Patois words from St. Andrew
43 words and phrases · grouped by the lesson that teaches them
| Patois | Cassidy-JLU | English |
|---|
| a | a | is/am/are (before nouns only) |
| did a | did a | was/were (equative past) |
| teacha | tiicha | teacher |
| docta | dakta | doctor |
| faama | faama | farmer |
| higgla | higla | market vendor |
| leada | liida | leader |
| sweet | swiit | sweet, delicious |
| strong | schrang | strong |
| col' | kuol | cold |
| pretty | priti | pretty, beautiful |
| tiyad | taiyad | tired |
| nuff | nof | plenty, many |
| cris' | kris | brand-new, sharp-looking (same word as 'everyting criss' — fine AND brand-new) |
| Patois | Cassidy-JLU | English |
|---|
| a (+ verb) | a (+ verb) | -ing marker: happening now |
| go | go | go |
| come | kom | come |
| nyam | nyam | eat |
| wuk | wok | work |
| walk | waak | walk |
| run | ron | run |
| cook | kuk | cook |
| wash | wash | wash |
| buy | bai | buy |
| chat | chat | talk, chat |
| lef | lef | leave |
| gaa | gaa | going to (go + a) |
| soon come | suun kom | coming soon (elastic time!) |
| de | de | progressive marker (older form of a) |
| da | da | progressive marker (older form of a) |
| Patois | Cassidy-JLU | English |
|---|
| chat patwa | chat patwa | speak Patois |
| taak | taak | talk, speech |
| stoosh | stuush | posh, stuck-up |
| hitey-titey | haiti-taiti | high-toned, snobbish |
| labrish | labrish | gossip, friendly chat |
| bredrin | bredrin | close friend (male) |
| sistren | sischrin | close friend (female) |
| yout | yuut | young person |
| boss | baas | friendly address for a man |
| star | staar | friend (street address term) |
| a yaad | a yaad | at home; in Jamaica |
| a farin | a farin | abroad |
| big man | big man | grown man; respectful 'sir' |
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