Bajan is a fascinating language and, if you\u2019re lucky enough to visit Barbados, you\u2019ll definitely have a lot of fun listening to the locals talk!\nHowever, it can be difficult to understand Bajan, especially when it\u2019s spoken quickly, so here\u2019s the ultimate guide to speaking like a Bajan so that you can chatter like the best of them.\nThe origins of Bajan\nIn Barbados, the official language is English and the majority of residents speak \u2018Bajan\u2019 (pronounced as BAY-jun), an English-based creole, heavily influenced by West Africa.\nWhile standard English is used in print and in formal settings on the island, Bajan is a widely spoken language which does not have a standardised written form; Bajan words are often spelt as they sound phonetically, but spelling can vary widely from person to person.\nAlthough Bajan isn\u2019t standardised, it is the Caribbean creole which most represents standard English and, with some practice, English-speaking visitors to the island will be able to understand the language. However, many Bajans will happily slow down their speech or switch to standard English if visitors to Barbados are struggling to understand them.\nIt is said that the Bajan language came about when West African captives were taken to Barbados and enslaved. During this time, they were forced to speak English but learnt it imperfectly and Bajan became a way for the slaves to communicate with each other without the slaveholders always being able to understand them.\nDespite its historic origins, there are more and more features being added to the Bajan language frequently, such as new idioms, jargon, expressions, and terminology.\nAs well as it being largely unstandardised, there is also plenty of dialectal variation of Bajan across the island and those Barbadians who practice Rastafari are more likely to speak Bajan with a more Jamaican accent.\n \nThe basics of Bajan\nThe plural you is wuna. \nThey, them, their is dem.\nYou, yours is yu.\nIn many cases, d replaces th.\nQuestions often come in the form of statements featuring a rise in intonation at the end. For example: \u2018Wuna eat the fish?\u2019 would mean \u2018Did you eat the fish?\u2019.\n \nCommon Bajan words, phrases, and expressions\nBashment - A partyBassa-bassa - A fightBusylickum - A busy bodyCutter - A sandwichDead house - A mortuaryDo-fa-do - Tit-for-tatEcky-becky - A poor CaucasianEvah - EveryFlim - A filmFortyleg - A centipedeFuzz-out - To be tired from strenuous activityGap - A road or streetGoat head - An idiotGovernment juice - WaterHobby class - Something free of chargeIgrant - IgnorantJah - GodJill - A pintKiboes - HipsLick - To hitMout - MouthMuster - To save (especially money)Nain - NothingNuse - To eatOdd cents - Loose changeOut it out - Turn off the lightOvadayso - Over therePickney - A childA plaster for every sore - An excuse for every situationPocket pistol - Roasted corn on the cobReckon - To count changeRockinengine - A steamrollerRun de route - Let us goSea cat - A squidTrildren - ChildrenVise - To understandWhax- palax- bruggadown-brax - A hard hit followed by a fallWizzy wizzy - WhisperingYute - A child or youthZR (pronounced \u2018Zed-R\u2019) - A privately owned route taxi\nPopular Bajan proverbs\nDe higher de monkey climb, de more he show he tail. - The more you show off, the more you show people your faults.Gol\u2019 teet doan suit hog mout. - Fancy things don\u2019t suit people who aren\u2019t used to them.Cat luck ain\u2019 dog luck. - What one person can get away with, another may not.Wuh ain\u2019 see you, ain\u2019 pass you. - Something that you got away with may catch up with you later.Ef greedy wait hot wud cool. - Your patience will be rewarded.\n Visiting Barbados soon? Check out our blog post on 10 of the Best Free Days Out in Barbados.","author":"@type":"Person","name":"Stephanie Whitworth","publisher":"@type":"Organization","name":"Royal Westmoreland","url":"http:\/\/www.royalwestmoreland.com","logo":"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.royalwestmoreland.com\/wp-content\/themes\/fabric\/dist\/images\/rwm-logo.png","mainEntityOfPage":"True"} Page footer Join Our Newsletter Stay up to date and never miss any offers and special promotions.
Can It Be Palm Is Tired Of Being A Bunch Of Eejits
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