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People & Relationships
113 entries in this part of the language, each with meanings, pronunciation and worked examples.
- Area don The strongman who controls a neighbourhood or 'area' — a community boss who commands…
- Auntie Aunt — but also a respectful, affectionate title for any older woman, whether related by…
- Baas Boss — an employer or person in charge, and also a respectful, friendly term of address for…
- Baby fadda The father of a woman's child or children — particularly one she is no longer with…
- Baby madda The mother of a man's child or children — especially one he is no longer romantically…
- Babyfada The father of a woman's child or children, spoken of in relation to her, whether or not…
- Babyfather The father of a woman's child, spoken of as an ongoing relation whether or not the couple…
- Babymadda The mother of a man's child or children, spoken of in relation to him — whether or not they…
- Backative Backing, support, or reinforcement — the people, resources, or muscle standing behind…
- Belly-woman A pregnant woman — one carrying a 'belly'.
- Big man An adult male seen as mature, self-reliant, and to be taken seriously — and also a man of…
- Big man ting Serious grown-man business — a matter handled properly, seriously, and with the maturity…
- Big mumma The grandmother or matriarch — the big mother — who heads and holds together an extended…
- Big shot An important, powerful, or wealthy person — a big man, someone with money, status, or…
- Big-people Grown-ups;
- Big-woman A grown, mature woman — an adult, responsible for herself, past the age of a girl.
- Bishop A high-ranking church leader — the head of a congregation or a group of churches, above…
- Blabba mout A blabbermouth — someone who talks too much and cannot keep a secret, blurting out other…
- Bredda Brother — whether a literal male sibling or, more commonly in address, a fellow man greeted…
- Bredren A close male friend, or a group of close friends — brothers by bond rather than by blood.
- Bredrin A brother in the wider sense — a close male friend, a fellow, one of your circle — rooted…
- Bwoy-pickney A boy child;
- Chargie A friendly term of address for a friend, pal, or associate — 'wah gwaan, chargie?' means…
- Chatta A chatterbox — someone who talks incessantly, and often indiscreetly, running on and on and…
- Chin A very common Chinese-Jamaican surname, and by extension a stand-in name for the Chinese…
- Chiney royal A person of mixed African and Chinese descent — the child of the union between Jamaica's…
- Church sista A fellow female church member — and, as an archetype, the devout, respectable churchgoing…
- Coolie royal A person of mixed African and Indian descent — the child of Jamaica's Black majority and…
- Corner don A local strongman who controls a single street corner or small patch of territory — a step…
- Country bwoy A person from the country — the rural parts of the island — as opposed to a town or city…
- Countryman A man from rural Jamaica — the countryside rather than the town — and, warmly, a friendly…
- Cousin A cousin — but in Jamaica's wide, extended families the term stretches far, covering…
- Crew One's group of friends, running partners, or crew — the people you move with.
- Cumbolo A close friend, companion, or running partner — one of your tight-knit circle.
- Dawta Daughter — one's female child, and in wider use a warm term for a young woman or girl.
- Deacon A senior lay officer of a church, ranking below the pastor — a respected man (a 'deaconess'…
- Don A powerful, respected man who commands authority within a community or garrison — often a…
- Don dada The top boss of bosses — the most powerful, respected, and revered 'don'.
- Dry-land tourist Someone who puts on the airs of a worldly, well-travelled person but has never actually…
- Elder Two linked senses.
- Empress A term of honour for a woman — especially a wife or partner — used within Rastafari culture…
- Fada Father — one's dad, and by extension an older man of authority or respect.
- Fambly Family — the Patois pronunciation of 'family'.
- Farrin mind A mindset fixed on going abroad, or fascinated with foreign ways — sometimes to the point…
- Fren A friend — but the sense stretches beyond the plain English word.
- Gangalee A tough, streetwise gangster or ruffian — a rough, hardened man of the streets who commands…
- General A leader, boss, or top figure — a title of respect and command in dancehall for a…
- Ghetto youth A young person growing up in the ghetto — the poor inner-city communities — facing…
- Ginnal A cunning trickster or con artist who survives by outsmarting and swindling others — a…
- Godfada A godfather — a man who sponsors a child at christening and takes an ongoing role in…
- Godmadda A godmother — a woman who sponsors a child at christening and takes a lasting role in that…
- Granny One's grandmother — and, very often in Jamaican life, the family elder who raises the…
- Granny midwife The traditional community midwife — the trusted older woman (the 'nana' or 'granny') who…
- Great-grampa A great-grandfather — the father of one's grandparent.
- Grow Besides plants growing, in Patois 'grow' means to raise or bring up a child — 'mi granny…
- Gyal Girl or young woman — and, by extension, a woman generally or a girlfriend, depending on…
- Gyal-pickney A girl child;
- Higgler A small-scale trader, most often a woman, who buys goods wholesale and resells them at…
- Idren Fellow members of the Rastafari community, regarded as spiritual kin — brethren bound…
- Jesta A joker or clown — someone always cracking jokes and making fun, or a person not to be…
- Jinnal A cunning trickster, con artist, or smooth swindler — one who lives by their wits…
- King A term of respect and affirmation for a man — hailing him as royalty, dignity, and strength.
- Labba-labba To chatter on and on, talking too much and often indiscreetly — babbling gossip or blurting…
- Legend A revered great — an icon whose achievements have made them immortal in the culture, above…
- Lioness A strong, regal, righteous woman — the female counterpart to the Rastafari 'lion' (a symbol…
- Maama Mother;
- Madda Mother — the Patois pronunciation of 'mother'.
- Man A man — but far more flexible in Patois.
- Mandem The guys — one's crew, one's group of male friends and associates, taken together as a…
- Massive A crowd, crew, or collective of people — especially fans, supporters, or a community united…
- Midwife The woman who assists at childbirth — from the trained nurse-midwife at the clinic or…
- Mother woman A woman leader in Revival and balm-healing traditions — the 'Mother' who, like a…
- Mumma An affectionate word for one's mother — and, more broadly, for any woman seen as a…
- Nana A grandmother or beloved elder woman — an affectionate, respectful term.
- Neighba A neighbour — someone living close by.
- One family Related to one another;
- Ooman Woman — the Patois pronunciation of 'woman', with the 'w' softened to an 'oo' sound.
- Ooman-tings Women's matters and affairs — the concerns, work, and business regarded as belonging to…
- Pastor The pastor or preacher who leads a church congregation — a highly respected community…
- Pickney A child — whether one's own or any young person.
- Pickney-madda The mother of a man's children — close in meaning to 'babymadda' but with the emphasis on…
- Posse Posse — one's group, crew, or gang of close friends and associates who move together and…
- Puppa An affectionate word for one's father, and for an older man held in respect and fondness.
- Queen A term of respect and endearment for a woman — hailing her as royalty and dignity.
- Queenmother A revered elder woman — a matriarch of deep respect and spiritual standing, in the…
- Ragga-muffin A ghetto youth — a rough-and-ready, streetwise young person from the poorer inner-city…
- Rankin A person of high standing and respect — a top-ranking, important figure who has earned…
- Rate To respect, admire, and hold in high regard — 'mi rate yuh' means I respect you, I think…
- Rudie A 'rude boy' — the rebellious, sharply-dressed street youth of 1960s Kingston, associated…
- Ruff neck A rough, tough, streetwise man of the ghetto — raw, hardened, and unpolished in manner.
- Seed Besides the plant seed, in Patois 'seed' means one's offspring — a child, as the 'seed' of…
- Selecta The person who chooses and plays the records at a sound-system dance or on the radio.
- Shepherd The leader of a Revival or Pocomania band — the 'Shepherd' (or female 'Shepherdess' or…
- Sistren A close female friend, or a group of women bound together by friendship and mutual support…
- Skoolaz Schoolchildren — students, especially seen in their uniforms crowding the buses, route…
- Smaddiness The state of being 'somebody' — dignity, self-worth, and standing as a person who matters.
- Son Besides one's male child, 'son' is a warm term of address for a younger man or boy — 'yes…
- Soulja A soldier — the Patois pronunciation of 'soldier'.
- Speaky-spokey Speaking in an affected, over-refined 'proper' English accent to sound educated or…
- Squaddie A member of one's crew or close circle — a squad-mate, a tight friend you run with.
- Step-fada A stepfather — the Patois pronunciation of 'stepfather' ('fada' = father).
- Step-mada A stepmother — the Patois pronunciation of 'stepmother' ('mada' = mother).
- Sufferer A poor, struggling person — one of the downtrodden masses who bear the weight of poverty…
- Sweet mout A smooth talker — someone with a honeyed, persuasive tongue who flatters and sweet-talks to…
- Tata An affectionate and respectful term for an old man, father, or grandfather — a way of…
- Teacha A teacher — the Patois pronunciation of 'teacher'.
- Town-man A city dweller — someone from 'town' (Kingston and the urban areas), as opposed to a…
- Two mout Two-faced and deceitful — a person who says one thing to your face and another behind your…
- Uncle An uncle — and, like 'auntie', a respectful courtesy title for any older man, whether…
- Wash-belly The last-born child of a family — the baby of the household, often especially cherished and…
- Yaad-man A Jamaican man — one from 'yaad' (Jamaica, home) as opposed to abroad.
- Youth A young person — a boy or young man, and a warm term of address for one ('yes, youth'…
- Yute A young person, especially a young man — but also a friendly term of address between males…