List of Jamaican Patois words of African origin

The List of African words in Jamaican Patois notes down as many loan words in Jamaican Patois that can be traced back to specific African languages. Most of these African words have arrived in Jamaica through the enslaved Africans that were transported there in the era of the Atlantic slave trade.

Patwa Language Original word Description
Accompong Akan Acheampong (the name of Nanny and her brother who founded the town Accompong Town, or Acheampong Krom) Ashanti surname, which means destined for greatness.
Ackee, akeee Akan Ánkyẽ "a type of food/fruit", "cashew fruits"[1]
Adopi Ga Language, Kikongo Adópé (Dwarf in Ga language, but borrowed from Twi like many Ga customs.); or Ndoki (meaning 'Sorcerer' or 'Bewitcher' in Kikongo). Demon, Ghost, often written in Jamaican English as "duppy"[2][3]
Red Eye Akan Ani bere "envious – direct translation from Akan into English"
Adrue Akan, Ewe Adúru, adrú "powder, medicine, drug"[2]
Afasia, afasayah Akan, Ewe Afaséw, afaséɛ "inferior wild yam"[2]
Afu Akan Afúw "yam" or "plantation"[4]
Ahpetti Akan O-peyi A certain amulet[5]
Akam Akan A wild and inferior yam
Anansi Akan, Ewe Anansi "Spider"[6] also name Akan folktale character.
Adru Akan a medica herb
Bafan Akan Bɔfran a baby or toddler. A child that did not learn to walk between ages two and seven.[7]
Bissy Akan Bese Kola Nut
Broni Akan Oburoni a white person[7]
Casha Akan, English Kasɛ́, acacia "thorn"[8]
Dookunu Akan (Asante Twi) Dɔkono (also known as blue draws or tie-a-leaf in Jamaica) food, a dessert item similar to bread pudding.[9]
Cocobay Akan Kokobé "leprosy"[6][10]
Ginal Akan (Ashanti Twi) Gyegyefuo, Gyegyeni. Someone that is not taken seriously, a stupid person. A con-man (in Jamaica only)
Kaba-kaba Yoruba, Akan, Ewe "unreliable, inferior, worthless"[11]
Kongkos Akan Konkonsa "gossip"[6]
Mumu Akan, Ewe, Mende, Yoruba "dumb", "stupid"[6][12]
Odum Akan a type of tree[13]
Obeah Akan (Ashanti Twi) Ɔbayi "witchcraft"[14]
Igbo ọbiạ(this has been debunked becauee Jamaicans only see it as witchcraft and not doctoring. For a native doctor equivalent, the english Herbalist is used not Obeah man.) "doctoring", "mysticism"[15]
Opete Akan opete( arachaic but preserved by the maroons, now replaced by John Canoe, a Fante slaveseller. Jamaicans use the term John Crow as an insult to mean traitorous. ) "vulture"[7]
Paki Akan apakyi calabash[16]
Patu Akan Patu "owl"[7]
Poto-poto Yorùbá, universally West African "mud", "muddy"[6]
Backra Efik Mbakára "white man"[6][17]
Juk Fula Jukka "poke", "spur"[18][19]
Akara Yoruba àkàrà Type of food[2]
Attoo Igbo átú "chewing stick"[20]
Breechee Igbo Mbùríchì Nri-Igbo nobleman[21]
Chink, chinch Igbo chị́nchị̀ 'bedbug'[22]
Country ibo Igbo Ị̀gbò Pluchea odorata or Ptisana purpurascens[23]
Himba Igbo Mba "yam root", a type of yam, Rajania cordata[24][25]
Nyam Akan Nyam (also means to blend) to eat
Okra Igbo ọkwurụ a type of vegetable[6][15]
Red Ibo, Eboe Igbo Ị̀gbò a person with a light skin colour or a mulatto of mixed parentage[26]
Unu Igbo únù "you (plural)"[27]
Dingki Kongo funeral ceremony[24]
Dundus Kongo ndundu "albino", "white person", "European"[10]
Abe Akan Abe Palm coconut seed
Pinda Kongo "peanut"[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Cassidy & Page (2002:3)
  2. ^ a b c d Cassidy & Page (2002:4)
  3. ^ Allsopp, Richard (1996). Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage. UWI Press. p. 207. ISBN 978-976-640-145-0.
  4. ^ Cassidy & Page (2002:5)
  5. ^ Cassidy & Page (2002:6)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h McWhorter (2000:77)
  7. ^ a b c d Cassidy & Page (2002:20)
  8. ^ Cassidy & Page (2002:93)
  9. ^ Cassidy & Page (2002:155)
  10. ^ a b Cassidy & Page (2002:112)
  11. ^ Allsopp & Allsopp (2003:323)
  12. ^ Mittelsdorf (1978:34)
  13. ^ Cassidy & Page (2002:328)
  14. ^ Williams, Joseph John (1933). Voodoos and Obeahs: Phases of West India Witchcraft. Library of Alexandria. p. 90. ISBN 9781465516954.
  15. ^ a b Eltis & Richardson (1997:88)
  16. ^ Cassidy & Page (2002:335)
  17. ^ Cassidy & Page (2002:18)
  18. ^ Cassidy & Page (2002:153)
  19. ^ Watson (1991:10)
  20. ^ Cassidy & Page (2002:14)
  21. ^ Cassidy & Page (2002:68)
  22. ^ Allsopp & Allsopp (2003:152)
  23. ^ Cassidy & Page (2002:124)
  24. ^ a b Graddol, Leith & Swann (1996:210)
  25. ^ Lewis (1996:24)
  26. ^ Cassidy & Page (2002:378)
  27. ^ Cassidy & Page (2002:457)

Bibliography

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