Words describing People, Places and Things in Jamaican Patois

Below is a list of Jamaican Patois words you can use to expand your vocabulary and practice making conversations in patois.

1. “Pickney „

   English Translation: Child

   Example Sentences (Patois) Whoofa pickney dis?
   (English) Whose child is this?

2. “Gyal „

   English Translation: Girl

   Example Sentences (Patois) Who dah gyal deh?
   (English)Who is that girl?









3. “Bwoy „

   English Translation: Boy

   Example Sentences (Patois) Luk if yuh si di bwoy roun di kaana
   (English)Look if you see the boy around the corner

4. “Smaddy „

   English Translation: Somebody / Someone

   Example Sentences (Patois) Smaddy deh luk fi yuh
   (English) Somebody is looking for you

5. “Stush „

   English Translation: Stuck up

   Definition Slang term for someone that acts superior, stuck up, conceited etc…

   Example Sentences (Patois) Why dat likkle gyal ah act so stush?
   (English) Why is that little girl acting so stuck up?





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6. “Rude bwoy „

   English Translation: Rude boy

   Definition Slang term use to greet a cool friend or to describe a tough guy, rebel, or criminal.

   Example Sentences (Patois) Wat a gwaan rude bwoy?
   (English)What’s going on bad boy?

7. “Bredda „

   English Translation: Brother

   Definition Brother; close friend or family.

   Example Sentences (Patois) ) Yuh bredda deh inna di house?
   (English) Is your brother in the house?

8. “Rasta „

   English Translation: Rastafarian

   Definition Slang expression used to refer to a persons that wears dreadlocks and is a Rastafarian

   Example Sentences (Patois) Mi neva know seh yuh tun rasta
   (English) I didn’t know that you have become a Rastafarian

9. “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... ).

   Example Sentences (Patois) Him did a try fi impress di bigga heads
   (English)He was trying to impress the higher ups

10. “Jamdung „

    English Translation: Jamaica

    Definition Slang term for Jamaica similar to “Jamrock” or “Jamdown”

    Example Sentences (Patois) Mi ago pan vacation inna Jamdung
    (English) I am going on vacation in Jamaica

11. “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)

    Example Sentences (Patois) Yuh deh guh a Marsha dead yard tonite?
    (English) Are you going to Marsha’s wake tonight?

12. “Enz „

    English Translation: Hangout spot

    Definition A place where someone lives or normally hangs out at.

    Example Sentences (Patois) Meet mi a di enz likkle more
    (English) Meet me at the hangout spot later

13. “Mi yard „

    English Translation: My home

    Example Sentences (Patois) Mi nah leff mi yard until Frideh
    (English) I’m not leaving my home until Friday

14. “Ting „

    English Translation: Thing

    Example Sentences (Patois) Serious ting deh happen right now
    (English) Serious things are happening right now

15. “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”.

    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.