A Simple Guide to Trinbagonian Vernacular

Words & Phrases (Part 2)

Things to note:
As a follow up to my "Things to note" in "Words & Phrases (Part 1)", I forgot to mention that there are certain words that have exceptions to the general rule of the Trinbagonian pronunciation of 'th'. For example: 'truth' becomes 'troot', 'bathe' becomes 'bade', 'thing' becomes 'ting', 'thief' becomes 'tief'. This is not an exhaustive list (obviously, lol), just some I remembered while putting together this chapter. As I discover more I'll put them in the "Things to note" section at the beginning of the "Words & Phrases" chapters.
Other things to note are that Trinbagonians are famous for rearranging the structural pronunciation of certain words. For example: 'ask' becomes 'aks', 'film' becomes 'flim',

'Kix' - funny, jokes, playing around.
E.g. "Aye boy, allyuh eh see de special on TV last night? Dat show was rel 'kix' jed!"

'Make back' - to resume a broken relationship.
E.g. "Yuh better leave dem two alone and doh geh een dey business. Dem does forever break up and 'make back' so keep yuh distance."

'Tie up' - to confuse.
E.g. "Jes because he get ah degree he using plenty big words, only tryin tuh 'tie up' people. Ah doh know why he does jes cyah explain ting properly."

'Hot and sweaty' - doing something without much forethought.
E.g. "Ah feel like meh house go never finish wit de rate dis man goin. He does start off 'hot and sweaty' and then stop cuz he run out ah someting. Is three years now ah waitin!"

'Bong tuh mus' - bound to, must happen.
E.g. "In de mornin he go meet meh waitin in front he office. He 'bong tuh mus' come tuh wuk, and leh meh hear wah he go hadda say den."

'Pull-bull' - to operate an unlicensed taxi; to use your private vehicle as a taxi to make extra money.
E.g. "Tings rel tough deez days boy, de only ting ah have wukkin is meh car. Ah bes go and 'pull bull' later and see if ah could geh ah lil hundred dollars."

'Comin to come' - making progress, coming along nicely.
E.g. "Boy I eh finish my assignment yet but it 'comin to come'. By de due date ah go done."

'Puh dong' - (put down) to give birth.
E.g. "Wey! Getrude belly lookin big big, ah sure she ready tuh 'puh dong' any day now!"

'Cut eye' - a look of reproach or anger.
E.g. "Buh wah do dis lil girl? Could never be she mudda she watchin 'cut eye' so! Yuh see how young people doh like correction."

'Fus' - used to emphasize a large extent of something.
E.g. 1: "'Fus' ah hungry, I eat out almost all de food I cook dis mornin."
E.g. 2: "Right now muh knee huttin meh. Ah rel bang it up tryin to find mih way rong de house last night. Current went and ah couldna see ah ting 'fus' it was dark!"