A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 

The following is a list of common words that you will read, hear, or find yourself saying as you embrace the Trinidadian culture and experience CARNIVAL.

 

"A"

Ah -Substitute for "I"

Allyuh -All of you people. A group

Ax (Ask). -To ask a question

"B"

Bacchanal -Scandal, heavy quarreling, big party, confusion

Bad eye (cut-eye) -A look of anger, especially when looking from the corner of the eye

Bad-John -A bully or a really tough customer

Bamsee -The rear end, what you sit on

Bazodee -Totally confused.

Bol'face -A pushy person, unreasonably demanding

Buh wait nah -But wait a minute, now hold on/it

"C"

Callaloo -A thick soup made from dasheen leaves, okras, coconut milk, seasoned to taste, invariably includes crab

Calypso -A musical and lyrical comment on any subject, usually composed for, but not limited to, the Carnival season

Cheups (Steups) -A noise made by sucking your teeth

Chinkee -Very tiny portions of anything

Commesse -Confusion associoated with arguments, gossip and slander

Cuff -Hitting someone or something with a clenched fist

Cyah -Can't  
 
 
"D"

Da is you? -Is that you?

Dat good for yuh -Serves you right

Dat -That

Doh -Don't

Dotish -Silly, stupid, foolish and dumb

Dougla -Mixture of East Indians and African parentage

 

"E"

Eh -What did you say?

Eh-eh -No, no way, oh no

Eh-heh -Oh really? I understand. Yes

En'less -Plenty, endless

Ent? -Is that not so? That's true, isn't it?

 

"F"

Faddah -Father

Fed up -The state of being bored/ tired of something

Fete -A party, loud music, lots to eat and drink, dancing to wee hours of the morning

Founkie (foong-key) -Foul-smelling, stink odor

Fuh true/troot? -Yes that is true. Is that really so?

"G"

Goin'orf -Someone who appears to be going out of their mind, acting strangely

Gun talk -Fighting words, to threaten verbally

Gyul/ Gyal - Girl

"H"

Harden -Disobedient

Hototo (hotoetoe) -A very large amount of anything

"I"

I eh payin' tax fuh mih mout' -I could say anything I want

In ting -To be involved in current activity

Is so? -Is that so?

"J"

Jab Jab -A type of Carnival devil costume; jabs people with his fork and demands money from passersby.

Jeez-an-ages -Used for any reason where an outburst is appropriate

Jook -To stab at anything, also a dance with a forward gyrating motion

Jouvert -Opening of the Carnival festivities. Instead of costumes everyone is covered in paint, mud, powder, and oil

Jumbie -Spirit, ghost, stilt walkers

Jump Up -Dance to calypso

Jus'now -In a little while

Jus'so? -Just like that?

Jus'so -Out of the blue, totally unexpected

"K"

Ketch -Catch

Klim -Any brand of powdered milk

"L"

Lef dat -Leave that

Leh -Let, let's

Leh go -Let go

Leh we -Let us

Lick dong -To accidentally hit someone or something

Licks -A beating, physical punishment

Like t'ing -To be somewhat mischievous

Lil'bit -In small meaningless portions

Lime -When a small group of people engage in a sometimes pre-arranged activity

Long eye -A person who is envious of the possessions of others

Look nuh! -An _expression of annoyance

"M"

Maco -A person who minds other people's business for the purpose of gossip.

Macocious -A person having the trait of a maco

Maga -Very thin, skinny

Mamaguy -To make fun of, to ridicule, talk smack

Mama Yo! -_Expression denoting shock and surprise

Matter Fix -Everything is well organized

Mih han' slip -An _expression used when too much of an ingredient is used

Mooma -Mother

Mout'er -A boaster

Much up -To pamper, to butter up

"N"

Nah -No

Nastiness -An expression of disgust applied to a good-for-nothing person

Never see come see - Someone who has recently been exposed to something new and who overdoes it to ridiculous proportions

Ning ning -Tired eyes

Now fuh now -Instantly

Nowherian -A person who does not have any fixed place of abode

"O"

Obzokee -Awkward in appearance, anything bent or twisted out of shape

Oh geed! -An _expression used when an offensive smell arises

OH gosh!- Oh gosh

Oh shimps man! - These are all expressions denoting shock, surprise indignation and admiration

Ol' talk -Idle chatter, social chit-chat

One set ah -A lot of anything

Own-way -Stubborn person

"P"

Papa yo! -Exclamation of surprise

Pesh -Money

Pissin' tail -A person of no class or importance

Planasse -To hit someone continuously with the flat part of a cutlass

Playin' social -Someone who pretends to be of a higher social strata than they are

Pong -Pound

Po-po -Very small child, baby

Prim-prim -Disgustingly proper and formal

"Q"

Quenk -An irritating person

Qualey -Withered, dried up

"R"

Raff -To grab suddenly

Ragadang -Broken down

Ram-cram -Packed to capacity

Rumfle -Ruffled or wrinkled

"S"

Saga boy/girl -Flashy dresser, dandy

Shif' yuh carcass -Move over, get going

Shub -Shove, move or cast aside

Skinnin' yuh teet' -Grinning

Skin up yuh nose -To turn up one's nose at anything

Sometimeish - Moody

Swell up yuh face -To look angry, to pout

 "T"

Tabanca -The forlorn feeling one gets when a love affair is over

Tanty -Aunt

Tight -Intoxicated, drunk, stoned

T'ing -Thing

To besides -Besides which

Too-tool-bay- A confused state, in a daze, also head over heels in love

"U"

Umpteen -Plenty of anything

"V"

Vampin' -An offensive smell

Vaps -To suddenly behave excitedly or in a strange manner

"W"

Wajang -A roudy, uncouth person

Warap -A very weak mixture

Well yes! -An _expression of disbelief

Whappen? -What's the matter with you?

Wha-happenin' dey? -What's happening

Whey -Where

Whey yuh say? -What did you say?

"Y"

Yampee -Mucus, found in the corner of the eye

You an' all? -You too?

You so -People like you

Yuh faddah head -An _expression of annoyance

Yuh faddah is a glassmaker? -You are blocking my view.

Yuh look fuh dat -It's your own fault

Yuh makin' joke! -You can't be serious!

"Z"

Zug-up -A rough and uneven cutting of anything