A place for discovery and appreciation for things Jamaican 🇯🇲
Welcome, and bless up!
You’ve entered a digital space celebrating Jamaican culture and its offerings.
It was created as a virtual favour for my summer party, but now that that’s gone, why should the fun end?
Like a brochure, you can flip through its contents, by clicking the Menu above, or start at the Patois Primer (tap the word or phrase to hear how it's really said), put on one of the Playlists, learn and listen about Jamaica’s history or be lifted with the Acknowledgement.
Feel free to leave a comment or suggestion on the relevant page. For real!
A place for discovery and appreciation for things Jamaican 🇯🇲
Welcome, and bless up!
You’ve entered a digital space celebrating Jamaican culture and its offerings.
It was created as a virtual favour for my summer party, but now that that’s gone, why should the fun end?
Like a brochure, you can flip through its contents, by clicking the Menu above, or start at the Patois Primer (tap the word or phrase to hear how it's really said), put on one of the Playlists, learn and listen about Jamaica’s history or be lifted with the Acknowledgement.
Feel free to leave a comment or suggestion on the relevant page. For real!
A to Z
Patois Primer
The heart of it all — an A-to-Z of Jamaican patois, voiced by Ryan and a few friends. Tap any word to hear how it's really said, and let the accent do the teaching.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
"A" has many uses. It is a particle indicating an action in progress; a mark of emphasis that lengthens and strengthens a sentence; part of a verb-repeat formulation that emphasises an action; and it also carries direct translations such as "it is" and (Spanish-style) "one".
= where are you going? (an action in progress)
a mark of emphasis — "who is it?"
also "who is it?" (compare A who dat)
I am (completely occupied by) going to work — a verb-repeat that emphasises the action
I am (completely taken up by) talking on the phone
it is you (a = "it is")
he is going to a bank — English "a" becomes "one", Spanish-style
Perpetual state of haters — envious of others' success but unwilling to put in the work; may actively sabotage those who progress. · Bun Bad Mind - by Elephant Man
The quintessential component of Jamaican music, and what Jamaicans dance to.
The stoosh way for uptown men to refer to their close male friends.
keep — pronounced with a short i; describes events that are happening
the match is happening / ongoing
good food is there for the taking (metaphorical)
The capital of Jamaica; formerly the centre of idolatry, now the nightlife pulse of modern Jamaica.
Also said
an appeal to the Creator — to witness or shield you from something crazy about to unfold
a learner (e.g. learning to drive); also derogatory
a catchall indicating acknowledgement and respect; said on entering a room with a slight, quick bow of the head
said after an impolite body sound
the supreme object of love and respect for all Jamaicans; an honorific for any woman, especially older, even if childless. NEVER, unless in mockery, called "Mom".
Also said
someone who refuses to groom themselves and presents as such in public
an expression of great disbelief, with a prolonged side-eye
understanding — in Rasta ideology one "stands over" rather than "under" a situation
an honorific for an old man; also a term of endearment for baby boys
A versatile plant product (fruit or vegetable?) that looks like a banana but does more — fried, baked, boiled or made into porridge. Also the Jamaican shibboleth.
Also said
a demand masked as a request
Also said
an emphatic infinitive used to strongly suggest/demand an action
an interconnected system of belief, lifestyle, dress, spirituality and language developing in inner-city Jamaica in the 1930s
short for Rastafarianism
shortened form of Jamrock — Jamaica's firm place in culture and consciousness
a person of school-going age, made to stand in public transport even when seats are free; usually derogatory
literally "see it there" — "there it is", "look how it unfolded"
a person who is (or pretends to be) from polite society, preferring refined experiences
Also said
example — "she's too stoosh to eat a patty"
The "th" sound almost does not naturally exist in the patois tongue. A spontaneously occurring "th" signifies a speaker with a "lith tongue" (a lisp). Th is almost always rendered as d (Them=dem, The=di) or t (Keith=Keet, teeth=teet, three=tree).
Them → dem, The → di (the "th" sound rendered as d)
Keith → Keet, teeth → teet, three → tree ("th" rendered as t)
a lisp — a spontaneously occurring "th"
a catchall for everybody that is not you; usually accusative ("you lot")
I hope to take you on a brief hop, skip and jump through Jamaica's history to where we are today, and end with an ode to probably our best export — apart from Usain and Bob Marley — that is, our music. Throughout what I am going to say, I will throw out tidbits of Jamaicana.
These remarks were first conceived as a speech to be delivered at my summer/birthday party, held on August 15, 2026 in Kingston, Ontario. It has undergone some corrections/modifications since it first appeared on the website thanks to the feedback after the website launch.
I will apologize to my Caribbean people in advance for having Jamaica hog the spotlight in what comes after. But I am so, so proud to come from such a small piece of Rock with such an outsize impact.
For context, to drive from the eastern tip to the western tip of Jamaica is a shorter distance than from here in Kingston to Toronto.
For population comparison, we have about the same population as the city of Toronto, and we’re not even considering the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Now listen carefully and try to sift sense from nonsense. I promise, most of it will be sense!
Jamaica emerged from the Caribbean Sea in 1494 just in time for Christopher Columbus to discover it, while in search of India. He had to settle for the “West Indies” since the North American landmass is a little more sturdy.
Jamaica is a derivation of the Taino name “Xaymaca”. In grade school, our Social studies taught us that it meant land of wood and water. We were also taught Jamaica’s name outlived the original Jamaicans or Tainos who were “disappeared” (frankly exterminated) with the coming of the men from the East- Spain, through overwork, murder, suicide and disease.
Now we learn that the Tainos did not completely die out. Spain imported Africans to work on their farms on the island, and to replace the rapidly dwindling native population. Some of those Africans escaped to the hilly spine of the island and intermingled with the very Tainos!. Spain held on to Jamaica for over a century giving us place names such as Ocho Rios NOT Ochos Rios and what later became Montego Bay. In bringing this first wave of African imports, the Spanish were the first to introduce that social institution in the island (frankly, slavery) for which the Caribbean and the American south are unfortunately known.
Against that, the flame of resistance was almost immediately lit and continues to burn. Marronage, that very act of escape as resistance gave us the name Maroons. The Maroons continue to proudly carry on African traditions (and speak closer to the original African languages) in their semi-autonomous communities scattered in Jamaica’s hinterland.
The British easily swept over the Spanish in 1655 and remained in Jamaica until 1962 resisting every salvo from Spain who only belatedly realized the jewel they lost.
By way of the British waves of different people groups came in to further Britain’s economic and social agenda. First the Scots and Irish who gave us our accent, and the base of patois, a creole language, derived from the mixing of English words and idioms with African languages. Then came the Indians, the Chinese, the Germans, the Syro-Lebanese and in World War 2 (WW2) some Jews. The presence of Jews in Jamaica however long predates WW2. In fact, some came, from as far back as the 1500s in the time of the Spanish, to escape the Inquisition.
The island has been the site of many resistance movements, first with the Maroons who held Britain to a treaty of peace and from whom we got our only national heroine, Nanny. The later imported Africans also never accepted their lot and escaped, sabotaged, assassinated and set many plantations on fire. The leaders of resistance movements even went to other islands to start “trouble”. In this social experiment of a majority under the heel of a visible minority the Jamaican society was forged, with all the trappings of colonial life which still continue today.
The end of forced labour in 1838 did not materially change economic and social conditions for the BLACK majority. As such, that BLACK majority has had to assert its rights through various social and community movements. In the early 20th century this continued through large labour movements in the agricultural belts (the major employer at the time). From those movements, our two major political parties were born. In 1944, we gained Universal Adult Suffrage.
As a colony we were also conscripted into the wars of the “mother country”. Jamaicans fought in the great (World War 1) and second world wars. Of note, every November “schoolaz” merrily buy paper poppies to put on their uniforms (yes, school age children still universally wear uniforms).
By the mid-20th century, the sun was setting on the Empire on whom the sun never set, and Caribbean countries started to take a hard look at the geopolitical and economic realities into which they were entangled. Ordinary Jamaicans began to look outside Jamaica, many seeking their fortunes in England that needed workers to rebuild the country after WW2. Many who sailed the HMS Empire Windrush to England never saw Jamaica again, and maybe never felt at home again in their adopted country that was eager for their muscles but not their souls.
Just before independence, Jamaica briefly flirted with the idea of federation with 9 other English speaking Caribbean states. When put to the vote, however, the people of Jamaica decisively rejected that future. Later, in reflecting on that death blow, Sir Eric Williams, then Premier of Trinidad and Tobago famously reflected that (my paraphrase) 1(Jamaica) from 10 leaves 0, mashing up dat deh dollyhouse.
In August 1962 we first flew our flag as an independent nation, but subsurface cognizant that we were beholden to larger countries to the north, ehem, and economic forces bigger than ourselves
“Out of many one people” is the national motto, negatively, the national myth, and positively the aspiration of the best thinking of our citizens. Despite the many places of origin of our citizens, we are predominantly a hodgepodge of African retentions, British mores, North American vices/worldviews, and yet in all that unique. Our language, accent and slang are loved and emulated the world over. We continue to generate more ways of seeing and speaking in our little country of close to 11000 sq km than many others of larger size. For context, the province of Ontario is close to 900 000 sq km.
We are indeed a proud people and you can almost tell that a person is Jamaican by their carriage, swag and a certain bragaddocio, I am sorry I am such a poor example. But that pride covers many things, as pride often does. From every other perspective we really are just a small dot in the Caribbean, and our history, founding story and destiny align with that of many of our Caribbean neighbours.
Let's take Cuba, our closest neighbour. Cuba and Cubans have been neighbourly to so many countries in the Caribbean and indeed of the global south. Many Jamaicans (even one of our Prime Ministers) was inspired by the fight of Fidel Castro. Haiti, beacon of black self determination, unfortunately both inspires us and provides a cautionary tale. Barbados was where the social and corporal experiment that is the basis of the Caribbean story (ie chattel slavery) was first conceived and perfected. Trinidad and Tobago is the nearest to us in size and influence. Our nations are often portrayed as infighting but we are so similar in how we have been used and abused by those who could.
In response we have created cultures, languages and worldviews that we take with us throughout the world, and believe me we are present everywhere, from the North pole to Antarctica, from the Orient to the metropoles of the West, trying and doing everything (including bobsledding). And in that matrix of resistance and self determination comes our greatest gift to the world, our music.
To the world, maybe, to ourselves in Jamaica:
Our music, just like our language, patois, is not seen as an unqualified good, but for some a societal stain. At its worst our music glorifies gun culture, toxic masculinity, crass materialism, and increasingly bears the marks of erosion from the godless, morally disintegrating North American culture. At its best, there is and has always been represented:
Patriotism to country and to the Negritude in general, and with that
Alignment and identification with the struggles of the global south, undergirded by
Spirituality- Judeochristian yet syncretic, responsive to, responsible for and drawing cues from nature, positioning itself against rampant resource extraction, and unequal distribution of material goods and benefits.
Our music concerns itself with what concerns humans day to day, that is love: self love, love from and for the Creator, romantic love, love for humankind. It is in turns instructive, commentary, criticism, and offers a counter narrative to toxic masculinity, and passive femininity.
Large themes frequently explored are:
A man’s relationship with his creator/ an awareness of larger spiritual realities
Men and women in relationship, how to approach, court, tease, please, and leave
The importance of prioritising education and goal setting over casual romance
Men and responsibility, predominantly admonishing responsibility to work to provide for family and through that, be a credit to society.
Alongside that it panders to the basest elements, toxic, womanizing, irresponsible men, and vulgar, home-wrecking women, with the inevitable diss track.
It brings people together, even people with no knowledge of the language or social context, in diverse places like Germany, Zambia, and Japan (just think of the packed out concerts Bob Marley played to) perhaps because it advocates for space to enjoy each other, to live and let live and just simply have a nice time, to really good music.
Jamaica has been generous to the world with its music.
So many of our artistes play to packed out stadiums across the world, and collaborate with big ticket artistes. There are self proclaimed reggae artistes coming from all over the world to Jamaica to study the craft and inhabit our creative spaces, making music indistinguishable from Jamaican generated content. As with music, our dance, which is in symbiosis with the music, has been loved and copied, so much so that we’ve had winners for our local reggae-dance competition hailing from other countries. There have even been music forms (think reggae-ton) that have been birthed in another culture directly from the influence of reggae.
Because our culture, especially our language and music has been so well exported, it has become almost commonplace for world artistes to liberally draw from them, often to the point of appropriation. It is undeniable that adding dancehall slang or a line from a reggae song to popular music adds a bit of “street cred” which is lucrative to the users, but not necessarily lucrative to the artistes, backing musicians, sound engineers, producers and the wider culture that generated it. Fortunately, Jamaicans are beginning to assert their copyright rights on that front.
Finally, Jamaican music is fit for purpose. Our music promises escape and provides the ability to cope in a society where the underlying structure remains very much against the majority. It masterfully juxtaposes the difficulty of human life, compounded by that left to us by our history, against the stunning natural beauty of the island and its promise. As one song writer put it:
...life is so unfair, in this sweet paradise
And this is what we swear, out of many one people
can you see that anywhere
Everyone treated equal
And this why, so many die,
Leaving so many to cry…
And as it is fit for purpose, it knows when to mourn, and when to laugh, it knows when to refrain from dancing, and when to dance. Whatever mode is required of it, it can deliver, through the choice of beats, the lyrical agility of its artistes, and the versatility of its rhythms-that can equally carry romance as well as prayer; activism, as well as peace.
With good music present, dance is never far behind. Jamaican artistes count themselves effective and are given ratings when they can provide a dance-tune, many going as far as lyrically providing dance move instructions!
Like a call and response, just for tonight, we’ll be seeking to call you, out of conversations about the mundane, out of consideration about the uncertain future, out of narrow definition of self versus others, to be suspended in the eternal present, mediated through the presence of some driving music.
Your response… will be to move your feet to the dance floor, move your hips, lockstep to the bass sway, and perhaps to lift your hands in some praise for music, a divine gift, sent for our healing.
Ah—men!
Bibliography:
Beckles, Hilary McD, The first Black Society, Britain’s “Barbarity Time” in Barbados, 1636-1876
My name is Ryan Brooks, just an ordinary ryan from near Kingston, Jamaica, now living in Kingston, Ontario (with a few stops along the way), and the chief content creator for this site the658.ca.
Origin Story
What you see as this website started as a virtual party favour, for my birthday! I envisioned my guests (from near and far, Jamaican and Jamaica-curious) engaging with historical, lexical, musical and comical aspects of culture, and being able to return to it, again and again.
Giving thanks
Think of what follows here as more than a mere acknowledgement, but serving rather as the face of an envelope with a “from” and a “to” . Let’s hope you have no cause to return this !
The “from” is really a long form of thanks.
I was born in Jamaica at a special time, a generation after independence, after the perilous 70’s when our democracy was perceived to be in doubt, and in the 80’s, a decade of political ferment and civil unrest. I, and the content you are about to see, bears the impact and is an indirect witness to those times, as well as direct recipient of the tremendous changes in technology- LPs to cassettes to compact discs to iPODs to MP3s to streaming services etc and modernization of the Jamaican society ( as an example 1 radio station in the 80’s, to almost no static when you tune the radio) to some only using streaming services. I have received, like all children (and worst, first born children) the unsaid (and largely unacknowledged) hopes and fears of my parents. Through my parents, I was largely shielded from the worst of society and given a frame to interpret the diverse offerings of the culture. From my mother especially, I received a heart- love for old time Jamaican music, cultural expression and a snapshot into early post-independence rural Jamaica. Through my father’s guidance, I have this career that has allowed me to uproot from the land of my birth to this other Kingston.
I am a product of the culture, a culture, that, as you have seen, is itself a product of mega-forces, so called “discovery” , genocide, forced importation, subjugation of whole people groups, mass migration of many additional people groups, colonial structures, post colonial reinforcement of some of those structures, and repudiation of others, resistance by the subjugated, accommodation by the subjugated to those same forces to subjugation, and the almighty passage of time. These forces have been potent and our people and their modes of expression are similarly potent and have taken our name to the corners of the earth.
This site is a way of giving thanks to that culture that shaped me, filled my mouth with words, and my mind’s eye with a worldview that goes with me wherever I land.
The words in this site come mostly from my hands but if I may be so bold, are the product of the inspiration of the Almighty who often gives me words in the night (Psalm 77:6) and yes I mean literal night- almost always 3 am.
I must also give thanks to the many friends and family who have read these words, edited these words and generally provided encouragement along the journey. I will attempt to list them here (Mario Ahjahorie,Thin Thiri Aung (darling, dumpling, sweetie), Chad Brooks (daddy), Dorine Brooks (mommy), Ramon Brooks (brother), Ruth Ann Brooks Nowek (sister), Trissia Brown, Craig Bryan, Arillon Keniel/ Keniel Arillon Chrysostom (ask him, don’t ask me), Jodi-Ann Gosling, Eden Wade, Ravae Wade, Willian Wade, Chamarla Wareham). These people have also supplied playlists for your listening and mood-setting (ehem) pleasure- MA/AKC/TB, and voiced some of the expressions CB/RAN/JAG/EW/RW. Finally “big up” to Patrick Franc and Brent Cartier who worked with me to get this in a form that could be enjoyed by more than my party room could hold.
Dedication
Now for the “to” . This site is dedicated to Jamaicans who love their culture in the full sense of love (sees the good and rejoices over it, sees the bad and is grieved), to adopted Jamaicans like my brother Michael Nowek, who is Jamaican in every other sense except birth, to those curious about the culture and loving its most known offerings- reggae music and “oxtails” and especially to those whose birthright it is like my dear young cousins (EW and WW) who are now only slowly waking up to its richness and their responsibility to it.
Ryan Brooks July 22, 2026
speak your mind
Comments
Eddie Iles
This is very impressive stuff Uncle Ryan. Love the design of the website as well as the information that is available. A true insight into the beauty of Jamaica. Thanks for sharing this!!
Donna A. Pink
This was beautifully done and a great reminder of the richness of our music, language, history and culture at large. Great website. Kudos to you Ryan
Arillon Chrysostom
This is a fantastic culmination of culture and history Ryan. I applaud the immense effort it must have taken to compile this reservoir of rich heritage. I would just make one ammendment to the history section, as it pertains to the Caribbean federation thst came to an end in 1961. It was actually the late Eric Williams, former prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago who coined the iconic phrase "10 take away 1 leaves 0" in reference to Trinidad subsequent exit after Jamaica dropped out. But again, fantastic work Ryan. This website can serve many knowledge seekers, as it pertains to Jamaican culture
Andrew Wildes
Hey Ryan, thanks for creating this website. Those of us who grew up in Jamaica may take these little phrases for granted but I see how much they matter to others who want to know more of the culture.
I was listening to Shelly Ann Fraser’s interview on Mel Robbins today and Shelly gave a remarkable answer about combatting pressure. She used the quote nuhbaddi Nuh stone green mango. If dawned on me how powerful our culture is. How invaluable it is to preserve our unique perspective for our kids.
This website is doing prt of that work.
Respect bro
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Skankin' sweet
One More Tune
Skankin', groovin', hallelujah
Skankin', groovin, help me Jah Jah
Skankin', groovin', under pressure
Skankin', groovin'
[Verse 1]
Under the pressures of life and it tough
Nuh stay down mama, time fi get up
Nuh bother with the downful style, strictly upful vibes and pick it up
When the bills dem, the rent and the mortgage due (weh' mi chalice)
When your best friends are goneand it's only you
Light up a spliff turn up the music
[Chorus]
Skankin' sweet — everybody wanna feel irie
Forget your troubles and rock with me
You nuh feel how reggae music sweet, yeah-e-yeah
Skankin' sweet — everybody wanna feel irie
Forget your troubles and rock with me
You nuh feel how reggae music sweet, yeah-e-yeah
Skankin' sweet
[Verse 2]
For every pain there's a melody, yeah
For every trouble there's a harmony
That brings everything together
So make we sing together
And who say life nuh HARD
And every man got their struggle
I begging you help me LORD
Let me overcome my trouble...
Idiom Bank
DISCLAIMER!
This document does not claim to capture the breadth of ways Jamaicans speak to each other, about each other and navigate the world! This is only a teaser!
There is a standard way of conveying patois words, the Cassidy system (1), that I have chosen not to use here. As the language solidifies and is taught in written form, this will likely be the way documents like these will have to be expressed, printed, and disseminated.
Idioms
Said with pride over or in reference to a child that has grown up and is doing well in life
A woman, past middle age but not owl-owl (either neutral or negative, never positive).
compare greyback man — a man way past middle age, but lecherous (always negative)
A most articulate way of expressing regret.
Variants of the same thought, with slight differences.
Coo = look/heed/pay attention to
Deh = there
Yah = here
With Coodeh, the speaker is showing the listener (usually with a gesture led by prolongation of the mouth, see video) what to focus on. Cooyah focuses attention on the speaker and what they’re saying.
Examples
To put a rough end to someone’s irresponsible fantasy.
Make a stink about something (usually unnecessarily) or act unbecomingly.
Examples
Peaches barks excessively at any and every passerby
It is progressing nicely, things are going supremely well, to the commenter’s delight
It is progressing nicely, things are going supremely well, to the commenter’s delight
To have (a situation) under full control
Unable to be guided, immune to good counsel.
Examples
We warned her, but she’s taken up that good for nothing man again.
Indicates the speaker is bearing up under difficulties faced. One of the possible answers to “Wha u deh pon?” = how are you/what are you up to?
Indicating something in progress (like an event) or something that is there for the taking
Examples
The match is in progress
good food is abundantly available
Lyrics means sweet talk.
Examples
He is filling the young woman’s ear with sweet nothings.
Absolutely not or expressing incredulity.
Examples
Did they really lose after leading by 3 goals? No way!
a noteworthy example of something
Examples
a terrible example of negligence or indiscipline
A state of complete mental and physical exhaustion
Examples
(similar to pooped) also described as mash up
To laugh oneself out of one's clothes. Imagine seams bursting, buttons popping off.
To go home, especially for the night
Examples
signalling one’s intention to head home
To leave one’s current location for a purposeful activity, thus putting a firm end to the current activity
A rare example of unalloyed approbation in patois. To “gi ratings” means to speak highly of someone/something, to praise in the hearing of others.
One of the more “sanitized” ways of expressing wonderment. It can be shortened — or lengthened, though probably only in St. E.
Examples
(shortened)
(shortened further)
(lengthened — probably only in St. E)
Grossly unprepared, clueless.
Examples
Isn't that the Minister? She hasn’t a clue!
“Look here”, said to anyone in earshot! If said by a Jamaican mother, she is asking for witnesses to your latest infraction AND the swift and sure punishment to follow.
I know, right
To head out, in a purposeful way
Because.
Examples
used to exponentially amplify the clause that follows
Examples
Meaning, she's indescribably obnoxious, self-aggrandizing and intrusive
Understood! No need for further explanation
Examples
emphatically yes! Done!
do you see what I am saying?
Examples
Adjectival Repeats
A situation that has turned out badly or to someone’s great embarrassment.
Examples
an implicit invitation to juicy gossip.
Utterly disorganized or untidy.
Examples
How untidy your room is!
barely, without anything in reserve
Examples
All the money I currently have will go to buying the ticket
puny, acting lifeless.
Examples
Must you act so helpless when you have a little cold!
An amplifier of something possessed in the singular or in very small quantities, usually preceded by one
Examples
she has just the one dress
The time when ALL Jamaicans arrive at the airport, but not for any other thing
Fool means foolish, so fool-fool means indescribably foolish
In describing things — very good/proper/fine. As a descriptor of a person, it means fine/worthy/exemplary
Examples
Sound sleep
She has herself a good man.
barely in a state of completion
Examples
He’s barely arrived (hasn't caught his breath yet)
smaller than small (dismissive)
Examples
we passed by some no account towns.
Mix up-mix up
A disordered melange especially related to food or drink
Examples
That mess that you had, is what gave you food poisoning
(alternative form)
very old (to be pitied or dismissed)
Examples
There are some very old people living there
very puny and to be treated dismissively.
Examples
he’s of no account
a “strong” only
Examples
they’ve only got bread for us to eat
TRIPLE REPEAT! This means really, just that? — and could be a response to so-so.
badly tattered
Examples
they could not be dressed for that occasion wearing those clothes
Thick on the patois tongue becomes tick. Thus tick-tick means very thick.
Examples
soup in which the spoon could stand
emphatically true. Usually said at the end of a statement, trying to convince the listener of its veracity
Examples
he's really left her
Broken adjectival repeat
There’s also the broken adjectival repeat, (think broken infinitive) that generally means because, or due to.
Examples
She got the scholarship on merit
He turned the AC on because he’s hot
He’s not been taking very good care of himself, no wonder his wound won’t heal!
Special Mentions
A
Is a special particle that starts sentences, or inserts itself mid-clause, lengthening and strengthening the argument. Many a sentence/thought could probably do as well without the “a” but in spoken language, it simply is.
Examples
Who goes there?
When she did get here?
(the same, without the particle)
Who was declared the winner?
(the same, without the particle)
Only, or for as far the eye can see
Examples
As far as I can tell, only women patronize that store
A descriptor of someone absolutely cherished/loved.
Examples
something/someone extremely troublesome/challenging or prone to bad luck. Describing something/someone as Crossiz instantly brings understanding and empathy from EVERY Jamaican listener
Examples
(Caribbean pronunciation)
(Canadian pronunciation)
A quick peck on the lips.
Examples
Are you really leaving without giving me a kiss?
drawn, someone with extreme weight loss, showing especially about the face and shoulders
Examples
Look how thin he’s become
you know
Examples
you know, I don’t know!
you see, can I tell you
Examples
the place was rather crowded, can I tell you!
someone in an extreme state of gauntness/griminess.
Examples
He used to be doing so well… what happened to him?
Thin. NOT a compliment.
Examples
A versatile negator, put in front of the verb. It works in the present, past and in the imperative.
Examples
I don’t know
He didn’t come
Don’t go there!
A negator for the future
Examples
They will not find it
You won’t be able to go
Also a negator, and hyperbolic at that!
Examples
He didn’t come, he didn’t end up coming
Why didn’t you (all) say something? Notice also the double negative similar to Spanish and French.
He had no qualms about it
a verb form meaning to be, similar in thought to the Spanish verb estar. They can be used interchangeably for the most part.
Examples
She’s really gone downhill
I can’t believe you’ve descended to that level of pettiness
Do you know? I went to visit him, he’s really in a bad way!