What Language Do Jamaicans Speak? English and Patois Explained

The short answer: English is Jamaica’s official language, and it’s what you’ll hear at the airport, in hotels, on the news and on every road sign. But most Jamaicans also speak Jamaican Patois (Patwa) day to day, and that’s the language you’ll hear on the street, in taxis and in the music. If English is your first language, you’ll get by everywhere. Here’s how the two fit together and what to expect as a visitor.

English: the official language

Jamaica’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations lists English as the official language. Government, schools, courts, newspapers and business all run in English. Anyone working in tourism, from the front desk to tour guides, speaks English with guests.

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Patois, Patwa or Jamaican

Alongside English, most Jamaicans speak what the UN mission calls “an English-based dialect which is known as patois”. You’ll see it spelled Patois or Patwa, and linguists simply call it Jamaican. The Jamaican Language Unit at the University of the West Indies, Mona, which has studied it since 2002, describes English and Jamaican as the two languages in general use on the island, and has worked on a standard writing system for Jamaican.

Most of the vocabulary comes from English, so you’ll catch words here and there, but the sounds, grammar and rhythm are different enough that a fast conversation between two Jamaicans can be hard to follow at first. “Wah gwaan?” (what’s going on?), “mi soon come” (I’ll be there shortly, at some point) and “likkle more” (see you later) are a few you’ll hear in your first day. My Patwa dictionary of common terms covers many more.

How Jamaicans switch between the two

Most of us move between English and Patois without thinking about it. In my experience it depends on who you’re talking to and where: English at work, with officials and with visitors, Patois with family and friends, and plenty of mixing in between. The same person can greet a guest in clear English and then turn to a colleague and carry on in fast Patois. Don’t take it as being shut out; it’s just how conversation works here.

What visitors should know

• You won’t need a phrasebook. Hotel staff, drivers, guides and vendors all speak English to visitors.
• Ask people to slow down. If you don’t catch something, just ask. Jamaicans are used to it and will happily repeat it in plainer English.
• Try a few words, don’t overdo it. A “wah gwaan” or “respect” goes down well. Putting on a full Jamaican accent usually doesn’t.
• Some words are rude. A few Patois words that sound harmless are strong swear words here. My guide to Jamaican curse words explains which ones to avoid.
• Listen to the music. Reggae and dancehall lyrics are a great way to get your ear in before you travel; see my guide to reggae festivals in Jamaica.

My take: you don’t need to learn Patois to have a great trip, but picking up a handful of words, and listening when people talk, is one of the easiest ways to feel closer to the island.