The official language of Barbados is English, however many claim that the Barbadian dialect can be a whole separate language due to its limitlessness, ever increasing vocabulary and words which have multiple meanings. The dialect is a fusion of mainly British English and components borrowed from languages in West Africa. Some words or phrases (and meanings) that you may hear during your visit to Barbados are:

• Bajan - Of Barbadian decent
• Wanna - You all
• All two - both
• Dis - this
• Dat - that
• De- the
• Effin - a variant of ‘if’
• In-troot - Are you telling the truth?
• Bad feels - feeling ill
• flim or picture - a film/movie
• bassa bassa- A fight or uproar
• Big up - salutation/ kudos
• Cuh-dear - an exclamation to something that is cute
• Cuttah - Bun Sandwich
• Safe - cool, good, ok
• Lime - hang out in a group
• Whahappen - What happened?
• Wah part you from? - Where do you live?
• Wuk-Up - To dance by moving your waist and hips in a circle
• Caw Blen/ Cheese on bread / Crimons - Oh shoot!
• Uh? - Pardon me?

Proverbs

Barbadian Proverb 1. Ef greedy wait hot wud (would) cool- Patience will be rewarded
Barbadian Proverb 2. Cat luck ain dog luck- What one person may get away with may cause problems for another person
Barbadian Proverb 3. De higha de monkey climb, de more he show he tail- The more you show of the more you show your faults