In this lesson we will be discussing the different types of responses to various Jamaican Greetings. If you haven’t already, please view the previous lesson on Jamaican Greetings before continuing. A few of the greetings responses I’ve listed below might have different meanings when not used in a greeting context so I’ve also listed their literal translation when they are not being used as a greeting.
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- “Mi aright „
- English Translation: I'm ok
- Definition Response given when someone ask how you are doing.
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Man1: “Everything criss?” Man2: “Mi aright”
(English) ) Man1: “Is everything ok?” Man2: “I’m ok”
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- “Nothing nah gwan „
- English Translation: Nothing is going on
- Definition When used as a greeting this expression means everything is ok but nothing much or new is going on”.
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Man1: “Whatta gwaan” Man2: “Nothing nah gwaan right now”
(English) Man1: “What is going on” Man2: “Nothing much is going on right now”
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- “Everyting cook an curry „
- English Translation: Everything is just fine
- Definition Slang expression used to state that everything is fine.
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Man1: “How yuh duh” Man2: “Everyting cook an curry”
(English) Man1: “How are you doing” Man2: “Everything is just fine”
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- “All fruits ripe „
- English Translation: Everything is just great
- Definition Slang expression use to state that everything is great or all is well
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Man1: “Bredrin, how yuh duh” Man2: “All fruits ripe”
(English) Man1: “Friend, how are you doing” Man2: “Everything is just great”
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- “Mi deh Yah „
- English Translation: I am here
- Definition Slang expression usually used in response to a greeting expression like “How are you doing” or “What’s going on”. While the literal translation for this term is “I am here”, its implied meaning is similar to the expressions “I’m good”, “Not much happening so I am just here”, “Everything is ok” etc…
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Man1: “Wah yaw deal wid” Man2: “Mi deh yah”
(English) Man1: “What are you up to?” Man2: “Nothing much, I’m just here”
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- “Mi criss „
- English Translation: I’m ok
- Definition Response given when someone ask how you are doing.
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Man1: “How yuh stay?” Man2: “Mi criss”
(English) Man1: “How are you?” Man2: “I’m ok”
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- “Mi a gwaan easy „
- English Translation: I’m taking it easy
- Definition Not to worry or stress; to relax and keep everything under control. This response is normally given when someone ask how you are doing
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Man1: “Wah deh gwaan” Man2: “Time tuff but mi a gwaan easy ”
(English) Man1: “What’s going on?” Man2: “Times are tough but I’m taking it easy ”
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- “Everything is everything „
- English Translation: All is well
- Definition Slang expression for saying that all is well or everything is going according to plan
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Man1: “Weh yuh ah seh?” Man2: “Everything is everything”
(English) Man1: “How are you doing?” Man2: “All is well”
- Learn correct word pronunciation
- Understand grammar and structure
- Handy everyday phrases
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- “Everything Nice „
- English Translation: Everything is going well
- Definition Slang expression for saying that everything is going well
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Man1: “Everything criss?” Man2: “Yah! Everything nice”
(English) Man1: “Is everything ok?” Man2: “Yes! Everything is going well”
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- “Mi naw deal wid nutten „
- English Translation: I’m not doing anything
- Definition Response typically given when someone ask what are you up to. The literal translation is “I’m not dealing with anything” but when used as a greeting response it means “I’m not doing anything ” .
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Man1: “Wah yuh deh deal wid?” Man2: “Mi naw deal wid nutten”
(English) Man1: “What are you up to?” Man2: “I’m not doing anything”
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