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.
