I’ve traveled over a small part of the Caribbean sea to experience what has been titled as “The best show on earth”. If you’re familiar with the worldwide event of Carnival, you’ll know that I’ve landed in one of the top celebrated locations. Welcome to Trinidad! Before we dive in to the controlled chaotic parties, elaborate costumes, all night events and some of the most energetic people on this planet… Lets meet the country first. If you’d like to see past detailed posts, click here and check out the land, food, adventure and culture. For now I’m just going to familiarize you with where the island is on the globe.
Here’s a glimpse of its proportion to other parts of the world to give you an idea of the land size populating over 1.3 million people.
Now for the fun part of this post! I often get asked “Do they speak English where you are?” Lets find out…
English Language: a west Germanic language that was first spoken in early medieval England; a body of words and the systems for their use common to a people who are of the same community or nation.
Language used in Trinidad: Not English.
Trini slang: a mixture of shortened words and phrases commonly used in daily communication.
Technically the language of Trinidad is English, however let me tell you that their verbiage is far from what the average English speaking person would recognize. Take a look at some of the phrases you may encounter while visiting the island of Trinidad. Here are just a few of my favorites!
Jus’ now – in a little while (5 minutes, a day, next week. Pretty much anytime except right now… Go figure)
One time – right now. “Yuh come dis way one time” (I’d be like, just once? Really… That’s it… Never again?)
Jus’so – out of the blue
Lime – to hang out in a social setting “I feelin to lime”.
Fete – a party… a big one with drinks, loud music and “nuff” (enough or a lot) people.
Fuh true – in truth, for real. “Fuh true? You lie!”
Boomsie – the backside, bum, toosh, etc.
Shif yuh carcass – move over, get going
Sweet too bad –really nice, pleasant, attractive “Dred, dat gyul (girl) eh play she sweet too bad!”
Screw up yuh face – to make a face in disgust
Vex – real angry “she make yuh rel vex, now yuh screw up yuh face”
Bacchanal (back-en-aul) – Scandal, heavy quarreling or a big party
Go doh make sheep -direct translation: “goat don’t make sheep”
Bess – hot, attractive, sexy, appealing “ooh, she uh bess ting”
Maco (mah-coh) – someone who minds other people’s business; nosey
Awah – generally used at the end of a sentence in place of “or what” – “yuh limin, awah?”
Wha yuh for? – “what do you want to do?
Dan dans – fancy clothes or dress up outfit
Words or phrases that you won’t hear in Trinidad:
The – If they even include it in a sentence it’s pronounce “dee” or “de”.
Examples: “Yuh bring the punchy punch?” Or “We goin down de islands”
Friend – Instead they refer to people close to them as family or they’ll use slang words.
Examples: Breddda (brother) Tanti (auntie) Hoss (“horse”, which in America would be “dawg”) Dred (friend) Gyul (girl)
Any word starting with “Th” is replaced with “D” or “T”– Try it, seriously any word. “Three” is tree & “Them” is dem.
Quick story a local friend told me. When he was fifteen he was preparing to leave the island to go study in Canada. Knowing the English language, his family tried to help (or just make fun) by having him repeat the number 3,333. It went like this:
“Tree thousand, tree hundred n thirty tree… No, Three thousand, tree hundred n tirty three… Ugh, THree THousand, THree hundred n tirty THree..” You get the idea of why his family encouraged this entertainment. (Side note, he’s now one of the most successful business men on the island. They call him the serial entrepreneur).
Pretty much any other word fully pronouciated – Sentences just don’t make sense or sound anything close to English. A personal example was when I met a new friend here.
Him: “Ah hyar yuh livin dong by dey so?”
Me: “Uhh, I think I heard living… Say it again please?”
Him: (really slowly): “Haha, I say ahh hyyyar yuh (as he points to me) livin dunnn by de so (as he points away)”.
Me: “Yeh, I got nothin”.
Turns out he had heard I was staying in Barbaods and was asking if it’s true. I still giggle over our entire interaction.
Something I’ve learned in years of traveling is that pretending to know what someone is saying only leads to mass confusion and you looking “dotish” (stupid or like a foolish person). One time, smiling and nodding bought me a dozen hard boiled eggs and heavy cooking creme. I was going for a dozen raw eggs and cottage cheese. Lesson learned.
Her Happy Trails 