Patwa (Jamaican Patois) Play audio Translation Edit link
NAGAH, NAYGA
n. pejorative for a black person
NAGO n. Yoruba person, practice or language. From Ewe anago-Yoruba person
NAH
adv. will not. Emphatic as in "Me nah do that"
NANA
midwife
nanny or nurse
Nanny
Jamaican five hundred dollar bill
Female National Hero
NANNY GOAT
"What sweet nanny goat a go run him belly" is a cautionary Jamaican proverb which translated means: What tastes good to a goat will ruin his belly. In other words - the things that seem good to you now, can hurt you later...
NASH
female genatalia
NATTY, NATTY DREAD, NATTY CONGO
dreadlocks
a person with dreadlocks
Naw
no
not going to
NAZARITE
Ancient Hebrew meaning to "separate", consecrated, set apart by choice and devotion
NICE UP
to promote and foster a positive feeling. to "nice up the dance" means to get the party going
NIYABINGHI
death to all black and white oppressors
NIYAMEN
name for Rastas referring to Niyabinghi warriors of East Africa
NO CYA
no matter, as in "no kya weh im tun", no matter where he turns.
NO, NUH
Do not eg. "No woman, no cry" i.e. No woman, do not cry.
NOTCH
Don or top ranking badman
Nuff
(adj.) gushing, overly inquisitive
(n.) A great quantity
NUH
interrogative at end of sentence; literally, "Is it not so?"
is not
NUH NUTTIN
not a big deal
NUH TRUE?
isn't it so?
NYAM
to eat
NYAMI-NYAMI
title given to those who like to eat any food they encounter, without discretion
NYING'I-NYING'I
nagging, whining