Jamaican Patois contains many loanwords, most of which are African in origin, primarily from Twi (a dialect of Akan). Many loanwords come from English, but are also borrowed from Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Arawak and African languages, as well as Scottish and Irish dialects.
Does British slang come from Jamaica?
The popularity of Jamaican music in the UK, such as reggae and ska, led to the emergence of slang rooted in Jamaican patois being used in the UK, setting the foundation for what would later become known as MLE.
Who created Patois?
Patois developed in the 17th century when slaves from West and Central Africa were exposed to, learned, and nativized the vernacular and dialectal forms during the Middle Passage. The English language was spoken by the slaveholders: British English, Scots, and Hiberno-English.
Why do Jamaicans say ya man?
“Mon” is a Jamaican word that’s particularly important to the locals and is often used when talking to anyone, whether it’s a child or adult. The English translation for the Jamaican saying “ya mon” is “no problem” or “okay.” When someone offers you a rum runner, for example, it’s what you might want to say: “Ya mon!”
Why is it called Patois?
Patois comes from French origin meaning “rough speech” and usually carries a negative connotation (Gladwell 1994). Also called African English, the language of the Jamaican people began to develop in the 1600’s in Jamaica with the slave trade—the mix of the European cultures and African created Creole (Gladwell 1994).
What does Bloodclaat mean in UK slang?
Literally, “blood cloth” — traditionally, a sanitary napkin.
Who can say Wagwan?
Wagwan is a way of saying ‘what’s going on? ‘ in Jamaican English. It is used throughout the Jamaican diaspora especially in certain pockets of south and east London.
What does fi mean in Jamaica?
fi (Conjunction)
Meaning/Description: to, for. Jamaica.
Is Patois broken English?
Our local dialect, Jamaican Patois, is a colorful and energetic sing-song language that constantly evolves. Some refer to our native tongue as broken English, heavily influenced by our African, Spanish, French, and English colonial heritage.
What is a boo boo in Jamaica?
I knew what a “boo-boo” was long before I knew how to boo. I was a boy when Lord Melody sang his classic, self-mocking calypso about ugliness, “Mamma Look Ah Boo-boo Dey”. In Guyana “bubu” has a different meaning – it is essentially dry mucus around the eyes or what Barbadians and Jamaicans call “bugaboo”.
What does Dawg mean in Jamaica?
dawg (Noun)
Meaning/Description: dog.
What does YUTE mean in Jamaican?
youth
Yout originates in Jamaican Creole, where youth is pronounced like yoot and refers to young people. Yute dem, for instance, means “children” or “youth” more generally. By the 1990s–2000s, yout became a slang equivalent for “dude” or “man” among West Indian migrants in London, New York City, and Toronto.
Why do Jamaicans sound Scottish?
Patois developed in the 17th century when enslaved people from West and Central Africa were exposed to, learned, and nativized the vernacular and dialectal forms of English spoken by the slaveholders: British English, Scots, and Hiberno-English.
What is Jamaican foot bottom?
Foot battam refers to the sole of the foot. Nose-ole is the phrase used to describe the nostril. Jaw cawna is the term used to describe the side of the jaw, where the moveable lower bone and the fixed upper bone meet. Knee cup is the term used to refer to the knee cap.
Why do Jamaicans speak broken English?
After living their entire lives speaking the native languages of their homelands, the English that the slaves spoke was far from perfect. Slaves were forced to speak English in everyday situations, and because of this, a dialect of broken English came into fruition.
What does Bam Bam mean in Jamaican?
(The meaning of the phrase “What a bam bam” is slippery: Sister Nancy uses it to mean something along the lines of “What a ruckus.”) Sister Nancy, born Ophlin Russell, is widely acknowledged as being the first female dancehall MC, and “Bam Bam” cemented her as a major influence in both reggae and dancehall.
What does bun mean in Jamaica?
If someone gives you BUN it means that person has cheated on you. Macka Diamond did a song called “Bun Him” in which she is saying if a man gives you bun (if a man cheats on you) then “BUN HIM” (do the same to him and cheat too)
What does Piff Ting mean?
Someone who is considered an attractive person
Piff Ting. Someone who is considered an attractive person. Adjective/Noun.
How do you respond to wha gwan?
It is used throughout the Jamaican diaspora, including in hip-hop culture and by reggae music fans. The standard response is nagwan / nuttin nah gwaan (“nothing is going on”).
Is it wah gwan or Wagwan?
Wat a gwaan has sometimes been further reduced to wah gwan or wagwan in the Jamaican diaspora, especially in London. The term was popularized in London with the arrival of Jamaican immigrants in the 1980–90s, associated with Jamaican diaspora street culture there.
What does Guan Guan mean in Jamaican?
guano, a word for accumulated bird poop, which came to English from Quechua via Spanish. gwan or gwaan, Jamaican patois for ‘go on’ meaning either ‘happen’ or ‘go away’; a popular phrase using it is dem fi gwan, ‘They should go away’, which you can hear in (among other things) Ruff Scott’s fun song “Tell Dem Fi Gwaan”