Patois Dictionary
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That’s it; Exactly
It is for / It belongs to
That’s a lie; Expression of disbelief
That’s how it is; So it is
Going to
Jamaica’s national fruit.
After
Ask
Everything is fine; The situation is good
Another
Alright; Okay
To be trendy, fashionable, up-to-date.
Bad (can mean good or cool)
Police; The corrupt system
A very rural, undeveloped area; the countryside.
Outdoors; outside.
A state of mess or confusion; a poorhouse.
The Otaheite apple, a small, pear-shaped red fruit. Not the round apple common in the US/Europe.
Talking back disrespectfully; insolent replies.
Unlucky; prone to misfortune.
To be envious of others’ success; a malicious mindset.
Clumsy; awkward in movement.
A scam, fraud, or illicit activity
A commotion, uproar, mess, or disturbance
A large party or dance
To cry loudly; to weep or sob.
The act of begging persistently; being a freeloader
Bent; crooked. Often used to describe a corrupt official.
Annoyed, irritated (a variation of vex)
To greet or show respect
Kola nut, often grated and used as a home remedy for poison or upset stomach.
A chance or opportunity
A bandana cloth; the plaid pattern of the national costume.
A bracelet, typically a rigid one.
To sit or rest, usually in a relaxed manner.
Banners; also means to be excellent, a major success, or a “hit”.
A basket.
To beat, bruise, or damage severely.
Victuals; food.
To blend.
Lovely; Nice; Wonderful (often for a person)
A man who financially supports a woman (similar to Brinks).
To slap or hit, usually on the face or head.
A little extra; a bonus
Brother; a close male friend
A man who provides financially for a partner; a sugar daddy.
To break out in dance or celebration, often with great energy.
To meet or run into someone unexpectedly
To burn; also, to cheat on a romantic partner.
An uncouth, unrefined, or low-class person.
Boy
Boastful; arrogant; prone to bragging.
Brethren; a close male friend or comrade (Rastafarian-influenced).
Cinder block; a standard building block.
To be angry or on the verge of anger.
Broke; Broken. Can refer to having no money or a broken object.
To build.
A type of traditional African-derived drumming style.
Bush; a wild, uncultivated area. Can also refer to marijuana.
To boil.
Because; Can’t
A green leafy vegetable, like spinach.
A person who gossips, carrying tales back and forth.
Disorderly; messy; untidy
While it literally means termite, this term is also commonly used as a derogatory slur for a gay man.
An exclamation of annoyance or disbelief
The sound made by sucking one’s teeth, indicating annoyance or disdain.
Cloth; A very strong expletive, similar to the F-word, often used for emphasis.
Look here! (to draw attention)
The gourd of a climbing plant, dried and used to make bowls and musical instruments.
To have a problem with someone; to hold a grudge.
A starchy root vegetable, often used to make bammy (a type of flatbread).
A derogatory term for a promiscuous girl or woman.
Certificate; an official document.
A type of large pipe, often made from coconut and bamboo, used by Rastafarians for smoking ganja.
A gold or silver chain
Patois term for Bantu knots, a hairstyle where small sections of hair is twisted into a knot.
Clean; to clean. Can also mean well-dressed.
A starchy root vegetable with a brown, hairy skin; also known as taro.
A mosquito destroyer coil that burns slowly.
A person from a rural area (can be slightly derogatory, implying naivety).
Greedy
Scrawny; very thin or skinny in an unhealthy way. Can also mean unclean.
Crisp; Fine; Okay
Problems, misfortunes, troubles.
To curse or swear at someone
To give a dirty look; showing contempt with one’s eyes.
Can’t; Cannot
Can’t be finished; inexhaustible; amazing.
To ride on the back of a bicycle; to move in a zigzag
Sunglasses
To faint; to show off extravagantly.
To throw away; discard
Daughter; a term of endearment for a young woman
An inheritance; possessions left by someone who has died.
Dead serious; used for emphasis
A constant state of quarreling or contention.
A machete (same as ‘pang’).
A tropical root vegetable, similar to coco and taro, with large leaves.
Dog
