Nize

noun NIZE naɪz

Also spelled noise, nyze

Noise — the Patois pronunciation of 'noise'. 'Mek some nize!' is a call to shout, cheer, and make a racket, especially at a dance or a stage show where the crowd is urged to roar its approval, while 'too much nize' is the plain complaint about a din. The word shows the 'oi-to-i' vowel shift typical of Patois (as in 'bwoy' for boy and 'jine' for join), and it does the everyday work of 'noise' across both senses, from the joyful uproar of a crowd to the unwelcome clamour that disturbs the peace.

  • Mek some nize, massive!

    Make some noise, everybody!

  • Di pickney dem a mek too much nize.

    The children are making too much noise.

  • Nuh mek no nize, di baby a sleep.

    Don't make any noise, the baby is sleeping.

The Patois pronunciation of 'noise', showing the 'oi → i' vowel shift.

Means 'noise'; 'mek some nize' is a dancehall crowd call. Illustrates the 'oi→i' Patois shift.