List of African words in Jamaican Patois

The List of African words in Jamaican Patois notes down as many loan words in Jamaican Patois that can be traced back to specific African languages. Most of these African words have arrived in Jamaica through the African slaves that were transported there in the era of the Atlantic slave trade.

Contents

Akan language

anansi
"spider", also from Ewe[1]
adru
a medicinal herb[2]
dopi, dupi
"ghost"[3]
doti
"ground"[4]
fufu
type of food, also from Ewe and Yoruba[1]
cocobay
from kokobé, "leprosy"[1][5]
kongkos
"gossip"[1]
mumu
"dumb", "stupid", also from Ewe and Mende[1][6]
nana
"grandparent"[7]
odum
a kind of tree[8]
poto-poto
"mud", "muddy", also from Igbo,[1] Kongo and Yoruba[9]
se
"quote follows", also from Igbo sị and English say.[10]

Efik language

buckra
from mbakára, "white man"[1][11]

Ewe language

akara
type of food, also from Igbo and Yoruba[1]
anansi
"spider", also from Akan[1]
fufu
type of food, also from Twi and Yoruba[1]
mumu
"dumb", also from Akan and Mende[1]

Fula language

juk
from "Jukka", "poke", "spur"[12][13]

Igbo language

akara
from àkàrà, type of food, also from Ewe and Yoruba[14]
attoo
from átú, "chewing stick"[15]
awo, awoh
from ewo, ewoh, an expression.
big-eye
via Gullah "big eye" from Igbo "anya ukwu", "greedy"[16][17][18]
country Ibo
from Ibo, Igbo, Pluchea odorata[19]
de, deh
from dị, "is"[20][21]
himba
from mba, "yam root", a type of yam, Rajania cordata[2][22]
obeah
from ọbiạ, "doctoring", "mysticism"[23]
okra
from ọkwurụ, a vegetable[1]
poto-poto
"mud", "muddy", also from Akan[1]
red Ibo, Eboe
from Igbo, a person with a light skin colour and African features[24]
se
from sị, "quote follows", also from Akan se and English say[10]
soso
"only", also from Yoruba(?)[1][25]
unu
from únù, "you (plural)"[26]

Kongo language

dingki
funeral ceremony[2]
djumbi
"ghost"[1]
pinda
"peanut"[1]
poto-poto
"mud", "muddy", also from Akan, Igbo[1] and Yoruba[9]

Mende language

mumu
"dumb", also from Ewe and Akan[1][6]

Wolof language

njam, nyam
"eat"[1][27]

Yoruba language

akara
type of food, also from Ewe and Igbo[1]
fufu
type of food, also from Akan and Ewe[1]
poto-poto
"mud", "muddy", also from Akan, Igbo[1] and Kongo[9]
soso
"only", also from Igbo[1][25]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w McWhorter (2000:77)
  2. ^ a b c Graddol, Leith & Swann (1996:210)
  3. ^ Bartens (2003:145)
  4. ^ Institute of Jamaica (2000:42)
  5. ^ Cassidy (2002:112)
  6. ^ a b Mittelsdorf (1978:34)
  7. ^ Cassidy (2002:315)
  8. ^ Cassidy (2002:328)
  9. ^ a b c Bartens (2003:163)
  10. ^ a b Menz (2008:12)
  11. ^ Cassidy (2002:18)
  12. ^ Cassidy (2002:153)
  13. ^ Watson (1991:10)
  14. ^ Cassidy (2002:4)
  15. ^ Cassidy (2002:14)
  16. ^ Cassidy (2002:41)
  17. ^ Holloway (2005:94)
  18. ^ Bartens (2003:150)
  19. ^ Cassidy (2002:124)
  20. ^ McWhorter (2000:128)
  21. ^ Rickford, Romain & Sato (1999:137)
  22. ^ Lewis (1996:24)
  23. ^ Eltis (1997:88)
  24. ^ Cassidy (2002:378)
  25. ^ a b Huber & Parkvall (1999:47)
  26. ^ Cassidy (2002:457)
  27. ^ Sheller (2003:219)

Bibliography