101 Jamaican Slang Words & Phrases

Want to learn some common Jamaican Slang?

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You’re about to discover the top 101 Jamaican slang words and important slang phrases.

Ready to learn some Jamaican words and slang phrases, especially if traveling to Jamaica?

Let’s dive in!

101 Most Common Jamaican Slang Words & Phrases

Here’s a list of 101 popular Jamaican slang words and phrases, categorized for easier understanding.

This selection aims to cover a broad spectrum of daily conversations, from greetings to expressions of surprise, so that you will find them both interesting and practical.

Greetings & Common Expressions

1. Wah Gwaan

• 📖 Meaning: What’s going on?
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: wah-gwahn
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Wah gwaan, mi friend?” (“What’s going on, my friend?”)

2. Mi deh yah

• 📖 Meaning: I’m here/I’m okay.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: mee-deh-yah
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Yuh alright?” “Yeah, mi deh yah, yuh know.” (“You alright?” “Yeah, I’m here, you know.”)

3. How yuh stay?

• 📖 Meaning: How are you doing?
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: how-yuh-stay
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Morning, how yuh stay?” (“Morning, how are you doing?”)

4. Bless up

• 📖 Meaning: Greetings, or to wish someone well.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: bless-up
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Bless up mi brother, everyting criss?” (“Greetings, my brother, is everything fine?”)

5. Goodaz

• 📖 Meaning: A compliment to a woman, indicating she’s good looking.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: good-ahz
• 🇯🇲 Example: “See dey girl deh? She a real goodaz.” (“See that girl there? She is really good looking.”)

6. Respek

• 📖 Meaning: Respect.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: res-pek
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Respek fi di way yuh handle di situation.” (“I admire [and thankful] for the way you handled that situation.”)

7. One Love

• 📖 Meaning: Goodbye, take care.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: one-love
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Awright, me haffi go now. One love!” (“Alright, I have to go now. Take care!”)

8. Likkle more

• 📖 Meaning: See you later.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: lik-kle-more
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Mi ago head out now, likkle more.” (“I’m going to head out now, see you later.”)

To learn more Jamaican phrases, click here.

Farewells

9. Walk good

• 📖 Meaning: Take care on your journey/Goodbye.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: walk-good
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Mi ago leave now, walk good.” (“I’m going to leave now, take care.”)

10. Lata

• 📖 Meaning: Later; goodbye.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: lah-tah
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Mi wi see yuh lata a di party.” (“I’ll see you later at the party.”)

11. Mi ago mek a move

• 📖 Meaning: I’m going to leave now.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: mee-ah-go-mek-ah-move
• 🇯🇲 Example: “It late, mi ago mek a move.” (“It’s late, I’m going to leave now.”)

12. Inna di morrows

• 📖 Meaning: See you tomorrow.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: in-nah-di-mor-rows
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Alright den, inna di morrows.” (“Alright then, see you tomorrow.”)

Agreeing & Confirming

13. Yeah man

• 📖 Meaning: Yes, definitely.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: yeah-man
• 🇯🇲 Example: “You coming tomorrow?” “Yeah man, mi wouldn’t miss it.” (“You coming tomorrow?” “Yes, definitely, I wouldn’t miss it.”)

14. True word

• 📖 Meaning: I agree.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: troo-word
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Di movie was really good, enuh.” “True word, mi love it.” (“The movie was really good, you know.” “I agree, I loved it.”)

15. Mi deh pon it

• 📖 Meaning: I will do it or I agree.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: mee-deh-pon-it
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Can you handle this task?” “Mi deh pon it, no worry.” (“Can you handle this task?” “I’m on it, don’t worry.”)

16. Fi real

• 📖 Meaning: For real or seriously. (Indicates genuine confirmation or seriousness in affirming the truth of a statement.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: fee-reel
• 🇯🇲 Example: “You get di job at di new firm fi real?” “Yeah man, mi start next Monday!” (“Did you get the job at the new firm?” “Yes, I start next Monday!”)

Disagreeing & Declining

17. No man
    
    
    • 📖 Meaning: No, not at all.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: nah-man
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Yuh tink mi do bad?” “No man, yuh do good.” (“Do you think what I did was bad?” “No, you did well.”)
      
      
18. Mi nah go
    
    
    • 📖 Meaning: I won’t be able to or I’m not going
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: mee-nah-go
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Mi nah go.” (” I won’t be able to make it or I’m not going.”)
      
      
19. Nuh dweet
    
    
    • 📖 Meaning: Don’t do it.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: nuh-dweet
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Mi fi call him?” “Nuh dweet, wait till him cool down.” (“Should I call him?” “Don’t do it, wait until he cools down.”)
      

Feelings & States of Being

20. Mi feel irie
    
    
    • 📖 Meaning: I feel great.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: mee-feel-eye-ree
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “How yuh feeling?” “Mi feel irie.” (“How are you feeling?” “I feel great.”)
      
      
21. Vex
    
    
    • 📖 Meaning: Angry or annoyed.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: veks
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “She late again, mi really vex wid har.” (“She’s late again, I’m really angry with her.”)
      
      
22. Stress out
    
    
    • 📖 Meaning: Stressed.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: stress-out
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Work a mi stress out bad.” (“Work is making me stressed.”)
      
      
23. Mi tyad
    
    
    • 📖 Meaning: I’m tired or I’m exhausted. (Expresses a state of physical or mental fatigue.)
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: mi tyad
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Mi just feel tyad.” (“I just feel exhausted.”)
      
      
24. Full joy
    
    • 📖 Meaning: Enjoying
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: full-joy
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Mi a full joy di day!” (“I am enjoying the day!)
      

Friends & Family

25. Bredren
    
    • 📖 Meaning: Male friend.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: bred-ren
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “A mi bredren dat.” (“That’s my friend.”)
      
      
26. Sistren
    
    • 📖 Meaning: Female friend (Often used in Rasta culture).
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: sis-tren
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Mi sistren always deh dere when mi need her.” (“My friend is always there when I need her.”)
      
      
27. Pikni
    
    • 📖 Meaning: Child.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: pik-nee
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Look how fast di pikni a grow!” (“Look how fast the child is growing!”)
      
      
28. Family
    
    • 📖 Meaning: Blood relatives, close friends and loved ones who are considered close.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: fam-i-ly
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Yuh a mi family.” (“You are my my close friend or family member.”)
      
      
29. Madda
    
    • 📖 Meaning: Mother.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: mad-da
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Mi madda a di best cook inna di whole world.” (“My mother is the best cook in the whole world.”)
      
      
30. Fadda
    
    • 📖 Meaning: Father.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: fad-da
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Mi fadda teach me everything mi know.” (“My father taught me everything I know.”)

Expressions of Surprise or Amazement

31. What a prekeh!
    
    • 📖 Meaning: An unfortunate situation/problem!
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: what-ah-preh-keh
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Him lose him job an car inna di same week? What a prekeh!” (“He lost his job and car in the same week? What an unfortunate situation!”)
      
      
32. Lawd have mercy!
    
    • 📖 Meaning: An expression of disbelief or amazement.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: lawd-have-mercy
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “She really win di lottery? Lawd have mercy!” (“She really won the lottery? Unbelievable!”)
      
      
33. Blow wow!
    
    • 📖 Meaning: Wow, unbelievable!
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: blow-wow
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Di whole house get paint overnight? Blow wow!” (“The whole house got painted overnight? Wow, unbelievable!”)
      
      
34. Mi shock!
    
    • 📖 Meaning: I’m shocked.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: mee-shock
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Yuh mean to tell me seh him never know? Mi shock!” (“You mean to tell me he didn’t know? I’m shocked!”)

Compliments & Praises

35. Yuh large
    
    • 📖 Meaning: You’re awesome or highly respected.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: yuh-large
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “See how yuh handle dat? Yuh large, mi friend.” (“See how you handled that? You’re awesome, my friend.”)
      
      
36. Sell off!
    
    • 📖 Meaning: Fantastic, excellent.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: sell-off
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Dat performance did sell off! Mi impressed.” (“That performance was fantastic! I’m impressed.”)
      
      
37. Clean like a whistle
    
    • 📖 Meaning: Someone who is very stylishly dressed or looks exceptionally clean and neat.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: clean like a whistle
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Look pon him outfit, man, clean like a whistle!” (“Look at his outfit, he is very stylish!”)
      
      
38. Shell dung
    
    • 📖 Meaning: To do something impressively well.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: shell-dung
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Di team shell dung di competition this year!” (“The team did impressively well in the competition this year!”)

Food and Drink

39. Nyam
    
    • 📖 Meaning: To eat.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: nyam
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Mi so hungry, mi could nyam a whole cow right now.” (“I’m so hungry, I could eat a whole cow right now.”)
      
      
40. Ital
    
    • 📖 Meaning: Vegetarian, healthy food. (Often used in Rasta culture).
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: eye-tal
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Mi switch to ital food fi live a healthier life.” (“I switched to vegetarian food to live a healthier life.”)
      
      
41. Bun and cheese
    
    • 📖 Meaning: A popular snack, especially during Easter.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: bun-and-cheese
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Easter coming, so you know it’s bun and cheese season.” (“Easter is coming, so you know it’s time for bun and cheese.”)
      
      
42. Ackee and saltfish
    
    • 📖 Meaning: Jamaica’s national dish.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: ack-ee-and-salt-fish
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Nuttin’ like ackee and saltfish fi breakfast!”
      (“Nothing is better than ackee and saltfish for breakfast!”)
      
      
43. Jerk chicken
    
    • 📖 Meaning: A spicy grilled chicken dish.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: jerk-chick-en
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Yuh haffi try di jerk chicken when yuh come to Jamaica.” (“You have to try the jerk chicken when you come to Jamaica.”)
      
      
44. Craven
    
    • 📖 Meaning: Greedy.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: cray-vin
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Dem craven!”
    • (“They’re greedy!”)

Money and Transactions

45. Change
    
    • 📖 Meaning: Refers to the smaller coins and bills returned to a purchaser after they have made payment exceeding the cost of the purchase.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: change
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Make sure you get your change before you leave the counter.” (“Make sure you receive your smaller coins and bills back before you depart, if you’ve paid more than the cost.”)
      
      
46. Small up yuhself
    
    • 📖 Meaning: Make room or give space.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: small-up-yuh-self
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Di minibus full, but small up yuhself so mi can fit.” (“The minibus is full, but make some room so I can fit.”)
      
      
47. Brawta
    
    • 📖 Meaning: A little extra added to a purchase.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: braw-ta
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “Mi always shop dere cause dem give yuh brawta with every buy.” (“I always shop there because they give you a little extra with every purchase.”)
      
      
48. Hustle
    
    • 📖 Meaning: To work hard, often in informal trade.
    • 🗣️ Pronunciation: hus-sle
    • 🇯🇲 Example: “From sun up to sun down, mi a hustle fi make ends meet.” (“From sunrise to sunset, I work hard to make ends meet.”)

Time and Events

49. Now now

• 📖 Meaning: Right away. (Immediately, without delay.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: now-now
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Mi need you to come now now, no time fi waste.” (“I need you to come right away, no time to waste.”)
  

50. Likkle bit

• 📖 Meaning: A short time, small amount or shortly.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: lik-kle-bit
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Mi gonna be dere inna likkle bit.” (“I’m going to be there in a short time.”)
  

51. Soon come

• 📖 Meaning: I’ll be there soon.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: soon-come
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Hold tight, mi soon come.” (“Hold on, I’ll be there soon.”)
  

52. Afta a while

• 📖 Meaning: After a while. (After some time has passed.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: aft-a-while
• 🇯🇲 Example: “We can link up afta a while.” (“We can meet up after a while.”)

Places and Directions

53. Yard

• 📖 Meaning: Home, one’s house or place of residence.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: yaad
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Mi just want go back to mi yard.” (“I just want to go back to my home.”)
  

54. Go Dey So

• 📖 Meaning: To go over there; often used to refer to a specific location.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: go dey so
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Yuh can go dey so fi di best food.” (“You can go there for the best food.”)
  

55. Down di road

• 📖 Meaning: Down the road. (Further along the street.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: down-di-road
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Di shop down di road have everything yuh need.” (“The shop down the road has everything you need.”)
  

56. Go a town

• 📖 Meaning: Traveling to the city or downtown
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: go-a-town
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Mi need fi go a town today.” (“I need to go to the city or downtown today.”)

Affectionate Terms

57. Angel

• 🗣️ Pronunciation: an-gel
• 📖 Meaning: A term expressing deep affection and appreciation for someone special.
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Yuh a mi angel.” (“You are my angel.”)

58. Empress

• 📖 Meaning: A term of respect for a woman. (Often used in Rasta culture)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: em-press
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Morning, Empress, how yuh day going?” (“Good morning, Empress, how is your day going?”)

59. Mi Miss You

• 📖 Meaning: A heartfelt expression of missing someone.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: mi miss yuh
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Every day mi miss you more.” (“Every day I miss you more.”)

60. Babylove

• 📖 Meaning: Sweetheart. (A term of endearment for a loved one.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: baby-love
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Mi miss yuh so much, babylove.” (“I miss you so much, sweetheart.”)

Miscellaneous

61. Irie

• 📖 Meaning: Everything is alright; feeling good.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: eye-ree
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Yuh alright?” “Yeah, man, mi irie.” (“Are you okay?” “Yeah, man, I’m feeling good.”)
  

62. Babylon

• 📖 Meaning: The police or the system. (A term often used to describe the establishment or authority figures, usually with a negative connotation.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: bab-ee-lon
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Babylon always on we case, but we keep troddin’.” (“The police/system are always on our case, but we keep going.”)
  

63. Raggamuffin

• 📖 Meaning: A street-smart person; also refers to a reggae music style that incorporates hip-hop influences.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: ragga-muff-in
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Him a real raggamuffin, know how fi survive inna di streets.” (“He’s a real street-smart person, knows how to survive in the streets.”)
  

64. Dancehall

• 📖 Meaning: A style of Jamaican music that grew out of reggae, featuring fast rhythms and DJ commentary.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: dance-hall
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Dancehall music just have a vibe weh mek yuh want to dance.” (“Dancehall music just has a vibe that makes you want to dance.”)
  

65. Dub

• 📖 Meaning: A genre of music derived from reggae. It involves remixing existing recordings to emphasize drum and bass.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: dub
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Dub music deep and heavy, full of bass.” (“Dub music is deep and heavy, full of bass.”)
  

66. Zinc fence

• 📖 Meaning: A type of fencing made from corrugated metal, often used in informal settlements.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: zinc-fence
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Wi community full of zinc fence, but it a wi home.” (“Our community is full of corrugated metal fencing, but it’s our home.”)
  

67. Mek We Dweet

• 📖 Meaning: Let’s do it; an invitation to take action together.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: mek wi dweet
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Mek we dweet and enjoy di vibes!” (“Let’s do it and enjoy the vibes!”)
  

68. Livity

• 📖 Meaning: A Rastafarian term for a righteous lifestyle. That is, living a life that is ethical, righteous, and in harmony with the environment and humanity.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: liv-ity
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Rastafari teach bout livity and one love.” (“Rastafari teaches about a righteous lifestyle and universal love.”)
  

69. Jah

• 📖 Meaning: God, in Rastafarian language.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: jah
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Give thanks to Jah for all blessings.” (“Give thanks to God for all blessings.”)
  

70. Riddim

• 📖 Meaning: The instrumental background of a reggae, dancehall, or dub song, onto which various artists can lay their vocals.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: rid-dim
• 🇯🇲 Example: “This riddim so catchy, every deejay want to voice pon it.” (“This rhythm is so catchy, every DJ wants to put their vocals on it.”)

Phrases for Everyday Use

71. Everyting criss

• 📖 Meaning: Everything is fine. (All is well or good.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: ev-ree-ting criss
• 🇯🇲 Example: “How you doing?” “Everyting criss, no worry.” (“How are you doing?” “Everything is fine, don’t worry.”)
  

72. Nuh worry yuhself

• 📖 Meaning: Don’t worry about it. (No need to worry.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: nuh wor-ree yuh-self
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Seems like rain coming.” “Nuh worry yuhself, we’ll still have a good time.” (“It seems like it’s going to rain.” “Don’t worry about it, we’ll still have a good time.”)
  

73. Tek time

• 📖 Meaning: Take your time. (Proceed at a comfortable pace; no rush.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: tek time
• 🇯🇲 Example: “You don’t have to rush the work, tek time and do it right.” (“You don’t have to rush the work, take your time and do it right.”)
  

74. Weh yuh deh pon?

• 📖 Meaning: What are you up to? (Asking someone what they are doing or involved in at the moment.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: weh yuh deh pon
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Hey, weh yuh deh pon this weekend?” (“Hey, what are you up to this weekend?”)
  

75. Yuh zee mi?

• 📖 Meaning: Do you understand me? (Asking for confirmation of understanding.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: yuh zee mi
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Just follow the instructions, yuh zee mi?” (“Just follow the instructions, do you understand me?”)
  

76. Mek we link up

• 📖 Meaning: Let’s meet up. (Proposing a gathering or meeting.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: mek we link up
• 🇯🇲 Example: “It’s been too long, mek we link up for lunch soon.” (“It’s been too long, let’s meet up for lunch soon.”)
  

77. Hold a vibes

• 📖 Meaning: Enjoy, relax. (To enjoy oneself or relax in a particular setting or with certain activities.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: hold a vibes
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Friday night, we just going to hold a vibes at the beach.” (“Friday night, we’re just going to enjoy and relax at the beach.”)
  

78. Mash up

• 📖 Meaning: Broken or destroyed.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: mash up
• 🇯🇲 Example: “After the party, the place was completely mash up.” (“After the party, the place was completely broken or destroyed.”)
  

79. Tun up

• 📖 Meaning: Exciting, fun. (Used to describe something that is lively, exciting, or has a great atmosphere.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: tun up
• 🇯🇲 Example: “The concert last night did tun up, man!” (“The concert last night was really exciting, man!”)
  

80. Wah mek?

• 📖 Meaning: Why? (Asking for the reason or cause of something.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: wah mek
• 🇯🇲 Example: “You not coming tonight? Wah mek?” (“You’re not coming tonight? Why?”)

Acknowledging Thanks

81. No problem!

• 📖 Meaning: You’re welcome. (A casual way to say that it’s no trouble at all.”)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: no prob-lem
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Thanks fi help mi! No problem!” (“Thanks for helping me! No problem!”)
  

82. Cool nuh man

• 📖 Meaning: It’s all right, no problem. (Expressing that something is not an issue or problem.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: cool nuh man
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Sorry for the trouble.” “Cool nuh man, no problem at all.” (“Sorry for the trouble.” “It’s all right, no problem at all.”)
  

Expressing Difficulty

83. It tough

• 📖 Meaning: It’s difficult. (Describing a situation that is hard to handle or understand.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: it tough
• 🇯🇲 Example: “This exam really challenging, it tough.” (“This exam is really challenging, it’s difficult.”)
  

84. Mi a suffer

• 📖 Meaning: I’m struggling. (Expressing personal hardship or difficulty with a situation.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: mi a suffer
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Since mi lose mi job, mi a suffer to make ends meet.” (“Since I lost my job, I’m struggling to make ends meet.”)

Asserting Knowledge or Awareness

85. Mi know di runnings

• 📖 Meaning: I know what’s going on. (Indicating awareness of the situation or the way things work.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: mi know di runnings
• 🇯🇲 Example: “You can’t fool me, mi know di runnings.” (“You can’t fool me, I know what’s going on.”)
  

86. Mi know wah yuh mean.

• 📖 Meaning: I understand what you mean.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: Mi hear yuh, and I feel yuh pain.”
• 🇯🇲 Example: Mi know wah yuh mean, it tough sometimes. (I understand what you mean, it can be tough sometimes.”)

Declaring Intentions

87. Mi ago sort it out

• 📖 Meaning: I will take care of it. (Expressing the intention to address or resolve a problem.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: mi ago sort it out
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Don’t worry about the bills, mi ago sort it out by tomorrow.” (“Don’t worry about the bills, I will take care of it by tomorrow.”)
  

88. Mi a go hard

• 📖 Meaning: I’m going to do my best. (Stating the intention to give one’s full effort or commitment.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: mi a go hard
• 🇯🇲 Example: “This year, mi a go hard to achieve my goals.” (“This year, I’m going to do my best to achieve my goals.”)
  

Admiration & Respect

89. Dem a di real deal

• 📖 Meaning: They are genuine/authentic. (Affirming that someone or something is legitimate or of high quality.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: dem a di real deal
• 🇯🇲 Example: “His kindness and wisdom show he’s not just talk, dem a di real deal.” (“His kindness and wisdom show he’s not just talk, they are the real deal.”)
  

90. Big up yuhself

• 📖 Meaning: Congratulate yourself, well done. (A phrase used to acknowledge someone’s achievements or to encourage self-recognition.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: big up yuh-self
• 🇯🇲 Example: “You passed all your exams? Big up yuhself, you worked hard for it.” (“You passed all your exams? Congratulate yourself, you worked hard for it.”)
  

Warning or Caution

91. Watch yuh step

• 📖 Meaning: Be careful.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: watch yuh step
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Dem floors slippery, watch yuh step.” (“Those floors are slippery, be careful.”)
  

92. Cyaa take di chance!

• 📖 Meaning: You can’t take the chance! (A warning to be careful.)
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: kyah tayk di chans
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Yuh cyaa tek di chance wid dey situation dey!” “You can’t take the chance with that situation!”
  

Expressions of Disappointment

93. Choh man!

• 📖 Meaning: Exclamation of disappointment.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: choh man
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Di party cancel? Choh man!” (“The party is canceled? What a disappointment!”)
  

94. Dat nah work

• 📖 Meaning: That won’t work/that’s not good.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: dat nah work
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Yuh plan to fix it like dat? Dat nah work.” (“Your plan to fix it like that? That won’t work/that’s not good.”)
  

Love and Relationships

95. Mi love yuh bad

• 📖 Meaning: I love you a lot.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: mi love yuh bad
• 🇯🇲 Example: “No matter what, mi love yuh bad.” (“No matter what, I love you a lot.”)
  

96. Gyalis

• 📖 Meaning: A man who is popular with the ladies.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: gy-al-is
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Him known as a gyalis, always with a different girl.” (“He’s known as a man who is popular with the ladies, always with a different girl.”)
  

97. Bun

• 📖 Meaning: To cheat on someone.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: bun
• 🇯🇲 Example: “She give him bun and now di relationship mash up.” (“She cheated on him and now the relationship is destroyed.”)
  

98. Catch feelings

• 📖 Meaning: To develop emotional attachment.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: catch feelings
• 🇯🇲 Example: “We just friends, but I think him start catch feelings.” (“We’re just friends, but I think he’s starting to develop emotional attachment.”)
  

Celebratory Phrases

99. Shell di place

• 📖 Meaning: Dominate, impress everyone present.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: shell di place
• 🇯🇲 Example: “Last night DJ shell di place, crowd gone wild.” (“Last night the DJ dominated, impressing everyone present, and the crowd went wild.”)
  

100. Tun up di ting

• 📖 Meaning: Make the situation exciting or lively.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: tun up di ting
• 🇯🇲 Example: “This party dull, we need to tun up di ting.” (“This party is dull, we need to make the situation exciting or lively.”)
  

101. Live it up

• 📖 Meaning: Enjoy life to the fullest.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation: live it up
• 🇯🇲 Example: “We young only once, so we haffi live it up.” (“We’re only young once, so we have to enjoy life to the fullest.”)

Final Thoughts: Jamaican Slang and Jamaican Phrases

Jamaican slang primarily originates from Jamaican Patois, an English-based creole language with West African influences.

It reflects Jamaica’s complex history, blending elements from the languages of African, British, and other cultures that have interacted with the island.

Slang bridges the gap between being a visitor and becoming a part of the community.

Jamaican slang evolves continuously, embodying the island’s cultural identity and history through expressive and dynamic language.

It’s widely recognized and celebrated, especially in the realms of music and entertainment, showcasing the global influence of Jamaican culture.