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Patois Dictionary

1

Bagaboo

[bag-ah-boo]
Noun
Meaning
A foolish person; someone who is easily made a fool of or treated as a dupe.
Example
"Nuh mek dem use yuh like no bagaboo."
2

Yush

[yoosh]
Greeting
Meaning
Rastafarian or reggae greeting, salutation, or hype exclamation.
Example
"Yush, mi bredrin! Good fi see yuh today."
3

Yard man

[yahd-man]
Noun
Meaning
A native Jamaican man; or a man who takes care of the yard/property.
Example
"Di Yard-man dem rep Jamaica with pride overseas."
4

Word-sound-power

[wurd-sownd-pow-er]
Noun
Meaning
Rastafarian philosophical concept of the creative and spiritual power of spoken words.
Example
"Rasta believe in word-sound-power fi manifest positive reality."
5

Wheel-and-come-again

[weel-an-cum-ah-gen]
Verb
Meaning
To pause, restart, re-evaluate, or replay a song (dancehall rewinding term).
Example
"Wheel-and-come-again wid di proposal cause wi need fi check di numbers."
6

Wash-belly

[wash-bel-lee]
Noun
Meaning
The last child born to a mother (youngest sibling).
Example
"Him a di wash-belly inna di family of six pickney."
7

Turn-cornmeal

[turn-korn-meel]
Noun
Meaning
Traditional Jamaican dish of cornmeal cooked with coconut milk, herbs, and spices.
Example
"Granny cook turn-cornmeal wid coconut milk fi dinner."
8

Tek time

[tek-tyme]
Command
Meaning
Take your time; go slowly; exercise caution and patience.
Example
"Tek-time walk pon di wet mountain road."
9

Sweet-mouth

[sweet-mout]
Noun
Meaning
Flattery, charm, or smooth talking used to persuade or coax someone.
Example
"Nuh try yuh sweet-mouth pon mi, mi nuh a buy it."
10

Swegbe

[sweg-bee]
Noun
Meaning
An awkward, clumsy, foolish, or unpolished person.
Example
"Nuh behave like a swegbe at di formal dinner."
11

Structure

[struk-chur]
Noun
Meaning
Physical building; organized framework; or body physique (slang).
Example
"Di athlete have a serious structure."
12

Stinking-toe

[stink-ing-toh]
Noun
Meaning
Fruit of the West Indian locust tree (Hymenaea courbaril) with a pungent shell and sweet pulp.
Example
"Di pickney dem crack open di stinking-toe fi eat di sweet pulp."
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Trending Words

  1. Yush
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  10. A fi
  11. Gallis or Gyalis
  12. Back-a-bush

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