Clarendon

Farm land, spa water and the roots of reggae

Welcome a Clarendon, mi fren — big farming parish inna di miggle-south a di island (big farm country). A ya so Toots Hibbert baan, a ya so hot mineral wata bubble up a Milk River, an di grung fat wid yam, cane an ackee (the soil is rich). Wi nearly done di journey now, so sharpen yu tongue — pure sweet talking lef.

Lessons in this parish

39. Reduplication & intensifiers — Double up words fi paint character (fool-fool, so-so, one-one) an crank up adjectives wid sweet yu see!, gaan a bed, cyaan done.
40. Sound words & exclamations — Paint action wid ideophone (braps, buff, wiish) an let off feeling wid safe exclamation (cho, aiee, kiss mi neck).
41. Riddles & wordplay — Open, trade an answer traditional riddle dem wid di ole formula — performance material fi pass down a yaad: Riddle mi dis, riddle mi dat...

Culture from Clarendon

Toots an Freddie: Two Big Son a Clarendon — Music
Milk River Bath: Hot Wata Wid Powa — History
Ackee an Saltfish: How Di National Dish Reach Ya — Food

Every Patois word taught in Clarendon →

Proverbs taught in Clarendon

Jamaican proverbs travel; most of these are said all over the island. The parish is where the course teaches it, not a claim about where it started.

One-one coco full baskit.Success comes little by little; be patient and steady.

When bull ole, dem tek hog-meat ti-tie fi tie im.Strength doesn't last — what could never have held you young will hold you in the end.

When kitchen-dresser fall dung, mauga dog laugh.One person's disaster is another's chance — the overlooked profit when the well-off come down.

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