Jamaican Patois to English and English to Patois Translator
Translate English to Jamaican Patois, or Patwa and Jamaican slang back to English. Free, instant, no sign-up. Often searched as Jamaican Pidgin.
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Common Jamaican Patois Phrases and Slang
Click any word for its full dictionary entry
| Patois | English |
|---|---|
| Wah gwaan | What's going on? |
| Bless up | Goodbye / Greeting |
| Likkle more | See you later |
| Soon come | Coming soon (flexible) |
| Seen | Understood / Agreed |
| Big up | Acknowledge / Praise |
| Irie | Good / Pleasing |
| Nuh-true | Isn't it true? |
| Yute | Youth / Young person |
| Bwoy | Boy |
| Gyal | Girl / Woman |
| Sistren | Sisters / Female friends |
| Pickney | Child / Children |
| Nyam | To eat |
| Tallawah | Strong / Sturdy |
| Badmind | Envy / Jealousy |
| Bashment | Party / Excellent |
| Ting | Thing / Situation |
| Nuff | Plenty / Overbearing |
| Cho | Kiss teeth / Frustration |
English to Jamaican Patois: Quick Reference
Looking up an English word? These Patwa words are listed English first. Click any one for its full dictionary entry.
Look up Patwa headwords
The translator handles full sentences. The lexicon lists pronunciation, register, origin, and related words.
Open the Jamaican Patois DictionaryNew to the language? Read our What Is Jamaican Language? guide for the history, grammar, and cultural context behind Patwa.
Searching for a Jamaican Pidgin translator? You are in the right place. Jamaican Pidgin is a common search term for Jamaican Patois, which linguists classify as a creole. Our Pidgin vs Patois guide explains the difference.
About Jamaican Patois
Jamaican Patois (also called Patwa or Jamaican Creole) is an English-based creole language spoken by approximately 3.2 million people in Jamaica and the Jamaican diaspora worldwide. It developed during the era of slavery, blending English with West African languages including Akan, Igbo, and Yoruba, along with Spanish, Portuguese, and Arawak influences. Jamaican Patois is the language of reggae, dancehall, and a vibrant literary tradition.
3.2M+
Speakers worldwide
Caribbean
Jamaica
Did you know?
Bob Marley popularized Jamaican Patois worldwide through reggae music — 'One Love' is sung in a mix of Patois and English.
History of Jamaican Patois
Origins, evolution, and cultural impact
Jamaican Patois (Jamaican Creole, or Patwa) is arguably the most internationally recognized creole language in the world, thanks to its deep connection to reggae music, Rastafarian culture, and the global Jamaican diaspora. With origins in the brutality of the transatlantic slave trade, Patois has evolved into a powerful language of resistance, creativity, and cultural identity.
Slavery and Language Contact
Jamaican Patois emerged on the sugar plantations of colonial Jamaica during the 17th and 18th centuries. Enslaved Africans — brought primarily from the Gold Coast (Ghana), Nigeria, and the Congo Basin — were deliberately separated from speakers of the same language to prevent communication and rebellion. From this linguistic fragmentation, a pidgin emerged that blended English vocabulary with West African grammatical structures, particularly from Akan (Twi/Fante), Igbo, and Yoruba. This pidgin creolized within a generation as children born in Jamaica adopted it as their first language.
Maroon and Arawak Influences
The Jamaican Maroons — communities of escaped slaves who established free settlements in the mountains — played a crucial role in Patois's development. Their version of the creole preserved more African elements and incorporated words from the indigenous Taíno/Arawak language (which contributed words like 'hammock,' 'barbecue,' and 'hurricane' to English). Spanish influences from Jamaica's earlier colonial period (1509–1655) also entered the language. The result was a creole with more layers than most Caribbean counterparts.
Rastafari and Reggae
The Rastafarian movement, which emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s, created its own distinctive vocabulary within Patois. Rastas coined terms like 'I-tal' (natural/vital), 'I-and-I' (we, emphasizing unity), 'overstanding' (understanding — rejecting the 'under' prefix), and 'Babylon' (oppressive Western society). This Rasta-influenced Patois became the language of reggae music, carried worldwide by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, and countless others. Through reggae, Jamaican Patois became the most globally influential creole language.
Modern Patois
Today, Jamaican Patois is spoken by virtually all 3+ million Jamaicans and millions more in the diaspora (UK, USA, Canada). It has a growing literary tradition, with novelists like Marlon James (A Brief History of Seven Killings) incorporating Patois extensively. Dancehall music continues to evolve the language, introducing new slang and expressions that spread globally through social media. There's an active debate about whether Patois should become Jamaica's official language alongside English.
Key Timeline
Spanish colonize Jamaica; early Spanish-African contact
British capture Jamaica; English becomes dominant language
Plantation pidgin develops among enslaved Africans; creolizes
Maroon Treaty — Maroon communities' language preserved
Rastafarian movement creates distinctive Patois vocabulary
Reggae music carries Patois worldwide
Ongoing debate on recognizing Patois as official language
Linguistic Features
Akan Substrate
Core grammar follows Akan (Twi) patterns: 'Mi a go' (I am going) mirrors Twi progressive constructions. Many proverbs are direct translations from Akan.
Rasta Lexicon
Rastafarian neologisms: 'I-and-I' (we), 'overstanding' (understanding), 'I-rie' (good), 'livication' (dedication — rejecting 'dead' in the prefix).
Preverbal TMA Markers
Tense-Mood-Aspect system: 'mi a go' (progressive), 'mi did go' (past), 'mi wi go' (future), 'mi wuda go' (conditional).
Vowel System
Five-vowel system (common to Akan) rather than English's 12+ vowels, creating distinctive Patois pronunciation patterns.
Cultural Significance
Jamaican Patois is inseparable from Jamaica's global cultural influence. It's the language of reggae, dancehall, ska, rocksteady, and dub poetry (pioneered by Louise Bennett-Coverley, Linton Kwesi Johnson, and Mutabaruka). It's also the language of Jamaican cuisine (jerk, ackee, bammy), Maroon traditions, Rastafarian philosophy, and one of the Caribbean's richest oral storytelling traditions (Anansi stories, rooted in Akan folklore).
Current Status
Jamaican Patois is spoken by over 3.2 million people in Jamaica and millions more worldwide. English remains the sole official language, but Patois dominates everyday communication. The Jamaican Language Unit at the University of the West Indies has developed a standardized writing system, and there's growing support for official recognition. Patois continues to evolve through dancehall, social media, and the global diaspora.
Frequently Asked Questions
Type or paste Patois text into the box above, keep the direction on "Patois → English" and press Translate (or Ctrl+Enter). Switch the toggle to "English → Patois" to go the other way. It's free and needs no account.
Select "English → Patois" above the text box, type or paste your English sentence and press Translate (or Ctrl+Enter). Patois spelling varies between writers, so you may see the same word written more than one way. For single words, the dictionary shows pronunciation and examples.
People who search for Jamaican Pidgin almost always mean Jamaican Patois (Patwa), also called Jamaican Creole. Strictly, linguists classify it as an English-lexicon creole rather than a pidgin, because it has native speakers and a full grammar. This translator covers it either way.
Yes. Patois, Patwa and Patwah are different spellings of the same language, also called Jamaican Creole. Speakers often write it "Patwa".
Yes. The translator handles everyday Patwa and common street and dancehall slang. For individual slang words with meanings and examples, use our Jamaican Patois dictionary.
Jamaican Patois (Patwa) is an English-based creole language spoken by over 3 million people in Jamaica. It blends English with West African languages like Akan and Yoruba, plus Spanish and Arawak influences.
No. Jamaican Standard English is the formal variety used in education and government. Patois is the informal creole with its own grammar and vocabulary, spoken by most Jamaicans in everyday life.
Yes! Use our translator to understand Patois phrases, study the example translations, and explore how Jamaican Creole expresses ideas differently from Standard English.
Still have questions? Visit our homepage or try translating a phrase above.
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