Planet Cookery

The beautiful Caribbean island of Barbados is an English speaking country, which like many other countries has its own slang. Bajan slang can be a wee bit difficult to understand and as a fairly regular traveller to Barbados, I have been confused on many occasions when talking to locals that use a lot of slang. I have put together a list of Bajan slang that I know will be of benefit to any tourists or business people that are travelling to Barbados. Bashment!- Cool a Bajan- a Barbadian, i.e someone from Barbados Baje- a shortened form of “Bajan” Cha!- an interjection meaning a variety of things from surprise to delight e.g: Cha, dat fella look so good! Cha, in hey hot as hell! Cha, you hear dat new tune! Don’t watch na face – don’t worry abo colon cleansing system ut it Don’t watch nain- don’t worry about to flam with s.o: to flirt with someone to be fagged out- to be very tired Gipsy- too inquisitive about everyone’s business e.g. cha, you so gipsy Hard- to describe just about anything good Lickorish- greedy when it comes to food To be mekking sport- to be kidding, joking e.g You mekking bare sport! nuttin/nain – nothing Pooch – used to refer to one’s buttocks To be a pooch licker- to be someone who sucks up to people To reason that – to think/decide that Safe – Meaning “that’s cool with me”. Scotch- In Bajan slang the word “scotch” is used when you want someone to move around so you could get a seat. For example, you may hear “Geh me a scotch dey so” (used like this it is considered rather impolite).