Good Books About Trinidad Culture

Part 2:  Useful vocabulary for visitors...

Books about Trinidad are an exciting and interesting way to introduce yourself to Trinidad culture, particularly those that use local idioms. Another way is through our online Trinidad Dictionary.

When you visit Trinidad, the only language barriers you will encounter may be the accent, and the speed at which many Trinidadians speak English. The dictionary below focuses on common idioms of Trinidad speech, and is therefore especially useful to visitors and readers alike...

Jump directly to any of the following Trinidad Dictionary sections...
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 Acclaimed Trinidadian Author 

V. S. Naipaul is an international acclaimed Trinidadian author who has written several books about Trinidad. His book "A house for Mr. Biswas" offers insight into both Trinidad culture and local rhythms of speech.

One of V. S. Niapaul's first books about Trinidad, "Mystic Masseur" was made into a short film for British television, is based on a true story, and delves into the often humorous side of Trinidad culture, politics during the 1950s and life in southern Trinidad.

 Interesting Books About Trinidad 

Other good books about Trinidad or by Trinidad authors include: "The Lugahoo's Apprentice" by Rabindranath Maharaj; "Green days by the river" by Michael Anthony, about growing up in Mayaro; and "He drown she in the sea" by Shani Mootoo. All of which provide insight into how Trinidadians speak, and perhaps even think.

Discovering some of Trinidad's quirky vocabulary can be entertaining and provides an insightful window into Trinidad culture. There is a complete Trinidad Dictionary called "Cote ce Cote la" that makes a great souvenir and is available from most local bookstores. Or, if you prefer a more scholarly version, you can ask for the "Dictionary of the English/Creole of Trinidad and Tobago".

 Read About The First Trinidadians 

If books about Trinidad and Tobago are on your list as possible vacation souvenirs, and your looking for an interesting read, consider "Myths and Realities of Caribbean History", in which the author Dr. Basil Reid debunks many pre-conceived notions about native Caribbean people and the early history of the West Indies.

But you don't really need these books about Trinidad because...
Your adventure begins right here...

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Dame Lorraine
Costumed carnival character, died out by 1970s. Usually a male portrayal of a fashionable French lady with large bosoms and posterior, which was danced with vulgarity from Sunday night, Dimanche Gras, until dawn on Carnival Monday.

Dan Dan
Pretty clothes, Sunday best. Any sharp looking outfit.

Dasheen
A large verity of Taro root. An edible root vegetable. See Ground Provision.

Dasheen Bush
Taro root leaves, the basic ingredient for callaloo. Also, callaloo bush.

Dat Cyar Wok'
That can't work, that won't work, that's impossible.

De, Dat, Dem, Dis
The, that, them, this.

Deputy
Outside man or woman, extra marital partner.

Devil's Woodyard
One of several mud volcanoes in southern Trinidad.

Dhalpourie Roti
A flat East Indian bread or roti that is filled with spiced split peas.

Dimanche Gras (pronounced Dee-marsh-gra)
Trinidad's primer Carnival show held on Carnival Sunday (Fat Sunday), the night before Carnival, when finalists for the prestigious titles of King and Queen of Carnival, and Calypso Monarch compete on stage at the Queens Park Savanna.

Dingolay
1: To dance with joyous, carefree abandon. 2: To flaunt, to tease playfully.

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Diwali (pronounced Divali)
The Hindu festival of lights, when oil filled diyas are lit in celebration to welcome Lactchmi, the goddess of light.

Diyas, Deyas
Small clay lamps - earthenware bows usually filled with coconut oil and a cotton wick that is set alight - which are placed in yards, along fences, and along geometric designs made from split bamboo to celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali.

Doh Make Joke!
Don't say that, you don't say. Really?

Doh Mine Dem, Doh Pay Dem No Mine
Don't pay any attention to them. Don't worry about them. Don't be concerned with them.

Doh Skylark
1: Don't play the fool. I wouldn't do that if I were you. 2: You don't say?

Dong De Islands
Down the Islands. A collective noun for the Boca Islands, Gasparee, Monos, Huevos, Chacachacare etc., a mecca for vacationers, boating, sailing, fishing, swimming, snorkeling and picnicking.

Donkey Eye
A seed resembling a donkey's eye that is often found on Trinidad's east coast beaches. The seed gets so hot when rubbed vigorously that it can almost burn skin. See marvelous Manzanilla Beach for other interesting beachcombing finds.

Dotish (pronounced Dough-tish)
Silly, stupid, foolish, dumb. Likely from the English word "doltish" meaning slow witted.

Doubles
Doubles is an East Indian snack that has become a national breakfast food in Trinidad, made of curried channa placed between 2 barra, hence the name.

Dougla
A person of mixed race, usually African and East Indian ancestry.

Doux-Doux (pronounced Doo-doo)
French patios meaning, sweet-sweet. Expression of endearment. Sweetheart, darling, honey. Often used together with darling as in Doo-doo darlin'.

Drevait (pronounced Dree-vay)
Knock about, wayward person. To be aimless.

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Early O'clock
Very early. Well in advance of...

Easy-Kai
No problem. Very simple.

Ease Up
1: Get off my back, ease off, ease off the pressure, let off the hook.
2: To help out financially.

Eddoes
A small verity of Taro root. A root vegetable or ground provision. Eddoes provide a flavorful alternative to potatoes and are prepared in similar ways.

Eh
Multi-purpose word/expression of African origin that can be used: 1: In place of "isn't" - Dat eh right, 2: In place of "didn't" - She eh come. 3: At the end of a plea or threat in place of "okay" - Bring some for meh, eh, or Watch out, eh. 4: On its own as a query to mean, "what was that?" or "what did you say?"

Eh-Eh
Absolutely not, no way!

Eh Heh
An expression that can mean many things dependent on infraction, including... Oh really? I understand. Yes.

Eh Makin' Joke
Very serious matter. Not making a joke.

Ent
Isn't that so? Isn't that true?

Eye Up
To check out someone, to look someone over from head to foot.

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Fall Out
To get annoyed with someone, to stop speaking with someone or terminate a friendship.

Fancy Sailor
Sailors have always been a popular carnival portrayal but became even more so - along with the throwing of talcum powder at spectators and fellow masqueraders - during the late 1940s immedieatly after World War II, in part because of the heavy American military presence on the island. Sailor costumes were inexpensive and light, and particularly attractive to the steelband movement, which was also growing at the time. Costumes started in plain white but soon became richly decorated with mirrors and swans down. Their long-nose facemasks also developed into large headpieces depicting all sorts of animal live. See Fireman, Stoker.

Farse an' Out'a Place
Quick to mind other peoples business. Presumptuous, busybody, nosey. Meddles in the personal affairs of others. Doesn't know their place.

Farseness
The act of meddling in someone else's business.

Fat Talk
Back chat. To boast. To make meaningless promises.

Fatigue
To ridicule someone, to tease or heckle them. To cleverly poke fun.

Favour
To take after, to look like or resemble, as in Dat chile really favour de fadda - That child really looks like the father.

Fedupsy
The state of being fed-up or bored.

Fete (pronounced Fet)
Patios meaning, to feast, celebrate or live it up. A super-sized party that must include loud music, good food, alcohol, and dancing until wee hours of the morning.

Fire One
Take a drink. To have alcoholic drink. Fire one fo' de road - Take one last drink before you begin your journey home.

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Firemen, Stoker
Stokers dressed in merinos, wearing thick gloves and goggles, pushing long iron rods before them in a unique carnival dance, normally preceded Fancy Sailor bands.

Flambeau (pronounced Flam-bow)
Patios meaning, a torch. A simple lantern, made from a cloth wick stuffed into a bottle filled with kerosene.

Fo'Day Mornin'
1: Before the dawn, before the morning. Early dawn, before the cock crows. 2: Sometime in the future, eventually.

Foot
Leg, everything between crotch and toes.

Force Ripe
1: Precious behavior. A young person who acts older than they are, and in so doing looks laughable. 2: A fruit that colors-up and looks ripe before it is fully grown.

Founkie
Stink, foul smelling, odorous.

Franko-Men
1: Caught red handed. 2: Frankly speaking.

Free Paper
The freedoms extender to a person by their parents, significant other of boss. When privileges are rebuked the retort might be Free-paper bu'n - Good times are over, your freedom is at and end, school holidays are over. Originally from emancipation, freedom papers.

French Creole
Expression that includes but is not limited to, fair-skinned, upper middle class decedents of French aristocracy. Any fair-skinned local with money.

Fresh-Water Yankee
Someone who returns to Trinidad with a heavy, put on American accent after spending only a short time abroad. Originally, someone who acquires a "Yankee" accent without leaving Trinidad (literally, without leaving the fresh water, without crossing the sea). Someone who develops an accent after visiting an embassy. Someone with a false accent.

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Galavant
To knock about, to roam aimlessly. See Drevait.

Gallery
1: To show off. To publicly flaunt ones position or status. To strut. 2: The veranda of a house, an open room where people passing in the street can see you, similar to a patio.

Garlic Pork
Cavinadazh. Highly seasoned and pickled pork dish, of Portuguese origin, made with garlic, thyme, Scotch bonnet (habaneros) peppers and vinegar.

Gayippe (pronounced Gayap)
Patios, an undertaking by friends to work together for the benefit of one. Homes were built this way in the past.

Ginger Beer
A pungent, spicy drink made from ginger root, often fermented but always sweetened and served cold.

Goat Mout'
Goat mouth. To be able to predict exactly how things will turn out, usually for the worst. To put goat mout' on someone - to blight someone with bad luck, to predict an almost certain negative outcome.

God Horse
Praying Mantis or stick insect. Direct translation of Yoruba word for Praying Mantis.

Go Forwards
Flip-flops. A slipper without a heel strap, so that the only way you can walk is forward.

Gran' Charge
To make empty threats. To boast or brag without intending to follow through.

Green Fig
Young bananas that are edible when cooked.

Griot
Story teller of folktales in the African tradition. Forerunner of the Shatwell and Calypsonian.

Grip
Suitcase, a small bag for holding clothes, a valise.

Ground Provisions
Root vegetables or root crops including but not limited too; dasheen, tanya, eddoes, cassava, yam, sweet potato, potato.

Guava
Strongly aromatic fruit with a flavor similar to passion fruit. Makes excellent preserves, jams, pies and deserts. Word of Amerindian origin.

Gundy
A crabs claw. Also, Moda, Mudder.

Gun Talk
Fighting words. Bravado. To threaten verbally. See Robber Talk.

Gyul
Girl. Young woman.

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With the influence of cable TV and satellite, and dancehall music, Caribbean accents and language have begun to homogenize.

Many of the Patios words used in Trinidad 20 years ago, have begun to disappear, similarly some of the unique English words used by Trinidadians, like "grip", are also fading from use. Books about Trinidad culture, novels, and perhaps the odd Trinidad dictionary, such as this online version, may one day be the only reminders of Trinidad's unique verbal heritage.

 Your Trinidad Vacation Start's Here... 

In this new verbal soup some Trinidad words have flourished, particularly those associated with Carnival. Many island now have fetes; jouvert and mas' live in unlikely places like Toronto, London and Miami; and these days people lime in every Caribbean islands.

When visiting Trinidad, learn a little Trinidadian, you'll feel more at home with Trinidad culture. You never know, one of the next great books about Trinidad could be within you. Have fun, your vacation starts here...