Bruk
Also spelled: brok, brock, bruck
Meaning
To break, but also broadly to be broke financially, to break something down, or to move loosely in dance. As an adjective it means broken or penniless, covering states English needs several words for.
Examples
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“Mi phone bruk when it drop.”
My phone broke when it dropped.
Verb of breaking, with no separate past-tense inflection.
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“Mi cyaan come out, mi bruk till nex week.”
I can't go out, I'm broke until next week.
'bruk' as an adjective meaning out of money; 'cyaan' is 'can't'.
-
“Look how she a bruk out pan di dancehall floor!”
Look how she's dancing wildly on the dancehall floor!
'bruk out' means to dance energetically; 'a' marks continuous action.
Origin
From English 'broke/broken', reflecting Jamaican phonology where the vowel is shortened and the final consonant cluster simplified.
How it's used
Extremely common and flexible. Appears in many compounds: 'bruk out' (dance/party hard), 'bruk down' (break down), 'bruk pocket' (broke). Fully everyday and appropriate in any casual setting.