Jamaican Slang
Always changing, never ordinary!

To keep current with Jamaican slang, you need a teenager. So that's what I did for this page. I asked about ten teenagers to brainstorm (no, I didn't actually say "brainstorm") with their classmates to come up with some happening words.

They enthusiastically provided me with a list, half of which I had to ask them to translate, or use in a sentence so I could understand their meanings! I used to think I was cool.

What especially fascinated me, was that some of the words on the list had gone out of style long ago, and were now reappearing, fresh and revived. Who knew words were like fashion?

Anyhow, here is a taste of Jamaican Slang, as compiled and explained by a very willing group of girls at Hampton School, St. Elizabeth, with additions by my other streetwise contacts.

At ed/At skull Literally means hot head, easily angered. Also used as an exclamation of surprise, or admiration.
Bait up Set someone up for a downfall/ Cause disappointment or embarrassment (Yu a bait up di ting)
Balance Chill, take it easy
Ben Upset, angry
Big man ting Grown up business/Honestly
Big tings Good things/Monetary success
Bill Chill, take it easy
Blue tooth! Expression of greeting, or excitment
Bombaat! Expression of awe
Bombidos! Expression of surprise or shock
Boom Listen up
Breathe easy Relax, calm down
Bush Look awful
Crawb up Looking good, something good
Crawful Outrageously good
Crawny Look awful
Daadie A term of address, used usually by males talking to each other (see "Paadie" below)
Deh pon a endz Gone out (usually somewhere nice)
Deh pon di gully side In a difficult (usually economic) situation
Don't say a word Don't draw attention to me/the situation (often used in response to a compliment, instead of "thank you")
Do yu ting Go ahead (do your thing)
Dups/Doops Friend
Fish Male homosexual
Frass Frazzled/Tipsy
Fluffy Fat, plump
Fulljoy/Funjoy Enjoy, enjoyment
Gone Drunk
Goodaz Hot, sexy woman or girl
Goodup goodup Genuine, good, real - usually referring to a person
Gyalis A guy who loves women/has many women
Happen Fabulous (e.g. Yu hairstyle a happen!)
Hataz Hot, sexy woman or girl
HBO False hair (Hair Belonging to Others)
Hol' a medz/medi Meditate, relax
Ig Vexed, upset (Don't get mi ig)
Inna di morrows See you tomorrow
Level Calm down, relax
Live a luu Spoil the plan
Loud up di ting Expose someone's business
Luddy Lucky
Maad Awesome
Memba mi tell yu Listen up, take note
Mi a forward I'm coming
Paadie A term of address, used usually by males talking to each other (see "Daadie" above)
Pree Think about, examine, consider carefully
Ramscram! Expression of surprise
Screbe/screbs An uncultured person
Seh one Great, wonderful, fantastic
Sell off Expression of approval (Di party sell off)
Sexified/Sexifilicious Sexy
Sick Awesome (Da tune deh sick!)
Sort out Fix up, usually related to sex life (but anything can need sorting out - hair, clothes, complexion, finances)
Swaggerific Extremely cool and stylish, full of swagger
Tek Fabulous (It tek!)
Tink Look awful
To di worl Expression of approval
Yu done know You understand
Zeen? You understand me?(whereas "Oh, zeen" means "oh, yes")

To keep this list true to the notion of "Jamaican Slang", I'll update it every few months, dropping off words no longer in use, and adding new ones. Those words that look like they'll be lasting, I'll shift to my page on established Jamaican phrases and words.

Click here if you're interested in Jamaican proverbs.

Our slang is only one aspect of Jamaican culture. There are many other interesting features that combine to make Jamaica unique:

Jamaican Lifestyle (captured in sound - one of my favourite pages)
Jamaican Phrases
Jamaican People
Jamaican Music
Christmas, Easter, Independence in Jamaica
Jamaican Customs and Beliefs
Birth and Death Practices
Jamaican Religion
Rastas and Rastafarianism
Jamaican Folk Tales - Duppy, Rolling Calf and more
Anansi Stories - Jamaican Folklore
Jamaican Food

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Goodup goodup, Jamaica by JAttitude
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