Trending Words on Jamaican Patwah

Slang expression originally used to describe a southern city in Jamaica called Portmore (hometown of Jamaican DJ Vybz Kartel). Nowadays is used to refer to a crew/movement started by Vybz Kartel which featured popular Jamaican entertainers such as Popcaan and Tommy Lee.

Patois: Mek mi tell yu bout Gaza
English: Let me tell you about Portmore

Love you

Patois: Mi luv yuh suh much
English: I love you so much

friends

Patois: Mi an mi fren dem a guh
English: Me and my friends are going

Fire a blank

Slang expression for pointing one’s finger in the shape of a gun and using one’s mouth to mimic the sound made when a shot is fired from a gun. This action is usually done when one is in agreement with something thing that was said.

Patois: Buss a blank if yuh agree seh man fi stop bleach dem skin
English: Fire a blank if you agree that men should stop bleaching their skin

I’m taking it easy

Not to worry or stress; to relax and keep everything under control. This response is normally given when someone ask how you are doing

Patois: Man1: “How yuh stay?” Man2: “Mi a gwaan easy ”
English: Man1: “How are you?” Man2: “I’m taking it easy ”

idiot

Patois: Yuh a eediat
English: You are an idiot

I'm a player

Slang expression used to state that one is skilled at manipulating and seducing women.

Patois: Man a gallis, mi hav gal inna every location weh mi guh
English: I'm a player, I have girls in every location that I go

l'm here

Mi deh yah means l'm here

Patois: Dem think mi did gaawn but mi deh yah same way
English: They think I was gone but I'm still here

Gunshots are firing

Slang term used to state that gunshots are being fired. The literal translation of this phrase would be "gunshots are bursting". The term "buss" means burst, so the term came about when describing the loud bursting/explosive sound a bullet makes when being fired from a gun.

Patois: Shot a buss round deh suh right now!
English: Gunshots are firing around there right now!

called

Patois: Mi wish yuh did call
English: I wish you had called

Everything is ok

Greeting response used to state that everything is ok. This expression can also be used as a question as in “Everything criss?” which translates to “Is everything ok?”

Patois: Everything criss? Mi neva si yuh a class yestideh
English: Is everything ok? I didn’t see you at class yesterday

Take by storm

To have rapid and extraordinary success in a particular place or with a particular group of people.

Patois: Di Dj mash up di place laas nite
English: The DJ took the place my storm last night