Jamaican Useful Phrases

Although plain old English (also the official language) will do nicely, the very fact that Jamaican Patois (pronounced Pat-wa) is so close to English makes it irresitstable to learn enough for a bit of everyday use.
It will let you look at English from a wildly new perspective (and you will sound VERY EXOTIC!).

It is a combination of English, Spanish, Portuguese and African and spoken with Romance accents in the musical rhythm of Jamaican.

There are many websites dedicated to Patios on the web – they will introduce you to the idioms, the pronouns (I is now mi and me becomes I) and the Rasta culture.

Hello there ello dere
Catch you Later Ketch yuh Layta
How is it going? Whey yuh a sey
What is you name? Whey yuh name?
How old are you? Ow ole yuh is?
My Friend Mi Fren
Little Likkle
Ask Ax
Eat Nyam
Boy Bwoy
Girl Gal
Mother Mada
Father Fada

17 May 2008