Wednesday, May 21, 2014

When I speak most people tend to ask me where I am from and what language I speak. A typical Trinbagonian speaks fast and in a sing song manner. We use so many different words and phrases in our natural tounge, which has been influenced by our spanish and english colony days mixed in with hindi and french and chinese words from other settlers to the twin island. So if you are planing a visit to Trinidad and  Tobago i recommend you take a look here first and learn some words so you can blend in!

AA! - usually an exclaimation of surprise or wonder 
Bacchanal - party atmosphere; arguments, confusion e.g. "If dey find out, it will be rel bacchanal."
Back chat - a rude response e.g. "Doh give meh no back chat now, yuh hear!"
Bad john (said as one word badjon- a bully; a person who thinks they're really "bad"
Bathing suit - swim suit 
Band (Carnival) - a Carnival band refers to a group of masqueraders who are wearing the same costumes, or costumes based on the same theme.
Biscuit - cookie, cracker
Bobolee - a person who gets taken advantage of
Bobolize - to bully someone
Boof / buff - to scold
Buss - to burst; to be a flop e.g. "Nah boy, dat party  buss."
Buss it - to leave e.g. "Well when I see dat, I buss it!"
Chips - French Fries e.g. "May I have some chips, please?"
Chutney - a type of music indigenous to Trinidad, which evolved from Indian music
Commesse - confusion, conflict
Cunumunu - a foolish person 
Dingolay - to dance in a joyful, carefree manner
Dotish - silly, stupid e.g "Don't act dotish nah!"
Doux-doux - sweetie, sweetheart e.g. "Don't mind dat, doux-doux."
Dred - friend (see also hoss, padna); cool e.g. "Dat movie was dred, eh dred?"
Fella - a fellow, a boy, a guy e.g. "Way! Check dat fella!"
Fete - party 
Fuh real? - really? Is that so?
Gyul - girl
Horn - to cheat on a boyfriend of girlfriend 
Hoss - a close friend
In truth - for real, that's right e.g. "That test was so hard!" Reply: "In truth!"
Lagniappe - a little extra, a bonus 
Lime - to hang out in a casual atmosphere e.g. "hear nah leh we go an buss  ah lime.
Maco - someone who minds other people's business! e.g. "Wha yuh macoing so for?"
Make style - to show off
Mamaguy - to make fun of, to fool
Mas - used to refer to Carnival; to play mas - to masquerade
Obeah - black magic, voodoo
Obzokee - fat, unpleasant, out of place
Ole talk - chit-chat, light-hearted chatter 
One time - to do something right now, immediately
Padna - (from "partner") a close friend, buddy
Parang - music played during Christmas time. Parang has a lot of Spanish influences.
Patois - local dialect
Picker - thorns e.g. "Doh touch dat rose bush. It have rel pickers."
Picong - to insult in a jesting manner
Poke ah poke - meaning so so
Pong - pound (weight) as well as a fist bump
Pot hound / pot hong - a mixed breed dog (or worthless person)
Saga boy / star boy - a male who likes to "make style"; a male who is cool
Screw face - to make a strange expression, usually when angry or in disagreement Soca - a type of music indigenous to TnT, derived from "calypso" it is usually faster in pace and beat.
Soucouyant - derived from caribbean folk lore, an old woman who turns herself into a ball of fire and suck's people's blood 
Sweet drink - term used for soft drink, soda, pop
Tabanca - the feeling of hurt and pain when a close relationship ends e.g. "Leave him alone hoss, he gyul leave him. He have rel tabanca."
Tantie - auntie
Toutoulbay - use
Vex - angry, upset
Whas de scene? - a way of asking whats up. or whats going on.
Wine - to gyrate, to rotate hips in a suggestive manner 
 These are some of the abused and bad ones lol:

Awa - literally means "or what", but its usage is to make Trinidadian slang flow better. For example, "yuh wastin' muh time, awa?" , literally meaning "are you wasting my time?"

Baddist - an extremely promiscuous female. in recent times, it has been used for men as well, but in a less serious sense

Chook - to pierce (or jook), usu. in reference to needles. Can also refer to dancing which involves the thrusting of one's hips forward sharply into the rear of another. May also refer to sexual intercourse. E.g. Riad took a little chook from the girl.

Flickin - used to emphasise other words (for example - "gih mih de flickin ting nah!" ["give me the damn thing please"]) when one is irritated. It is used in a more vulgar sense, though is more acceptable than direct foul language. Similar words are blinkin, blasted, friggin and stinkin.

Dingolay - dance wildly or to dance  without a care in the world.

Jock - to masturbate, especially male masturbation (a slang term, but not ordinarily considered derogatory or rude). Contrast with traditional North American defintion of "Jock".

Muddacunt - a vulgar curse word cursing a mother's vagina. (usually used in the phrase "haul yuh muddacunt" or simply "yuh muddacunt", meaning "fuck off" in a somewhat more vulgar fashion. is also used when angrily suprised by a situation and is usually dictated: "but what de muddacunt is dis?" or more simply, "what de muddacunt is dis?", or "what de muddacunt?"

If you want to learn the proper slangs and phrases from Trinidad and Tobago your ideal choose its to purchase  Cote-ce Cote la 
a well written dictionary that details the local dialect in all its beauty!!!! 
I love my caribbean music. Growing up in Trinidad I was exposed to the wonderful sounds of steel Pan, the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago,




Calypso, Soca, Ragga Soca,



Chutney, Chutney Soca
that plays all year round and Parang and Parang Soca that plays during the christmas season that starts around October.

 If you want to hear all this great music, you can listen to Islandvibezradio.net to hear all the featured sounds of Trinidad and Tobago and all the islands!!

ISLAND VIBEZ RADIO http://www.islandvibezradio.net/#.U3zkPvrXoaw.twitter