#jamaican dialect

[the-sweet-life-ja]

Di thing weh dawg see an bark whole night, goat see an shut im mouth!

Jamaican Proverb | Translation: What a dog sees and barks at all night, it is the same thing a goat sees and shut its mouth.

Meaning: The dog might be barking at a mere shadow, but the goat, being prudent, is not easily agitated and will therefore remain calm and unruffled by the minor issue. Similarly, such persons who create a sensation over inconsequential issues, who readily give false alarms or make an issue out of a case which would be better ignored.  

[the-sweet-life-ja]

Black Woman, yuh value more than gold. Enjoy yourself but don't lose control. Don't make dem tek yuh for no piece a meat, look how yuh sweet! Tell dem certain things yuh just nah go dweet

Queen Ifrica, “Black Woman” (2016)

[the-sweet-life-ja]

No matter how high jankrow fly, ‘im affi come a grung fi nyam!

Jamaican Proverb | Translation: No matter how high a crow flies, he has to come down to the ground to eat.

Explanation: Regardless of how great one becomes, one’s greatness must be tempered with humility in order to maintain prosperity.

[the-sweet-life-ja]

Rass

Granny did sey RASS is a very powerful word. Never you forget a word as important as RASS and its many RASS uses!

1. RASS is a good way to finish a sentence that lacks excitement:

“... tekki back to RASS!”

“... gimme back it RASS!”

2. RASS can be used in biology:

“Look pan di gal RASS!”

3. It can be used as a warning of future troubles: 

“.... cover yu RASS!”

4. It can ward off unwanted sexual advances:

“...me nah gi yu me numba yu ugly RASS!”

“Move yu RASS from me, RASS!”

5. It can describe extreme pain:

“It hot nuh RASS!”

“Mi granny gi me some RASS lick!”

6. It can describe size: 

“Yuh foot dem big nuh RASS!”

“Him have a RASS mouth deh!”

7. As you can see RASS is an all-purpose Jamaican word. You can use it as often as yu RASS feel!

Greeting ...... How de RASS yu do?

Fraud ......... Yu too RASS tief!

Dismay ........  RASS!

Trouble ....... Oh RASS!

Aggression .... Watch yu RASS self!

Disgust ....... Cho RASS!

Confusion ..... Wha di RASS a gwaan yah suh!

Incompetence .. A wha di RASS yu a do .... RASS-idiot!

Lost .......... Weh di RASS we deh!

Pleasure ...... it nice nuh RASS!

Retaliation ... Yu RASS-claat...

And of course .... kiss mi RASS!

Me done to RASS!!

NOW ..... Stop waste time pon di Internet and go do di people dem RASS   work!!

[the-sweet-life-ja]

Dawg wake a mawnin an’ seh ‘im prayer an’ seh teday eider blow or bone.

Jamaican Proverb | Translation: A dog awakens in the mornings and says its prayer and says, “Today either blows or bones”.

Explanation: The above is a declaration of absolute dependence on providence or resignation to any fate, whether the speaker is referring to himself or someone else.

[the-sweet-life-ja]

Mawga dawg shake 'im tail according to 'im size.

Jamaican Proverb | Translation: A meager dog shakes its tail according to its size. Explanation: One should behave in a manner befitting one’s status.

[the-sweet-life-ja]

Nuh buy puss inna bag!

Jamaican Proverb || Translation: Do not purchase a pussycat in a bag. Explanation: Examine carefully whatever you purchase or accept from someone else. In matters of the head and heart, do not be quick to accept a person as the "genuine article" without a thorough investigation.

[the-sweet-life-ja]

Wen coco ripe, im mus buss!!

Jamaican Proverb || Translation: When the cocoa (cacao) ripens, it bursts. Explanation: It is easy to identify the intentions of an individual by his/her actions.