Iselamagazi
JF-Expert Member
- Sep 26, 2011
- 5,917
- 6,002
Whap'am? - Hello?
The official national language of Jamaica is English although Jamaicans speak an English dialect called ''Jamaican Patois''. The communication accent can be difficult for other English speaking people to understand. Confusion can be further compounded since most Jamaicans speak fast. They talk very fast and cut a lot of words in half.
Funny words, sayings, proverbs and phrases:
Do you listen to Reggae Music?
If the answer is yes, expect to hear some of these very comical sayings, words, proverbs & phrases in Jamaican Patois. At times you have to overlook the real meaning of them.
Greetings:
Waa gwaan? - What's happening? What's going on?
Noting nah gwan! - Nothing is going on!
How yuh stay? - How are you?
Mi alright man! - I'm ok!
Weh yuh a seh? - What 're you saying?
Yow! - Hi! Hey!
Walk good - goodbye
Whap'am? - Hello?
General words:
Big man - a person of a high caliber (VIP)
Gwarn - go on
ukku: Jamaican slang for va**na
Eg. "Rah bwoy her ukku so tight itta go kill man!"
Alligeta - crocodile; Bud - bird; Dawg - dog; John Crow - vulture; Pattoo - owl
Food:
Bickle - food; Nyam - eat.
Eg. Nyam yuh bickle - eat your food
Eg. Mi feel seh mi can nyam sum fish - I feel I can eat some fish.
Hard food - yam; Ital - containing no meat/salt; crave - greedy
IT IS YOUR TURN, I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
(to continue ...)
The official national language of Jamaica is English although Jamaicans speak an English dialect called ''Jamaican Patois''. The communication accent can be difficult for other English speaking people to understand. Confusion can be further compounded since most Jamaicans speak fast. They talk very fast and cut a lot of words in half.
Funny words, sayings, proverbs and phrases:
Do you listen to Reggae Music?
If the answer is yes, expect to hear some of these very comical sayings, words, proverbs & phrases in Jamaican Patois. At times you have to overlook the real meaning of them.
Greetings:
Waa gwaan? - What's happening? What's going on?
Noting nah gwan! - Nothing is going on!
How yuh stay? - How are you?
Mi alright man! - I'm ok!
Weh yuh a seh? - What 're you saying?
Yow! - Hi! Hey!
Walk good - goodbye
Whap'am? - Hello?
General words:
Big man - a person of a high caliber (VIP)
Gwarn - go on
ukku: Jamaican slang for va**na
Eg. "Rah bwoy her ukku so tight itta go kill man!"
Alligeta - crocodile; Bud - bird; Dawg - dog; John Crow - vulture; Pattoo - owl
Food:
Bickle - food; Nyam - eat.
Eg. Nyam yuh bickle - eat your food
Eg. Mi feel seh mi can nyam sum fish - I feel I can eat some fish.
Hard food - yam; Ital - containing no meat/salt; crave - greedy
IT IS YOUR TURN, I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
(to continue ...)
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