Meaning
A grandmother or beloved elder woman — an affectionate, respectful term. Traditionally, 'nana' also named the midwife or nurse who delivered the babies and cared for the children and the sick, a deeply respected figure in old-time Jamaican community life, keeper of birthing and healing knowledge. From the great Maroon leader Nanny to the humble district midwife, the word carries authority, care, and reverence, honouring the old woman as a source of life, wisdom, and protection at the heart of the community.
Examples
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Mi spend di summer a mi nana house inna country.
I spent the summer at my grandmother's house in the country.
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Di nana deliver plenty baby inna di district.
The midwife delivered plenty of babies in the district.
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Nana always have a story fi tell.
Grandma always has a story to tell.
Origin
Of African derivation (an Akan honorific for an elder/grandparent), also carried into English 'nana' for grandmother; the midwife sense is old-time Jamaican.
How it’s used
Chiefly 'grandmother/elder woman'; historically also a midwife. Distinct from Nanny of the Maroons, the national hero.