A collection of useful phrases in Jamaican, an English-based creole with influences from languages of West and Central Africa spoken mainly in Jamaica.
Note: there is no standard way of spelling Jamaican, and there are different ways of writing many words.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).
| Phrase | Jimiekn / Patwah (Jamaican) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Welcome |
| Hello (General greeting) | Ello Hail up Waa gwaan? (What's going on?) Gud day |
| Hello (on phone) | |
| How are you? | Waa gwaan? (What's going on?) Wat a guh dung? (What's going down?) Weh yuh a seh? (What are you saying?) How yuh stay? (How's your status?) Howdeedo? (How do you do?) How yu feeling? |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Everyting criss Everyting cook an curry All fruits ripe Mi deh yah, everyting criss Everyting cris n curri Mi irie |
| Long time no see | A long time mi nuh si yuh |
| What's your name? | Wah yuh name? |
| My name is ... | Mi name ... |
| Where are you from? | Frah wha pawt yuh deh? |
| I'm from ... | Mi deh ... |
| Pleased to meet you | Nice fi meet yuh |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Gud mawnin |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
|
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Gud evening Gud evenling |
| Good night | Gud nite |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Mi gaan (I'm gone) Likkle more Likkle more den Inna di morrows (In the tomorrows) Walk good |
| Good luck! | Gud luck |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
|
| Have a nice day | |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
|
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
|
| Yes | Yes Yah Yeh |
| No | No |
| Maybe | |
| I don't know | Mi nuh nuo |
| I understand | Zeen Mi undastan Mi ovastaan |
| I don't understand | Mi nuh undastand |
| Please speak more slowly | |
| Please say that again | |
| Please write it down | |
| Do you speak English? | Do yuh speak english? |
| Do you speak Jamaican? | Do yuh speak Patwah? Yuh know how fi chat Patwah? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
|
| Speak to me in Jamaican | |
| How do you say ... in Jamaican? | |
| Excuse me | Jus a word Beg yuh pass (Can I pass?) |
| How much is this? | Oomuch fi dis? |
| Sorry | Hush |
| Please | A beg yuh |
| Thank you | Tanks Thenk yuh |
| Reply to thank you | |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Weh ah de bawtroom? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | |
| This lady will pay for everything | |
| Would you like to dance with me? | |
| Do you come here often? | |
| I miss you | Mi miss yuh |
| I love you | Mi luv yuh |
| Get well soon | |
| Go away! | Gweh! |
| Leave me alone! | Galang! |
| Help! | Help! |
| Fire! | Fiah! |
| Stop! | Stop! |
| Call the police! | Call di police! |
| Christmas greetings | Merri crissmuss |
| New Year greetings | Appy new year |
| Easter greetings | Happy easta |
| Birthday greetings | Happy earthstrong Happy birthday |
| One language is never enough | One language neva enuff |
| My hovercraft is full of eels |
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Jamaican | Phrases
Other collections of Jamaican phrases
https://jamaicanize.com/how-to-say/i-love-you-in-jamaican-patois
http://jamaicans.com/speak-jamaican/
http://www.talk8tive.com/
Bislama, Cape Verdean Creole, Chabacano de Zamboanga, Chabacano de Cavite, Haitian Creole, Jamaican, Mauritian Creole, Norfuk, Papiamento, Réunion Creole, Sango, Sierra Leone Creole, Tok Pisin
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