See: "dah."

Definition: (Obsolete, popular 2005-2006). Popular youth expression, borrowed from Stateside slang, to mean great, the best.
Example: "I wuh lookin da bomb, so I ain ha care."
Source: Page 76, Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.

Definition: proverb, to mean if someone asks a favor of you, you should do it because you might need one in the future.
Source: Page 59,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.

Definition: [literally, "A dog has four feet, but he can't take four roads."] "Also said: 'Man gat two eye but caan' look two place.' Haitian Creole: "Che ge kay pat, se yon sei cheme li fe.'"
Source: #159, Valls, Lito. Ole Time Sayin's: Proverbs of the West Indies. St. John, USVI, 1983.

Definition: pronunciation for "that."
Example: "You done wi dat ting o wha?"
Source: Page 76,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.
Definition: "pronoun; that. Wha' da fa?" = "What's that for?"
Source: Page 66, Roy, John D. A Brief Description and Dictionary of the Language Used in the Virgin Islands. St. Thomas, USVI. 1975.
Alternative spellings: da, dat
Example: "Dah heck sick!"
Source: Abe, on Facebook, 2010.

Definition: "pronoun; that thing over there. I wouldn' mess wid da de if I was yo, gu'l."
Source: Page 66, Roy, John D. A Brief Description and Dictionary of the Language Used in the Virgin Islands. St. Thomas, USVI. 1975.

Definition: pronunciation for "daughter."
Alternative spellings: data, datta
Source: Page 76,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.

Definition: pronunciation for "did not" or "didn't."
Example: "We dain go."
Source: Page 76,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.

Definition: pronunciation for "don." See "Hugo make me a dan!"

Definition: pronunciation for "donkey."
Example: "I had foget dah my fadda dankey bin in deh bush." = "I had forgotten that my father's donkey was there in the bush."
Source: Pages 53, 76,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.

Definition: pronunciation for "that is" or "that's."
Example: "Dats all you could do? Stay fram far and fling ting?"
Alternative spellings: dass
Source: Page 76,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.
Definition: "that is. Das a good chil', come to yo granny!"
Source: Page 66, Roy, John D. A Brief Description and Dictionary of the Language Used in the Virgin Islands. St. Thomas, USVI. 1975.

Definition: "That's good news."
Source: #169, Valls, Lito. Ole Time Sayin's: Proverbs of the West Indies. St. John, USVI, 1983.

Definition: Said when greeting someone you haven't seen in a long time.
Source: Seen on Facebook, 2009.

Definition: "Isn't that something!"
Source: Page 34, Valls, Lito. What a Pistarckle! A Dictionary of Virgin Islands English Creole. St. John, USVI. 1981.

Definition: "That's what I'm trying to explain to you!"
Source: You Know U From the Virgin Islands When U Speak This Languge group on Facebook, 2010.

Definition: "that is why. Das wha' make yo so rude, yo modda le' you get away wid mu'da." = "That's why you're so rude; your mother lets you get away with murder."
Source: Page 66, Roy, John D. A Brief Description and Dictionary of the Language Used in the Virgin Islands. St. Thomas, USVI. 1975.

Definition: "A tuber similar to tania (Cocolasia esculenta). Introduced by recent off-island immigrants. Poisonous if eaten raw. 'Eddoes' in Jamaica, 'Malanga' in P.R. The dasheen is oriental and hence the name, 'de Chine.'"
Source: Page 34, Valls, Lito. What a Pistarckle! A Dictionary of Virgin Islands English Creole. St. John, USVI. 1981.
Definition: "noun; starchy vegetable related to tania. Mi groung yield some fine dasheen dis yea'."
Source: Page 66, Roy, John D. A Brief Description and Dictionary of the Language Used in the Virgin Islands. St. Thomas, USVI. 1975.

Definition: "Sunrise....It is 'day clean' when one can see to walk."
Source: Page 35, Valls, Lito. What a Pistarckle! A Dictionary of Virgin Islands English Creole. St. John, USVI. 1981.
Example: Advertising its famous "Ol' Year's Night" party, Villa Morales' ads used to say the event would last "til day clean!"

Definition: "And this too shall pass. The everlasting cycle of regeneration."
Source: #170, Valls, Lito. Ole Time Sayin's: Proverbs of the West Indies. St. John, USVI, 1983.

Definition: when a couple is not yet officially dating, but are on their way to be.
Example: "Are you dealin wid he?"
Source: Pages 18, 77,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.

Definition: "the," "they."
Example: "See de tings dem right deh."
Source: Page 77,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008."
Example: "De boilin' de same pot. They're living harmoniously."
Source: #178, Valls, Lito. Ole Time Sayin's: Proverbs of the West Indies. St. John, USVI, 1983.
See also: "deh" meaning "there."

Pronunciation for "the devil."
Examples: Proverb #181 "De debil know 'e own" [Birds of a feather flock together], #182 "De debil nebba sleep," #183 "De debil is a busy man," #15 "Ah eat wid de debil bu' ah watch 'e," #254 "Eb'ryday de debil help t'ief; one day Gad help de watchman" [Sooner or later, you'll get caught], etc.
Source:Valls, Lito. Ole Time Sayin's: Proverbs of the West Indies. St. John, USVI, 1983.

Definition: Said "when it rains while the sun is shining brightly."
Source: Page 136, Valls, Lito. What a Pistarckle! A Dictionary of Virgin Islands English Creole. St. John, USVI. 1981.

Definition: "Don't change old friends for new. See: 'New broom sweep clean, ole broom know de corners.' Spanish: 'Mas vale mal conocido, que bueno por conocer.' [Better bear the ills we know than fly to those we know not of.]"
Source:#178, Valls, Lito. Ole Time Sayin's: Proverbs of the West Indies. St. John, USVI, 1983.

Definition: "Experience comes with age."
Source: #198, Valls, Lito. Ole Time Sayin's: Proverbs of the West Indies. St. John, USVI, 1983.

Definition: used to mean "die" and "died."
Example: "Her fadda had dead."
Source: Page 77,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.

Definition: "People in unfortunate circumstances are indifferent to more misfortunes."
Source:#198, Valls, Lito. Ole Time Sayin's: Proverbs of the West Indies. St. John, USVI, 1983.

Definition: "Death is no respecter of age. Spanish: Tan presto se va el
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Definition: pronunciation for "there," "their."
Examples: "The girl deh unda deh tree.", can be doubled on St. Croix: "It deh deh" = "It is there." On St. Croix, "She ain deh deh" = "She's not there." On St. Thomas/St. John, "She ain deh" = "She's not there."
Sources: Page 77, Say it in Crucian!, You Know U From the Virgin Islands When U Speak This Languge group on Facebook, 2010.
Definition: (spelled "de") "verb of location or condition; there. He de in de cane piece. I de de."
Source: Page 67, Roy, John D. A Brief Description and Dictionary of the Language Used in the Virgin Islands. St. Thomas, USVI. 1975.

Definition: Crucian for "here." St. Thomians will usually use "deh here" instead.
Example: "Deh yah in fuss bank w8tin impatienty." = "I'm here at First Bank waiting impatiently."
Source: Seen on Facebook, 2009.

Definition: used for emphasis, like "mehson."
Example: "I late deh man" = "I’m late."
Alternative spellings: deh man, de man
Source: Page 77,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.

Definition: indicates plural. May come before the noun ("Look ah dem chair") or more often after ("He feed deh goat-dem", "de man dem ova dere.") In Old School Crucian, the noun would stay singular (i.e. "haas dem" = "horses"), but today people often combine Crucian and Standard English ("books dem.")
Source: Page 77,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.
Definition: "Them. Those. [Pluralizer.] More often than not used as a pluralizing suffix. 'Man dem' = Men. 'House dem' = houses. 'Yam dem' = yams. Also used to indicate 'and others.' 'Ivan dem coming' = Ivan and others are coming."
Source: Page 35, Valls, Lito. What a Pistarckle! A Dictionary of Virgin Islands English Creole. St. John, USVI. 1981.
Definition: "pronoun; them, those. Dem chil'ren so harden. Pluralizer. Tan-tan dem up dea'. also, and the others. Mi uncle dem does fish sout' side."
Source: Page 67, Roy, John D. A Brief Description and Dictionary of the Language Used in the Virgin Islands. St. Thomas, USVI. 1975.

Definition: "Converts to a cause are always the most fanatic."
Source:#194, Valls, Lito. Ole Time Sayin's: Proverbs of the West Indies. St. John, USVI, 1983.

Definition: used to mean "et cetera."
Source: Tai, on Facebook, 2007.

Definition: "they."
Source: Page 77,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.

Definition: "those people."
Source: Page 77,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.

Definition: "It is said about town. It is gossiped. Literally: They say."
Source: Page 35, Valls, Lito. What a Pistarckle! A Dictionary of Virgin Islands English Creole. St. John, USVI. 1981.
Example: The website Demmansay.com bills itself as "News, issues, and happenings that affect each and everyone of us should know, but won't find out through mainstream media."

Definition: "(differently) means that the person agrees with what you are saying or appreciates a compliment."
Source: You Know U From the Virgin Islands When U Speak This Language, on Facebook, 2009.

Definition: "When a person is removing or adjusting his/her pants/skirt from between their buttocks."
Example: "Wach she diggin she rice so hard, naw."
Posted by: Taisha, 2010.
See also: "bun rice."

Definition: slang for "phone number."
Example: "Naturally your boy got the digits an we goin out on Saturday fo sho."
Source: Page 77,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.

Definition: slow thinker.
Source: Page 77,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.

Definition: "Being extremely playful, harrassing."
Source: You Know U From the Virgin Islands When U Speak This Language, on Facebook, 2009.
Definition: used to mean "stubborn." "Yoh too disgusting!"
Source: Jackie, on Facebook, 2010.
Definition: "Irritating. Annoying."
Source: Page 36, Valls, Lito. What a Pistarckle! A Dictionary of Virgin Islands English Creole. St. John, USVI. 1981.
Definition: "adjective; mildly annoying, irritating. I ain' carryin' yo no way wid mi, yo is too disgustin' an' yo don' listen when I speak to yo."
Source: Page 67, Roy, John D. A Brief Description and Dictionary of the Language Used in the Virgin Islands. St. Thomas, USVI. 1975.

Definition: "Do that again, and you're going to find out how much yellow butter costs a pound!" = Don't even THINK of doing that again.
Source: Ronnie Lockhart, on Facebook, 2009.

Definition: Proverb to mean "what goes around comes around...basically it's saying there's nothing mystical or magical about 'eye for an eye.'"
Source: Dominic, 2010.
Definition: ("do foh do ain' Obeah") "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Fair exchange is not robbery. Repaying a mean deed in kind is fair enough. French Creole: 'Fair pou fair pas mal.' Guadeloupe Creole: 'Cou pou cou pa de rancune.' Spanish: Tal para cual.' [Tit for tat.]"
Source: #207, Valls, Lito. Ole Time Sayin's: Proverbs of the West Indies. St. John, USVI, 1983.
Definition: ("do fa do") "Tit for tat."
Source: Page 36, Valls, Lito. What a Pistarckle! A Dictionary of Virgin Islands English Creole. St. John, USVI. 1981.
Note: The proverb is considered extensively in comparison to a number of African language sayings in: Emanuel, Lezmore Evan. "Surviving Africanisms in Virgin Islands English Creole." Diss. Howard U, 1970.

Definition: pronunciation for "do not" or "don't."
Example: "I don sing."
Source: Page 77,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.

Definition: "You're out of hand" or "You never stop with youir foolishness."
Example: "You doan done!""
Source: You Know U From the Virgin Islands When U Speak This Languge group on Facebook, 2010.

Definition: the pronunciation for "do" and "does" is DUH. In Crucian, "does" is used when forming declarative sentences and questions about continuing action:
"You does speak Spanish?"
"You does eat saltfish?"
"You da speak Yankee?" = "Do you speak [American-style] English?"
"The sun duh be blazing hot!"
Alternative spellings: doh, da, duh
Source: Pages 43-44, 77,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.
Definition: "Particle of habitual action. ''E does bade 'e skin eb'ry Saturday. He bathes each Saturday."
Source: Page 36, Valls, Lito. What a Pistarckle! A Dictionary of Virgin Islands English Creole. St. John, USVI. 1981.
Definition: "auxiliary verb. He does go St. Thomas ev'ry Tuesday."
Source: Page 67, Roy, John D. A Brief Description and Dictionary of the Language Used in the Virgin Islands. St. Thomas, USVI. 1975.

Definition: "Hard luck. Goose is cooked. It's all over."
Source: Page 36, Valls, Lito. What a Pistarckle! A Dictionary of Virgin Islands English Creole. St. John, USVI. 1981.
Definition: ("de dog dead") "all is finished. De dog dead now! Al'you could forge' 'bout any suga' cake Granny promise yo, because yo won' behave."
Source: Page 67, Roy, John D. A Brief Description and Dictionary of the Language Used in the Virgin Islands. St. Thomas, USVI. 1975.
Definition: An expression to mean it's over, done, finished.
Source: Allison, on Facebook, 2010.

Definition: expression to mean "don't butt in/mind your own business."
Source: Marie, on Facebook, 2010.

Definition: expression to mean don't do half the job, don't cheat."
Example: "Wash my car good, don give me a six for a nine."
Source: Page 59,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.

Definition: "Know your limitations."
Source:#214, Valls, Lito. Ole Time Sayin's: Proverbs of the West Indies. St. John, USVI, 1983.

Definition: "Totally ignorant. As they say in the south, 'Doesn't know his ass from his elbow.'"
Source: #220, Valls, Lito. Ole Time Sayin's: Proverbs of the West Indies. St. John, USVI, 1983.

Definition: Verb, used alone where a statesider would say "get/be done."
Example: "I waiting 4 the ducana 2 done."
Source: Binta, on Facebook, 2010.

Definition: a very long time.
Examples: "He bin gone from ya donkey years." "Meain see she in donkey years."
Source: Page 77,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.

Definition: Expression to mean don't go out looking for trouble.
Source: Ronnie Lockhart, on Facebook, 2009.
Variation: "Nebba trouble trouble til trouble trouble yoh."
Source:#538, Valls, Lito. Ole Time Sayin's: Proverbs of the West Indies. St. John, USVI, 1983.

(Editorial)
Dem ole people always say, "Dose dat live
In glass house should not t'row stone."
'Cause, today, ah for me; and tomorrow, ah for you.
Dem ole people also say, "When you see
your neighbor house on fire, wet yours!"
You tink we mind dem warning? No Sah!
We behave like we larger dan life: playing God!
In dis season of earthquake,
Which country can really stand dis wrath?
Sooner or later, we all gonna feel de heat:
Day before, was Haiti. Yesterday, was Chile.
Today, is Turkey. Tomorrow, could well be we!
So why we getting on like we so special for?
Dem ole people say, "Nevva spit in de wind,
'Cause your spit go tu'n round and land
Right back in your face!"
Daughter-pig had ask mother-pig,
"But Mamma, how come your mout' long so?"
Mother-pig smile and say, "Me chile,
When you grow-up, you go find out!"
Daughter-pig grow-up and look
Just like she mother.
Source: Sylvester, Mark. Editorial. Virgin Islands Daily News. 29 Mar. 2010. 7 April 2010.

Definition: "An alien immigrant. Term usually, but not necessarily, used in derrogation. Also used, Ilos, Up-Islander, Islan' Man, Down de Islan' Man, Garrat, Off Islander. Said 'Downalong' in Barbados."
Source: Page 136, Valls, Lito. What a Pistarckle! A Dictionary of Virgin Islands English Creole. St. John, USVI. 1981.

Definition: ("draft") "noun; a cold. To take a draf = to catch a cold. Las' night I take a draf an' today I caan' breat'e at all."
Source: Page 68, Roy, John D. A Brief Description and Dictionary of the Language Used in the Virgin Islands. St. Thomas, USVI. 1975.

Definition: pronunciation for "drop."
Source: Page 77,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.

Definition: (1) can refer to a Rastafarian or someone who wears dreadlocks, (2) can be used as a slang form of emphasis at the end of a sentence ("I deh ya dread" = "I am here.")
Source: Page 77,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.
Example: "yo dat Frig does piss me off dred!"
Source: Storme, on Facebook, 2007.

Definition: (Spelled "dum' bread") "Baked johnny-cake. Also known as Dum' johnny-cake. Unleavened."
Source: Page 38, What a Pistarckle!
Definition: (spelled "dumbread") "noun; a heavy baked bread made with baking powder instead of yeast. Tis a long time me ain' eat a good dumbread; I mus' aks mi granny to bake one fo' me."
Source: Page 68, Roy, John D. A Brief Description and Dictionary of the Language Used in the Virgin Islands. St. Thomas, USVI. 1975.
Definition: "Dumb bread. A heavy Johnny cake."
Source: Page 8, Seaman, G.A. Virgin Islands Dictionary. St. Croix, USVI. 1968.

Definition: pronunciation for "down."
Example: "We goin dung de road."
Source: Page 77,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.

Definition: (spelled "dung guts") "A protruding stomach."
Source: Page 38, Valls, Lito. What a Pistarckle! A Dictionary of Virgin Islands English Creole. St. John, USVI. 1981.
Definition: (spelled "dunguts") "noun; a pendulous belly. Denno go' a real dunguts in front a he, boy!"
Source: Page 68, Roy, John D. A Brief Description and Dictionary of the Language Used in the Virgin Islands. St. Thomas, USVI. 1975.

Definition: pronunciation for "dirty."
Source: Page 78,Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.
Definition: ("dutty up") "To soil. From Twi, dote = soil, earth, clay, mud."
Source: Page 38, Valls, Lito. What a Pistarckle! A Dictionary of Virgin Islands English Creole. St. John, USVI. 1981.
Definition: ("dutty up") "verb; to soil. He du'tty up mi notebook."
Source: Page 68, Roy, John D. A Brief Description and Dictionary of the Language Used in the Virgin Islands. St. Thomas, USVI. 1975.

Definition: [Literally, "Dirty hands make for a greasy mouth."] "Work and you will always eat. Spanish: "En esta vida caduca, el que trabaja no manduca.' [In this life, he who works not eats not.]"
Source: #233, Valls, Lito. Ole Time Sayin's: Proverbs of the West Indies. St. John, USVI, 1983.

Definition: ["Dirty water will put out afire."] "Everything is useful."
Source:#233, Valls, Lito. Ole Time Sayin's: Proverbs of the West Indies. St. John, USVI, 1983.

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