Grow

verb GROW ɡroː

Also spelled gruo, grow up

Besides plants growing, in Patois 'grow' means to raise or bring up a child — 'mi granny grow mi' means 'my grandmother raised me'. Someone 'well grow' was raised with good manners ('broughtupsy'); someone who 'grow bad' was badly brought up. Being 'grow' by a relative is a common Jamaican upbringing.

  • Mi granny grow mi from mi small.

    My grandmother raised me from when I was little.

  • Di pickney well grow, full a manners.

    The child is well brought up, full of manners.

  • Him grow bad, nobody never check him.

    He was badly raised, no one ever corrected him.

From 'grow'; the Patois sense of 'to raise/bring up a child' is distinctive, reflecting how children are often 'grown' by grandparents or relatives.

'Grow' = to raise a child; 'well grow' / 'grow bad' judge the upbringing. Compare 'broughtupsy', 'bad breed'.