75+ Jamaican Sayings (Inspirational/Motivational) 2023

Fan of Jamaican sayings? Well, good news is we happen to have the best and popular Jamaican saying at just one place. It’s not easy to find the best Jamaican sayings but we have managed to get you some, which we hope you would like.
jamaican sayings
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Also check- Fall sayings / Christian sayings

Jamaican Sayings

‘Weh Yuh Ah Seh”

Meaning- What are you saying?

‘Boonoonoonoos’

Meaning- special person

‘Small Up Yuhself’

Meaning- Make room

‘Wah Gwaan’

Meaning- What’s up?

‘Irie’

Meaning- How are you feeling?

‘Mi Deh Yah, Yuh Know’

Meaning- Everything is okay.

‘Weh Yuh Deh Pon’

Meaning- What are you up to?

‘Ya Mon’

Meaning- no problem

‘Dead Wid Laugh’

‘Inna Di Morrows’

‘Inner Luv’

Jamaican Sayings Funny

“Ben di tree while it young, cause when it old it a go bruk..”
Meaning- If you play out of your league you may get a lesson you won’t forget.

“Play wid puppy dawg, puppy dawg lick yuh face. Play wid big dawg, big dawg bite yuh…”
Meaning- Discipline your children and teach them the right way when they are young, because trying to do it when they are older might be too late for them and yourself.

“Ef fish deh a river bottom an tell yu seh alligator have gum boil, believe him!”
Meaning- Listen to the voice of experience

“Yuh a swap black dawg fi monkey..”
Meaning- To give up one bad situation for another, often used in relationships

“Nuh expect nuttin fram ah pig but ah grunt…”
Meaning- Don’t expect class or grace from a pig. In other words if you know someone is an idiot, why be surprised or hurt when they act like one.

“Sake a mout fish get ketch.”
Meaning- Talking too much will get you in trouble.

”Nuh romp wid mawga cow, a cudda bull mumma!”
Meaning- Don’t underestimate people who may seem weak and insignificant because you don’t know what kind of powerful and influential people they have in their corner.

“Sorry fi mawga dawg, mawga dawg tun roun’ bite yuh.”
Meaning- Sometimes it is the people we’ve helped the most who are the most ungrateful.

Jamaican Proverbs

A nuh lack a tung mek cow nuh talk.
Meaning- You don’t have to repeat everything you see, hear or know.

Any dutti waata kool hat iron.
Meaning- Not everyone who says they’re your friend is really is a friend.

A nuh ebreeting soak up waata a sponge
Meaning- Don’t take things at face value when making a decision as not everything is as it appears.

Book learnin a nuh intelligence.
Meaning- Just because someone is well-educated doesn’t mean they have common sense.

Chiga toe frade a grabble.
Meaning- Those with an injury know what to avoid to prevent pain and making the injury worse.

Nuh mek yuh lef han kno wha yuh right han a do.
Meaning- Keep your own counsel. Not everything you know needs to be told, even to those that are closest to you.

Duppy know who fi fright’n.
Meaning- Bullies always know who the most vulnerable people are and will pick on them first.

A faitful pramise mek fool glad.
Meaning- Don’t be fooled by those that make big promises and never deliver.

Ow waata waak go eena pumpkin belly.
Meaning- It’s a mystery that can’t be explained.

Kibba yuh mout.
Meaning- Keep the information to yourself.

Learn fi dance a yaad before yuh dance abraad.
Meaning- Perfect your skills before trying to apply them in public.

Nuh dash wey yuh tick before yuh dun crass riva.
Meaning- Don’t engage in premature celebration. Wait until a victory is confirmed.

Nuh hide yuh tick an Iick a man.
Meaning- Be honest and up front in all your interactions with others.

Tek time mash ant yuh fin im belly.
Meaning- Don’t jump into personal relationships or business deals without performing appropriate investigation and all answers will become clear.

Ole file cyaan shaap’n new machete.
Meaning- Always use the right tool for the job.

Oily tung nuh mus tell Di truth.
Meaning- Be wary of a person who is a smooth talker.

Scawnful dawg nyam dutty pudd’n
Meaning- You could easily find yourself in the same situation you criticized in the past.

Tiddeh fi mi tomorra fi yuh.
Meaning- Life is a series of ups and downs and everyone has problems at different times in their lives.

Yuh life lang but yuh cayliss wid it.
Meaning- Don’t give up safety in any form for a risky situation.

Also check – Breakfast Club Sayings / Beer Sayings

Inspirational Jamaican Sayings On Life

Jackass seh di worl nu level
Meaning- Life isn’t fair.

Alligator lay egg, but him now fowl
Meaning- Things are not always as they seem.

Rockstone a riva bottom nu know sun hot
Meaning- Sheltered persons don’t know true hardship or troubles.

Chicken merry, hawk deh near
Meaning- Danger lurks nearby when there is too much merriment and excitement.

If yu cyaa get turkey, satisfy wid John Crow
Meaning- Make the best of a bad situation, and be content with what you have.

Hog say,’de first dutty water mi ketch,mi wash
Meaning- Make use of the first opportunities that comes your way.

Wanti wanti can’t get it, getti getti no want i
Meaning- Have-nots covet what the Haves take for granted.

Every dawg has his day and every puss his 4 o’clock
Meaning- Today for me, tomorrow for you.

Cockroach nuh business inna fowl fight
Meaning- Don’t get involved in things that don’t concern you.

Every hoe ave dem tik a bush
Meaning- There’s someone out there for everyone.

What sweet nanny goat ago run eeh belly
Meaning- That which appears too good, can hurt you.

Di fus wata hog pass him wash himself
Meaning- Always choose the first opportunity.

Heel nevah go before toe
Meaning Deal with important matters first.

Every lang lane ave a turning
Meaning- Nothing lasts forever.

Jamaican Sayings On Love

What a fi yu, cyaan be un fi yu
Meaning- What is yours will always be yours.

Ole fire stick easy fi ketch
Meaning- It’s easy to rekindle an old romance.

Blood ticka dan wata
Meaning- The bond between blood relatives is very strong.

Mi old, but mi nuh cold
Meaning- Do not underestimate the value of the elderly.

Finga ‘tink, yu cyaan cut it t’row ‘way
Meaning- You should not cast off a member of your family who gets into trouble.

Fe see mi is one ting, fe come live wid mi is anodda
Meaning- You will never know someone just from casual acquaintances. Take time to know someone.

Marriage a nuh food truck
Meaning- Do not rush into a marriage, or any intimate relationship, but wait until the time is right.

Ebry jackass sey ‘im cubby ah race hass
Meaning- Parents always think that their children are destined for greatness.

Common Jamaican Sayings

Dead wid laugh„
Meaning- Dying with Laughter

Nyam
Meaning- Eat

Gyalis
Meaning- Player

Unnu
Meaning- You / All of you

A weh yuh a seh?
Meaning- Really? / Is that so?

My yute
Meaning- My youth

Big man ting
Meaning- Serious business

Blouse an skirts
Meaning- Slang word, normally use when one is surprise

Bun
Meaning- Cheat

Earthstrong
Meaning- Birthday

Y Pree
Meaning- What’s up

Weh yuh deh pon
Meaning- What are you up?

Tallawah
Meaning- Strong and sturdy.

Fiyah bun
Meaning- Fire burn

Small up yuhself
Meaning- Make room

Conclusion:

These are the best Jamaican sayings. I hope you guys like our collection of Jamaican sayings. If you have any question or suggestion then just comment below or contact us.