mi/
I, mine, my, me.
◊Nah/Naa
/Nah/
No, not.
◊Neva
/neh-vah/
Never.
◊Nuff
/nuff/
A lot, plenty.
◊Nuh
/nuh/
Don’t, Does not.
◊Pree
/pre-ee/
To look at.
◊Pum Pum/Punani
/p-uh-m p-uh-m/p-uh-na-ni/
Vagina. (also called pussy)
◊Ram
/ram/
Full. (or a male goat 😛 )
◊Riddim
/rid-dim/
Rhythm.
◊Seh
/se-eh/
Say or said.
◊Shell/Shot
/she-ell/shot
Went well, amazing, fun.
e.g. The day did shell.
◊Sistrin
/sis-trin/
The feminine version of Bredrin, a female that is a close friend.
This term isn’t usually used with strangers.
◊Spliff
/spliff/
Marijuana finely cut or ground up and rolled in paper for smoking, usually cone shaped.(a joint.) May contain grabba.
◊Suh
/so-oh/
So.
◊Tek
/tek/
Take.
◊Tek weh
/tek weh/
To take away/up something.
◊Tups
/tuu-ps/
A small amount, a little bit.
◊Wah Gwan?
/waaah gwaan/
What’s up?
◊Wanga
/wang-ga/
Greedy.
◊Rassclaat, Pussyclaat, Bomboclaat, Bloodclaat
Curse words, they may be shortened and used as: bombo, rass, claat, pussy.
*Some meanings may vary.
Wouldn’t “bredrin” have come from the english “brethren?” Seems very much like it.
That’s a good point, it did more than likely but where I have “bredda” is also a Patois word.
Nice helpful list 🙂
Thank you 🙂