Jamaican English - Vocabulary

Vocabulary

The Irish accent was a major influence on the accent of Jamaican English. Recent American influence is also obvious in the lexicon (babies sleep in "cribs" and wear "diapers" or "pampers"; some people live in "apartments" or "townhouses", for example). Generally, older vocabulary tends to be British (babies wear "nappies", not "diapers"; cars have "bonnets" and "windscreens"; children study "maths", use "rubbers" to erase their mistakes and wish they were on "holiday"), while newer phenomena are typically "imported" together with their American names.

An interesting use of mixed British and American vocabulary is with automobiles, where the American term "trunk" is almost universally used instead of the British term "boot", the British word "sleeping policeman" is used instead of the American word "speed bump”, while the engine covering is always referred to by the British term "bonnet". This is probably because the American term, "hood", is used in Jamaica as a vulgar slang for penis.

Naturally, Jamaican Standard also uses many local words borrowed from Jamaican Patois, such as "duppy" for "ghost"; "higgler" for "informal vendor/hawker"; and some terms for local foods, like "ackee", "callaloo", "guinep", and "bammy".