Caribbean Slang
Caribbean slang and patois decoded — Jamaican, Trini and Bajan words with real meanings, examples, and origins. Properly sourced, not guessed.
448 words
A mild Bajan exclamation of surprise or dismay.
Only; nothing but; just
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Spicy Jamaican dry-rub/smoke cooking style
The golden apple / June plum fruit
Craven — greedy, grasping
To dance to reggae/ska; also to swindle
Strong, sturdy and fearless despite small size
Overweight, chubby or out of shape.
To throw away or discard
A cat
Everything's fine / all good
To fall sprawling; to knock someone flat.
Go on about your business / mind yourself
Me / my.
The act of hanging out and socialising with no fixed agenda.
To flatter or fool someone with insincere praise.
A heavy cast-iron cooking pot
An uncouth, unrefined person
A classy, independent, admired woman
I can't deal with this; I'm overwhelmed
Mature content — open to view.
An expression of sympathy: 'oh dear', 'poor thing'.
Deeply and proudly Trinidadian to the core.
A banana
A sound-system DJ who selects the records
A non-Rasta (person without dreadlocks)
Mature content — open to view.
Stupid; foolish.
Patois pronunciation of 'tune' — a track, especially a banger.
Spicy goat-head soup (said to boost virility)
Brazen, cheeky or shamelessly demanding.
What's the deal / what's happening with
To throw or hurl something.
Jamaican word for feeling good, at peace, and everything being alright.
To dance energetically, throwing the hips around.
Make room; move over / squeeze up
A large spiky green fruit with creamy flesh
A gunman, gangster or shooter
Worthless; lazy and good-for-nothing