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De Official "IZATRINI" Dictionary >>
 
The following Trini sayings make Great T-shirts
 
 
Talking Trini: Trinbagonians have their own language, one of the most fascinating languages on earth. Trini is not "slang" or a "dialect" or "broken English", those are Eurocentric terms used to put down the languages created by non-Europeans. (Using the same logic and definitions, what is called "English" is really a "dialect" composed of broken Latin, Greek, French, Angle, Saxon and German).
 
There are dozen's of "English" languages; each "proper" in it's own right.
Which "English" language is "proper" should depend on when and where you were born and to whom you are speaking. The Queen's "English", Cockney "English", Belfast "English", Brooklyn "English", Shakespearian "English", Ebonic "English",
Mississippi "English", Australian "English" and Trini "English", to name a few, all have distinct vocabulary and syntax.
 
The base of Trini is English, with words, phrases and syntax borrowed unchanged from African, East Indian, Amerindian,
French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and other languages. Trinidad was a Spanish colony until taken by the French and then the British 200 years ago. Many Spanish place names have been Africanized: Diego Martin = Dego Martin, La Brea = La Brey, Sangre Grande = Sandy Grandy, San Juan = Sawa.
 
De IZATRINI guide will follow this format: Pronunciation (Spelling, if different) Definition

"A"

Accra.....(Ah Crh) A fried batter of salt fish & Flour
Ah.....Substitute for "I"
Ah Chut .... Shut up or Hush!
Ahse.....Trini pronunciation (Ass) See Bam Bam e.g. Why yuh doh hull yuh ahse?
Air.....Trini pronunciation Ear
All Fours ...... Real Friggin good card game that was originated in Trinidad & Tobago. click here to learn how to play!
Allyuh or Alla-All-Yah.....All of you people. A group
Aloo Pie .... Fried Potato Pie
Ax ..... Ask. To ask a question
Aye .... Hello
Aye-yah-yie.....An expression of anticipation or pain, etc.


"B"


babash.......Home made, illegal, alcoholic beverage (mountain dew, moonshine) which in Trinidad can be made of just about anything organic.
Bacchanal.....Scandal, heavy quarreling, big party, confusion
Back Back.....A suggestive dance performed with the male dancer's front rubbing against the female's rear, and vice versa
Back chat.....Insolent response, especially from a child to an adult
Back Pay .... Money owing to union workers that they have been negotiating for a very long time.
Bad eye (cut-eye).....A look of anger, especially when looking from
the corner of the eye
Ba-John....A bully or a really tough customer
Bam bam.....Also Boom-boom, boomsie, bamsie, bam-a-lam, background, backside, behind, ass, bottom / butt
Bamsee.....The rear end, what you sit on
Bamsee-hole....ass hole
Bam-se Lambe.....Rather attractive bamsee
Band*.....A group of Carnival masqueraders with costumes designed on a related theme. A band can have 4,000-7,000 people divided into 25 or more sections, each with it's own theme and several music trucks. Each band has a huge King and Queen costume. Carnival Tuesday will see about 20 large bands go across the savannah stage and parade in the streets in competition.
Bath suit.....swim suit
battin ..... The act of throwing back one's head while holding a drink at one's mouth so as to finish it in a single attempt
Bawlin' (Bawling).....To cry, yell or howl
Bazodee ........ A state of dizziness or confusion, typically caused by members of the opposite sex
BeeWee.....(BWIA) British West Indian Airways, the national airline of Trinidad and Tobago now Caribbean Airlines (since Jan 1st,2007) after 66 years in the air as BWEE with a flawless accident record.
Biscuit.....cookie, cracker
Bitin'meh style...followin' the same thing (style) as one's person
Beppin ...... he art of puking the ten dollar tequila shots (that went down real good) and our brains at the same time, outside of Nuts or in Pelos Bathroom. OR To fall asleep while traveling OR The action of hitting the glass, seat or person next to your during sleep while travelling
Bobolee ...... A stupid person
Bobolize.....to bully someone
Boll'face.....A pushy person, unreasonably demanding
Bonafide ...... Somone's Steady Girl/Boyfriend
Boof/buff.....To insult, yell at or argue with someone
Brace ..... Denied entry to a party/fete OR a girl/boy blanking a boy/girl OR prepare oneself for a bad news
Bredda ...... slang for "brother" or "Breddren" Broughtupsy.....Showing that a person was properly brought up
Broughtupsy.....Showing that a person was properly brought up, decorum
Buh wait nah.....But wait a minute, now hold on/it
Buh aye aye......But wait a minute, now hold on/it
Bull .... another word for sexual intercourse
Buller or bullerman... another word for a faggit or a gay man/homosexual
Bun.....Trini pronunciation Burn
Buss.....to burst; to be a flop e.g. "Dred, dat party rel buss."
Buss it.....to leave e.g. "Well when I see dat, I buss it!"
Buss Up Shut.....(Pharata) See Roti, Shredded roti skin, resembling a "bust up shirt"

"C"


Cahneevaal.....(Carnival) "Farewell to the Flesh" A pre-Lenten festival started by Catholics to get in one last party before giving up wine, women and song for 40 days during Lent. Preparations and partying in Trinidad start in January and build up to Jouvay (Monday) and Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) ending at midnite just before Ash Wednesday in mid-February. Costume bands in street Carnival, steelband competitions, Calypso contests, parties, dances and Kiddie Carnival all come together for Carnival. Rio and New Orleans carnivals are bigger and better known, Trinidad's is best.
Callaloo.....A thick soup made from dasheen leaves, ochroes,coconut milk, seasoned to taste, invariably includes crab
Calypso.....A musical and lyrical comment on any subject, usually composed for, but not limited to, the Carnival season
Calypsonian.....One who sings calypsoes
Cheups (Steups).....A noise made by sucking your teeth
Chinkee.....Very tiny portions of anything
Chips.....French Fries e.g. "May I have some chips, please?"
Chookaloonks..... pet name of your special someone
Chupid.....Stupid
Chupidee.....A foolish person
Chutney ...... a spicy East Indian condiment made from half-ripe mangoes, tamarind, coconut, cucumbers usually in the form of a sauce.
Chutney.....a type of music indigenous to Trinidad, which evolved from Indian music, a catchy and rhythmic East Indian fete music conducive to wining (see wining) your bamsee (see bamsee).
Coast or Coasting ..... to show off something or someone
Cockstand ..... erected Penis
Cokee-eye/coki-eye.....Cross-eyed or cocked eye
Commess(e) .....Confusion associated with arguments, gossip and slander
Coonoomoonoo.....(Cunumunu) Idiot, stupid person
Cosquel ..... tacky looking
Cosquelita ..... a girl with excessive makeup
Crapo.....(Crapaud) Frog The most detested reptile on the island. Often poisonous, they are hated worse than snakes.
Cuff.....Hitting someone or something with a cleched fist
Cyah/Cyaa.....Can't

"D"


Da is you? .....Is that you?
Dan-dan.....Any sharp looking outfit
Dat good for yuh.....Serves you right
Dat.....That
Day.....(Dey) Trini pronunciation of They and There. "Ah hyar dey living dong by dey so." (I heard they're living down there). You may have heard the old Calypso; "Hush your mouth, go away, Mama look a Boo Boo dey!" (there)
Dimarsh Gra..... (Dimarche Gras) The major show on Carnival Sunday night. Eight King and eight Queen of the bands costumes (some 30 feet tall) compete on stage at Queen's Park Savannah to be named King and Queen of Carnival. The eight top singers compete to be crowned the Calypso Monarch.
Dingolay.....to dance in a joyful, carefree manner
Doh/Dough.....Don't
Dong.....Trini pronunciation Down
Doo doo*.....(Doux doux) Sweetheart often used with darling, as in "do do dahlin"
Dotish.....Silly, stupid, foolish and dumb
Doubles.....a popular East Indian fast food made from curried chickpeas and bara (fried dough) Usually served with chutney on top.
Dougla.....Mixture of East Indians and African parentage
Dred.....friend (see also hoss, padna); cool e.g. "Dat movie was dred, eh dred?"
Drevait (dree-vay).....Wayward person who likes to "knock about"

"E"


Eh.....What did you say?
Eh Easy .... Not easy, difficult
Eh-eh.....No, no way, oh no
Eh-heh.....Oh really? I understand. Yes
End up .... How something like a situation finished or turned out
En'less.....Plenty, endless
Ent? .....Is that not so? That's true, isn't it?
Extempo.....Free style singing of extemporaneous calypso songs

"F"


Fall out.....To stop speaking with someone or to terminate a friendship
Faddah.....Father
Fed up.....The state of being frustrated, tired or bored
Fella.....a fellow, a boy, a guy e.g. "Way! Check dat fella!"
Fete.....A party, loud music, lots to eat and drink, dancing to wee hours of the morning
Flim.....Film - Movie as in "Meh fav'rite flim star Clint Eastwood; he a ral badjohn in trut, y'know!"
Founkie (foong-key).....Foul-smelling, stink odour
Fresh Water Yankee.....A Trini who goes to America and comes back acting and talking Yankee (Originally someone acting Yankee without even going overseas, or crossing salt water).
Fuh real? .....really? Is that so? e.g You fuh real Dred? (Are you serious?)
Fuh true/troot? .....Yes that is true. Is that really so?

"G"


Goin'orf.....Someone who appears to be going out of their mind,acting strangely
Gun talk.....Fighting words, to threaten verbally
Gyul.....Girl
Geed/Gyad! .....expression of disgust when in the presence of something nasty. e.g OH GEED ot OH GYAD

"H"


Hair she.....(Hear she) Also Hair he I'm quoting her (him) as in "I ask she 'But why you late?' Hair she, 'You is meh mudder?' "
Hambug.....To pester or bother someone
Harden.....Disobedient
Hole it Dong (Hold it down).....To announce to someone to take care.
Hototo or hotoetoe.....A very large amount of anything
Hoggish.....Rude, crude, mean; the behavior of a thug, gangster
Horn.....what you receive when your significant other is seeing someone else behind your back
Horner man/woman.....the man/ woman your significant other is horning you with.
Hoss.....a close friend e.g Wah happen Hoss? (How are are you my friend?)
Huh? ....what?
Hut*.....Trini pronunciation Hurt

"I"


Icenin' ...Icing on a cake
I eh payin' tax fuh mih mout'.....I could say anything I want
In ting.....To be involved in current activity
In Trut (In truth).....For real, no lie e.g. "That test was so hard!" Reply: "In truth!"
Is so? .....Is that so?
Iron Pot ... pot made out of iron - famous for making pelau, stews and curry  meats - seen at homes and river limes
Izatrini.....(I am/is a Trinibagonian) To profess ones nationality (Trinidadian or Tobagonian) proudly and without reservation

"J"


Jab Jab.....A type of Carnival devil costume; jabs people with his fork and demands money from passersby.
Jagabat.....Slut, loose woman, prostitute. also Wajang (wah-jang) or Wabean (wah-bean)
Jeez-an-ages.....Used for any reason where an outburst is appropriate
Jook.....To stab at anything
Joo-vay.....(Jouvay, Jour Ouvert, J'Ouvert) "Opening of Day" in French, Carnival Mas beginning before dawn on Carnival Monday wearing costumes of mud, old clothes (Ole Mas), devil costumes or satirical themes.
Jumbie.....Spirit, ghost
Jus'now.....In a little while
Jus'so? ....Just like that?
Jus'so .....Out of the blue, totally unexpected Ja`litre......2 litres of any soft drink / Soda


"K"


Ketch.....Catch
Klim.....Any brand of powdered milk but all everyone calls any brand Klim
Kewl.....cool


"L"
Lagniappe.....a little extra, a bonus (the last child born many years after his/her siblings)
Las' Lap (Last Lap) Last minute street partying on Carnival Tuesday which goes until midnite when Ash Wednesday begins. The very last of Carnival.
Leave.....Trini syntax Left "Me eh see she again, she leave de fete long time!"
Lef dat.....Leave that
Leh.....Let, let's
Leh go.....Let go
Leh we.....Let us
Lick dong....To accidentally hit someone or something
Licks.....A beating, physical punishment
Like t'ing.....To be somewhat mischievous
Lil'bit.....In small meaningless portions
Lime.....to hang out in a casual atmosphere, loafing e.g. "I feeling to lime."
pre-arranged activity(hangin out)
Long eye.....A person who is envious of the possessions of others
Look nuh! .....An expression of annoyance
 

"M"


Macco.....A person who minds other people's business for the purpose of gossip.  e.g. "Wha yuh macoing so for?"
Macco Meter..... Check the degree to which a person mind other people's business
Maccocious.....A person having the trait of a maco
Make Style.....Show off as in "Eh-eh, but I find she only makin' style on people!"
Maga.....Very thin, skinny
Mamaguy.....To make fun of, to ridicule
Mama Yo! .....Expression denoting shock and surprise
Mama Poule .....A weakling, someone who can be taken advantage of
Mampie......A Fat Woman
Maracas Bay.....The most beautiful beach in Trinidad, high waves, great scenery.
Mass*.....(Mas) Carnival costumes, or playing mas, street revelry in carnival costume.
Matter Fix.....Everything is well organized
Meh (My) ....."Gi' me de ting when you come to meh house, pahtnah."
Mih han' slip.....An expression used when too much of an ingredient is used
Mo-Vay-Lang.....French for "Bad tongue" (Mauvais Langue) To bad talk someone, or engage in nasty gossip
Moco Jumbie..... Stilt dancers, an African tradition carried over to Trini carnival Their costumes represent jumbies, or spirits, of African mythology, in Haiti the word jumbie was corrupted to zombie
Mooma.....Mother
Muddah...mother
Mout'er.....A boaster
Much up.....To pamper, to butter up
Mud Band.....A J'Ouvert mas where band members cover their bodies in mud from head to toe

"N"


Nah.....No
Nastiness.....An expression of disgust applied to a good-for-nothing person
Never see come see.....Someone who has recently been exposed to something new and who overdoes it to ridiculous proportions
Ning ning.....Tired eyes
Now fuh now.....Instantly
Nowherian.....A person who does not have any fixed place of abode
 

"O"


Obeah....black magic, voodoo
Obzokee.....Awkward in appearance, anything bent or twisted out of shape
Oh geed! .....An expression used when an offensive smell arises
OH gosh! .....Oh gorm man!-Oh shimps man!
Ooooohh Koosh! .....These are all expressions denoting shock, surprise,indignation and admiration
Ol' talk.....Idle chatter, social chit-chat
One set ah.....A lot of anything
Oui...... Yes e.g. It making hot oui!
Own-way.....Stubborn person
One time.....right now, immediately e.g. "De gyul was rel angry so I buss it one time."
 

"P"


Pan*.....Steel band, invented in Trinidad in the 1930's, melodic percussion instruments made out of oil drums. One hundred piece steel orchestras compete playing classical, soca, pop during Carnival.
Pahtnah.....(Partner, Padna) Trini for "homeboy" used by older Trini males
Panty-man....tell tell

Palance....pal·an·ce Pronunciation: \ˈpəl-ann-se\ 

Function: verb
Etymology: Trinidadian dialect, from the East-West corridor vernacular; akin to Middle english 'wander'
Date: Late 2007
Definition:

1. palancing (verb) - to wander in pursuit of a lime.
2. palancing (verb) - general term refers to the action of aimlessly wandering anywhere

3. palancing (noun) - name of popular song by Jason Williams and Blaze in the Trinidad 

Definition courtesy Ken Sambury 

Pallet.....Frozen lolly
Papa yooo! .....Exclamation of surprise
Parang.....music played during Christmas time. Parang has a lot of Spanish influences.
Patois.....local dialect
Pesh.....Money
Piarco.....The international airport in Trinidad.
Picker.....thorns e.g. "Doh touch dat rose bush. It have rel pickers."
Picong.....to insult in a jesting manner
Pissin' tail.....A person of no class or importance
Plann-asse.....To hit someone continuously with the flat part of a
cutlass
Playin' social.....Someone who pretends to be of a higher social strata than they are
Pong.....Pound, to have sex with / pound e.g. "Gih meh two pongs of tomatoes dey tantie."
Poohar.....see dotish
Po-po.....Very small child, baby
Port of Spain.....Capitol city of Trinidad and Tobago, located in northwest Trinidad.
Pot hound / pot hong.....a mixed dog; sometimes used as an insult e.g. yuh lazy pothound!
Prim-prim.....Disgustingly proper and formal
Punannie.... A sweeet vagina

"Q"


Quenk.....An irritating person
Qualey.....Withered, dried up


"R"


Raff.....To grab suddenly
Ragadang.....Broken down
Raise.....A gift of cash to a friend or relative
Ram-cram.....Packed to capacity
Reds.....a light skinned person of mixed or African descent
Rel.....Trini pronunciation Real
Road March.....Kind of Trinidad's song of the year, or best song of Carnival. As the costume bands cross the stage in the Queen's Park Savannah, the song that most bands dance to is declared Road March for the year, and wins a large cash prize.
Roti.....East Indian dish made with flat baked dough resembling a tortilla filled with curried beef, chicken, goat, shrimp or other meat with potatoes, onions, tomato and spices.
Rude*....."Nasty", sexually explicit
Rumfle.....Ruffled or wrinkled

"S"


Saga boy/girl.....Flashy dresser, dandy
Shades.....Sunglasses
Shif' yuh carcass.....Move over, get going
Shub.....Shove, move or cast aside
Schupid.....Trini pronunciation (Chupid) Stupid also Schupidness
Schupidee.....(Chupidee) Stupid person
Screw up yuh face.....to make a strange expression, usually when angry or in disagreement of something e.g. "Look how she screwin up she face nah!"
Shots.....licks
Shyyt.... this is how de ole people used to say shit
Soca.....Soul-Calypso, the modern version of calypso music. Hardcore political satire, scandals, sexual double entendre and comedy, wrapped up in dance music with an African beat and heavy baseline.
Soucouyant.....from old ghost stories, an old woman who turns herself into a ball of fire and suck's people's blood
Stickin' .....when a person or group keeps back progress on something important. eg. Man u real stickin , hurry up !
Skinnin' yuh teet'.....Grinning
Skin up yuh nose.....To turn up one's nose at anything
Sometimeish.....Moody
Strims.....Shrimps
Sweet too bad.....really nice, pleasant, attractive e.g. "Dred, dat gyul eh play she sweet too bad!"
Sweet drink.....term used for soft drink, soda, pop
Sweetie.....Any confectionary Sweee-drink....soft drink/soda or a gesture nickname like babes or darling
Swell up yuh face.....To look angry, to pout

"T"


Tabanca.....The forlorn feeling one gets when a love affair is over
Tanty/Tanti (Tante).....Aunt
Teef.....Trini pronunciation Thief
Tent*.....A calypso or soca concert featuring 20 singers and comedians. Started in the 1800's in large military tents, now held in concert halls or stadiums.
The sun makin' hott.......the atmosphere is hot
Tick.....Trini pronunciation (Thick) Overweight as in "He not ral fat, he slim-tick!"
Tight.....Intoxicated, drunk, stoned
Titty-vay.....(Titivate) To waste time or stir up trouble
T'ing.....Thing
TNT*.....Trinidad and Tobago, twin island nation six miles off the coast of Venezuela, South America
To besides.....Besides which
Too-bay-go..... Trini pronunciation (Tobago)
Too-nee.....(tuni) Female genitalia, also poom-poom, tun tun, powder puff, scizzors and nan
Too-tool-bay.....A confused state,in a daze, also head over heels in love
Toe-Tee.....Male genitals
Tong.....town e.g. "I went to tong today." or Thong - Ladies underware.
Tot tots.....Female breasts
Toh-ty.....(Toti) Also ToTo Male genitalia
Tree-nee.....Trini pronunciation (Trini) anything or anyone Trinidadian
Tree-nee-daad.....Trini pronunciation (Trinidad)
Trinbago.....Short for Trinidad and Tobago
True.....Trini pronunciation (Through). A common query from a sales clerk is "Are you getting true?", meaning, "Are you getting through" (finding what you want).
T.T.....Trinidad currency, as in "Does this cost $5.00 T.T. or $5.00 U.S.?"


"U"


Umpteen.....Plenty of anything


"V"


Vampin'.....An offensive smell
Vaps.....To suddenly behave excitedly or in a strange manner
Vibes it Up.....To keep in good spirits

"W"


Wah is de sceens? .....whats up?
Wajang.....A roudy, uncouth person
Wais.....Trini pronunciation (Waist) The ability to wine "De gyul only trowin ral good wais!"
Warap.....A very weak mixture
Wee.....From the French (Oui) Yes, as in "Eh eh, dat is ral good buss up shut, oui?"
Well yes! .....An expression of disbelief
Wham now? .....what's up or how are you? It's considered a Greeting!
Whappen? .....What's the matter with you?
Wha-happenin' dey? .....What's happening
Whas de scene? .....What's up? e.g. Ay padna, whas de scene?
Whey.....Where?
Whey yuh say? .....What did you say?
Whole *.....All, as in "We been limin' whole day!"
Wine/Wining .... The style of dancing to Soca, Calypso and Chutney... circular movement of the waist or Trini term for rolling your waist line- looks very sexual
Wood ... slang for penis

"Y"

Yampee.....Mucus, found in the corner of the eye
Yang-Key.....Trini pronunciation (Yankee) An American
You an' all? .....You too?
You so.....People like you
Yuh faddah head.....an expression of annoyance
Yuh faddah is a glassmaker? .....You are blocking my view.
Yuh look fuh dat.....It's your own fault
Yuh makin' joke! .....You can't be serious!

"Z"


Zug-up.....A rough and uneven cutting of anything

* English word with Trini meaning

Have we missed something?

Please EMAIL US and let us know what Trini terms we should add to the list or to a T-Shirt.

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