40 words and phrases · grouped by the lesson that teaches them
| Patois | Cassidy-JLU | English |
|---|---|---|
| A run im a run | A ron im a ron | he is really RUNNING |
| A mi tell im | A mi tel im | it was ME who told him |
| A tief dem tief i | A tiif dem tiif i | they STOLE it |
| A no joke | A no juok | it's no joke, seriously |
| A fi mi dat | A fi mi dat | that one is MINE |
| A deh-so | A de-so | it's right there (that...) |
| A who do i? | A huu du i? | WHO did it? |
| A wa dat? | A wa dat? | WHAT is that? |
| A yu do i? | A yu du i? | was it YOU who did it? |
| A so im tan | A so im tan | that's just how he is |
| iz / is | iz / is | mesolect cleft marker (Is Pam eat di mango) |
| A lie! | A lai! | no way! that's a lie! |
| fi true | fi chruu | really, for real, indeed |
| Patois | Cassidy-JLU | English |
|---|---|---|
| wuk | wok | work; a job |
| day-wuk | die-wok | daily-paid labour |
| hussle | hosl | honest side earning, side business |
| mek money | mek moni | to earn money |
| dunza | donza | money (slang) |
| smalls | smaalz | small change; a tip |
| bly | blai | a break, a chance, a favour |
| pardna | paadna | rotating savings circle |
| trow pardna | chuo paadna | pay into the pardna |
| draw | jraa | one's turn to collect the pardna pot |
| tings salt | tingz saal | times are hard |
| bruk | brok | broke, out of money |
| pay dung pon | pie dong pan | make a down payment on |
| higgling | higlin | informal street selling |
| Patois | Cassidy-JLU | English |
|---|---|---|
| Paasa | Paasa | Pastor (title of address) |
| chuch | choch | church |
| sankey | sangki | old hymn (from the Sankey hymnal) |
| chorus | kuoras | lively short worship song |
| prayer meetin | prieya miitn | midweek prayer meeting |
| seh di grace | se di gries | say the blessing before food |
| sah / ma'am | sa / maam | sir / ma'am (polite address) |
| howdy | houdi | hello (older, rural, respectful) |
| Mi deh ya, tank God | Mi de ya, tangk Gad | I'm fine, thank God |
| God bless yuh | Gad bles yu | God bless you |
| Walk good, yaa | Waak gud, yaa | goodbye, travel safely (warm) |
| Tell evrybody howdy fi mi | Tel evribadi houdi fi mi | greet everyone at home for me |
| Sunday clothes | Sonde kluoz | one's church best |