40 Jamaican Patois Phrases and What They Mean (Wah Gwaan to Walk Good)
2026-07-14
Jamaican Patois (also called Patwa or Jamaican Creole) is a full language spoken by millions of people in Jamaica and across the diaspora. It grew out of contact between English and West African languages in the 17th century, which is why it sounds familiar to English speakers but follows its own grammar and rhythm.
If you just want to convert a sentence right now, our Jamaican Patois Translator (linked below) works both ways — English to Patois and back. If you want to actually understand what you're saying, read on.
Everyday greetings
These are the greetings you'll hear most, from the world-famous opener to the warm way Jamaicans say goodbye:
- Wah gwaan? — What's going on? / How are you? The most famous Patois greeting.
- Mi deh yah — I'm here / I'm doing fine. The standard reply to 'wah gwaan'.
- Everyting criss — Everything is great ('criss' comes from 'crisp').
- Wah yuh a seh? — What are you saying? / How are you doing?
- Likkle more — See you later (literally 'little more').
- Walk good — Goodbye, travel safely. A warm way to part.
Words you'll hear constantly
A starter vocabulary of the words that carry most everyday Patois conversation:
- Irie — good, pleasant, everything is alright.
- Nyam — to eat. From Akan and other West African languages.
- Pickney — child.
- Likkle — little.
- Ting — thing.
- Bredren / sistren — close male / female friend.
- Unu — you (plural), similar to 'y'all'. A direct West African retention.
- Vex — angry or annoyed.
- Facety — rude, out of line.
- Labrish — gossip, idle chat.
- Duppy — ghost or spirit.
- Big up — to show respect or give a shout-out.
- Soon come — I'll be there shortly (famously flexible about how soon).
How Patois grammar actually works
Patois isn't 'broken English' — it has consistent rules of its own. Five patterns unlock most sentences:
- 'Mi' covers I, me, and my: 'Mi hungry' = I'm hungry; 'a fi mi book' = it's my book.
- 'A' marks ongoing action: 'Mi a nyam' = I am eating.
- 'Deh' marks location: 'Im deh a yaad' = he/she is at home.
- No -s for plurals — use 'dem': 'di book dem' = the books.
- 'Cyaan' = can't, 'nuh' = don't/not: 'Mi cyaan believe it' = I can't believe it.
| English | Patois |
|---|---|
| What's up? | Wah gwaan? |
| I'm fine | Mi deh yah |
| Come here | Come yah |
| I don't know | Mi nuh know |
| The children are eating | Di pickney dem a nyam |
| Everything is good | Everyting irie |
| See you later | Likkle more |
Frequently asked questions
- Is Jamaican Patois a real language?
- Yes. Linguists classify it as an English-based creole with West African substrate influence. It has its own grammar, phonology, and a growing written standard (the Cassidy-JLU writing system).
- Is Patois the same as Jamaican English?
- No. Jamaica's official language is Jamaican Standard English; Patois is the everyday spoken language. Most Jamaicans move between the two depending on context — a practice called code-switching.
- How do I translate English to Patois?
- Use our free English to Patois translator — type your sentence and it converts common words and phrases instantly, entirely in your browser.
- How is 'wah gwaan' pronounced?
- 'Wah' rhymes with 'spa' and 'gwaan' is one syllable — 'gwahn'. Stress falls evenly on both words.