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T & T
What is Trinidad
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How To Pronounce Trini
Words
The best way to learn to talk
"Trini", the street language of Trinidad and Tobago, is
to listen to a native complete with his/her inflections
and intonations in order to capture the correct accents.
The end result is a delightful sing-song that is the country's
own unique musical form.
Trini
Word |
Meanings |
| |
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A! |
Expression
of exasperation or indignation. |
A-A |
Expression
denoting surprise, indignation. Said quickly
or very slowly for effect. |
Ah |
I |
Ah
Chut! / Ah Chut Man! |
Sharp
expression denoting annoyance, vexation. |
Ah
Eh Able |
Give
me patience. I can't keep up with you.
You're too much. |
Ah
Never See More |
An
exclamation of surprise, anger, bewilderment.
(I've never seen anything like that) |
Ah
Sellin' It As Ah Buy It |
I'm
telling you it as I heard it. |
Aiyo-Pancho |
Time
to leave. It's all over. |
Alla-All-Yuh |
Every
last one of you. |
All
Dis Time |
In
the meantime. Occurring simultaneously.
Meantime. |
All
Dis Time So |
All
about this same time. |
All
Foes |
Card
game played four, in which points are: high, low
jack, or hangjack and game. |
All
Kinda Ting |
All
kinds of things. Everything imaginable,
including the proverbal kitchen sink. |
All
Now |
Presently.
At this very moment. |
Allyuh |
All
of you |
Anti-Man |
Effeminate,
wishy-washy man. Spine-less man. |
An'
You Swallow Dat? |
Any
you believed that? To be gullible as in
hook, line and sinker. |
Any
Time Is Trini Time |
Evolved
from the alleged penchant of the Trini for
arriving any ol' time for an appt. |
Ask
Me Dat Nuh |
Of
all the nerve. Said only after a statement
of incredulity or disbelief. |
As
Male As Man |
Being
a full brooded male.... An expression used to
add weight to a statement. |
A
To Bull Foot |
Can't
make head nor tail of the matter. Completely
confused. |
Ax |
Ask |
Aye-Yah-Yaye |
An
expression of anticipation or pain. |
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| |
|
Bacchanal |
Scandal,
arguing, confusion or big party |
Back
Back |
To
reverse a vehicle. To change one's mind
or opinion. |
Back
Chat |
Insolent
response (like from a child to an adult) |
Back
Peddle |
To
back down in an arguement. To change one's
tune in the face of stiff opposition. |
Back
Squeeze |
To
hold back, especially money, grog. To
give begrudgingly, or as little as possible. |
Bad
Drive |
To
swerve a vehicle inconsiderately or recklessly
in-between moving traffic. |
Bade
In De Salt |
To
bathe or swim in the sea. An invitation
to do the same. |
Bad
Eye |
A
look of anger |
Ba-John |
Someone
who thinks they are bad, A bully. One
who has a violent reputation. |
Bad
Lucky |
To
always and consistently on the losing end.
To be unlucky. |
Bad
Mind |
A
person who holds grudges and repays them.
Evil, cold personality spiteful. |
Bad
Out |
To
make a serious miscalculation, or mistake.
To under-estimate. |
Bad
Talk |
To
bad mouth them, to gossip. To spread rumors
about someone. |
Baggananya |
Odds
and ends. Personal belongings. |
Bamboozle |
To
confuse someone with smart talk. To con
someone. To talk your way out. |
Bamsee |
The
rear end, what you sit on |
Batchac |
A
large red or black soldier ant. |
Bachie |
Apartment
for single person or bachelor. |
Bat
Grog |
To
frequently consume large quantities of alcohol. |
Battle
Axe |
An
old, hardened, quarrelsome person. Someone
who has been around. |
Bawl
Dong De Place |
To
cry excessively. To be in a state of grief
and to display it unrestrained. |
Bawlin' |
To
be without financial means. To be broke.
To be poor. |
Bazodee |
Giddy
or light headed. Dizzy. Totally
confused. In a state of shock. In love. |
Beat |
Happening. |
Beat
Yuh Wit A Wo'k Stick |
An
expression used about someone who is a
work-a-holic. One who works constantly. |
Behin'
God Back |
A
very distance place. Remotest part of
the country. |
Behin'
Yuh Back |
In
your abscence. |
Belly,
Back and Side |
All
around. Complete, with nothing left out.
A proper cussin'. From every direction. |
Ben'
Dem |
To
emerge winner. To take advantage of a
situation. |
Better
Yuhself |
To
improve your financial and social condition.
To take action to improve. |
Betty
Goatee |
A
taunt. Used especially by winners to losers,
or recipients to non-recipients. |
Biff
An' Bam |
Like
to peas in a pod. Very much alike. |
Big
Belly Doon-Doon |
A
person with an extremely large stomach.
Pot-bellied person. |
Bisquankay |
Anything
twisted or falling apart. Deformed person
with speech impediment. |
Blight |
A
person who brings bad luck. |
Bloomin'
France |
An
expression of anger, substitution for foul language. |
Blocko
/ Blocko Rama |
A
large, loud party held on the block (outdoors). |
Blood
Eh Take |
To
instinctively dislike, or distrust someone. |
Bol'
face |
A
pushy person |
Broughtupsy |
Showing
that a person was properly brought up |
Buh
wait nah |
Wait
a minute, |
|
|
| |
|
Calypsonian |
Someone
who sings calypso |
Cheups
(Steups) |
The
noise made by sucking your teeth |
Chinkee |
Small,
tiny portions |
Chupid |
Means
stupid |
Chupidee |
A
foolish person |
Coki-eye |
A
person that is cross-eyed |
Commesse |
Scandal,
confusion, arguments, gossip |
Cuff |
Means
to punch someone |
Cyah |
Can't |
|
|
| |
|
Da
is you? |
Is
that you? |
Dan-dan |
A
good looking outfit |
Dat
good for yuh. |
Serves
you right |
Dat |
That |
Doh |
Don't |
Dotish |
Foolish,
silly, dumb or stupid |
Dougla |
A
person that is mixed with East Indian and African
parentage |
Drevait
(dree-vay) |
Wayward
person who likes to "knock about" |
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Eh? |
What
did you say? or Can you repeat that? |
Eh-eh |
No
way, Oh no |
Eh-heh |
Oh
really? I understand. Yes |
Ent? |
Is
that not so? That's true, isn't it? |
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| |
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Fall
out |
Argument |
Faddah |
Father |
Fete |
A
party |
Flim |
Film |
Founkie |
Foul-smelling,
stinks |
Fuh
true |
Yes
it is true. |
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| |
|
Goin'
orf |
Someone
who appears to be going out of there mind, acting
strangely |
Gun
talk |
Fighting
words, to threaten verbally |
Gyul |
Girl |
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| |
|
Harden |
Hard
headed, someone who does listen or learn, disobedient |
Hototo |
A
very large amount of anything |
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| |
|
I
Come Out To Play |
I
aim to have a good time. |
I
eh payin' tax fuh mih mout' |
I
could say anything I want |
If
Yuh know What Good Fuh Yuh |
If
you know what's good for you. Part of
an admonition. |
In
De Bag |
It's
as good as won. An almost certain victory.
It's all over. |
In
Grip |
To
have anything or anyone under your control.
To be on top of a situation. |
In
ting |
To
be involved in current activity |
In
Trut' |
In
truth and in fact. |
In
Two Twos |
Very
quickly. In a flash. In no time
at all. |
In
Yuh Glee |
Enjoying
yourself. Doing exactly what you enjoy
most. |
Iron |
The
brake hub from an auto wheel used as a percussion
instrument in steelband music. |
Iron
Man |
Person
who beats the iron by striking the brake hub
with a short steel rod. |
Is
Dat |
Total
agreement with a statement. |
Is
Dat Ah Say |
Total
agreement. That's what I said. |
Is
Dat Self |
It's
exactly that. |
Is
De Wus |
It's
the worst. The pits. No good; very
disappointing. |
Is
Me An' You Today |
The
show-down between us takes place now.
I shall be observing you all day. |
Is
so? |
Is
that so? |
Is
So You Stop |
That's
the way you normally behave. |
It
Take Yuh |
You
look good in it. It looks good on you. |
I
Trouble |
An
egotist. One who is always talking about
himself. |
Is
You To Ketch |
You
will be the one left holding the bag.
You will be outsmarted. |
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|
Jagabat |
A
woman of questionable morals, one who haunts
the seamier side of town. |
Jail
Bud |
Jail
Bird. Someone who is constantly in and
out of jail. |
Jam |
A
big noisy party, |
Jamet |
Like
a jagabat but applies to both male & female. |
Jamsession |
Any
crowded occasion. A big 7-band party with
many people, loud music. |
Jammin'
Heavy |
Heavy
work load with no time to rest. To be under
fire. Unpleasant condition. |
Jeez-an-ages |
Used
for any reason where an outburst is appropriate |
Jingay |
A
hex on spell. To try to confuse an opponent
with Mumbo-jumbo |
Jing
Pang |
A
small dent or cut, of importance only on brand-new
or recently refurbished items |
Jokey
/ Jokey-Fied |
An
amusing person or incident. |
Jook |
To
stab at anything |
Jookin'
Board |
Wash-board.
A board or frame having a corrugated surface
to wash clothes. |
Jort |
To
eat heartily. To wolf down food.
To enjoy a meal. |
Jorts |
Food,
of any kind. |
Joy
Juice |
Any
alcoholic beverage. |
Jub-Jub |
Ju-jube.
The gelatinous candy lozenge. |
Juggle |
To
grab someone around the neck while squeezing
on the jugular vein. |
Jumbie |
Spirit,
ghost |
Jus'
Dey |
Just
there. Very near. Not far away. |
Jus'
now |
In
a little while, wait a minute. Just
a little longer in time. |
Jus'
so? |
Just
like that? |
Jus'
so |
Out
of the blue, totally unexpected |
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Kaba-Kaba |
Badly
dressed. Dishevelled. Looking 'anyhow'. |
Ketch |
Catch |
Ketchin' |
Present
continous of ketch. |
Khugn |
A
very tiny part of or amount of anything. Also
a tiny distance or space. |
Kiant |
Canted,
leaning. |
Kick
An' Stab |
Shoes
with very pointed toes. |
Kicksin' |
Fooling
around, having fun, being a source of amusement. |
Kilketay |
Lop-sided
or odd shaped. Leaning unnaturally.
Bent or twisted out of shape. |
Knock
About |
Constantly
on the move, looking for different ways to pass
the time of the day. |
Knockin'
Dog |
Common
place, cheap. Copious amount of anything.
In full season, plentiful, a glut. |
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|
Lef
dat |
Leave
that alone |
Leh |
Let,
let's |
Leh
go |
Let's
go |
Leh
we |
Let
us |
Lick
dong |
To
hit someone or something |
Licks |
To
get beat-up, a beating |
Like
t'ing eh |
To
be mischievous |
Lil'
bit |
A
small amount |
Lime |
To
hang out in a group |
Long
eye |
Envious
of the possessions of others |
Look
nuh! |
An
express of annoyance |
|
|
| |
|
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 |
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 |
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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 |
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|
Obzokee |
Awkward
in appearance, anything bent or twisted out
of shape |
Oh
geed! |
An
expression used when an offensive smell arises |
Oh
gosh! |
|
Oh
gorm man! |
|
Oh
shimps man! |
These
are all expressions denoting shock, surprise,indignation
& admiration |
Ol'
talk |
Idle
chatter, social chit-chat |
One
set ah |
A
lot of anything |
Own
way |
Stubborn
person |
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|
| |
|
Pallet |
Frozen
lolly |
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 |
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Quaif'or
Day |
The
main junction of the San Juan area. Reputed
to be never asleep. |
Quac-Coo-Wa-Ja |
Overdressed,
dress up like a Christmas tree. |
Qualebay |
Blighted. |
Qualey
Quale Up |
Withered.
Dried up. |
Queff |
Nattily
dressed. To wear clothes with a theatrical. |
Quenk |
Wild
pig. An irritating person. |
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Rab |
Obnixious
person. uncouth. Member of the rabble. |
Raff |
To
grab suddenly. |
Ragadang |
Broken
down, on the brink of decaence. |
Rag
Up |
To
insult or make a fool of someone. Verbal
abuse. |
Rain
Mus' Fall |
Said
when any long-outstanding thing is done. |
Raise
/ Small Raise |
Money
which is begged for. |
Rake |
Gossip,
Ole Talk. |
Rake
An' Scrape |
To
take on any and everything - whether person
or job, regardless of value. |
Ram
Cram |
Packed
to capacity. Cannot stick a pin.
Like sardines in a can. |
Rampalooge |
To
go on a rampage. |
Ram
Ram |
Character
who walked briskly with a cutlass crooked in
his arm. |
Ramsack |
Ransack.
To search through every part of - to search
for plunder. Chaotic condition. |
Ratee
Ray |
Pulling
wool over one's eyes. |
Razzam |
East
Indian, full of speed. |
Razzy |
Unkempt,
Dishevelled. |
Reach
Mih |
Accompany
me. |
Red
House Fire |
Anything
of short duration. Finished before it
starts. |
Rence
Out |
Rinse;
To lightly wash by putting into water. |
Renk |
Rank;
Stink, foul-smelling |
Rent-A-Tile |
Dancing
closely and intimately , with very little foot
movement, occupying one tile |
Right
Through |
To
work continuously right through the night until
the next day. |
Ring
Ding / Ring Dong |
A
loud, noisy argumetn, party, cussout etc. |
Roamy |
Rummy,
Gin. A card game. |
Rogouse |
one
inclined to create disturbances or engage
in rows. Quarrelsome person. |
Rongs |
Rounds.
Quick trim, light haircut. |
Rope |
Aggression,
quarreling, fighting. |
Roxy |
Rough,
bumpy, or with an unfinished appearance |
Rum
Boo Boo |
One
who constantly drinks rum or alcohol |
Rumfle |
Rumple.
Ruffled. Tousled, wrinkled. |
Run
Somet'ing |
A
request for a handout. Also a demand for
your share. |
Run
Yuh Run |
Carry
on. Sooner or later it will catch up with
you. |
Russia |
Popular
vagrant. Self elected president of the
Vagrants' Society. |
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Saddle
Horses |
To
get along well. Having the same views
and opinions. |
Saga
Boy / Girl |
Flashy
dresser. Dandy. To walk with a stylish
gait |
Saga
Ting |
Any
fancy finishes, pretty or frilly touches added
to the average thing. |
Salop |
A
disgusting person. |
Same
Khaki Pants |
Same
thing. Identical. Six of one and
a half a dozen of the other. |
Sampat |
One
person being beaten by several. |
Sapat |
Chunky
wooden clog with a canvas or discarded tyre
upper. |
Scene |
A
person who is flamboyant, obnoxious, controversial
etc. Too much.` |
Schoolboy
Tatics |
Cheap;
Obvious, blatant trickery. |
Science |
Dealing
with the occult. Obeah, necromancy. |
Scope
Out |
Check
out, assess a situation. |
Scrunt |
Down
and out. Penniless. Scrunting.
On the scrunt. |
Sea
Bart |
Sea
bath. |
See-Er
Man |
Witch
Doctor. One who fortell's the future by
the reading of cards, palms of the hands. |
See
Beans |
To
make one experience a lot of trouble.
To give one hell. |
Seppee |
Clever
plan or smart series of manoeuvers. |
Set |
A
dance. |
Set
Ah |
Lots
of. |
Set
Like Ah Mapepire |
Coiled
ready to strike, like the Mapepire snake. |
Sewine |
Porridge-like
mixture of rasins, noodles, milk etc, consumed
at the Eid-Ul-Fitr festival. |
Shakal |
Looking
unkempt, dishevelled. Anyhow. |
Shake
Yuh Bamboo Coat |
Hurry
up. Get on the ball. |
Shave
Ice, A Cent |
To
feel really embarrassed or humiliated. |
Shell |
When
a worn-out bearing breaks up and shells or sheds
its steel balls. |
Shif'
Yuh Carcass |
Move
yourself. Move over. Get going. |
Shim |
An
effeminate man or a masculine woman. |
Shinie |
Prickly
worm. |
Shoes
Laughin' |
Shoes
bursting open, toes exposed, soles leaving the
uppers. |
Shook
/ Sook |
To
seek or attack. To order a dog to attack.
To urge to attack. |
Shoo
Shoo |
Quiet
gossip exchanged behind one's back. |
Shub |
Shove.
To push or cast aside. |
Shut |
Shirt |
Shy |
To
pelt. Shy a bottle or stone. |
Sici
Yea |
Small
fig. Also a bird. |
Simidimi |
A
lot of small ritualistic movements. Titivate. |
Six
Cents Loaf |
Butterflap.
Small flat roll, sold at that time for six cents. |
Skinnin'
Yuh Teet' |
Grinning.
Usually said with annoyance at foolish laughter. |
Skin
Up Yuh Nose |
To
turn up one's nose at anything. As in
a bad scent. In disgust. An aloof
air. |
Skulls |
To
use underhanded methods to outsmart. Skulduggery. |
Slack
In - Slack Out |
In
game of cards when fresh players replace losers. |
Slingin' |
Speeding |
Smart
Man |
One
who tries clever schemes to arrive at a result. |
Snatty
Nose |
Expression
that belittles someone's importance. Of
no account. |
Soap
Seed |
Plenty
of anything. |
Sof'
Man / Sofy |
Effeminate
man. Spineless. |
So'
Foot |
Sore
foot. Any ailment of the foot bandaged
or tied up. Ulcer on the foot. |
Sometimeish |
Moody.
Expressive of a sudden unreasonable change of
mood. Unreliable, unpredictable. |
Soot |
Cat
call. Cheap or rude call at a person,
particularly a woman. |
So-So
T'ank You An' Yuhself |
I
am all right thank you, and how are you. |
Sou
Sou |
A
group of people contributing a fixed sum of
money into a co-operate savings. |
Speechify |
To
tell off someone. To give someone a piece
of your mind. |
Spirit
Blow / Lash |
To
harm one physically with the use of necromancy.
A sudden or unseen blow. |
Sprangalang |
To
be deliberately contrary. |
Spread
Joy |
To
have a good time. Making everyone happy. |
Spree |
To
fete. |
Squingy |
Small,
dried up. Shriveled. |
Stale
Joke |
A
joke that has been heard over and over.
No longer amusing or funny. |
Stan'
Pipe |
Public
supply of water, located on the side of the
street. |
Stan'
Pipe Laugh |
Loud,
raucous laughter associated with crowds around
a stan' pipe. |
Stan'
Up On Mih Ches |
Indigestion |
Stan'
Yuh Han' |
To
pay for a round of drinks. To pay for
something for a person. |
Stay
For |
To
stay for a child. To be a God Parent. |
Step
On Mih Corn |
To
arouse, trouble or aggravate. To
hurt someone or something near or dear to you. |
Steups |
Suck
teeth. A sound of annoyance, contempt. |
Stick
Break In Yuh Ears |
Deaf.
Harden. Disbobedient. To do things
contrary to orders. |
Storm |
To
gate-crash any paying function. |
Style |
Cuttin'
style. Makin' ol style. |
Suck
Eye |
Easy.
Without much effect. |
Suck
Salt |
Hard
Times. |
Sunday
Bes' |
Sunday
clothes. Dressed in all your finery. |
Sunday Food |
Food considered to be a bit more
extravagant than that prepared during the week. |
Surprise
De Water |
To
finally have a bath after a long time. |
Sweet
Bread |
A
very nice person. A darling. |
Sweet
Drink |
Aerated
beverage. Pop. Soda. |
Sweeten
Up Yuh Chops Fuh... |
To
relish the thought of eating a particular food
or drink. |
Sweeten
Yuh Tea Wit' Salt |
Big
trouble, confused. Do not know your head
from your foot. |
Sweet
Eye |
To
wink at someone saucily. |
Sweet
Han' |
Anyone
who can cook up a really tasty meal is said
to have it. |
Sweetie |
Any
confectionery. |
Sweet
Man |
A
man who is kept by a woman. |
Sweet
Mout' |
To
have a preference for the choicest cuts.
A sweet talker. |
Sweet
Oil |
Oil
for cooking. Olive oil. |
Sweel
Up Yuh Face |
To
look angry. To pout. |
Swinge |
Singe |
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|
Tabanca |
The
forlorn feeling that one gets when a love affair
is over. |
Tabanca
Tarange Foofooroo |
Advancing
stages of Tabanca |
Tacktay |
Spotted.
Speckled. |
Take
Better Dan You |
You're
not man (or woman) enough to. . . |
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