Tropical Rythms's definitions

From (since) Whappy killed Phillup

Jamaican expression

From (since) whappy killed Phillup.

From names of actually people.

Whappy + Phillup or Phillip.

Possibly origins -According to the Gleaner, in June 1951 a man name Aston Jolley aka Whappie King attacked and robbed two people. One of them died, but none of the victim’s names was Phillip. Instead, the news article at the time mentioned “Wappy King fillip” and this ended up being switched to “Wappy kill Phillup” over time. If that is the origins of the story then that would be truly disappointing and anti-climatic.

There is another theory involving a murder between two brothers from Portland called William(nickname Wappy) and Phillip. This happened in the 1940s and was a real headline grabber, mainly because similar to now Portland did not have alot of murders. This sounds far more realistic than the Aston Jolly case as I think Jamaicans are far too creative to build such a timeless saying off “Wappy King Fillip”. Gleaner Story

Used to exaggerate the number of years something has been taking place for;
A very long time

I've been reading this book from (since) Whappy killed Phillup.

by Tropical Rythms March 5, 2022

Yah

Yah - vocalization of the word here in Jamaican dialect (Patois). Seen as vulgar by some.

The softer version is here/'ere.

Come yah - come here
Hear yah- hear this

Look yah - look here

See yah- see here

Watch yah - watch here

More from yah -move from here

Yah so - right here (like that)

There so - right there (like that)

by Tropical Rythms December 11, 2021

Why fi that?

Why fi that is an expression in Jamaica that questions why a person is doing something, usually seen as inappropriate weird or not accepted by the circle of people he/she's in surrounded by. This is sometimes the response to a situation that has a double-entendre.

Why fi that?

Last night I went out and met this catty (a girl). She made me sniff her...

The dog come 'pon me back and me couldn't take it off. (Double entendre come and cum)
Why fi that?

by Tropical Rythms December 10, 2021

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

Dwl (dead with laugh)

Dead with laugh is an equivalent of lol used in Jamaica. Both are equally used to represent laughing in an exaggerated manner.

Abbreviation in text dwl
Not used in speech.

Origin: dying from laughter

Could you tell me a joke from your country?

Sure!
Jamaican teacher to student:

Peter, use the word dandelion in a sentence

Peter: Miss the cheetah is faster dan de lion. Dwl (dead with laugh)

by Tropical Rythms December 12, 2021

Broughtupsy

Broughtupsy- (Jamaican) refers to upbringing or grooming of a child. The state of having good manners.

Origin - from upbringing or brought up + sy.

A child without broughtupsy is a child whose parents/guardians have failed them.

You need lil' broughtupsy man! Cho! You just stepped past me without saying good morning.

by Tropical Rythms December 9, 2021

Fi

(Coloquial use Jamaica) can be used to replace modal verbs like should, must and have to when giving some advice or talking about something that is necessary to do.

You fi come before 12 man. (Should)

She fi buy you a nice ride for the summer. (Must)

They fi open back school before the end of the month.

(Have to)

by Tropical Rythms December 10, 2021