A what yuh tek me fah, kunnumunnu?

Hey my Jamaican Patois enthusiasts, I will now broaden your experience on Jamaican Patois with some commonly used phrases.  One such phrase is kunnumunnu.

I have not idea where this word came from, my guess is that it was made up.  Jamaican life is live comedy on the fly all the time.  People will say this when they feel they are being taken advantage of or being looked on as not so bright, someone that can be fooled.  Usually expressed in an argument or quarrel.

"Ah who yuh tek fi iddiat, weh yuh tink, mi a kunnumunnu?

Cow Itch and Coco

Cow itch scratches mercilessly, look out for these when walking through

overgrown bushes and vines.

Stay kool yuh hear.

MissSam
Friday March 3, 2017

You Wont See This In A Travel Magazine#2

Had the pleasure of spending this past Christmas in the Jamaican countryside.  Such an amazing experience.  Calabash is made out of the Gourd, nature gave this plant to provide bowls for the poor back in the day and for utensils when we go #bushcooking!

Calabash or Gourd

You Wont See This In A Travel Magazine

Had the pleasure of spending this past Christmas in the Jamaican countryside.  Such an amazing experience.  As kids, we had a nickname for this flower.

Caption This!

Tief From Tief God Lauf

Tief from tief God lauf.

Translation:  Thief from thief God laugh.

What does this mean:  This is sort of a sarcasm, mocking someone who is dishonest calling another person dishonest.  In other words if you are a thief you shouldn't be calling another person a thief.

Application:  I can see in my imagination two ladies talking over the fence as neighbours in Jamaica do, talking about someone in the community or commenting about a news headline about politician being dishonest, the convo would go something like this.

"Lawd missis, dem all di same, tief from tief God lauf."


There have been many occasions when I have said this over the past year.

Walk gud you si,

MissSam
Thursday November 10, 2016

Tief Nuh Luv Fi Si Tief A Carry Lang Bag

Chicken Hawke citing, Clarendon, JA.

Tief nuh luv fi si tief a carry lang bag.

Translation:  A thief does not like to see another thief with a large bag.

Interpretation:  Someone who is dishonest will always be envious of another dishonest person who appears to be "hauling in more loot"!

Application:  Just know that a dishonest person will be swift to call another person dishonest!

 Love talking with my #Jamaican #Yardies!  I was talking about the U.S. election with a fellow Jamaican and of course, she loves +Hillary Clinton and was lamenting about +Donald Trump characterizing her as crocked, then she just burst out, "Tief nuh luv fi si tied a carry lang bag!" I had to ask her to repeat it several times, and nearly fell off my chair laughing! #Priceless.

Walk gud yuh si, is Halloween, suh nuh mek no duppy frighten yuh!

MissSam

October 31, 2016

 

Di Langess Liva Si Di Moass

Worth Repeating:  Jamaican Patois is a spoken language, it is phonetic - so I try to write the words so they sound as authentically Jamaican as possible.

This looks like the oldest tree in High Park?

Di langess liva si di moass: 

Translation:  The longest liver see the most or stated another way, the person who lives the longest will witness the most.

How is this used?  When two people hold opposing views and each person is convinced they are right, this proverb is used to break the deadlock.  Each person concedes that time will tell who is right.

Application:  There is a got debate going on in the USA right now as to whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump will win the presidential election.  I listed to each candidate's surrogates defend them, as an outside observer, I could say "Yuh can seh anyting yuh want, di langess liva si di moass."


Walk gud, yuh si,

MissSam
Friday October 7, 2016

 

Duppy knoa A Who Fi Frighten

NB:  The Jamaican Patois is a phonetic language, there are no rules for writing or spelling as far as I know.

Inushuk On the Humber - Toronto
An artistic person took the time to
create this and a lot more in the river bed.

Duppy knoa a who fi frighten: 

Translation:  Duppy (Ghost) will know who they are to frighten

What does this mean?  People know who to pick a fight with or take on.  It is usually used in the negative or defensive way rather than the a positive or offensive stance.  For instance, it is said that a bully will find a weak or vulnerable person to pick on but would avoid taking on someone that would pose a real threat.  Sometimes a bully might just pick on someone who appears weak and get the surprise of their life.


Application:  A boss or supervisor may be making what the workers would consider unreasonable demands or expectations on workers, and when the expectation is not met, a punishment or penalty is dished out.  Someone in the group who would take a defensive stance would retort to the fellow workers something like this " Cho, mek him gwaan, yuh tink im can cum to mi wid dat?  Duppy knoa a who fi frighten."


Walk gud yuh hear!

MissSam
Sunday October 2, 2016