The Virgin Islands Dictionary: A Collection of Words and Phrases so You Could Say It Like We

The Virgin Islands Dictionary: A Collection of Words and Phrases so You Could Say It Like We

by Kareem-Nelson Hull
The Virgin Islands Dictionary: A Collection of Words and Phrases so You Could Say It Like We

The Virgin Islands Dictionary: A Collection of Words and Phrases so You Could Say It Like We

by Kareem-Nelson Hull

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Overview

The Virgin Islands Dictionary is a collection of words and phrases used frequently, naturally and enjoyably by the people who call the Virgin Islands home. Don't get me wrong, most Virgin Islanders speak English well. A growing number speak English and Spanish making that set bilingual, while a super special set speak English and a well-organised and brilliant dialect too and that makes them Vllingual! Through the collection of words and phrases captured here, you get a sense of many things about the people of the islands: that they are sometimes curt, very funny, and insolently mischievous at times. The words coupled with the way Virgin Islanders dramatically speak, make for a good time and hours of fun. This Dictionary will also do that, provide hours of fun and an easy tool for cultural exchange and pride and is THE BEST GUIDE for a newbie to learn the ins and outs of the Virgin Islands' "language".

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781504951746
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Publication date: 11/04/2015
Pages: 374
Product dimensions: 5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Kareem-Nelson Hull is a first generation Virgin Islander who was born on Tortola on Sunday 16th October, 1983. He was educated in the Virgin Islands until he graduated top of his Humanities programme with honours from the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in 2003. He attended the University of Miami from 2004-2007 for his BSc in Broadcast Journalism and Literature and then again from 2009-2011 for his MA in International Relations. He has served his Territory as director of Protocol for the Government of the Virgin Islands and he is part of the duo that wrote the Virgin Islands Territory Song, "Oh Beautiful Virgin Islands". He is founder of VIlingual, a movement dedicated to securing the identity of the BVI people through different art forms.

Read an Excerpt

The Virgin Islands Dictionary

A Collection of Words and Phrases So You Could Say It Like We


By Kareem-Nelson Hull

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2015 Kareem-Nelson Hull
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5049-5174-6



CHAPTER 1

A


Ain Pullin' [ain puh-lin] Idiom- 1. the result of a disagreement. 2. to be at odds; where a relationship once was. 3. fallen out badly. 4. actively separated from a past relationship; especially friendship.

Say it like we: "Gyul, look wah dem come too. Dey used to be so close and now dem ain pullin."

A Barh [Ah Baarh] Verb- 1. Bar. 2. a ride given by a bicycle rider to another person on either the handle bar or top tube of a bicycle. 3. an uncomfortable ride given by a friend from one place to another on a bicycle. 4. a ride given to a person on a bicycle where they are required to sit on the handle bar and in between the legs of the rider. 5. a ride given to another person on a bicycle sometimes on the back of bicycle standing on the cogset. 6. also known as "a tow."

Say it like we: "Kevin, gimme a barh down the road nuh man, I ain able to walk."

A book [ah book] Noun1. refers to the programme book that is printed for a funeral service. 2. highly sought-after memento from a funeral service. 3. an item that no proper Virgin Islander feels complete without once having attended a funeral.

Say it like we: "See if yuh cuh bring a book fuh meh when yuh go by the chuch, ah wahn see if ah know dah pursin."

A Cause [ah kawz] Noun- 1. a reason. 2. a purpose. 3. a calling.

Say it like we: "Ah glad yuh geh ketch because you ain had a cause goin' in Mr. Merrit pineapple fiel."

A Clout [ah klout] Noun- 1. a hard blow delivered to the back of the head with the open palm of the hand. 2. a serious blow driven to the head of one person by another in anger or in play.

Say it like we: "Keep playin' wid me and see if I dohn hit you a clout today."

A Do [ah doo] Verb- 1. a chance. 2. an opportunity 3. a turn.

Say it like we: "Gimme a do on the Play Station nuh, you always hoggin' up dah game."

A Handle [ah han-dl] Noun- 1. a formal title placed before a name as Virgin Islanders consider it rudely disrespectful to call older people by their first name only unless invited to do so. 2. 'Ms.'; 'Mrs.'; 'Teacher'; 'Hon.' and others.

Use it like this: "I find myself still calling ev'ryone Ms. Ana, Ms. Darlene or Ms. Lydia because when we were young we were taught never to call someone by their first name only or we would get slapped."

A Lick [ah lik] Noun- 1. a hit with the hand or an object. 2. a successful strike. 3. a blow to the body or to an object.

Say it like we: "Glenford, dohn leh me hit you a lick. Stop putting yuh han in my face."

A Lime [ah lahym] Noun- 1. a relaxing time. 2. a time where you hang out and do nothing more. 3. an outing with friends. 4. taking it easy, but not at home.

Say it like we: "I goin' tung for a lime, just to geh out duh house."

A piece ah breeze [ah peece ah breez] Noun- 1. meaning a strong coolin' flow of air. 2. a particularly pleasing flow of air usually welcomed after experiencing severe heat.

Say it like we: "Lawd we need a piece ah breeze to cool dah place, it so hot."

A song an a prayer [ah sawng an ah prair] Expression- 1. reference to the church practice that includes the singing of hymns and reading of prayers from a prayer book. 2. an indication of the amount of time that will be needed to complete a task. 3. an indication of the degree of power and/or will that will be necessary to accomplish something.

Say it like we: "Gettin' trew wid anyting in Govament does tek a song and a prayer."

A Tow [ah toh] Verb- 1. a ride given by a bicycle rider to another person on either the handle bar or top tube of a bicycle. 2. an uncomfortable ride given by a friend from one place to another on a bicycle. 3. a ride given to a person on a bicycle where they are required to sit on the handle bar and in between the legs of the rider. 4. a ride given to another person on a bicycle sometimes on the back of bicycle standing on the cogset. 5. also known as a barh.

Say it like we: "Gimme a tow on your bike nuh, I ain able to walk."

Ablunce [ey-buhl-unce] Noun- 1. strength. 2. having necessary power, skill, resources, or qualifications.

Say it like we: "Betsaida and Sophie, I ain gah duh ablunce today wid no Cabinet Paper. We goin' have to draft dat tomorrow," the Permanent Secretary said.

Ack [ahk] Verb-1. behave. 2. the process of doing.

Say it like we : "He does ack funny sometimes so I dohn noh when to hail he or to leave he alone."

Ack Biggity [ahk big-gee-tee] Verb-1. pompous behaviour. 2. behaving with superfluous importance.

Say it like we: "Since he come a lawyer, I fine he does ack biggity."

Acking Up [ah-kin-uhp] Verb- 1. said of a child who is not behaving properly in a controled environment like church. 2. restlessness of a child that is distracting to the parent and other attendees at an event.

Say it like we: "My modda used to hit me hard if I wah acking up in chuch when ih wuh boring."

Acks [ahks] Verb- 1. to make a request. 2. to solicit for something. 3. to pose a question.

Say it like we: "Lemme acks yuh a question, das your woman?"

Afro Tree [af-roh] Noun- 1. a number of large, sprawling trees sheltering the Sunday Morning Well and on the property of the Elmore Stoutt High School. The afro tree is given its name because of the shape of the canopy of the trees which resembles an afro. The area became known as a venue for heavy smoking and other negative activity until it was cleaned, restored and repurposed as a monument to emancipation.

Use it like this: "I rememba when man used to smoke unda duh afro tree so hard dem say duh chilren dem in High School used to geh high an all. Ih was really a 'high' school."

Agriculcha Fair [agh'reh cull cha] Noun- 1. Agrucultural Fair. 2. event held by the Department of Agriculture during the month of February as part of Farmer's Week. 3. a weekend fair held by the Department of Agriculture on the agricultural grounds at Paraquita Bay on Tortola. 4. an exhibition and competition fair where local farmers show their produce to be judged and/or sold. 5. the largest and longest-running fair in the Virgin Islands.

Say it like we: "Wah you wearing to go agriculcha fair dis weekend?"

Ah [A-h] Noun- 1. meaning 'a'. 2. the Virgin Islander pronunciation of the letter a; the first letter of the alphabet. 3. word proceeding a singular object.

Say it like we: "Da boy playin' wid ah ball."

Ah Born Here [ah bawn heer] Interjection- 1. a popular phrase used by Virgin Islanders to assert their right to anything at anytime. 2. the banner of birth right for a Virgin Islander becoming the reason many things should be reserved or bestowed to them even without investment and achievement. 3. the first statement hurled at an expatriate person who may be seen as rude, difficult, demanding or as trying to usurp a job, position or the property of a local.

Say it like we: 'Well I had to remind my boss Bitter End juss like Shereen calypso say, ah born here an he ain goin' fire me for being late once ah week."

Ah Feel Good [ah feeeeel gud] Political expression- 1. phrase borrowed from the late James Brown's popular song "I Feel Good" and made popular by Mark Vanterpool during the 2007 election campaign. 2. phrase first used by Mark Vanterpool during his 2007 campaign launch at The Band Stand in Road Town that prompted the making of the popular red, white and blue I Feel Good t-shirts.

Say it like we: "Boy ah feel good dat the NDP gowament get in."

Ah Good! [ah gud] Interjection- 1. expressing delight at the misfortune of another. 2. an expression usually repeated after a person has suffered some small but recoverable injury usually happening after the person was cautioned against it.

Say it like we: "Ah good fuh yuh! A tell yuh don't touch the pot or it would bun you."

Ah Good While [ah gud wyle] Slang- 1. a long time. 2. a considerable amount of time in the past or in the future.

Say it like we: "It goin' be ah good while before dah next set ah johnny cakes goin' be ready. You wahn to wait for your order or come back?"

Ah ha, pingidy whop (mommy suck ah lollipop) [ping-iddy wha'p] Interjection- From primary school children; 1. a chorus sung by primary school students that follows an act that is punishable; usually with licks. 2. you are in trouble. 3. you are going to be punished.

Say it like we: "Ah ha, pingidy whop mommy suck ah lollipop. Yuh goin' get it from Ms. Lettsome," the children said in a chorus to the frightened child.

Ah Lil' [Ah lill] Adjective- 1. a small amount of an item. 2. denotes an insignificant occurrence. 3. a specific reference made to demonstrate the small size of an object.

Say it like we: "Jay stop dah noise 'bout you ain geh no invitation on toime, tis juss lil' party we keep up fuh she."

Ah Lil' Bit [Lill] Adjective- Used at any age; 1. indicating a small amount of anything. 2. a displeasing amount of an item. 3. a common descriptor used to indicate the size of portion that is required of something.

Say it like we: "Only gimme ah lil' bit ah dah LSL cake, I on ah diet."

Ah nuh [ah n'uh] Interjection- 1. I know. 2. used to preceed an assertive and definitive statement.

Say it like we: "Ah nuh who ain' goin' dung the road today in the hot sun is me."

Ah nuh [ah n'uh] Suffix-1. you know. 2. the end of a sentence. 3. also said as yuh nuh.

Say it like we: "After she cuss me off I dun decide, meen goin' dung deh agen ah nuh."

Ah vex [ah vexx] Expression-1. in a state of being upset. 2. completely annoyed. 3. extremely irritated stemming from provocation. 4. upset to the point of seeing red. 5. so angered that if cut, blood would not flow because it too is upset and still. 6. filled with anger.

Say it like we: "Boy, ah vex wid she for sayin' dah in front ah he. You know he goin' go back an tell the boss now."

Ahyuh [ahy-y'uh] Pronoun- 1. you all. 2. referring to a group of people of which you are excluded. 3. said to one person that stands proxy for an entire group. 4. meaning a certain kind of people. 5. sometimes spelled ayoand pronounced differently but possessing the same meaning.

Say it like we: "Ahyuh comin' beach wid we?"

Use it like this: "Ah acks yuh to borrow da carh and yuh lie to me and tell me it wasn't wukin' and it wuh well wukin'. Das how ahyuh is."

Air BVI [B.V.I.] Noun- 1. an airline that operated in the British Virgin Islands (B.V.I.) from 1971 to 1993. 2. flag carrier of the Virgin Islands that flew exclusively between the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. 3. Virgin Islands airline that went insolvent in 1991 but flew until a crash in 1993.

Use it like this: " It look like we goin' need to open back Air BVI agehn since American Eagle pull out ah duh country."

Ajax [a-jaxx] Noun- 1. a brand of cleaning solutions made by the Colgate-Palmolive company that includes powdered and liquid cleaners. 2. the brand name of a cleaning solution that is also used to name all cleaning agents that are white, powdery and come in its trademark can shape 3. the universal name given by some Virgin Islanders to a stain-fighting cleaning solution with a powdery texture, that is salt-like to the taste and may even be branded as Comet.

Say it like we: Mom: "Use some Ajax to clean dah oily pot."

Child: "But mommy dis ting say Comet."

Mom: "Gyal, dohn play wid me, yuh know wah ah mean!"

All Now [aawll nuw] Adverb- 1. still. 2. at the present moment. 3. happening presently and continuously. 4. even now. 5. to this instant or moment. 6. also said as all ah now.

Say it like we: "Gyal all now Fiona ain reach home from the govament wuk. Look at the toime, tis 7:30 p.m."

All Ah We [aawll Ah wee] Pronoun, Pl- 1. we. 2. us. 3. a group inclusive of the person saying the popular slang. 4. a lot of three or more persons as a collective. 5. representing togetherness. 6. name of a former basketball team belonging to the Huntum's Ghut and Lower Estate areas of Tortola, that played in the Amateur Basketball Association league.

Say it like we: "How all ah we goin' fit in dah sports carh?"

Use it like this: "I miss da days when All Ah We used to play ball. Das when basketball used to be sweet."

All Deck Out [aawll dek out] Adjective- 1. all dressed up. 2. wearing a significant amount of jewellery as part of an outfit. 3. impressively well dressed. 4. relating to an extensive amount of decorations adorning a house or tree at Christmas time.

Say it like we: "Back in da day people used to go the Miss Worl show all deck out. Dem was da days."

All Hell Bruck Loose [aawll hehl bruhk loos] Idiom- 1. a state of complete disarray. 2. referring to a large amount of commotion at an organised event. 3. a noisy or riotous atmosphere occurring after a period of relative quietness within an event. 4. a situation where people at a gathering have become upset or dangerously excited.

Say it like we: "When dah boy from Puscul an dah gyul from East End had fight in high school, all hell bruck loose so dey had lock dung da school."

All Jokes Aside [aawll johks uh-sahyd] Adverb- 1. time to end laughter. 2. time to quit the playful atmosphere surrounding a matter. 3. a call for seriousness. 4. a call to order; to end silliness. 5. a statement to encourage serious behaviour said while still laughing and trying to regain composure. 6. necessary to be said to regain control of anything when something hilarious has disrupted the flow of business. 7. sometimes proceeded by the word puttin' (puttin' all jokes aside) to denote an imperative command to continue without play.

Say it like we : "Puttin' all jokes aside, leh we geh this assignment dun for Ms. Dawson so we cuh go home."

All Together [aawll tuh-ged-ah] Adverb- 1. all at once. 2. all at the same time. 3. refers to a group of individuals entering a space usually in an unfavourable manner.

Say it like we: "You ain hear how dem children come back from break time all together mekin' noise? Lehme go quiet dem dung."

Aloe Wera [al-loh wear-ah] Noun, plural aloes- From older times; 1. Aloe Vera. 2. any predominantly African shrub that is of the Aloe Vera species. 3. a leafy and fleshy, green plant that is bitter to the taste and used on the finger of a child to deter them from sucking it. 4. a plant used in the Virgin Islands as a remedy for many illnesses. 5. leafy, green plant usually pounded and drained for its contents by Rasta men to "shake out" their growing locks. 6. usually shortened to just Aloe.

Say it like we: "Dis ole jackass wohn stop cuttin' off my good aloe wera 'bout he growin' locks on he head!"

American Twang [ah-mear-ih-kuhn] Noun- 1. the pronunciation of words, phrases and sentences in the way an American would. 2. to adapt an American accent almost instantaneously once stepping foot on their shores. 3. to sound like an American would, after living in America for some time. 4. to knowingly imitate an American accent after a summer visit, but doing so confidently.

Say it like we: "Tasha went states for one summer an come back wit dis strong American twang. Well suppose she had live there for any time?"

Americanised [ah-mear-ih-kuhn-oiyzed] Adjective- 1. to assimilate the customs and institutions of the U.S. as seen on TV. 2. conform to the culture, behaviour and dress of mostly African Americans. 3. following the trends set by B.E.T. 4. embracing certain American customs like eating cereal with cold milk, sagging of the pants and consuming fast food (where available).

Say it like we: "Da children dem today so Americanised wid all dis rap music in da place an ah cahn understan a wud dem sayin'."


(Continues...)

Excerpted from The Virgin Islands Dictionary by Kareem-Nelson Hull. Copyright © 2015 Kareem-Nelson Hull. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction, xi,
A Few Rules to Remember, xv,
A, 1,
B, 14,
C, 46,
D, 70,
E, 88,
F, 93,
G, 113,
H, 131,
I, 145,
J, 150,
K, 156,
L, 160,
M, 171,
N, 191,
O, 199,
P, 204,
Q, 224,
R, 226,
S, 239,
T, 266,
U, 287,
V, 290,
W, 293,
X, 305,
Y, 306,
Z, 313,

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