How to Speak With a Jamaican Accent

If you've been to Jamaica or know anything about the coastal country, you can attest to the laid-back, casual lifestyle that moves to its own, slow, worry-free beat. Jamaican natives speak with what some English experts call "patois," but what Jamaican people simply consider "real English." These aren't official rules, nor are they true for all Jamaicans; but they're a good starting point for speaking with a Jamaican accent that's irie. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Use a Jamaican glossary to learn some commonly used terms and their meanings. Probably the most-used word in the entire Jamaican vocabulary is "mon," which anyone can figure out covers just about every living thing on the planet—man, woman, child or animal. The term "irie" however, is commonly used but it may take some context to figure out that it means "everything is cool and good." You may see a sign reading "Tips are Iriemon" hanging from a cab window.
2. Drop consonants. Words like "last", "left", "slept" and "hand" become "las", "lef", "slep" and "han." This holds true for many words that end in a combination of a consonant, followed by "t" or "d."
3. Drop the "h" sound. Many Jamaicans and English people leave off the beginning "h" in words like "house", "hoe" and "half."
4. Place stress on articles. Note the difference in stressed words spoken by an American versus a Jamaican person. "He LOST the ball in the PROCCESS" vs. "He lost THE ball in THE process."
5. Speak in the present tense even when referring to the past.
6. Use the accent sparingly. If you're visiting, trying to speak with a Jamaican accent is going to label you with a big fat "T" for tourist. Start with the basic words until you've been around the culture long enough to be taken seriously.
7. Go with the flow. Trying too hard goes against the heart of Jamaican culture entirely. Don't worry about your words or your accent, just enjoy life.