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Jamaican Patois contains a significant number of loan words from West and Central African languages, especially Akan (Twi), Igbo, Yoruba, Efik, Fula, and Kongo. Enslaved Africans introduced these languages during the transatlantic slave trade.[1] These African languages blended with English, the dominant colonial language, as well as influences from Spanish, Portuguese, and Arawakan languages spoken by the island's indigenous peoples. The result was a vibrant Creole language that maintained African vocabulary, phonology, and grammatical structures within a primarily English-based lexicon. Many of the African-derived words in Jamaican Patois relate to food, spirituality, the body, interpersonal relationships, and social behavior, reflecting the cultural priorities and lived experiences of enslaved communities. For example, "duppy" (ghost) is believed to derive from Akan or Ga languages, while "nyam" (to eat) may come from Twi or Fula. Jamaican Patois is significantly influenced by African languages, extending beyond vocabulary to include elements like rhythm, tone, and syntax. Notably, it features serial verbs, tonal emphasis, and a lack of subject-verb agreement, which are characteristics aligned with African linguistic patterns. These linguistic contributions are a vital part of Jamaica’s cultural identity and continue to shape the nation’s literature, music, and oral traditions.
| Patois | Definition | African Origin | Etymology & Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| unu | you (plural) | Igbo únù | Still used today in sentences like “Unu a come?” (“Are you all coming?”)[2] |
| duppy | ghost/spirt | Akan/Ga adópé | Originally referred to spirts or dwarves; now means "ghost". "Mi seh a duppy last night in a mi yard." ("I saw a ghost last night in my yard.") |
| obeah | witchcraft/sorcery | Akan Twi Obayi; also Igbo ọbiạ | "Dem set up obeah fi protect dem." ("They set up obeah to protect themselves.") |
| nyam | to eat | Akan nyam or Fula/Wolof | "Mi nyam breakfast." ("I ate breakfast.") |
| bafan | a clumsy or awkward person | Akan bɔfran | "Yuh move like a bafan!" (You're moving very awkwardly.") |
| kaba-kaba | poorly made, unreliable | Yoruba/Akan/Ewe | "Di chair so kaba-kaba." ("The chair is poorly made.") |
Notable Jamaican Poet
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- Various African language groups influenced Jamaican Patois, including Akan (Twi), Igbo, Yoruba, Efik, Fula, and Kongo.
- The Patois mentioned here are related to everyday life: food, relationships, spiritual beliefs, and colonial power structures.[3]
- Grammatical influences are also notable, such as the copula se ("that") from Akan, de ("be") from Yoruba, and serial verbs mirroring African grammatical patterns.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Albaugh, Ericka A.; M. de Luna, and Kathryn (2018). Tracing Language Movement in Africa. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. p. 409. ISBN 9780190657543.
- ^ "15 Jamaican Patois words of African Origin". Jamaican Patwah. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
- ^ Cassidy, Frederic G (February 28, 2007). Jamaica Talk: Three Hundred Years of the English Language in Jamaica. University Press of the West Indies. ISBN 9766401705.
- ^ Cassidy, F.G.; Le Page, R.B. (2002). Dictionary of Jamaican English (2nd ed.). Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago: University of the West Indies Press. p. 13. ISBN 976-640-127-6.