Chit chat in patois (patwa)

Wednesday,  August 3, 2005

Like other Caribbean territories, Jamaica has its own dialect. Patois (pronounced “patwa”) as the Jamaican dialect is called, is spoken by most, but not all Jamaicans. However, as long as you have lived in Jamaica for some time, you do understand most of it. It is important to note that in some very rural areas, such unusual variations of patois are spoken that even other persons that speak patois to some extent cannot understand it fully.

As well, because patois has not been formalised as a language in its own right, standardisations in relation to spelling and pronounciation have not be done. Therefore, most dialect poetry and other written forms of communication in patois embrace varying forms of spelling.

Below, the spelling used for the patois expressions is usually most easily understood. Here are few that will help you communicate with your Jamaican friends who usually bus’ into patois around the domino table, on the football field or when having fun.

“A fe me cyar.”
Translation: “It’s my car.”

“Mi a go lef tiday.”
Translation: “I am leaving today.”

“Im too haad eaize.”
Translation: “He/She is too stubborn.”

“Axe har de question.”
Translation: “Ask her the question.”

“Im badda dan dem.” “Nuh badda mi.”
Translation: “He is worse than they are.” “Don’t bother me.”

“Bare dog dung inna dat yard.”
Translation: “There are only dogs in that yard.”

“No bodda bawl im soon cum bak.”
Translation: “Don’t bother crying he’ll soon be back.”

“Sell mi wan bokkle a iyl.”
Translation: “Sell me a bottle of oil.”

“Dat a mi bredda.”
Translation: “That is my brother.”

More next week

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