Things Jamaican Parents Always Say
Jamaican parents are legendary not just for their strength and care, but for their colorful, piercing phrases — words that carry love, warning, author...
By JARanks
Curated Ranking
Rankings for this list are carefully curated and maintained by our editorial team to ensure quality and accuracy.
#1
“Mind me give you supm fi cry bout”
English translation: “Don’t let me give you something to cry about.” Meaning / Use: A warning — “Behave or I’ll discipline you.” Situation: When a chi...
#2
“Wah sweet yuh ago sour yuh”
English translation: “What is sweet to you will turn sour to you.” Meaning / Use: A caution — something enjoyable now might cause trouble later. Situa...
#3
“Me bring you ina this world and me can take yuh out”
English translation: “I brought you into this world and I can take you out.” Meaning / Use: A fierce reminder of authority — “I can punish you any tim...
#4
“You think say me born yessideh?”
English translation: “Do you think I was born yesterday?” Meaning / Use: A way of saying “Don’t try to fool me / I’m not naive.” Situation: When someo...
#5
“You think me and you a size?”
English translation: “You think you and I are the same size (equals)?” Meaning / Use: Expresses that you are not equals — “I have higher authority.” S...
#6
“All who cya hear will feel”
English translation: “Everyone who can’t hear will feel.” Meaning / Use: “If you don’t heed my warning, you’ll suffer consequences (physically or othe...
#7
“Watch me and you”
English equivalent (approx.): “Wait until I catch you / see what I’ll do when I catch you.” Meaning / Use: A threat or warning — “When I find you doin...
#8
“Put it pan me head”
English equivalent (approx.): “Put it on my head.” Meaning / Use: Often used sarcastically when a child asks where to put something: mom responds “put...
#9
“Yuh tek up yuh book from mawning?”
English translation: “Have you been reading your book all morning?” Meaning / Use: Usually rhetorical; “What have you even been doing? Are you prepari...
#10
“You think me a one a yuh little pissn tale fren them?”
English translation: “Do you think I’m one of those little piss-tail friends of yours?” Meaning / Use: Insulting phrase meaning “I’m not one of your w...
#11
“Come outa big people argument”
English translation: “Get out of grown folks’ argument.” Meaning / Use: “This is adult business, you shouldn’t interfere.” Situation: When children tr...
#12
“Hard ears Pitney dead a sun hot”
English translation: “Hard ears children die in the sun hot.” Meaning / Use: A proverb: “If you refuse to listen (hard ears), trouble (like death) wil...
#13
“Wah sweet nanny goat ago run him belly”
English translation: “What is sweet for the goat will run its belly.” Meaning / Use: Similar to “Wah sweet yuh ago sour yuh.” Something that seems goo...
#14
“You a renk yourself”
English equivalent (approx.): “You’re being disrespectful / acting up.” Meaning / Use: Calling someone out — “You are showing disrespect, embarrassing...