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Rastafari / Patois Dictionary
Welcome to the Rastafari / Patois Dictionary – You travel next time to jamaica and you don´t speak patois / patwah? Learn a little bit patois words here – Love & enjoy it! 🙂
Dictionary
Phrases / Proverbs
Sources
Last Update — 10/02/17
A B D E F G H I J KL M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
PHRASES or PROVERBS
“Me come yah fi drink milk, me no come yah fi count cow!” (Deliver that which you promised, don’t just talk about it!) (15) stay out of trouble or gossip. Means I came here to (whatever you came for) not get involved in politics or gossip. (29)
“Carry Go Bring Come” (gossip) (12)
“A so im tan” (that is what he is like) “tan deh!” or “yu tan deh!” (just you wait!) “Tan tedy”, stand steady, means “hold still”. (5)
Bunks Mi Res (catch my rest, take a nap) (5)
“yu dam Lagga head bud” (stupid) (14)
“What sweet nanny goat a go run him belly” is a cautionary Jamaican proverb which translated means: What tastes good to a goat will ruin his belly. In other words – the things that seem good to you now, can hurt you later… (10)
“tek smadi mek poppy-show”, which means to make fun of someone or shame them, making them look ridiculous. (5)
“You too red eye” (meaning, you’re too envious) (14)
Ya No See It? (you know?) (1)
“the gal come wine up on me,” it would mean that the girl came and was dancing up on me. (17)
“Chicken merry; hawk deh (is) near”, it’s a Jamaican proverb which simply means, every silver lining has its dark cloud Even in the happiest times one must still be watchful. (22)
“Fire de a Mus Mus tail, him tink a cool breeze”. Set a Rat’s tail on fire and he’s thinks there’s a cool breeze. Used to describe someone or something (the system for example) that is clueless. (4) This characterizes the delusional complacency of the upper classes. (22)
“Me bleach hard lass night” i partied straight through the night. (20)
“A promise is a comfort to a fool”. (4)
“coo pon dat bwoy”, “look at that boy” (17)
“Mi no come yah fi hear bout how horse dead an cow fat” It’s like telling somebody to knock off with irrelevant details. (21) (29)
“Me throw me corn but me no call no fowl” It evokes the image of a farmer silently scattering who is saying, in effect: “Don’t call yourself a chicken just because you eat my feed; I never said I was endeavoring to feed the chickens.” That is, “You are who you show yourself to be, not who you might say you are.” (21)
“Sorry for maga dog, maga dog turn round bite you”. This metaphor extends very well to all manner and sort of do-gooding and should be considered before any hasty acts of charity! (22) giving help to someone and they show no sign of thanks and may even scorn you for it. (29)
“Mi throw mi corn, but me no call no fowl”. refers to the conversational technique of throwing out a provocative statement (throw corn) in an indirect manner, thus forestalling any accusations of personal insult. (22)
“Sweet nanny goat have a running belly”. It’s a barnyard analogy akin to the grass is always greener, but much coarser, noting that the sweet foliage avidly sought out by the nanny goat gives it diarrhea (running belly). It’s a blunt way of warning someone off temptation. (22)
“cock mouth kill cock” really can’t be expanded upon any further, nor can the similar “If a fish coulda keep him mout’ shut, him would neva get caught”. (22) somebody who chat too much (29)
“Everyting Crash”. The topic is social chaos. Also, “come bad in de morning can’t come good a evenin'”, and the even more pessimistic “every day bucket go a well, one day di bucket bottom mus drop out”. (22) Mashin up of one’s plans (29)
“Wanti wanti can’t get it, getti getti no want it”, i.e., the Have-nots covet what the Haves take for granted. (22)
“Trouble no set like rain”, that is, unlike bad weather, we are often not warned by dark clouds on the horizon. (22) reminder to be careful (29)
Jamaican proverbs consistently counsel patience and forebearance, as in the beautiful image “time longer than rope”. The child must “creep before him walk”. And remember, “one one coco fill up a basket”, take it easy and fill up your shopping basket one item at a time. (22)
“Every mikkle makes a muckle”, refers to thriftiness, similar to “a penny saved is a penny earned”. (22)
“No cup no broke, no coffee no dash wey”. Even if disaster strikes your home it’s always possible that all may not be lost. (22) you don’t make a fuss there won’t be a fight. (29)
“Wha eye no see, heart no leap” means that something terrible could happen but if you don’t see it, you are not frightened. (29)
“mi come here fi drink milk, mi noh come here fi count cow”. A remimder to conduct business in a straightforward manner. (22)
“The higher the monkey climbs the more him expose”. A truly comic image if you’ve ever been to the zoo, and comforting to any of us whose backs have been used as a stepping-stone for someone else’s success. (22)
“A city upon the hill cannot be hidden.” same as above (29)
“A new broom sweeps clean, but an old broom knows every corner”. A profoundly witty statement that sums up any number of current situations, including the state of today’s music. (22) often used in man and woman relationships as in “your new man buff and ting but the old man know where it sweet you.” In other words, the new broom may look better but the old broom has understanding bout tings! (29)
“dry land tourist”. A Jamaican who’s never been off the island but still acts like a big shot. (10) Someone who acts topanorish and has nothing (29)
“no one cyaan test” . no one can compete with. (24)
“Mi a-go lef today”. “I am leaving today” (25)
“Im too hard of Aise”. “He/She is too hard of ears” (25)
“Him is badda than dem” “No badda mi”. “He is worse than they are” “Don’t bother me” (25)
“Is bare dog down inna that yard”. “Is only dogs in that yard” (25)
“No badda bawl im soon come back”. “Don’t bother crying he’ll soon be back (25)
“Dat is fe mi bredda”. “That is my brother” (25)
“The chuck need tree new tyres”. “The truck will need three new tire” (25)
“Cuyah, she gwan like she nice eee”. “Look at that, she acts like she is so nice” (25)
“Choble nuh nice” “Yuh ina big choble”. “Trouble is not nice” “You are in big trouble” (25)
“Did yuh see dat?” “A who dat?” “Did you see that” “Who is that” (25)
” Yuh no dun yet?”. “You have not finished yet?” (25)
” Is the dutty duppy man dweet”. “The dirty ghost do it” (25)
“Ef yuh choble him ‘im me a-go hit yuh”. “If you trouble him I am going to hit you” (25)
“All a dem a me fambly”. “All of them are my family” (25)
“mek we dweet”. “Let us do it” (4)
” Yuh too fass and Facety”. “You are too inquisitive and fresh” (25)
“Galang bout yuh business”. “Go along about you business” (25)
“Mi back a hat mi”. “My back is hurting me” (25)
“An a jus Lass nite mi dideh”. “And it was just last nigh I was there” (25)
“Lef mi Nuh”. “Leave me alone.” (25)
“Tek de neegle an sow de piece of clawt”. “Take the needle and sow the piece of cloth” (25)
“How yuh nyam so much”. “How do you eat so much.” (25)
“Is Mr Garden pickney dem”. “It is Mr. Gordon children.” (25)
“Mi would rada you talk to mi” Translation : “I would rather you not talk to me”
“Tandy tink sey im a-go help you.” “Stand there thinking he is going to help you.” (25)
“Tek you time an mine it bruk”. “Take your time, you might break it.” (25)
“Wat a liiv an bambaie” Leftovers put aside to eat tomorrow (What is left for by-and by). (8)
“gone a foreign” Gone abroad (from Jamaica) (28)
“like mi a go maas” chil out (24)
“gwaan go maas” go cool yourself (24)
“mi a maas a money” (or item), it means you’re going to put it away or put it one side (24)
“Every hoe ha dem stick a bush.” The meaning of all that is “to each his own” It literally translates that for every size hoe there is a stick that size in the bush (or forest) for it. In JA they use tools similar to garden hoe. Theyuse it to make yam hill – we use it to make path. There are different sizes for different chores. So it can also mean that there is someone out there for everyone. (29)
“tan so back” (stand so back) laid back (31)
“a peer rumors ah gwan” “Its pure rumors that are going on” in other words “Its all only rumors that’s being spread” (32)
“did deh deh” “I was there” (34)
“Im sey dat yuh was to bring ting” “He or She said you were to bring the thing” (25)
“Sumody tell mi sey yuh dida talk bout mi” “Somebody told me you were talking about me.” (25)
“Unnu can come wid mi” “You all can come with me.” (25)
“I dey ‘pon haste” – “I am in a hurry” (35)
“Who colt de game” – it implies that someone made a wrong move, deliberately, to change the outcome of the plan. So who colt the game? Babylon! In other words… to prevent the Dread from succeeding, babylon colt the game, made a “wrong” move in regards to the dread (40)
“Why yu fe galang so”? – “why must you behave in such a manner?” (41)
“mek mi kibba mi mouth to rahtid” – “let me cover my mouth… let shut my mouth..” (40)
“tea tar toe” – Tea tar toe is a game that uses three pieces (like buttons or stones) and to win all three have to be in line and the pieces are called out “tea, tar, toe”. So one could say “Don’t play tea tar toe with me” to mean “Don’t toy with me” , etc. (29)
“buy off the bar” – the party’s going good and all the liquor’s been sold! (29)
“Water more than flour” – “time tough.” It’s like you’re makin’ dumplin and you have enough water but not enough flour. (29)
Johncrow feel cool breeze is a very old JA proverb that roughly means someone who, much like a johncrow, jumps at any opportunity to prey on someone else. Stephen Marley uses the line in “Rebel in Disguise from the “Joy and Blues” album. (44)
After the cane is cut, everything is taken away except the brown root, which is basically useless. And the field workers, being poor, wear a kind of cheap flip flop called a “booga wooga.” So if you see Miss Brown downtown and she’s got brown sugar all over her booga wooga, it means she’s a canefield worker. (44)
“Is just pure almshouse a gwaan”. Pure trickery going on. (29)
“Rat a Cut Bottle”. even a rat needs some broken glass for self-defense when times are really rough (4)
“No call alligator ‘long mouth’ ’til you pass him.” (44)
“If you want good, nose a fe run.” “That mean, if you’re working in the U.S. or if you are working anywhere, and then by multitude of rain, flood or winter, you lie down in bed because you don’t want to have a runny nose – you’re going to starve. So if you want to get any good out deh, you have to go out deh and get that runny nose. You have to be in the cold. So your nose a fe run.” (45)
“Tek set pon you”. when somebody just won’t leave you alone! (29)
“Nuttin’ nah go right” – nothing’s going on in the right way. (46)
“‘Wan Wan coco full baskit” – The basket can be filled by adding one coco at a time. You may not be able to put in all at the same time. (Coco is an edible tuber which helps to give body to a good pot of soup). Do not expect to achieve success overnight. (48)
“Mi a-go lef today” – I am leaving today (49)
“Lef mi nuh” – leave me alone (49)
“The stone that the builder refuse will be the head corner stone” – That which we reject, we eventually embrace (51)
“Pound Get A Blow” – Jamaican money used to be pounds and when it got changed to dollars, the pound is dead (29)
“Inna Di Red” – Speaker is centrally involved in any or everything. The saying comes from the analogy of an egg. (56)
“so mi go so dem” = “so mi go so den” = “so mi go so then” This phrase is used in reggae/dancehall songs and made popular by recording artiste Sean Paul, which he includes in several of his songs such as the song titled “Like Glue”. In the context of his songs it basically means “So let me tell you this” OR “So listen to me now” “so mi go so” is more widely used and means “So I’m Like” (55)
“Yuh free paper bun” “Your free time is up!” This phrase is usually said in reference to school children returning to school at the end of the two-month summer break. (49)
“What is fiyu cyaa be un-fiyu” Whatever is meant for you can never be taken away from you. The phrase is usually said to someone who has overcome many challenges to achieve their goals. (49)
“Eat a food” This is a fairly new phrase that has become quite popular. The message in this expression is to seize all opportunities that come within your reach. (49)
“Jus buil!” (bill) This phrase is usually meant to calm a situation or advise someone not to get too worked up in order to de-escalate an argument. (49)
“Work me a work, anuh chicken me a jerk” Simply put, “I came here to work, not to waste time or play around”. The phrase indicates that the speaker is serious about the task at hand and can also be said as a caution to others not to underestimate their abilities. (49)
“Put clothes pon yuh argument” This is a new expression that’s a way of saying “mind what you’re saying” or “show some respect while speaking to me”. (49)
“Yuh salt bad!” When a Jamaican calls you “salt” it means that you’re very unlucky. The phrase is often used in reacting to a series of unfortunate events or when someone experiences a major disappointment. (49)
“Yuh seet!” This literally translates to “you see it” but is closer in meaning to “I see”. It’s used as a form of acknowledgment to show agreement with what is being said. (49) 
SOURCES
- Reggae International, Stephen Davis, Peter Simon, R&B, 1982
- KSBR 88.5 FM, Laguna Beach, CA. Handout.
- posted on rec.music.reggae
- Mike Pawka, Jammin Reggae Archives Cybrarian
- Understanding Jamaican Patois, L. Emilie Adams, Kingston
- Richard Dennison/Michio Ogata
- Glossary from “The Harder They Come” (Bo Peterson)
- Norman Redington
- The Beat
- Allen Kaatz
- Jah Bill (William Just)
- Arlene Laing
- Jennifer G. Graham
- Norma Brown/Zoe Una Vella Veda
- Richard V. Helmbrecht
- Norman Stolzoff
- Christopher Edmonds
- Lisa Watson
- Dr. Carolyn Cooper
- Ras Adam
- Chip Platt
- Michael Turner from an article in “The Beat”
- Nicky “Dread” Taylor
- Simrete McLean
- The Unofficial Web Site on Jamaica
- Paul Mowatt
- Carlos Culture
- Liner Notes – Blood & Fire release: Jah Stitch:
“Original Ragga Muffin”, presumably Steve Barrow - Clinton Fearon – Original member of the Gladiators/
Barbara Kennedy - Itations of Jamaica and i Rastafari
- Phil “Bassy” Ajaj
- Karlene Rogers
- Dean Holland
- Scottie Lake
- Roger Steffen’s Supersite
- Sara Gurgen
- Kevin Robison
- Christopher Durning
- Ronald E. Lam
- Trainer Adams – Editor of Dub Missive magazine.
- Karlene Rogers
- Howard Henry
- Messian Dread
- Roger Steffens
- Bunny Wailer (related to Roger Steffens)
- Reggaeblitz.com glossary
- Jahworks.org
- Jamaican Handbook of Proverbs
- www.jamaicans.com
- The Reggae Box – Hip-O Records
- Robert Schoenfeld (Nighthawk Records)
- The Reggae Scrapbook – Roger Steffens & Peter Simon, 2007
- Dennis ‘Jabari’ Reynolds – Authentic Jamaican Dictionary
- Leonard Sweet
- G. McKenzie – slapweh.com
- Urban Dictionary
- Walt F.J. Goodridge, The Jamaican in China
Copyrights by all pictures by Chris Wandel (Help Jamaica! e.V.)