List of Trinidadian English terms

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Although the official language of Trinidad and Tobago is English, the most commonly spoken languages are Trinidadian Creole English and Tobagonian Creole English. Trinidadian usage includes a large number of local words and expressions. Many of these have non-English origins - these derive primarily from French and French Creole, Spanish, various West African languages, and Bhojpuri. Trinidadian speech is characterised by dropped final consonants and a lack of pluralisation. There is no standard orthography for the written language, which moreover highlights the importance and relevance of a glossarial listing as this; written forms which attempt to capture the sound of the language, though, tend to converge. Indeed, the following glossary is an attempt to glean some insight into the priorities, biases, diet, and pre-occupations of Trinidad and Tobago culture by examining the linguistic, historical, cultural and sociological aspects of its language.

Contents

[edit] Words and phrases

[edit] A-B

  • A!- an exclamatory statement, usu. in the context of surprise or disbelief. E.g. "Well, excuse me!" would be stated as "But, A A!".
  • Ay or Aye - means either hey, hi, or you.
  • Allyuh - you all.
  • Babaash - bootleg rum, i.e., moonshine made from fruits.
  • Bacchanal - commotion, a wild party, a fight between neighbours, family or friends. E.g. The wedding reception was 'real' bacchanal cause of the difference in religions between the bride and groom.
  • Badjohn/Baa-John - a bully, or a macho man.
  • Bamsee - buttocks (also: bumsie, or bumsey).
  • Bazodee - light-headed or in shock [from Fr. abasourdir - to daze]. Can also be used to describe the feeling after meeting someone attractive (esp. a male seeing/meeting an attractive female).
  • Baigan - eggplant [from Bhojpuri or Hindi]
  • Bap - father [from Bhojpuri or Hindi]
  • Barra - a deep fried saffron coloured bread (see doubles) [from Hindi]
  • Beta - son [from Bhojpuri or Hindi]
  • Beti - daughter [from Bhojpuri or Hindi]
  • BeeWee - BWIA West Indies Airways, the former national airline of Trinidad and Tobago. The acronym for British West Indian Airlines is often colloquially referred to as Better Wait In Airport, Big Wait In Airport, Better Walk If Able, But Will It Arrive, Bankrupt West Indian Airlines, etc.
  • Bhaji - Various green leafy vegetables (especially amaranth or dasheen).
  • Bhandanya - Eryngium foetidum, an aromatic herb used as a spice (also known as Shado beni or Chadon benit). [from Bhojpuri or Hindi]
  • Blues - an adult movie ["blue movie" - http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-blu2.htm] or a hundred dollar note in local currency.
  • Bobbol - illegal activity, usu. in the context of corporate criminality, white-collar crime or political corruption.
  • Bobolee - a figure of Judas beaten at easter or a stupid person
  • Bodi - pole beans [from Bhojpuri or Hindi]
  • Bol' face - a brazen or demanding person, a person who speaks or acts using indiscretion.
  • Booboolups - overweight or out of shape. Can also be used to romantically or sarcastically describe affection for an overweight female.
  • Bois - (pronounced "Boowah") 1. A long and very flexible stick, which is almost whip like. Similar to bamboo but different. Used for harming others. 2. Also can mean to beat someone badly, i.e. "Move yuh ass nah boy, or I'll give yuh bois!" - Derived from Kalinda (African stickfighting).
  • Bone - to have sexual intercourse. May also refer to the male genitals. (Contrast though with the phrase "Trini to de Bone!" and the North American word "boner").
  • Bonx - to hit or slam. Also used to indicate a type of greeting where the participants (usu. male) gently touch each other's closed fists.
  • Boof - to rough someone up or insult them or to scold someone. Can also be used to refer to the person who was roughed up or insulted (derived from "buff"). E.g. Sarah boofed Brian for leaving without her. Brian 'get' boof up for leaving without Sarah.
  • Break - to ejaculate (verb) or can be used to describe the ejaculate itself (noun), usu. only refers to male ejaculate/ion. (Contrast with Break Biche).
  • Break Biche - to leave or shirk one's duties in favour of liming, usu. in the context of secondary school or work. E.g. Brian & Ricardo break biche to go to the Arcade.
  • Bredda - brother
  • Breds - brethren
  • Brip / Brips - (now rare) A term coined by the late Dunstan E. Williams, used to show a sudden or forceful action. Eg. "Ah had was celebratin' meh party vic'tree and ah trip and brip, fall een a pothole."
  • Broughtupcy - manners, upbringing.
  • Bull - to have sex (whether heterosexual or homosexual in nature).
  • Buller - one who bulls, but usually in the context of, or suggesting, a homosexual act (see Bullerman) (derogatory).
  • Bullerman - one who engages in homosexual activity (phonetically, 'bull-a-man') (derogatory).
  • Bumsee - buttocks (also: bumsie, or bumsey).

[edit] C-D

  • Check - to go and visit someone, or to otherwise 'look them up'. Can also refer to a male dating (or prospectively dating) a female.
  • Chenet - The fruit of Melicoccus bijugatus tropical American tree having small fragrant greenish-white flowers and small fruits with a green leathery rind and a juicy yellowish translucent pulp.
  • Chile - child (pron. "ch-isle").
  • Chindian- a person of indian and chinese descent.half indian half chinese.
  • Chinidougla-a person of chinese,indian and african descent.
  • Chinee-chinese.e.g "chinee food,chinee people"
  • Chinkey/choonkey - small, usu. used to describe portions of food or the size of fruit, vegetables and like foodstuff. Derogatorily used to describe the eyes of persons of East Asian descent (i.e. chinkey eyes).
  • Chip - a walking shuffle step done to slower soca tunes.
  • Chook - to pierce (or jook), usu. in reference to needles. Can also refer to dancing which involves the thrusting of one's hips forward sharply into the rear of another. May also refer to sexual intercourse. E.g. Riad took a little chook from the girl.
  • Coskel - overdressed; also cosquelle.
  • Chune - tune.
  • Commesse- confusion or controversy [from French].
  • Congo Pepper - a variety of Capsicum pepper.
  • Corbeau : (literally, crow)Black Vulture
  • Crapaud : Bufo marinus, a large toad
  • Cratchy cocoa - Scratching of the male genitals ("cocoa" is a slang term which refers to the penis).
  • Cunumunu - a stupid naive person, or a really shy person
  • Cut a night - spend a night away from your home, e.g. "I hear Lesmond went by he girl place, fell sleep and cut a night; he ga get planass for dat!"
  • Cyah - Can't.
  • Dingolay - dance wildly.
  • Doubles - loosely, a sandwich of sorts, made with a fried saffron coloured dough and curried chick pea filling. There is no singular form of the word.
  • Dahlin - darling (pron. dah-lin). Usually used as a 'pick up' line by men, e.g. "Aye dahlin come here nah?".
  • Dal - ground up split peas [from Bhojpuri or Hindi] (alt. spelling, Dhal).
  • Dalpuri - a type of roti with ground up split peas inside [from Bhojpuri or Hindi]
  • Dey - there, or them.
  • Dhoti - the traditional white clothing of an Indian man [from Bhojpuri or Hindi]
  • Doolahin - wife or bride [from Bhojpuri or Hindi], or may also be used to describe affection or in courting a woman.
  • Dougla - a person of mixed Afro-Trinidadian and Indo-Trinidadian heritage, more recently this term is used to refer to anyone of mixed (interracial) parentage. [from Bhojpuri or Hindi]
  • Dotish - (doltish) stupid.
  • Doux doux - sweet, a term of endearment, esp. in the context of romantic love, or caring for a baby or small child. E.g. Leanna doux douxed the crying baby in her arms until it fell asleep.
  • dread-the equivalent of what americans say as "cool".e.g."dat movie wuz dread" or "dreadness!!!"
  • Dress 'round' - means to move over.

[edit] E-F

  • Eh Eh - an expression indicating one's disapproval
  • Eh Heh - translates to "is that so"
  • Ent? - "isn't that so?" , "right?" (used at the end of a sentence for emphasis; is similar to Spanish "¿no?"). Also used like the Americanism, "ain't"
  • Falcon or Fallon - getting into other peoples business, a maco, nosy, prying.
  • False Ripe - term used to describe fruit or vegetables which give the appearance of 'ripe-ness', but which are in fact, 'green' or otherwise unripe. Also used to describe a girl who is under-age or too young to "bull". Can also be used to describe a girl who does not act her age, or otherwise tries to 'act/look adult'.
  • Fas - nosy
  • Fête - a party, usually the parties around Carnival time are referred to as fêtes.
  • Flambeau - a lighted torch
  • Flim - film
  • Frontish - a bold demanding person, someone who loves attention or being in the middle of things.

[edit] G-H

  • Geeh Dem - means to give someone something i.e., an object or a verbal assault
  • Giddy - dizzy. Although giddy is a perfectly acceptable English word, it is used more often than dizzy.
  • Gobar - [from Hindi] talking nonsense also refers to faeces particularly of cattle
  • Gramoxone - trade name for paraquat dichloride, a weed killer, commonly used to commit suicide. Any poison ingested will still be called gramoxone, whether or not it was actually gramoxone. A very popular choice. E.g., "Yuh hear? She drink gramoxone and dead!" Sometimes called "Indian Champagne/Tonic/Wine" since at one time it was usually only persons of Indian descent that used this as the method of choice to commit suicide.
  • Horn - to cheat on someone, to be unfaithful (unknown derivation: Horny)
  • Hornerman - refers to the man with whom a married woman is having an affair with. Can also be used in other relationship scenarios e.g. boyfriend/girlfriend.
  • Hornerwoman - refers to the woman with whom a married man is having an affair with. Otherwise known as mistress.

[edit] I-J

  • Impse- imbasille or chupid. E.g, them panty man down de road is real impse."
  • Jahji bundle - A big bag containing one's personal items. E.g., "Dis one always walk wid she jahji bundle everyway she go."
  • Jahaji bhai-(hindi for brotherhood of the boat)close friend brother or sister,
  • Jagabat - woman of ill repute (specifically, a female prostitute) (also: jammet).
  • Jammet/Jammette (Djamet) - a woman of questionable morals or a woman who adopts a rather abrasive and aggressive form of communication with the public.
  • Jhanjat - a big fight, trouble or confusion.
  • Jock - to masturbate, especially male masturbation (a slang term, but not ordinarily considered derogatory or rude). Contrast with traditional North American definition of "Jock".
  • Joe harrylalsingh son- usually referring to the skills or traits of an "ordinary" or "normal" person (admittedly the phrase may have some racist stereotypes or underpinnings associated with it). e.g. Any Joe Harrylalsingh son could do that.
  • Jumbie - a ghostly spirit, or to scare/confuse someone. The terms Jumbie and Mocko Jumbie are derived from African folklore and legend. (Also: Jombie, Jumby, and Mocko Jumbie).

[edit] K-L

  • Khurma - a traditional Indian sweet that is deep fried and coated with sugar [from Bhojpuri or Hindi].
  • Kilkeedey - to fall awkwardly or how you look on the floor after falling awkwardly, usually with arms flailed in some odd sort of fashion. Eg. "When de defenda' tackle him, Roger fall down kilkeedey on de ground".
  • Kuchela - a hot mango condiment [from Bhojpuri or Hindi].
  • Lagniappe - bonus.
  • Lix or Licks - to beat or be beaten (e.g. "The naughty child received lix"). Another example would be, "The home cricket team got some good licks from the visiting side". Compare this usage of "licks" to "lick-up".
  • Lick-up - to smash or annihilate someone or something (also: lick-down). Can also be used to indicate consumption or completion of food or drink, usu. in a greedy or hurried manner. E.g. We lick-up the KFC before we went to the party.
  • Lime/Liming - a party or any get-together/to hang out, or (more recently) to date someone.
  • Locho -(pronounced low-cho) a person who "mooches" off of someone else.

[edit] M-N

  • Macafouchette - left over food [from Fr. ma ca fourchette - food stuck between the fork]
  • Maco - a nosy person/peeping Tom (also: Macco, Macocious, Macomere, any-west-Indian), or the act of being nosy
  • Maljo - evil eye [from Fr. mal yeux - bad eyes]
  • Malkadee - convulse
  • Mamaguy - to bamboozle someone [from Spanish 'mamar gallo']; also to tease
  • Mamoo - A maternal uncle.
  • Manicou - An one of five species of opossum, most commonly Didelphis marsupialis
  • Mas - Carnival costume or group of costumes under one theme, play mas- to partake in Carnival, i.e.- "wearin yuh mas" or "playin yuh mas". Can also be used to refer to general confusion or chaos or crowding, very much akin to the term "mass confusion".
  • Mauvais langue - to malign.
  • Mook - a person who is shy, or socially awkward. (also: Mooksie).
  • Muddah - mother. It can also be used to refer to murder if spoken crudely enough. Contrast - "Where yuh muddah dey?" (Where is your mother) vs. "De' man get muddahed de' udder day" (The man was murdered the other day).
  • Nah - no.
  • Nancy story - lies, usually as an excuse
  • Neemakharam - ingrate, especially in a political context[from Hindi expressing ungratefullness]

[edit] O-P

  • Oh Geed! - an expression used when someone hears or see something that is deemed to be gross
  • Ol' ho - a promiscuous older woman.
  • Obeah - black magic
  • Obzokie - awkward, out of place usu. in a derogatory manner.
  • Panty Man - used to describe someone who is "soft" (a mama's boy) or otherwise not macho. Also used to describe a male homosexual. It is not used to describe men who chase after women (and their 'panties').
  • Pholourie - deep fried flour balls
  • Piggy - colloquial term for the male penis. Not usually derogatory, more often used in a light-hearted or comical sense. E.g. Navin played with his piggy when he was a little boy.
  • Planass - to hit someone with the flat side of a cutlass, or strike them with an object
  • Pommerac - Syzygium malaccense or Otaheite apple, a pear shaped fruit become bright red when ripe, also know as the Malay apple or Wax Jamboo; from French pomme Malac (Maylasian Apple)
  • Pommecythere - Spondias cytherea or Golden apple, a fruit with a green skin, which when ripe turns to a gold colour.
  • Pot Hound - Usually refers stray dog that probably is not of a specific breed or a dog that eats anything off the street (also: Pot Hong). May also refer to a person of mixed ethnic background. (This is a racially offensive use of the term)
  • Preshaah! - pressure, to feel pressure due to a situation one is in
  • Pull Bull - To operate an unlicensed taxi, using your private car as a taxi in order to earn extra money. To operate a licensed taxi without a taxi-driver's license. Also referred to as doing 'PH'. May also refer to male masturbation.
  • Pupps - flatulence (noun or verb) (also: pups, poops, pops, popsie, or poopsie). (pron. "puh-ps"). Pupps-ing is the verb, when pupps is used as a noun.

[edit] Q-R

  • Ratch - to fake, distort or manipulate, usually in the context of work projects or school assignments. (Also ratchifee, ratchiffe, ratchife). Also to improvise, usually in makeshift way
  • Raaff - To snatch something. To steal in a boldface manner

[edit] S-T

  • Saga Boy - term used to sarcastically describe a male (usu. of Indian descent) who tries to act or appear macho; also a ladies' man, although in a joking manner (pron. "Sag-ah Boy").
  • Sahina - Deep fried dhal with either spinach, pakchoi (bok choy), or dasheen [from Bhojpuri or Hindi]
  • Shinks - An amount, usually small, of anything. A "Small Shinks" is a tiny bit. e.g. "Take a small shinks on the water." (Take a tiny bit of water).
  • Scene?- What's up? "Wuz d scene?" e.g. "Ai Boy! Scene?"
  • Sometimeish - Describes a moody or unpredictable person.
  • Soucouyant - A female thought to be a vampire, who sheds her skin and flies in the night sky as a ball of fire. This term is also used to describe an evil woman.
  • Sket - female prostitute or one who 'acts' like one (also: skettel or skettel).
  • Smart Man - a person, usually male, who is cunning or deceptive, usu. in the context of white collar criminality, corruption or political scandal. It is sometimes used to describe a male who is, otherwise, actually intelligent (e.g. so you ah doctor eh? You is a smart man), but often in a slightly sarcastic or bitter tone.
  • Steups - the act of sucking air past one's teeth, creating a sound of disapproval (also: steupse, chups, cheeups)
  • Suit - the act of sucking air past one's lips (which are puckered, as if one is about to kiss) and creating a loud smacking or kissing sound (almost exclusively done by males to females, or males to another male sarcastically). Also known as a 'cat call' in other parts of the world. Considered by women to either be a compliment (usu. younger women/girls) or highly disrespectful (usu. professional or educated women). Likely derived from the term "suitor". Also suiting and soot.
  • Tabanca - a love sick state. Describes how someone feels after being cheated on by their loved one. Can also describe unrequited love. (Taban-truck is the more severe form of Taban-car).
  • Tatu - Nine-banded Armadillo.
  • Teef - noun or verb; thief or to steal. E.g. The child teef the biscuit from the jar.
  • Tanty - aunt, also a term for any woman older than oneself.
  • Throw Waist - to dance, specifically to "wine".
  • Tobago love : the act of beating one's partner as an expression of love for them.
  • Too too - feces of any kind (usu. in reference to feces of a baby or small child). (also: toots, or tootsie).
  • Tootoolbay - in a confused state or in a daze because of love. [from Fr. totalement bête - completely stupid]. Similar to Bazodee. E.g. Richie was tootoolbay after he met the girl in the fete.
  • Toe Jam - odorific feet, usu. caused by fungal or bacterial infection.
  • Trini to de Bone! - pride in oneself for being a Trinidadian. Also refered to as, by themselves, people who are NOT Trinidadians but are descendants from Trinidadians and wants to be and tries to act like Trinidadians (E.g. Canadians with Trinidadian parents). Contrast this with the definition of "Bone". Interestingly, the phrase "trini to de' bone" is not intended to refer to the male genitals but rather to "bone" in the more traditional, anatomical sense.
  • Torchlight- a flashlight.

[edit] U-V

  • Vaps - a sudden urge or insight to do something unexpectedly. E.g. "Yuh ketch a vaps, or what?" (Contrast with the word "vapid").
  • Vikey vike - to act with irresponsibility, or to act without concern for others. Eg. "De country in turmoil because of vikey vike decision-making." E.g. "My wife acting vikey vike. Every time my back turn she out de door limin' with she friends."

[edit] W-X

  • Wabine - a loose woman suggestive of a prostitute. Can also refer to small fish you catch in a ravine, or similar fresh water source.
  • Wajang - a woman who is involved with more than one man in the same day
  • Wuz de scene? - A casual greeting equivalent to what's happening
  • Wham now? - Greeting equivalent to "what's happening now". E.g. "Aye Reeza, wham now?".
  • Whappen? - What happened?
  • Wine - a seductive form of dance involving circular or semi-circular movement of the hips especially. Can be done alone, with a partner, or many partners. E.g. "Javed was wining in the party on several women".
  • Way- where, e.g. "way yuh dey?" means "where are you?"
  • Woi Woi- Yeah!! used for supporting someone or something e.g." Woi Woi Reshma!!!" or just "Woi Woi!"

[edit] Y-Z

  • Yampee - the mucus that surrounds one's eye in the morning
  • Yuh - you
  • Zog - a bad haircut, usually referring to a male's haircut which is too short, uneven or which will otherwise require time to "grow out".

[edit] References

  • Allsopp, Jeannette. 2003. The Multilingual Caribbean Dictionary of Flora, Fauna and Foods in English, French, French Creole and Spanish. Kingston: Arawak Press.
  • Allsopp, Richard. 1996. Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage, with a French and Spanish Supplement. Oxford: O.U.P.
  • Mendes, John. 2003. Cote Ci, Cote La - Trinidad & Tobago Dictionary. 2nd edition. Port-of-Spain: Medianet.
  • Ottley, C.R. 1971. Creole Talk (Trinibagianese) of Trinidad and Tobago: Words, Phrases, and Sayings Peculiar to the Country. Diego Martin: the Author.
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