Below is a list of Jamaican Patois words you can use to expand your vocabulary and practice making conversations in patois.
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- “Pickney „
- English Translation: Child
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Whoofa pickney dis?
(English) Whose child is this?
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- “Gyal „
- English Translation: Girl
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Who dah gyal deh?
(English)Who is that girl?
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- “Bwoy „
- English Translation: Boy
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Luk if yuh si di bwoy roun di kaana
(English)Look if you see the boy around the corner
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- “Smaddy „
- English Translation: Somebody / Someone
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Smaddy deh luk fi yuh
(English) Somebody is looking for you
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- “Stush „
- English Translation: Stuck up
- Definition Slang term for someone that acts superior, stuck up, conceited etc…
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Why dat likkle gyal ah act so stush?
(English) Why is that little girl acting so stuck up?
- Learn correct word pronunciation
- Understand grammar and structure
- Handy everyday phrases
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- “Rude bwoy „
- English Translation: Rude boy
- Definition Slang term use to greet a cool friend or to describe a tough guy, rebel, or criminal.
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Wat a gwaan rude bwoy?
(English)What’s going on bad boy?
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- “Bredda „
- English Translation: Brother
- Definition Brother; close friend or family.
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Example Sentences
(Patois) ) Yuh bredda deh inna di house?
(English) Is your brother in the house?
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- “Rasta „
- English Translation: Rastafarian
- Definition Slang expression used to refer to a persons that wears dreadlocks and is a Rastafarian
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Mi neva know seh yuh tun rasta
(English) I didn’t know that you have become a Rastafarian
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- “Bigga Heads „
- English Translation: Higher ups
- Definition Slang term used to refer to persons that have high positions in an organization (politicians, police chiefs etc... ).
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Him did a try fi impress di bigga heads
(English)He was trying to impress the higher ups
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- “Jamdung „
- English Translation: Jamaica
- Definition Slang term for Jamaica similar to “Jamrock” or “Jamdown”
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Mi ago pan vacation inna Jamdung
(English) I am going on vacation in Jamaica
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- “Dead yard „
- English Translation: Wake
- Definition A social gathering associated with death. A “dead yard” normally takes place at the house of the deceased (without the body present)
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Yuh deh guh a Marsha dead yard tonite?
(English) Are you going to Marsha’s wake tonight?
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- “Enz „
- English Translation: Hangout spot
- Definition A place where someone lives or normally hangs out at.
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Meet mi a di enz likkle more
(English) Meet me at the hangout spot later
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- “Mi yard „
- English Translation: My home
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Mi nah leff mi yard until Frideh
(English) I’m not leaving my home until Friday
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- “Ting „
- English Translation: Thing
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Serious ting deh happen right now
(English) Serious things are happening right now
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- “Back a Yard „
- English Translation: Back at home
- Definition Expression used to refer to one’s home town or country, particularly in Jamaica. The literal translation is “Back at home”.
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Example Sentences
(Patois) Back a yard, when mi did likkle, mi did haffi walk 2 mile guh a skool every day kaaz no kyar neva deh bout dem deh time deh.
(English) Back in Jamaica, when I was little, I had to walk 2 miles to go to school every day because there was no cars around at that time.
Beginner's Guide to Speaking Jamaican Patois
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