Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Fram- From; since. Mi dehya fram 6:00. (I have been here since 6:00). Fram when mi a pickney mi a dweet. (I have been doing it since I was a kid).

Fresh- Not ready; still bitter or sour. Di juice a fresh still. (The juice is still raw tasting.)

Gaan- Literally means gone. ‘Im gaan. (He is gone.)

Gaan to bed- An expression of loving something very much.

‘Gainst- Against. She fight ‘gainst mi. (She fought against me.)

Galang- Go along.

Ganja- Marijuana.

Gansey- T-shirt.

Gates- Home. Many homes in JA have gates. One’s “gates” is one’s home.

Get- To have, to have had, got, gotten. Mi get fi realize. (I realize or I have realized.)

General- A cool and smooth operator.

Gone- Gone, passed, left. Mi see har di Monday gone. (I saw her the passed Monday.)

Gorgon- Outstanding person and very well respected. ‘Im a don gorgon. (He is a master of situations).

Greetings- An opening greeting used heavily by Rastas.

Grindsman- One who is great in bed.

Grow- To raise. She grow mi. (She raised me.)

Gwaan- Go on. Wa a gwaan? (What’s going on?)

Gwine (gween)- Going. Wi gwine adoor. (We are going outside.)

Gweh- Go away.

Hab- Have

Haffi- Have to.

Half eediat (af ee-dee-at)- A very stupid person.

Hanga- Closet; hanger.

Hangle- Handle.

Har- Her

Haste (hee-ase)- To be in a hurry. Mek haste. (Hurry up)

Hat- Hurt

Higgla- A street vendor; comes from the British word higgler.

Hol ih dung- Hold it down. Means keep it steady; make a secret; not to be told.

Honour (hon-nah)- A Rasta word; greeting or good-bye.

Ja, Jamdown, Jamdung- Words for Jamaica.

Jacket- Bastard; a child that is raised by another father who does not know that child is not his own flesh and blood.

Jah- Lord. Jah Bless. (God Bless.)

Jah guide- A Rasta farewell and good-bye. Literally says that “God shall guide.”

Jah know- Lord or God knows; an expression of agreement.

Jancro- John Crow, which is the name for the hated albino buzzard/vulture; also an expression of hate.

Jesum Piece- A soft expresson of aggrivation.

Jester- To joke; kidding. Mi naa jesta. (I’m not kidding.)

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