Fenke fenke

Meaning

Weak, frail, sickly, or flimsy; describing something or someone lacking strength, substance, or robustness. The doubling intensifies the sense of feebleness.

Examples

• “Dat fenke fenke chair caan hol yuh weight.”

  That flimsy chair can't hold your weight.

  Applied to a poorly made object.

• “Him a nyam betta now, im nuh so fenke fenke again.”

  He's eating better now, he's not so frail anymore.

  Describing a person recovering their strength.

• “Mi nuh want no fenke fenke rope fi tie di goat.”

  I don't want any flimsy rope to tie the goat.

  Reduplication is characteristic of Patois emphasis.

Origin

Likely of West African origin, with reduplication a common feature of Akan and other Kwa languages used for intensification; the exact source word is uncertain.

How it's used

Descriptive and mildly disparaging. Reduplication (saying it twice) is essential; a single 'fenke' is rarely used alone.