Tropical Rythms's definitions

Wash belly

Jamaican term for the youngest sibling in a family ; the last born.

You see him deh. That's my wash belly. He's 20 years old now. But, I still treat him like my baby.

by Tropical Rythms December 13, 2021

Lion's paw

Jamaican greeting common among Rastas and locals of Jamaica. The salutation represents the strength of the lion of Judah. The fingers are curled like the paw of a lion and then interlocked with the other person's fingers and shook for at least 7 seconds.

Ras Wanye greeted his brethren with a lion's paw.

by Tropical Rythms May 20, 2020

Mix up and blender

In the Jamaican dialect, mix up refers to a mélange or mixture of rumours that's usually defamatory or based on gossip. A blender is often used in the Caribbean to make blended drinks or home-made beverages by mixing stuff together. The expression alludes to rumours blending together in a mess as if a blender were at work.

Bare mix up and blender we talk 'bout over yah.

by Tropical Rythms December 11, 2021

Batty jaw

Batty jaw refers to the butt cheeks, arse or buttocks of a person/animal.

Origin from botty (plural botties)

(childish, slang) for bottom.

Clap your batty jaws, them.

You need to wear a better shorts to cover up your batty jaw.

by Tropical Rythms December 10, 2021

Ano

Jamaican way of saying ain't. (Non-standard)

Contraction Contraction of -Am not, are not, is not.

Ano Mary's phone. I(t)s mine.

(It ain't Mary's phone. It's mine).

Ano what you believe inna. A what you stand up for!

(It ain't what you believe in. It's what you stand up for).

by Tropical Rythms December 10, 2021

Patois

Jamaican Patois English-based Creole English or broken English used throughout different strata of the Caribbean islands ranging from Standard English to a non-standard version with different speech vocalization and no fixed orthography.

Origin From French patois 'rough speech'.

A regional dialect of a language (especially French); usually considered substandard.
Jamaican Patois, Trinidad Patois, Swiss Patois.

When me home with me friends dem me chat patois but when I am work or at school we talk the Queen's English.

by Tropical Rythms March 5, 2022

Cow cod

Cod - a small, pouch or bag (rare) the scrotum (also in plural).

In Jamaican this refers to the balls/scrotums of a cow.

Some like the good old cow cod soup and some don't.

by Tropical Rythms December 6, 2021