Gibson Family Reunion 2008
Patois-How to speak Jamaican
Ha ha - jacan jokes
Patois-How to speak Jamaican
U know a who?-family pictures

Jamaicans have a rich heritage, and an important part of that is our language.  Jamaican patois(pronounce 'pat-wa') or simply Jamaican, is an English/African-based language.  It is one of the quickest identifier of a Jamaican in any crowd.  While we know the Queen's English, it cannot be denied, that a story, a joke, or even a good scolding just sounds better in patois! 

Here's a few phrases:

"Mek sure you deh deh"  Translation: Make sure you are there.

"U know a who" Translation: Do you know who it is?

Which family member used to say:

"YUH TALKIN PHEWSELANIMOUS" ?

Other phrases include:

"Mi a go lef tiday."
Translation: "I am leaving today."

"Im too haad eaize."
Translation: "He/She is too stubborn."

"Axe har de question."
Translation: "Ask her the question."

"Im badda dan dem." "Nuh bodda mi."
Translation: "He is worse than they are." "Don't bother me."

"Bare dog dung inna dat yard."
Translation: "There are only dogs in that yard."

"No bodda bawl im soon cum bak."
Translation: "Don't bother crying he'll soon be back."

"Sell mi wan bokkle a iyl."
Translation: "Sell me a bottle of oil."

"Dat a mi bredda."
Translation: "That is my brother."

"Is who bruk de bokkle a iyl?"
Translation: "Who broke the bottle of oil?"

"Coodeh, yuh see de big bud eena de tree?"
Translation: "Look at the big bird in the tree."

"Mi love chaklit cake with nuff icenin."
Translation: "I love chocolate cake with plenty of icing."

"Mi a go bak a wuk pan Chewsday."
Translation: "I am going back to work on Tuesday."

"Di chuck want tree new tyres."
Translation: "The truck will need three new tires."

"Cuyah, she gwan lak she nice eee?"
Translation: "Look at that, she acts like she is so nice."

"Mi like yuh cris cyar."
Translation :"I like your new car."

"Yuh did see dat?" "A who dat?"
Translation: "Did you see that?" "Who is that?"

"Yuh nuh dun yet?"
Translation: "You have not finished yet?"

"Ello, mi can help yuh wid someting?"
Translation: "Hello, can I help you with something?"

"Di wola dem a me fambly."
Translation: "All of them are my family."

"Yuh tuh fass and facety."
Translation: "You are too inquisitive and fresh."

"Yuh 'ave any flim lef inna de camera?"
Translation: "Do you have any film left in the camera?"

"She a mi bess bess fren."
Translation: "She is my best friend."

"Galang bout yuh business."
Translation: "Go along about your business."

"Gimme wan tall glass a wata please."
Translation: "Give me a tall glass of water please."

"Who hav mi watch?"
Translation: "Who has my watch?"

"Mi bak a hat mi."
Translation: "My back is hurting me."

"Lawd 'ave mercy pan Miss Percy."
Translation: "Lord have mercy on Miss Percy."

"Lef mi nuh."
Translation: "Leave me alone."

"De bwoy a de biggest liad."
Translation: "The boy is a big liar."

"Im get wan big lick fram de teacha."
Translation: "He got a big hit from the teacher."

"Mi madda sey yuh fi lef mi."
Translation: "My mother said that you are to leave me alone."

"Ole still, mi si wan big maskitta pan yu foot."
Translation: "Hold still, I see a big mosquito on your foot."

"Im mek up im mind areddy."
Translation: "He made up his mind already."

"How yuh nyam summuch?"
Translation: "How do you eat so much?"

"Mi ah de ongle one dat did stay till it dun."
Translation: "I was the only one that stayed till it was finished."

"Is Mista Garden pickney dem."
Translation: "It is Mr. Gordon's children."

"See yu pan Satday."
Translation: "See you on Saturday."

"Put de sinting inna de bag."
Translation: "Put the something in the bag."

"Smaddy tell mi sey yuh did a chat bout mi."
Translation: "Somebody told me you were talking about me."

"Tanks fe de glass a ice wata."
Translation: "Thanks for the glass of ice water."

"Tek yu time an mine it bruk."
Translation: "Take your time, you might break it."

"Mista Brown mi see tree bwoy inna yu mango tree."
Translation:" Mr. Brown I saw three boys up in your mango tree."

"Oonu can cum wid mi."
Translation: "You all can come with me."

"Watta gwan wid John?"
Translation:" What's going on with John?"

"Im jook mi inna mi yeye."
Translation: "He poked me in the eye."

Some of these were sourced from http://www.jamaicans.com

 

If you have a favourite that we can add on, especially if a particular family member uses it often, please email to us at gibsonreweb@gmail.com.  Jamaican proverbs are also welcome.