Patois Dictionary
1
Meaning
Be careful; watch your behavior; exercise caution.
Example
"Mind-yuhself when yuh walk pon di wet tiles."
2
Meaning
A skinny, malnourished dog; famous subject of Jamaican proverbs ("Sorry fi mawga dog...").
Example
"Di mawga-dog a sleep inna di shade by di road."
4
Meaning
Afro-Jamaican spiritual tradition centered on healing, spirit possession, and counteracting bad obeah.
Example
"Di Myal dance bring healing to di community."
5
Meaning
Mouth; talk; verbal speech.
Example
"Mind yuh mout' when yuh a talk to yuh elders."
6
Meaning
A loudmouth, blabbermouth, or gossip who cannot keep a secret.
Example
"Dat girl a real mout-a-massi, she tell everybody di secret."
7
Meaning
Entanglement in drama, gossip, confusion, or conflict.
Example
"Mi nuh want fi get inna nuh mix-up wid dem people."
9
Meaning
"I am right here" (common relaxed response to "How are you?").
Example
"How yuh stay, bredda? — Mi deh yah, same way."
11
Meaning
Jamaica's original folk music genre featuring acoustic instruments, banjo, and rhumba box.
Example
"Di mento band play classic folk song fi di tourist dem."
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Category
Part of Speech