Greet someoneTry this phrase
Wah gwaan?
What's going on? / How are you?
A casual greeting for people you know. Tone makes it warm and easygoing.
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Wah gwaanIrieNyamTallawahSoon comeZeenWah gwaanIrieNyamTallawahSoon comeZeen
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Raatid!
An exclamation of surprise, shock, disbelief, or admiration—strength depends on tone.
Browse full dictionary →EnglishPatois
Natural translationWah yuh a do lata?
Word for word: What you are do later?
Note: “A” marks the ongoing action.
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Words yuh hear every day.
Learn the meaning, pronunciation, and context behind expressions you hear in conversation, music, and across the diaspora.
Greeting
Wah gwaan
What is going on? / How are you?
Food & drinkNyam
To eat or consume food.
Everyday talkSoon come
I will be there later; timing is flexible.
DescriptionTallawah
Strong, capable, or formidable despite size.
Irie
Good, peaceful, or in a positive state.
See examples and origin →Browse the language
Start with what you care about.
Explore the words through the parts of Jamaican life that make them meaningful.
Why RebelOne Patois
More than word-for-word.
Meaning lives in phrasing, tone, and situation. Every translation can teach you how the sentence is built.
Natural
Mi deh yah, everyting criss.
I’m here; everything is good.
Literal
I am here, everything is excellent.
The literal parts help learners see the grammar.
Context
A relaxed, positive response.
Often used when someone asks how you are doing.
Language lives here
Not just words. A whole way of seeing.
Go deeper into the histories, sounds, meals, and sayings carried inside the language.
Culture & history
Music
Food
Proverbs
How Jamaican Patois carries history forward
Trace the languages, migrations, and creativity that shaped everyday speech.
Read the story →MusicRiddim, selecta & dubplate
The vocabulary behind the sound-system session.
Learn the language →FoodNyam good
What Jamaican food words reveal about place and memory.
Open the guide →ProverbsOne one coco full basket.
Small steps add up. See the wisdom inside the saying.
Explore proverbs →Phrasebook
Learn it how you’ll use it.
Every phrase comes with its English meaning and a plain pronunciation guide.
Explore 8 phrases →Browse by category
Language lives in culture.
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Carry di culture.
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