Meaning
To poke, jab, prick, or stab — with anything from a finger to a thorn to a knife. 'Makka juk mi' means a thorn pricked me, and 'juk him wid di stick' means to poke him with the stick. It ranges from a light prod to a violent stabbing, depending on context, so the same word covers a playful poke, a nurse's needle, a thorn in the foot, and a serious knife wound. Of West African origin, it is one of the most common and versatile everyday verbs in the language, and it is also spelt 'jook'.
Examples
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Di makka juk mi inna mi foot.
The thorn pricked me in my foot.
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Nuh juk mi wid yuh finger.
Don't poke me with your finger.
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Dem juk him inna di fight.
They stabbed him in the fight.
Origin
Of West African derivation (compare Fula/Wolof 'jukka', to poke); a core Patois verb for piercing or prodding.
How it’s used
Ranges from a gentle poke to a stabbing. Common with 'makka' (thorn). Also spelled 'jook'.