|
tahmun
|
Definition: pronunciation for "tamarind" on St. Thomas
Source: You Know U From the Virgin Islands When U Speak This Language, on Facebook, 2010.
Definition: (spelled "taman.") "Tamarind (Tamarindus indica). Also said Tambran, Tambrin, Tamun. Made into preserves, sauces, drinks, etc."
Source: Page 123, Valls, Lito. What a Pistarckle! A Dictionary of Virgin Islands English Creole. St. John, USVI. 1981.
|
tambran |
Definition: pronunciation for "tamarind" on St. Croix.
Source: Page 92, Sterns, Robin. Say it in Crucian! A Complete Guide to Today's Crucian for Speakers of Standard English. St. Croix: Antilles Press, 2008.
Example: "No more Brow Soda......I can't believe it. That's like no Armstrong Ice Cream, no tambrand stew, no coconut tart and all the other good stuff that just makes you cherish those V.I. things. Siggggh. Somebody bring it back."
Source: Keisha, on Facebook, 2010.
|
|
tan tan |
Definition: (1) leucaena, a common weed plant growing in the bush.
Source: Page 92, Say it in Crucian!
Definition: (spelled "tan-tan.") "Tree. Wild tamarind (Leucaena glauca). Used locally for making charcoal, living fence posts. The seeds are made into jewelry. The bark and roots make home remedies. Branches are fed to livestock in the dry season. Used as coffee substitute."
Source: Pages 123-4, What a Pistarckle!
|
|
taught
|
Definition: pronunciation for "thought."
Alternative spellings: tat, taght
Source: Page 92, Say it in Crucian!
|
|
"Take yoh time, comb yoh hair."
|
Definition: proverb, meaning don't rush into something.
Example: "Chanelle, I see you watchin dem boys, but I beg you, take yoh time, comb yoh hair."
Source: Page 60, Say it in Crucian!
|
|
taytay
|
Definition: "man with gay tendancies."
Source: You Know U From the Virgin Islands When U Speak This Language, on Facebook, 2010.
|
|
"teef"
|
Definition: See "tief," below.
|
|
tek
|
Definition: pronunciation for "take" ("Tek weh yohsef" = "Get out of here.")
Source: Page 92, Say it in Crucian!
Definition: "Take. To appropriate something not belonging to the taker; a distinction from stealing is implied, but not always clear....The following anecdote may help define: As a young boy in our family emporium on King Street in Christiansted, every Saturday, the traditional shopping day, I was relegated to the ignominious position of guarding barrels of pickled shads, herrings, pig tails, pig snouts, and other such 'gourmet' items. One Saturday I noticed a little old lady slipping a couple of herrings into her basket. 'Ah ketch yoh tiefin de herring,' I yelled at her. 'Oh noh,' she said, 'ah was tiefin dem befoh yoh ketch me, but now dat yoh ketch me ah tekin' dem.' And off she went, triumphant. I rushed into my father's office and related the incident, fully expecting him to call out the Marines and was chagrined to see him roar with laughter. After a while he said, 'She's right, if she hadn't needed them she wouldn't have 'tek' them.' It told me something important about my father, and more importantly, something important about life."
Source: Page 125, What a Pistarckle!
|
|
"'Tek care" betta da 'Beg pardon.'"
|
Definition: "Take care not to offend."
Source: Ronnie Lockhart, on Facebook, 2009.
|
|
"Tek sense to mek nonsense."
|
Definition: It takes a smart person to act dumb.
Source: Ronnie Lockhart, on Facebook, 2009.
|
|
"Tek weh yoself"
|
Definition: "Get away from here."
Source: Adore, on Facebook, 2010.
|
|
"temptation pillow"
|
Definition: Said of large breasts developing on a young girl. "Watch she because she gwan have some temptation pillow."
Source: LaTisha, on Facebook, 2010.
|
|
"th" sound
|
Definition: in Crucian, the "th" sound is usually pronounced as "d" or "t."
Examples: "three" = "tree", "think" = "tink", "mouth" = "mout", "they" = "dey", "that" = "dat"
Source: Page 8, Say it in Crucian!
|
|
"The Bob"
|
Definition: short for "Babylon," used to refer specifically to the United States.
Source: Page 93, Say it in Crucian!
|
|
"the Christmas"
|
Definition: used where a Standard English speaker would just say "Christmas."
Example: "I goin home for the Christmas."
Posted by: doctropic, 2009.
|
|
The Maury Povich Show: If God was from the V.I.
|
WARNING: Read no further if your religious sensibilities may be offended. Thank you!
THE MAURY POVICH SHOW: If God was from the V.I.
MAURY: Today we have a very special episode of the Maury Povitch show. As we all know, Christians claim that Jesus is the son of God. God, however, has never acknowledged this claim. Many skeptics on the other hand, have claimed simply that Jesus was the son of Joseph, the result of some premarital indiscretion. Joseph, though has steadfastly maintained that he did not "know" Mary, his teenage wife, before marriage. We bring them all together so that with DNA testing we can settle this matter once and for all....
MAURY: Mary, you've claimed from the beginning that your son is the son of God. How do you respond to those who would deny and mock your claim.
MARY: Well, I was a virgin when I got pregnant, so he has to be the son of God. And just look at him, turning water into wine, walking on water and all that. He's just like his father.
MAURY: God, you've never publicly responded to these claims before. Is there anything you'd like to say?
GOD: Look, I man nu like involve in dem ting deh, mehson? I-N-I just deal wid peace an inity, de man.
MAURY: Yes, but is Jesus your son?
GOD: Nah mehson, I look like I is a man fool roun wid liddle gyal? Seriously, I name "God," de original lova-man. You tink I cyah geh big woman, mehson? I look like I have time fuh any liddle dry foot 13 year ole gyal? She ain' even gah breas yet.
MAURY: Joseph, you've been supportive throughout this entire ordeal. What do you have to say? In particular, how do you respond to the claims that you and Mary invented this whole story to avoid being stoned to death for premarital sex?
JOSEPH: I'm outraged! How dare you attack my wife's honour. Sex before marriage is for harlots! And my wife, sir, is no harlot!
MAURY: Strong words coming from Joseph. Well, we have done a DNA paternity test, and the results have come in. Stick with us, we'll be right back after the break.
*GEICO COMMERCIAL*
MAURY: Welcome back!. The results have come in, so lets see once and for all who's the father of Baby Jesus. (opens envelope)
MAURY: God, ...you are not the father.
GOD: Yes! I kno dah arredi! Tank you Jah! ...Ahm..ah mean.. Tank you Me!
MAURY: Joseph, ...you are not the father.
AUDIENCE: Ooooooooooooooooh.
MARY: It's not true!!!
Joseph: (storming off stage to grab Vita Malt bottle) Dah dutty@ # $ % ^ & *! Aye, I vex you kno. Mehson, I vex nuh rass! Ahyoh beya geh me outta here before I start rammin' some tump in somebody mudda @ # $ % ^ & *. Aye mehson. Aye!
(Camera follows a weeping Mary offstage where she's greeted by a counselor)
(Credits roll, fade to black)
Source: Eveything and Anything Virgin Islands group on Facebook, 2010.
|
|
the suffix "ther"
|
Definition: In Crucian, words that end in "ther" are usually pronounced as ending in "duh" or "dah"
Examples: "other" = "uddah", "father" = "fahhah", "mother" = "muddah"
Source: Page 8, Say it in Crucian!
|
|
"throwing [his, her] words"
|
Definition: swearing.
Source: Page 58, Say it in Crucian!
Definition: ("Throw words") "To say anything for the benefit of certain ears as if one were speaking to another or to oneself. (Usually derogatory, sometimes obscene in nature.) In Jamaica it is called 'Throwing words to the moon.'"
Source: Page 126, What a Pistarckle!
|
|
tief, tiefin
|
Definition: (TEEF) literally "thief," used as a verb, i.e, "to steal" ("I teefin office papah.")
Alternative spellings: teef
Source: Page 93, Say it in Crucian!
Example: "A da mon, you teef ma pencil" = "Hey- you stole my pencil."
Source: Melissa, on Facebook, 2007.
Example: "I had plan to go to it, but I had to buss a fello head fo teefin change out meh car."
Source: Stephen, on Facebook, 2010.
Note: For a great story about 'tiefin,' see "tek" above."
|
|
"Tief man neva prosper."
|
Source: Ronnie Lockhart, on Facebook, 2009.
|
|
"tight-up"
|
Definition: adjective for "tight" ("Dat police come ova like he bad in he tight-up pants.")
Source: Page 93, Say it in Crucian!
|
|
"Time longer than twine."
|
Definition: proverb, meaning your bad deeds can catch up to you.
Source: Page 60, Say it in Crucian!
|
|
ting
|
Definition: "thing."
Source: Page 93, Say it in Crucian!
|
|
"Tings done by half neva done right."
|
Source: Ronnie Lockhart, on Facebook, 2009.
|
|
|
Definition: noun, female breasts.
Example: "Meh ti ti dem small, mehson."
Posted by: Cornelia Nicholas, 2009.
Definition: (spelled "titi.") "Breast. Teat."
Source: Page 127, What a Pistarckle!
|
|
titi bread
|
Definition: "Homemade bread made in small loaves with 'titis' at each end."
Source: Page 127, What a Pistarckle!
Definition: "Titi bread. Small local bread with two pointed ends."
Source: Page 18, Seamon, G.A. Virgin Islands Dictionary. St. Croix, USVI. 1968.
|
|
"tisic"
|
Definition: Tuberculosis. If someone coughs around you, he ga' de tisic.
Source: Ronnie Lockhart, on Facebook, 2009.
Definition: Tuberculosis. Spanish, 'tisico' = consumptive. 'E ga a tisic.' He has tuberculosis."
Source: Page 126, What a Pistarckle!
|
|
tink
|
Definition: "think" ("He tink he betta dan she." "Me ain tink so" = "I don't think so.")
Source: Page 93, Say it in Crucian!
|
|
"Ting ting"
|
Definition: "Introductory phrase for folktales, story-telling or riddle-posing....Other attention getters are: CRICK CRACK and RING-TING-TING."
Source: Page 126, What a Pistarckle!
|
|
tiz
|
Definition: "it's."
Example: "Tiz only bicaz mein had nu money...."
Posted by: Natalie, 2009.
|
|
"Today egg betta than tomorrow fowl."
|
Definition: "A bird in the hand is better than two in the air."
Source: Ronnie Lockhart, on Facebook, 2009.
|
|
"Tongue and teeth does fall out."
|
Definition: Expression mean good friends argue too.
Source: Kafi, on Facebook, 2010.
|
|
"Too man crab can't live in the same hole."
|
Source: Ronnie Lockhart, on Facebook, 2009.
|
|
"Too much friends mek crab nuh have no head."
|
Definition: "With little or no head, a crab can't think for himself, could be led in all directions."
Source: Ronnie Lockhart, on Facebook, 2009.
|
|
"too sharp for TV"
|
Definition: when someone is too amazing or attractive for words.
Source: Page 57, Say it in Crucian!
|
|
'tory
|
Definition: "1. Story. 2. Fib. Mild lie about something unimportant. 3. Gossip. To 'pong tory' is to gosip [sic]."
Source: Page 128, What a Pistarckle!
|
|
toss
|
Definition: used as a descriptive adjective/noun of an attractive person."
Example: "Aye...ayo see all dem toss last night in jamband wid dem pumpum shorts?"
Source: Alric, on Facebook, 2009.
|
|
tostones
|
Definition: Pronounced toasTOANes. "Crisp fried green plantains. [St. Croix voice.]"
Source: Page 128, What a Pistarckle!
|
|
touriss
|
Definition: (tourISSS) pronunciation for "tourist."
Source: Page 93, Say it in Crucian!
|
|
trade winds, tradewinds
|
Definition: "The Virgin Islands lie in the belt of 'Easterlies' or 'Trade Winds.' The trade winds blow very steadily from the southeast, east, and northeast. These consistent winds make the Virgin Islands one of the finest sailing areas in the world.
The trade winds are often interrupted from December to February by 'Northers,' locally known as 'Christmas Winds' which blow from the north or northwest. These winds are often accompanied by rain and large waves from the North.
During the spring months (March - May) the trade winds are reduced in speed and blow mainly from the east. In the summer months (June - August) the trade winds become strong again, blowing from east to southeast. July has the strongest winds of the entire year. During the fall (September - November) winds are usually their lowest, blowing from the east to southeast. The trade winds are sometimes interrupted during summer and fall by tropical storms or hurricanes that develop in the eastern tropical Atlantic and travel west to the Caribbean."
Source: "Climatology of the Virgin Islands," Government of the Virgin Islands Division of Fish and Wildlife Resources website, at http://bcrc.bio.umass.edu,vifishandwildlife/Education/AquaticEd/Coloringbook/
EnvColorBook/UsedFiles/Climate.htm
|
|
tralala
|
Definition: melee.
Example: "She down deh talkin duh hole tralala about her friend."
Posted by: La La, 2009.
|
|
tramp
|
Definition: "Impromptu street dance done by revelers following a steel pan or other musical group done during carnival or other festival time."
Source: Page 128, What a Pistarckle!
|
|
"transplant"
|
Definition: (St. John) someone who lives here but wasn't born here. On St. John there are locals and transplant locals. A transplant local can never achieve local status.
Posted by: Julie, 2010
|
|
tree, t'ree
|
Definition: pronunciation for "three."
Source: Page 93, Say it in Crucian!
|
|
"trick"
|
Definition: refers to an unpleasant person, usually female ("Dis trick come steppin to me with a bunch of attitude when I was at work.")
Source: Pages 37, 93, Say it in Crucian!
|
|
Trickidadian
|
Definition: "Occasional pejorative name for Trinidadian aliens. Some Trinidadians use it about themselves, boasting of their superior cleverness and intellect, especially when compared to the 'small islanders.'"."
Source: Page 129, What a Pistarckle!
|
|
Trini
|
Definition: "Trinidadian. Generally reserved for natives of Trinidad of East Indian descent."
Source: Page 129, What a Pistarckle!
|
|
trippin
|
Definition: from urban slang, used to mean overreacting, blowing small things out of proportion ("Dat bwoy still trippin.")
Source: Page 93, Say it in Crucian!
|
|
troupe
|
Definition: (pronounced TROOP), a group of performers, like the St. Croix Majorettes or UVI 4-H Club, who march in the Crucian Christmas Festival parades.
Source: Page 93, Say it in Crucian!
Definition: "A carnival or festival unit composed of individuals dressed in concert representing a group or depicting a story. See: FLOUPE."
Source: Page 130, What a Pistarckle!
|
|
"Tru dat!"
|
Definition: "That's true!"
Source: Page 93, Say it in Crucian!
|
|
tryna
|
Definition: "trying to."
Source: Page 93, Say it in Crucian!
|
|
"tumpin"
|
Definition: Whipping/spanking, as from a parent.
Example: "Dey need some tumpin."
Source: Agnes, on Facebook, 2010.
|
|
"tun tun"
|
Definition: "vagina."
Source: You Know U From the Virgin Islands When U Speak This Language, on Facebook, 2010.
Definition: "A term used to denote the female sex organ."
Source: Page 18,Virgin Islands Dictionary.
Joke: (2010), heard on St. Croix): "He wukkin Tun Tun Tours." = "He's driving a jeep for Tan Tan Tours (local tour company - implies he hopes to 'get lucky.')
|
|
tun-tun fly
|
Definition: refers to a knat.
Source: Shakeela, on Facebook, 2006.
|
|
tursty
|
Definition: pronunciation for "thirsty."
Source: Page 93, Say it in Crucian!
|
|
"12 Days of Crucian Christmas (2008)"
|
Sung to the classic tune, last verse only quoted here to save space:
On the 12th day of Christmas my Crucian gave to me,
Twelve pot holes,
Eleven mocko jumbies
Ten Crucian Bracelets
Nine guava tarts,
Eight people missing,
Seven different owners,
Six Cruzan Rums,
Five Johnny Cakes,
Four times powah gan,
Three machetes,
Two bomb threats,
and one cheese in a buttah bread.
Authors: Wendell Grouby Jr., Saskia Corke, Andrew Warbington III, Letisha Sackey, Tanicia Corke, Roxanne Walters, Precious Laurent, and Gabriel Rivera.
|
|
Twin City
|
Definition: refers to St. Croix, which has two towns, Christiansted and Frederiksted, while St. Thomas - "Rock" - has Charlotte Amalie and St. John - "Love City" - has Cruz Bay.
Source: Page 93, Say it in Crucian!
|
|
blank entry
|
Definition: blank
Example: blank
Source: blank
Alternative spellings: blank
Tags: blank
|
|
| |
| |
|
