Tropical Rythms's definitions
Jamaican dialect
Used as a susbtitute for the subject pronoun (non-standard) or the Demonstrative pronoun those.
Much like the object pronoun me replaces "I" informally.
It used as a plural marker in some cases but, not always and is used most times when it's replaceable with the subject pronoun they.
Eg.
Me speak whole heap of languages them. (Incorrect)
Me speak whole heap of languages. (Only correct version).
The tires them (dem) in the shed outta front. (Correct non-standard)
The tires, they're in the shed out front. (Correct standard)
Who yah going out with later?
Me friends them (dem). (Short reply exception)
What you going to do later?
Wash me clothes them (dem) (short reply exception)
Used as a susbtitute for the subject pronoun (non-standard) or the Demonstrative pronoun those.
Much like the object pronoun me replaces "I" informally.
It used as a plural marker in some cases but, not always and is used most times when it's replaceable with the subject pronoun they.
Eg.
Me speak whole heap of languages them. (Incorrect)
Me speak whole heap of languages. (Only correct version).
The tires them (dem) in the shed outta front. (Correct non-standard)
The tires, they're in the shed out front. (Correct standard)
Who yah going out with later?
Me friends them (dem). (Short reply exception)
What you going to do later?
Wash me clothes them (dem) (short reply exception)
Them (dem) love jerk chicken you see. (Patois)
They love jerk chicken, you see. (Standard J'can)
The cows (them) dem over deh need feeding. (Not Patois pluralisation)
'Em cows over there need feeding. (Ebonics)
The cows, they're over there. They need feeding. (Standard J'Can)
The mother them (dem) who not coming lemme know. (Patois pluralisation the mothers, those who aren't coming let me know )
'Em mothers who aint coming lemme know. (Ebonics)
Those mothers who aren't coming let me know. (Standard J'can)
They love jerk chicken, you see. (Standard J'can)
The cows (them) dem over deh need feeding. (Not Patois pluralisation)
'Em cows over there need feeding. (Ebonics)
The cows, they're over there. They need feeding. (Standard J'Can)
The mother them (dem) who not coming lemme know. (Patois pluralisation the mothers, those who aren't coming let me know )
'Em mothers who aint coming lemme know. (Ebonics)
Those mothers who aren't coming let me know. (Standard J'can)
by Tropical Rythms December 11, 2021
Get the Them (dem) mug.A type of loose fitting underwear just as the word suggests.
Shortening of a baggy underwear or a granny panty; any underwear.
Usage rural Jamaica
Shortening of a baggy underwear or a granny panty; any underwear.
Usage rural Jamaica
by Tropical Rythms December 11, 2021
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Similar to what's up, what's popping or what's happening used with friends in a casual setting.
Origin: from the two grapefruit soft drinks sold in Jamaica, Ting and Schweppes. The term ‘ting’ functions as a brand name and also a slang word meaning ‘thing’. Thus the phrase “you know the ting/schewppes” means “you know how things are/you know the situation”. Given the similarity between the two grapefruit drinks, “Ting” and “Schweppes” are used synonymously.
Similar to what's up, what's popping or what's happening used with friends in a casual setting.
Origin: from the two grapefruit soft drinks sold in Jamaica, Ting and Schweppes. The term ‘ting’ functions as a brand name and also a slang word meaning ‘thing’. Thus the phrase “you know the ting/schewppes” means “you know how things are/you know the situation”. Given the similarity between the two grapefruit drinks, “Ting” and “Schweppes” are used synonymously.
by Tropical Rythms August 8, 2020
Get the What's the scheweppes? mug.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
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.
You have fi call a bit earlier.
Also has/have + fi become haffi in fast spoken speech.
You haffi tell the truth.
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