Jeezam

interjection JEE-zam ˈdʒiːzam

Also spelled jeezan, jeezam peace, geezam

A mild exclamation of surprise, shock, or frustration — 'jeez!', 'gosh!', 'goodness!'. Often extended to 'Jeezam peace!' or 'Jeezam Christ', it is a softened, respectable stand-in that lets a person vent astonishment or annoyance without taking a holy name fully in vain. It belongs to the useful store of minced oaths that stand politely in for stronger words, and it bursts out at anything startling, exasperating, or hard to believe, its exact force set by the tone.

  • Jeezam! Yuh frighten mi.

    Goodness! You startled me.

  • Jeezam peace, wah a gwaan yah?

    Good grief, what's going on here?

  • Jeezam, mi cyaan believe it.

    Gosh, I can't believe it.

A minced form of 'Jesus', softened for everyday use the way English uses 'jeez' or 'gee'.

Mild and broadly acceptable, unlike the '-claat' curses. 'Jeezam peace' is a common fuller version.