Patois Dictionary

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Patois Dictionary Fiilter

A dat

That’s it; Exactly

A fi

It is for / It belongs to

A lie

That’s a lie; Expression of disbelief

A so

That’s how it is; So it is

A-go

Going to

Ackee

Jamaica’s national fruit.

Afta

After

Aks

Ask

All fruits ripe

Everything is fine; The situation is good

Aneda

Another

Aright or Awrite

Alright; Okay

At steppa or Hot steppa

To be trendy, fashionable, up-to-date.

Baad

Bad (can mean good or cool)

Babylon

Police; The corrupt system

Back-a-bush

A very rural, undeveloped area; the countryside.

A-doors

Outdoors; outside.

Almshouse

A state of mess or confusion; a poorhouse.

Apple

The Otaheite apple, a small, pear-shaped red fruit. Not the round apple common in the US/Europe.

Back-chat

Talking back disrespectfully; insolent replies.

Bad-lucky

Unlucky; prone to misfortune.

Badmind

To be envious of others’ success; a malicious mindset.

Bafan

Clumsy; awkward in movement.

Bandulu

A scam, fraud, or illicit activity

Bangarang

A commotion, uproar, mess, or disturbance

Bashment

A large party or dance

Bawl

To cry loudly; to weep or sob.

Beggy-beggy

The act of begging persistently; being a freeloader

Ben’

Bent; crooked. Often used to describe a corrupt official.

Bex

Annoyed, irritated (a variation of vex)

Big up

To greet or show respect

Bissy

Kola nut, often grated and used as a home remedy for poison or upset stomach.

Bly

A chance or opportunity

Bandana

A bandana cloth; the plaid pattern of the national costume.

Bangle

A bracelet, typically a rigid one.

Bank

To sit or rest, usually in a relaxed manner.

Bannaz

Banners; also means to be excellent, a major success, or a “hit”.

Baskit

A basket.

Batta

To beat, bruise, or damage severely.

Bickle or Bikkle

Victuals; food.

Blen

To blend.

Boonoonoonoos

Lovely; Nice; Wonderful (often for a person)

Boops

A man who financially supports a woman (similar to Brinks).

Box

To slap or hit, usually on the face or head.

Brawta

A little extra; a bonus

Bredda

Brother; a close male friend

Brinks

A man who provides financially for a partner; a sugar daddy.

Bruck out

To break out in dance or celebration, often with great energy.

Buck up

To meet or run into someone unexpectedly

Bun

To burn; also, to cheat on a romantic partner.

Butoo or Butuh

An uncouth, unrefined, or low-class person.

Bwoy

Boy

Boasie

Boastful; arrogant; prone to bragging.

Bredrin

Brethren; a close male friend or comrade (Rastafarian-influenced).

Breeze-block

Cinder block; a standard building block.

Bringle

To be angry or on the verge of anger.

Bruk

Broke; Broken. Can refer to having no money or a broken object.

Buil

To build.

Burru

A type of traditional African-derived drumming style.

Bush

Bush; a wild, uncultivated area. Can also refer to marijuana.

Bwoil

To boil.

Cah

Because; Can’t

Callaloo

A green leafy vegetable, like spinach.

Carry-go-bring-come

A person who gossips, carrying tales back and forth.

Chakka-chakka

Disorderly; messy; untidy

Chi-chi

While it literally means termite, this term is also commonly used as a derogatory slur for a gay man.

Cho! or Chro!

An exclamation of annoyance or disbelief

Chuh / Tchuh

The sound made by sucking one’s teeth, indicating annoyance or disdain.

Claat / Claawt

Cloth; A very strong expletive, similar to the F-word, often used for emphasis.

Coo yah!

Look here! (to draw attention)

Calabash

The gourd of a climbing plant, dried and used to make bowls and musical instruments.

Case

To have a problem with someone; to hold a grudge.

Cassava

A starchy root vegetable, often used to make bammy (a type of flatbread).

Catty

A derogatory term for a promiscuous girl or woman.

Cerfiticket

Certificate; an official document.

Chalice

A type of large pipe, often made from coconut and bamboo, used by Rastafarians for smoking ganja.

Chapareeta

A gold or silver chain

Chiney-bump

Patois term for Bantu knots, a hairstyle where small sections of hair is twisted into a knot.

Clean

Clean; to clean. Can also mean well-dressed.

Coco

A starchy root vegetable with a brown, hairy skin; also known as taro.

Coil

A mosquito destroyer coil that burns slowly.

Countryman

A person from a rural area (can be slightly derogatory, implying naivety).

Craven

Greedy

Crawny

Scrawny; very thin or skinny in an unhealthy way. Can also mean unclean.

Criss

Crisp; Fine; Okay

Crosses

Problems, misfortunes, troubles.

Cuss

To curse or swear at someone

Cut yeye

To give a dirty look; showing contempt with one’s eyes.

Cyaan

Can’t; Cannot

Cyaan done

Can’t be finished; inexhaustible; amazing.

Dally

To ride on the back of a bicycle; to move in a zigzag

Darkers

Sunglasses

Dash out

To faint; to show off extravagantly.

Dash weh

To throw away; discard

Dawta

Daughter; a term of endearment for a young woman

Dead lef’

An inheritance; possessions left by someone who has died.

Deadaz

Dead serious; used for emphasis

Cuss-cuss

A constant state of quarreling or contention.

Cutlass

A machete (same as ‘pang’).

Dasheen

A tropical root vegetable, similar to coco and taro, with large leaves.

Dawg

Dog

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