Them (dem)
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)
Them (dem) by Tropical Rythms December 11, 2021
Get the Them (dem) mug.