Slang consists of a lexicon of non-standard words and phrases in a given language. Slang evolves from generation to generation with a lexicon of new words popping up every year.
A dat wid you That’s how you are – used to comment on someone’s (bad) habits
A mi fi tell yu! That’s right – used to show agreement with something you’ve been told
A who you man? What are you up to? (literally means “who are you really?”)
A so di ting set That’s the way it is, that’s the situation
A yasso nice! Expression used when one is having a good time (originates from an extremely X-rated song of the same name)
Bad chargie Young guy on the streets
Bait up Set someone up for a downfall/ Cause disappointment or embarrassment (Yu a bait up di ting)
Beat dem bad Surpass, be better than anyone or anything else
Ben Upset, angry
Big man ting Grown up business/Honestly
Big tings Good things/Monetary success
Bill Chill, take it easy
Breathe easy Relax, calm down
Bush Look awful
Cheddar Money
Crawb up Looking good, something good
Crawny Look awful
Creng Muscular, buff
Daadie A term of address, used usually by males talking to each other (see “Paadie” below)
Dat shot That’s fantastic (used to describe something fabulous)
Deh pon a endz Gone out (usually somewhere nice)
Do road Go on an outing
DWL Dead with laugh (used in texting). Equivalent to LOL
Do yu ting Go ahead (do your thing)
Drop out Die (Mi pops drop out – my father died)
Dun (see “shell dun”)
Dups/Doops Friend
Fish Male homosexual
Flassing Spending big – buying drinks by the flask etc
Fluffy Fat, plump
Frass Frazzled/Tipsy
Fulljoy/Funjoy Enjoy, enjoyment
Gaza Originally used to describe the Portmore community (hometown of DJ Vybz Kartel), or also used to describe Kartel’s crew. Now used as an expression of resilience and defiance, referring to individuals or groups who stand their ground, even if it requires using violence.
Gone Drunk/pregnant
Goodaz Hot, sexy woman or girl
Good-good Vagina (polite way of saying poom-poom)
Gyalis A guy who loves women/has many women
Happen Fabulous (e.g. Yu hairstyle a happen!)
Hataz Hot, sexy woman or girl
Heng up Stop talking, be quiet (literally, “Hang up”)
Hol’ a medz/medi Meditate, relax
Ig Vexed, upset (Don’t get mi ig)
Inna di morrows See you tomorrow
KMT Kiss mi teeth (used in texting)
Kwenga Star boy, someone full of style
Knock mi Call me/text me
Level Calm down, relax
Live a luu Spoil the plan
Loud up di ting Expose someone’s business
Luddy Lucky
Maad Awesome
Memba mi tell yu Listen up, take note
Mi a forward I’m coming
Militantly Taking action and not backing down
More life more strength A phrase used to wish someone well
Mosquito net Female private parts
Naah mean? Do you know what I mean?
One more time A term used to indicate the extreme, for example “if I laugh one more time” would mean that something is hilarious. “If him cute one more time” would mean that the guy couldn’t be any cuter.
Paadie A term of address, used usually by males talking to each other (see “Daadie” above)
Pree Think about, examine, consider carefully
Puppy Penis
Puppy Tail A dance move, inspired by a type of skirt of the same name.
QUENG DEM –
Run road To be in charge (A we run road)
Russian A real bad guy
Scabby Someone who does not take care of himself, does not have good hygiene
Screbe/screbs An uncultured person
Seh one Great, wonderful, fantastic
Sell off Expression of approval (Di party sell off)
Shell dun/shell dung Do something fantastic, take by storm. (Di DJ shell dun di place.) Derived from gun jargon – to shell down is literally to shoot down.
Shelly Adjective derived from Shell dung (see above), meaning awesome. (Di concert did shelly)
Sick Awesome (Da tune deh sick!)
Slap weh Awesome (Di dance a go slap weh!)
Sort out Fix up, usually related to sex life (but anything can need sorting out – hair, clothes, complexion, finances)
Squeako A streetwise person, someone to be careful of, as he is tricky
Stinga A guy that the girls love
Stulla Lover (male), sexually competent male, hot guy
Tek Fabulous (It tek!)
To di worl Expression of approval
Tun up/Tun ova Wonderful, great
Up up Awesome
Warm Unattractive
Waste man Useless person
Yu done know You understand
Zeen? You understand me?(whereas “Oh, zeen” means “oh, yes”)
