Mek

Meaning

Chiefly 'to make', but with two more everyday jobs: 'let/allow' as a causative, and 'why/how come' in questions.

Senses

1. verb 'To make' or 'to create' — the plain, literal sense.

   • She mek a nice dinner.

     She made a nice dinner.

   • Mek a plan first.

     Make a plan first.

2. verb 'Let' or 'allow' — a causative before another subject and verb.

   • Mek mi help yuh.

     Let me help you.

   • Mek dem talk.

     Let them talk.

3. conjunction 'Why' or 'how come' in a question — most familiar in 'wah mek' (what makes / why).

   • Mek yuh never call mi?

     Why didn't you call me?

   • Wah mek it so?

     Why is it like that?

Origin

From English 'make'. The 'let' and 'why' senses are creole grammatical extensions not found in standard English.

How it’s used

Position signals the sense: before another subject it usually means 'let'; at the head of a question it usually means 'why'.