The list of African words in Jamaican Patois notes down as many loan words in Jamaican Patois that can be traced back to specific African languages, the majority of which are Twi words. Most of these African words have arrived in Jamaica through the enslaved Africans that were transported there in the era of the Atlantic slave trade.
Many of the African-derived words in Jamaican Patois relate to food, spirituality, the body, interpersonal relationships, and social behavior, reflecting the cultural priorities and lived experiences of enslaved communities. For example, "duppy" (ghost) is believed to derive from Akan or Ga languages, while "nyam" (to eat) may come from Twi or Fula. Jamaican Patois is significantly influenced by African languages, extending beyond vocabulary to include elements like rhythm, tone, and syntax. Notably, it features serial verbs, tonal emphasis, and a lack of subject-verb agreement, which are characteristics aligned with African linguistic patterns. These linguistic contributions are a vital part of Jamaica’s cultural identity and continue to shape the nation’s literature, music, and oral traditions.
Patwa LanguageOriginal wordDescriptionAccompong TownAkanAcheampong, an Asante name. The name of Nanny of the Maroons and her brother who founded the Maroon town of the same name. Ackee, akeeeAkanÁnkyẽ"a type of food/fruit", "cashew fruits"Duppy, DopiAkan, Ga Language(an Akan loanword, Ga has many Akan loanwords and were at one point conquered by the much more powerful and numerous Akwamu-Akan)Adópé (Dwarf in Ga language, but borrowed from Twi like many Ga customs. In Akan culture, ghosts take the form of dwarves[Mmotia] and apes[aboatia or adopeh] [note the -tia as a Twi suffix to denote a small stature, ghosts in Akan culture and Jamaica are seen as shape-shifters, they can be very big or very small. But are commonly so small they would be microscopic. Akans are the only West Africans that have dwarves as spiritual entities, which are considered to be tricksters. The word is said among the Ga people but the Jamaican application of the word matches the now extinct and former Akan word. An Akan origin for Duppy is far more likely.) Demon, Ghost, often written in Jamaican English as "duppy"Red EyeAkanAni bere"envious – direct translation from Akan into English" AdrueAkan, Ewe(The Akwamu-Akan also conquered the Ewe and introduced to them concepts such as matrilineal inheritance, stools and of course Akan loanwords the Ewe were originally and still are patrilineal.)Adúru, adrú"powder, medicine, drug"Afasia, afasayahAkan, EweAfaséw, afaséɛ"inferior wild yam"Afu yamAkanAfúw"farm" or "plantation"AhpettiAkanO-peyiA certain amuletAnansiAkanAnansi"Spider" also name Akan folktale character.BafanAkanBafana cripple.BissyAkanBese Kola Nut Brownin'AkanOburoni a white or near white person BuddyAkanBoɔdeɛ (pronounced:buddy)plantain. In Jamaica, the penis was compared to the shape of the plantain. Butu dung(verb)AkanBututo stoop or squat Burru Asante-AkanKete musicfrom the twi 'Aburukwa', the smallest drum in Kete music. Kete is a form of war drumming that originated with the Asante people, then spread to other Akans. In Jamaica. It is called Buru.BuruAkanAbrɔ(pronounced as Aburu) meaning destructive.CashaAsante-AkanKaseɛ́Acacia or "thorn"DokunuFante-AkanDɔkono(also known as blue draws or tie-a-leaf in Jamaica) food, a dessert item similar to bread pudding.CocobayAkanKokobé"leprosy"Fufu yamAkanFufuo meaning white and referring to the Akan dish which is a pounded into a paste of white yam and cassava.white yamGinal Akan (Ashanti Twi)Gyegyefuo, Gyegyeni.Someone that is not taken seriously, a stupid person. A con-man (in Jamaica only)Kaba-kabaYoruba"unreliable, inferior, worthless"Kas-KasAkanKasakasaAn Argument KeteAsante-AkanAburukwa "the smallest drum in Kete music"Come-come-see or Konkonsa AkanKonkonsa"gossip"MumuWest African"dumb", "stupid"OdumAkanOduma type of treeObeahAkan (Ashanti Twi)Ɔbayi"witchcraft"OpeteAkanOpete; archaic but preserved by the maroons, now replaced by John Crow, a Fante slave trader named John Correntee (Kurentsir). Contemporary Jamaicans use the term John Crow to mean vulture and as an insult to mean a traitor or evil person."vulture"PakiAkanapakyi calabashPatuAkanPatu"owl"Printing Man Asante-Akan Aprentengmana type of drum used in Kete and Buru music.Poto-potouniversally West African "mud", "muddy"Pum-pum Yam, Pum PumAkanƆpuna Bayere(Puna Yam) Punani or Puna person a yam that resembles the lower half of a woman's ulva. Pum-pum means ulva or vagina in Jamaica. BackraEfikMbakára"white man"JukFulaJukka"poke", "spur"AttooIgboátú"chewing stick"BreecheeIgboMbùríchìNri-Igbo noblemanChink, chinchIgbochị́nchị̀'bedbug'Country iboIgboỊ̀gbòPluchea odorata or Ptisana purpurascensHimbaIgboMba"yam root", a type of yam, Rajania cordataNyamFulaNyam to eatOkraIgboọkwurụa type of vegetableRed Ibo, EboeIgboỊ̀gbòa person with a light skin colour or a mulatto of mixed parentageUnuIgboúnù"you (plural)"DingkiKongofuneral ceremonyDundusKongondundu"albino", "white person", "European"AbeAkanAbePalm coconut seedPindaKongo"peanut"
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