... Bajan Dialect?

I was thinking of a good way to introduce you to Bajan dialect, but there seemed to be no other way than to start at the begining. So I did and along with the help of Addigton Forde, these basics in Bajan should be of some interest and help.

All Barbadians speak English in a addition to the local dialect, Bajan.

So there is back up when speaking bajan seems like too much of a challenge.

At the Beginning

The language, referred to as “Bajan”, is the last two syllables of the word Barbadian (Bar-ba-dian).

Like many of the neighbouring islands, “Bajan” is a fusion of the language of the country that once governed the island, which in the case of Barbados is English and the language of those under their rule, Africans who spoke diverse languages. Bajan was created by enslaved Africans as way to communicate among them.

Barbados remained a British colony while many other islands were taken over by the Spanish, the Dutch and the French times again and their Creole resembles these historic influences.

Speaking Bajan is largely in informal settings where as standard English is used in formal situations such as business meetings / transactions, seminars etc. Although it can be common for both Bajan and standard English to be used in the same conversation.

With Bajan, most of the words involved are English with a few African words used.

The Words of Addington Forde

In the Bajan Posse magazine, published in 2006, Addigton Forde , a local cultural and heritage icon, in his article titled “The Bajan Dialect” shared his understanding of the language with this brief explanation.

“ Bajan dialect has its own grammar and sentence construction…many ‘th’ sounds are replaced with ‘d’ sounds making this…them and those ‘dis’ ‘dem’ and ‘dose’. Other words with the th sound are pronounced ‘t’, such as ‘tirty’ (thirty), tousand (thousand).

And if I may add one other ‘tanks’ (thanks)

Addington Forde further explains:

“ Words with two syllables are reduced to single syllables or two words pronounced as one. Going becomes ‘gine’. Give me becomes ‘gimme’ and …since me is sometimes pronounced ‘muh’, ‘give me’ becomes ‘gimmuh’.

To further complicate matters, ‘give it to me’ can become ‘gimmuh it’, shortened to ‘gimmit’. Sometimes the word is pronounced ‘um’, so again ‘give it to me can become ‘gimmum’.

To ask a question, one makes a statement with a raised tone at the end. ‘Did you remove the things which I had put on this table?’

Is ‘you tek up de tings I had pun dis table?’...

…the dialect seems destined to be an ever-present past of the Barbadian heritage”

The words of Addignton Forde, gives some added understanding to the foundation of Bajan.

So on that note, i will depart.

See oonah lata (see you all later)

I gine but here are some more experiences of the language:



Get yourself a beverage or your favourite snack and enjoy more Barbados culture, bajan dialect in particular with this witty list of Barbadian proverbs and sayings

Try your Bajan in conversation on the island while drinking a fine Barbados rum, visit a Barbados rum shop


Go to:

A Quick Barbados Culture Tour

Quick Facts about Barbados Holiday



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