Useful phrases in Jamaican

A collection of useful phrases in Jamaican, an English-based creole with influences from languages of West and Central Africa spoken mainly in Jamaica.

Note: there is no standard way of spelling Jamaican, and there are different ways of writing many words.

Jump to phrases

See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.

Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).

Phrase Jimiekn / Patwah (Jamaican)
Welcome Welcome
Hello (General greeting) Ello
Hail up
Waa gwaan? (What's going on?)
Gud day
Hello (on phone)
How are you? Waa gwaan? (What's going on?)
Wat a guh dung? (What's going down?)
Weh yuh a seh? (What are you saying?)
How yuh stay? (How's your status?)
Howdeedo? (How do you do?)
How yu feeling?
Reply to 'How are you?' Everyting criss
Everyting cook an curry
All fruits ripe
Mi deh yah, everyting criss
Everyting cris n curri
Mi irie
Long time no see A long time mi nuh si yuh
What's your name? Wah yuh name?
My name is ... Mi name ...
Where are you from? Frah wha pawt yuh deh?
I'm from ... Mi deh ...
Pleased to meet you Nice fi meet yuh
Good morning
(Morning greeting)
Gud mawnin
Good afternoon
(Afternoon greeting)
Good evening
(Evening greeting)
Gud evening
Gud evenling
Good night Gud nite
Goodbye
(Parting phrases)
Mi gaan (I'm gone)
Likkle more
Likkle more den
Inna di morrows (In the tomorrows)
Walk good
Good luck! Gud luck
Cheers! Good Health!
(Toasts used when drinking)
Have a nice day
Bon appetit /
Have a nice meal
Bon voyage /
Have a good journey
Yes Yes
Yah
Yeh
No No
Maybe
I don't know Mi nuh nuo
I understand Zeen
Mi undastan
Mi ovastaan
I don't understand Mi nuh undastand
Please speak more slowly
Please say that again
Please write it down
Do you speak English? Do yuh speak english?
Do you speak Jamaican? Do yuh speak Patwah?
Yuh know how fi chat Patwah?
Yes, a little
(reply to 'Do you speak ...?')
Speak to me in Jamaican
How do you say ... in Jamaican?
Excuse me Jus a word
Beg yuh pass (Can I pass?)
How much is this? Oomuch fi dis?
Sorry Hush
Please A beg yuh
Thank you Tanks
Thenk yuh
Reply to thank you
Where's the toilet / bathroom? Weh ah de bawtroom?
This gentleman will pay for everything
This lady will pay for everything
Would you like to dance with me?
Do you come here often?
I miss you Mi miss yuh
I love you Mi luv yuh
Get well soon
Go away! Gweh!
Leave me alone! Galang!
Help! Help!
Fire! Fiah!
Stop! Stop!
Call the police! Call di police!
Christmas greetings Merri crissmuss
New Year greetings Appy new year
Easter greetings Happy easta
Birthday greetings Happy earthstrong
Happy birthday
One language is never enough One language neva enuff
My hovercraft is full of eels

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