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?
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

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
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
by Tropical Rythms March 05, 2022

Meagre in Jamaican dialect means having little flesh, thin, slim.
In use since
1597, William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act 5, Scene 1, 1843, William Shakespeare, Samuel Weller Singer (notes), Charles Symmons (life), The Dramatic Works and Poems, Volume 2, page 462,
… meagre were his looks; / Sharp misery had worn him to the bones:
Also used in British and Candadian dialects but rare.
Pronounced mahga in the Caribbean.
In use since
1597, William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act 5, Scene 1, 1843, William Shakespeare, Samuel Weller Singer (notes), Charles Symmons (life), The Dramatic Works and Poems, Volume 2, page 462,
… meagre were his looks; / Sharp misery had worn him to the bones:
Also used in British and Candadian dialects but rare.
Pronounced mahga in the Caribbean.
by Tropical Rythms December 07, 2021

From me eyes deh at me knees means since someone was a kid. Literally since their eyes were at their knees.
I've been hearing about that old man from my eyes deh at me knees. This expression paints the picture of how you have grown a lot, comparing the height you were as a kid to how you are now.
by Tropical Rythms December 06, 2021

Jamaican dialect usage
Origin
Old English pronoun + verb.
Eg.
We a-walking to school. Reminiscent of Shakespeare's stylistic poetry.
(Extract from an Appalachian English song)
On the Seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me. Seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying.
(Extract from a nursery rhyme ca. 1905)
I saw the ship a-sailing, a-sailing on the sea, and oh!It was all laden, with pretty things for thee!
Influenced modern day Patois slang.
This usage fell into disuse in modern English and is now regional or dialectal. A similarity in usage can be noted in the European Portuguese language structure.
Origin
Old English pronoun + verb.
Eg.
We a-walking to school. Reminiscent of Shakespeare's stylistic poetry.
(Extract from an Appalachian English song)
On the Seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me. Seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying.
(Extract from a nursery rhyme ca. 1905)
I saw the ship a-sailing, a-sailing on the sea, and oh!It was all laden, with pretty things for thee!
Influenced modern day Patois slang.
This usage fell into disuse in modern English and is now regional or dialectal. A similarity in usage can be noted in the European Portuguese language structure.
by Tropical Rythms December 09, 2021

by Tropical Rythms December 06, 2021

Colloquial way of saying in/into in Jamaica.
Possibly Origin in + a
It fell in a bag. It fell inna bag.
Possibly Origin in + a
It fell in a bag. It fell inna bag.
The teacher (is) inna the classroom.
How much money you want inna US dollars?
Invest inna you woman.
(I) Me live inna the Bronx.
How much money you want inna US dollars?
Invest inna you woman.
(I) Me live inna the Bronx.
by Tropical Rythms December 07, 2021
