Town

noun TONG taʊn

Also spelled tung, a town

The city — most often Kingston, the capital, spoken of in contrast to the rural 'country'. To go 'a town' is to head into the urban centre for business, shopping, work, or opportunity, and 'town people' and 'country people' name the two poles of Jamaican life, each with its own reputation and ways. The word carries the whole weight of the pull between the busy, hard, chancy city and the slower, poorer, but rooted countryside, a divide woven through song, story, and everyday talk.

  • Mi haffi go a town fi run some business.

    I have to go into the city to handle some business.

  • Life a town fast.

    City life is fast.

  • Him move a town fi find work.

    He moved to the city to find work.

From English 'town'; in Jamaica it typically refers to Kingston or the nearest large urban centre, standing in contrast to 'country'.

Said 'a town'. Depending on region, 'town' may mean Kingston specifically or the closest big town.