Our Trinidad Dictionary

Part 3:  Putting travel to Trinidad into perspective...

Trinidadians write and speak Standard English. So, is there any need for a Trinidad Dictionary when you travel to Trinidad? The only real challenges you may face is when someone speaks quickly, or, in casual situations, when they use Creole expressions. In fact...

When you travel to Trinidad your experience won't be that much different from traveling through Britain, where accents and speech patterns change from village to village, or, for that matter, from traveling in the USA where accents can vary considerably from state to state, particularly in rural areas. However...

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 Trinidadian English Idiosyncrasies 

Trinidadian English is sprinkled with words from almost every nationality that has ever ruled, visited or lived on the island, yet the first idiosyncrasy you'll likely notice, in casual speech, is the tendency for Trinidadians to make words plural. A bottle of coke, for example, regularly becomes, "ah cokes".

 Useful Visitor Vocabulary 

You'll find many of the words and phrases that can crop up when you travel to Trinidad, in our online Trinidad Dictionary below. Knowing what they mean will provide insight into Trinidad culture and help you feel more connected. Enjoy...

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Halay
Soft candy, or sweet, which is fun to stretch.

Hand
Arm, everything between shoulder and fingers.

Harden
Stubborn, disobedient.

Hol' Strain
Wait, Hold on a while, just one moment, don't be impatient.

Hog
To ignore or be ignored. To leave someone out.

Hops
Light, round, crusty bread favored for making sandwiches.

Horn
To cheat on, or be cheated on by, your significant other.

Hosay
Festival in commemoration of the martyrdom of the Hosein brothers in Mecca during the formative days of Islam. Held on 10th day of the first month of the Muslim calendar. St. James is one location in Trinidad where this festival takes place, and large, intricately decorated Tadjahs (floats designed in the shape of palaces) are carried through the streets to the accompaniment of tassa drumming and the dancing of the moons, which represent the martyred brothers. Public festivities last for 3 days and culminate when the Tadjas are thrown into the sea. See Hosay, and dates for Trinidad and Tobago festivals.

Hot Foot
One who never stays home. One who is constantly limin' and fetin'. See Galavant.

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In De Bamboo
To put someone in an awkward position. To be in trouble.

Is Late Yuh Late, Is Vex Yuh Vex
African sentence structure meaning 'he is very late', 'he is very mad.'

Is So?
Is that so?

Is So Yuh Stop
Is that how you normally behave?

Is You To Ketch
It's your problem now. You are the one in trouble now.

Iron
The iron brake hub for an auto wheel, which is beaten to provide the driving rhythm associated with steelband, calypso and soca music.

Iron Man
A precisionist who beats an iron brake hub with a short steel rod creating the driving rhythm specific to calypso and soca music.

Iron Section
Group of Iron men and other percussion instruments is a steelband. The engine room, the soul, the center, the rhythmic heart of soca and steelband music.

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Jab-Jab
Costumed carnival character that has almost died out. Pretty devil. Patois for devil-devil, these were jester like costumes of brightly colored satin, where the hemlines of both jacket and pants were cut into points on which small bells were tied. On their chests were heart shaped decorations with mirrors and colored swans down. They wore wire masks and carried whips, which cracked when struck on the ground. Heart shaped motif on chest and whip links this character with Pierrot Grenade and earlier Negue Jadin and the Canboulay Batonniere or stick fighters.

Jab Molassi
Patios, molasses devil, because they smeared their body with molasses. The chains and padlocks of early portrayals were clearly related to slavery. Jab Molassi blow whistles, have horns and a rope tail, and carry forks. They beat large biscuit tins tied around their necks with a distinctive rhythm to which they jook, chook and grind suggestively. Forerunner to the mud smeared and painted bodies of modern day Jouvert. The Blue Devils of Paramin are still perform with biscuit tins in the traditional way.

Jack Spania
A dark-brown paper wasp that builds it nest in and around houses, often near the ceiling. Becomes aggressive if disturbed. Can inflict a very painful sting. Folklore says that a Jack Spania nests in the home mean money and happiness.

Jagabat
Woman of questionable morals, who frequents places of ill repute.

Jamette
Underclass. Uncouth and immoral person. From the French "diametre" meaning beneath the diameter of respectability, or from the underworld. Originally used by the plantocracy to describe persons of a certain class. Like Jagabat, but applies to both males and females.

Jeez-An-Ages! Jeez-An-Rice!
Outbursts or exclamations of exasperation. Used as non-sacrilegious outburst. Used for any reason where an outburst is appropriate.

Jiga
Biting insect or flea. Word of African origin.

Johnny Bake
Heavy, disc-shaped roasted bread. Originally, Journey Bake, cooked so that it would remain edible for a long journey. Also, Roast Bake.

Jook, Jookin'
1: To stab, prod or poke. To jook dong – to pick fruit from a tree, for example, with a rod. To jook up something – to puncture something. 2: Jook out he eye – to out smart someone, to make an unfair profit, to take advantage. 3: Jook yuh wais' – To thrust your waist in a suggestive manner when dancing or winin'.

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Jouvert, J'Ouvert, Jouvay
Patios meaning "Opening of the day". The start of Carnival celebrations, see Jouvert or Jouvay. Traditionally the time when revelers take to the streets wearing old clothes, and cover themselves with mud, oil and such. Jouvert celebrations originally included a host of Carnival characters and ol' mas' representations, consisting of political or humorous commentary. See, Mud Mas' and Dutty Mas'.

Julie Mango
The most sort after and popular variety of mango.

Jumbie
1: Mischievous spirit, malevolent ghost. An evil spirit. A being that returns from the dead. 2: A person who inhabits the night. Originally from Angola.

Jumbie Bead
Striking scarlet red and black seed. Some species are poisonous. A string of Jumbie Beads worn around the ankle is believed to ward off Mal Yeux.

Jumbie Bird
Owl. Folklore interprets the screech of a Jumbie Bird at night to mean some one is going to die soon.

Jumbie Parasol
Large poisonous mushroom. Literally, spirit umbrella.

Jump Up
1: To dance to calypso and soca. To precipitate in the Carnival masquerade, particularly pretty mas' on Carnival Tuesday. 2: A prancing, energetic, jumping dance done in response to calypso and soca music at Carnival time.

Jump Up An' Kiss Me
Low running, brightly flowered plant commonly found in Tobago

Jus' So
Just like that? An exclamation in response to an unprovoked event. Also means, out of the blue, without rhyme or reason, without warning.

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Kaiso
Old name for calypso. West African expression similar to "Bravo!" or "Well done!" Now used more for emphasis as in, Dat is kaiso - That was a special calypso.

Kilketay
Lopsided, leaning to one side, bent or twisted. See Obzokee.

King Orange
Extremely tasty, large, sweet, golden-pulped orange with thick, rough rind.

Kiskadee
Common, bright-yellow chested bird with a distinctive "Ques Que Se?" call.

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Langiappe (pronounced Lan-yappe)
A little extra, a bonus, a little more than what was paid for.

Layhay
To idle. To take ones sweet time to do something. To goof off. Worthless or lazy, from the Congo "laha" meaning to sit and beg.

Lavway
Patios "le vral", meaning the truth. A form of calypso that reports the truth as seen by the singer or composer.

Lamblass
To beat or thrash. Also, a tongue lashing.

Las' Lap
Last lap. The closing moments of Carnival, the last circuit of the parade on Carnival Tuesday night. The very last street party before the close of Carnival at midnight.

Licks
A beating. Any physical punishment.

Lime, Limin'
1: To hang out to pass the time, or chill out. When a group engages in a prearranged activity. To bus ah lime - to congregate for idle chatter with a group of friends. 2: A group or circle of friends who regularly hang out together. Originally, to relax and do nothing like a limey (A "limey" is a New World nickname for a British person, a term that originated from British sailors eating limes to prevent scurvy). Join us for a lime at Maracas Beach.

Lucifer
Character in a devil band, which is very rarely seen today. King Lucifer wears a crown on his grotesque horned head. A fork is his scepter and a globe is his orb.

Lugarhoo
Folklore character that is able to change their shape in the night.

 Your Trinidad Adventure 

Travel to Trinidad is an adventure, a gritty, Caribbean Island voyage of discovery. Understanding a little of the local lingo in our Trinidad Dictionary will go a long way to making your vacation more meaningful and enjoyable.

In his book, "Room with a View", one of author E.M. Forster's characters says, "We've come to Italy to see Italy. Not to meet Italians". Isn't it a pity that some tourists think that way? Think of how much we loose when we travel with this mindset. We loose local insight, color, character and authenticity. For what is Italy without Italians, or, for that matter, what is Trinidad and Tobago without Trinidadians and Tobagonians?

 Begin Your Journey Today 

Trinidad is not a Caribbean theme park. The Trinidad experience is one that demands all your senses. When you travel to Trinidad, join a Trinidad Carnival Band, taste delicious Trinidad food, listen to soca, meet Trinidadians. Have fun; begin of your adventure today in the pages of our online Trinidad Dictionary...

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