Reach
verb reech riːtʃ
Also spelled: riich
Meaning
To arrive at a destination or to get somewhere. In Patois it is the standard word for arriving, whereas English 'reach' usually needs an object; here it stands alone to mean 'to arrive'.
Examples
-
“Mi jus reach.”
I've just arrived.
A very common phrase said on arriving somewhere.
-
“Yuh reach yet?”
Have you arrived yet?
No 'have' needed; the bare verb carries the meaning.
-
“By di time wi reach, di shop did lock.”
By the time we arrived, the shop had closed.
'did lock' marks the past; 'lock' means closed.
Origin
From English 'reach', but used intransitively to mean 'arrive', a usage common across Caribbean creoles.
How it's used
Everyday and neutral in register. Used by everyone. Abroad it can confuse listeners who expect an object after 'reach'.