JAN 2015
Bajan dialect 101
B
ajan dialect is an iconic part of the Barbadian culture, and as such we thought you might
be interested in learning a few key local sayings.
Things being referred to as ‘scruffy’ or
‘ingrunt’ can actually be meant as a
compliment: “You pants suit look scruffy
denn!”
‘Skinning ya teeth’ is when you smile and
‘puting up ya face’ is when you look upset.
‘Doing the dawg’ does not mean impersonating
a dog. This phrase is used when talking about
someone celebrating excessively: “We did de
dawg at that fete last night!”
If you should fall down and
are hurt, these words will be
used by locals to describe you:
‘break up’, ‘skin up’, ‘lick
up’ or ‘catspraddle’: “I just
get lick up by that there
wave!”
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