Tropical Rythms's definitions

Fi

Colloquial way of saying for in the Jamaica. Can also be used to replace the word 'to' in a sentence.

In other Caribbean dialects fah, fa etc

How come you still haven't come fi the car?

You have fi call a bit earlier.

Also has/have + fi become haffi in fast spoken speech.

You haffi tell the truth.

by Tropical Rythms December 6, 2021

Yam head

Yamhead - a girl who settles for less in a relationship. Sleeps with a guy who has no interest in her and claims she's madly in love.

All the one Beverly, she a real yam head yah know.

Yeah man, you can see that from afar.

by Tropical Rythms December 6, 2021

Aircake

Jamaican slang (humorous) no food, usually used as answer to the question what yah gonna eat?

The idea is about a cake made from air, that one cannot see.

What are you gonna have for lunch today?

Aircake!

by Tropical Rythms December 15, 2021

From my eyes deh at me knees

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 6, 2021

Banger phone

Jamaican slang
A cheap phone that cannot access the internet. Or use apps like whatsapp etc.

Some say, it's still good to have a banger phone, even if you have a smartphone.

Digicel just released some new bangers 'pon the market.

by Tropical Rythms October 11, 2019

Meagre

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.

Gal, you meagre like a broom stick.

Look pon you too how yah meagre and tough!

by Tropical Rythms December 7, 2021

Blouse and skirt

Swearing with terms that refer to clothes are quite common in the Jamaican dialect.

Blouse and skirt is a swear word used by elders!

Equivalent:Damn, Frigging!

Other swear words that mention the use of clothes are bloodcloth, pussycloth, rasscloth, bombocloth (all pronounced clart or claat in Patois).

Yo blouse and skirt!leave people pickeney alone

by Tropical Rythms December 12, 2021