Bajan Dialect The Language of Our Island

This Colourful and fascinating language is an integral part of Barbadian culture... 

So while you are on the island enjoying our relaxed laid back atmosphere you’ll discover that a number of these proverbs and sayings are peculiar to this tropical paradise.

Here is a sample of some of our most colourful and expressive pieces of Bajan...

• Barbadian dialect: De higher de monkey climb de more he does show he tail.
  Meaning: The more someone show off,the more you will see their faults.

• Barbadian dialect: Every dog got’eday.
  Meaning: What goes around comes around.
  

• Barbadian dialect: There is more than one dogname Bob.
  Meaning: Your name maybe called butwhat is said could apply to someone else.

• Barbadian dialect: De more yuh look de less yuhsee.
  Meaning: If you are spying on someone there are going to find ways totrick you.
  

• Barbadian dialect: De sea en’ got nuhback door.
  Meaning: Once you go into the sea there are no guarantees you will getback outsafely.
  

• Barbadian dialect: Trouble don’t setup like rain.
  Meaning: Misfortune often happens with out any warning signs.
  

• Barbadian dialect: Yuh does gih’ yuhmout too much liberty.
  Meaning: You talk about things that do not concern you.
  

• Bajrbadian dialect: Wuh yuh eye en sih, yuhstomach will tek.
  Meaning: What you don’t know don’t bother you.
  

• Bajan dialect: Only dogs does return to heown vomit.
  Meaning: Once you get out of a bad situation, you should not return thesamesituation.
  

• Barbadian dialect: De longer yuh live, de moreyuh does hear.
  Meaning: No matter your age you can still be surprise by what you hear.
  

• Barbadian dialect: Don’t let the devil get in me now.
  Meaning: Don’t make me angry with you.
  

• Barbadiandialect: Everyfool got e ’sense.
  Meaning: Every one has knowledge about something.
  

• Barbadiandialect: Catluck en ’ dogluck.
  Meaning: What one person get away with,another person may not be so lucky.