Patois words from St. Elizabeth

54 words and phrases · grouped by the lesson that teaches them

32. Don an existential deh — mi don nyam; no money no deh

PatoisCassidy-JLUEnglish
dondonalready, completely (before verb)
donedonfinished (after verb / as verb)
areadyaredialready
dehdeto be (somewhere); to exist
deh dehde deis there (verb + adverb)
no ... no dehno ... no dethere is no ... (at all)
leflefto remain, be left over
whatlefwatlefleftovers
nomonomuoonly (two nomo lef)
notnnotnnothing
sintingsitnsomething
smadisumadisomebody
gaangaangone, used up

33. Passive sense — di house sell, di food buy

PatoisCassidy-JLUEnglish
sellselsell; also 'was sold'
buybaibuy; also 'was bought'
paintpientpaint; also 'was painted'
brukbrokbreak; also 'was broken'
ketchkechcatch; also 'was caught'
locklaklock; also 'is locked'
fassenfasnfasten; also 'is fastened'
trowchruothrow; also 'was thrown'
feedfiidfeed; also 'be fed'
jukjokprick, jab, sting
sharpenshaapnsharpen; also 'was sharpened'
bunbonburn; also 'got burnt'
tieftiifsteal; also 'was stolen'

34. Cooking immersion II — escovitch an rundung

PatoisCassidy-JLUEnglish
escovitcheskovichfried fish in spicy vinegar pickle
rundungrondongfood cooked down in coconut milk
saltfishsaalfishsalted cod
bammybamicassava flatbread
skellionskelyanscallion
country peppakonchri pepascotch bonnet pepper
pimentopimentoallspice
vinegavinegavinegar
dutchydochiround-bottomed cooking pot
bwilebwailboil
bwile dungbwail dongboil down, reduce
dash eendash iinadd in, throw in
fryfraifry
criskriscrisp

35. Family an home life — fram yaad to nine-night

PatoisCassidy-JLUEnglish
grani / granfaadagrani / granfaadagrandmother / grandfather
nanananagrandma; (older use) midwife
baby-maddabiebi-madamother of one's child
baby-faadabiebi-faadafather of one's child
cousinkozncousin (near or distant)
Maas + nameMaas + niemrespectful title, older man
Miss + nameMis + niemrespectful title, any woman
nine-nightnain-naitnine nights of wake gatherings
set-upset-opwake night of singing and sharing
dead-yaadded-yaadhome of the deceased during mourning
berrinberinburial, funeral
weddnwednwedding
hushhoshexpression of sympathy (not 'be quiet')
tek hearttek haattake heart, be comforted
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