Dictionary of the Jamaican Language Takes You Bak Tu Skuul
Contributed – Joseph T. Farquharson and the DJL team The Jamaican language, popularly referred to as (Jamaican) Patwa, is a significant component of brand Jamaica. However, despite its high international visibility and mounting global interest, it is severely under-resourced in its homeland. The language has benefitted from the work of outstanding linguists such as Beryl […]
Your Guide to Asking for Directions in Jamaican Patois
Perhaps one of the most difficult things to do in Jamaican Patois is to ask for directions then follow them according to what a local instructs you. This is especially true in the rural areas of the island. Unless your roots are from the island and you are able to follow directions without street names […]
Blend into the Jamaican Crowd with These Useful Patois Expressions
If you plan to visit Jamaica soon, you might be wondering how best you can fit into a conversation without being singled out as a ‘foreigner”. You might want to be able to understand what is being said around you, or to even communicate comfortably with a local. Have you considered learning some Jamaican Patois […]
Do Jamaicans Mispronounce Your Name? 31 Names Jamaicans Take Pleasure in Butchering
Jamaicans are known for their special talent when pronouncing names, blending them with the richness of our diverse ethnicity and culture. Jamaicans.com recently conducted a poll to discover the most common of these mispronunciations. It’s no exaggeration to say that Jamaicans possess an exceptional talent for adapting even the most outrageous mispronunciations of words. Now, […]
‘Lef Mi Nuh’, 20 Common Jamaican Patois Sentences You Should Say To Sound Like A Local
Visitors to the island of Jamaica enjoy indulging in lively conversations with locals. It’s an opportunity to learn the Jamaican Patois language, specifically the words and phrases that are commonly said by Jamaican every day. If you’re new to the island or you have a Jamaican friend that you want to impress, colour your speech […]
How Jamaican Men Say “Thank You” to another Jamaican man without saying it
Jamaican men can be very choosy about their choice of words and how they speak to the male or female group. Social norms have cultured their choice of words and so the simplest of correspondence can seem complicated to persons outside of the culture. Thank you is an everyday expression and Jamaican men find using […]
How Jamaicans Greet You When They Have Not Seen You For a While
It is almost unlikely for Jamaicans to greet you with merely a hi, or hello. There is always an additional comment attached to the greeting, sometimes offensive and sometimes inquisitive. They sometimes don’t mean any harm when they spew these greetings but they most times come across offensive to the person on the receiving end. […]
20 English Words That Sound Better In Jamaican Patois
There is often a debate about whether Jamaicans pronounce some words incorrectly or if it’s sounding of the Patois accent. Some people will argue that if the person is speaking English and the Patois pronunciation of a word pops out then there is mispronunciation. Others will argue that it is the nature of the dialect […]
25 Words and Phrases Jamaicans Use When They Don’t Want to Curse
There is a popular phrase that says “children live what they learn” – so the majority of adults try not to curse around children. You will find also that Christian adults do not use curse words, as well as young adults around elderly folks will try their best not to do so as well. As […]
20 Things Every Jamaican Has Heard From a Parent or Relative
Jamaicans are notorious for speaking in parables or for speaking in small phrases. The uniqueness of the Patois makes some of these statements sound a bit hilarious but sometimes they are meant to issue a warning. Here are some famous sayings that every Jamaican would have heard at least once in their lifetime from either […]