Monday, August 25, 2008

Let's get Trinified

Hello everyone! As it is my intention to take you all on a carnival journey with me I think it is important that you get to know a little bit of our language, you see we in Trinidad use a lot of words that may not make sense, and you cannot have a virtual carnival experience without knowing these words and what they mean, those highlited in red are those that relate directly to carnival, the others I posted just to try to trinify you guys!

For ease of reference i will post these on my sidebar so you can refer to them easily on a later date.

Here goes:

Trini - Trinidadian

Bacchanal - Wild party / Scandal / Argument / Confusion

Back Back - A suggestive dance performed with the male dancer's front rubbing against the female's rear, and vice versa

Band - A group of Carnival masqueraders with costumes designed on a related theme. A band can have 4,000 people divided into 25 sections, each with it's own theme and several music trucks. Each band has a huge King and Queen costume. Carnival Tuesday will see about 20 large bands go across the stage in competition.

Bam bam, boomsie, bamsie, bam-a-lam, background, backside, behind, - ass, bottom / butt

Bazodee - Confused


Buss Up Shut - See Roti, Shredded roti skin, resembling a "bust up shirt"

Cahneevaal (Carnival - "Farewell to the Flesh" A pre-Lenten festival started by Catholics to get in one last party before giving up wine, women and song for 40 days during Lent. Preparations and partying in Trinidad start in January and build up to Jouvay (Monday) and Mardi Gras (Tuesday) ending at midnite just before Ash Wednesday in mid-February. Costume bands in street Carnival, steelband competitions, Calypso contests, parties, dances and Kiddie Carnival all come together for Carnival. Rio and New Orleans carnivals are bigger and better known, Trinidad's is best.

Callaloo - Thick soup made of dasheen leaves, okra, coconut milk, crab and seasonings.

Coonoomoonoo - (Cunumunu) Idiot, stupid person

Crapo (Crapaud) - Frog The most detested reptile on the island. Often poisonous, they are hated worse than snakes.

Dimarsh Grass- (Dimarche Gras) The major show on Carnival Sunday night. Eight King and eight Queen of the bands costumes (some 30 feet tall) compete on stage at Queen's Park Savannah to be named King and Queen of Carnival. The eight top singers compete to be crowned the Calypso Monarch.

Dough* (Doh) - Trini pronunciation Don't "Oh no, do do dahlin', doh do dat to me!"

Dong - Trini pronunciation Down

Doo doo* (Doux doux) - Sweetheart often used with darling, as in "do do dahlin'"

Doogla (Dougla) - A person of mixed race, usually a mixture of African and East Indian.

Fet (Fete) - Party

Fresh Water Yankee - A Trini who goes to America and comes back acting and talking Yankee (Originally someone acting Yankee without even going overseas, or Horn - To cheat on your spouse or lover, as in "She horning him like reindeer!

Jab Jab - A type of Carnival devil costume;

Jagabat - Slut, loose woman, prostitute. also Wajang (wah-jang) or Wabean (wah-bean)

Joo-vay (Jouvay, or Jour Ouvert) - "Opening of Day" in French, Carnival Mas beginning before dawn on Carnival Monday wearing costumes of mud, old clothes (Ole Mas), devil costumes or satirical themes.

Las' Lap - (Last Lap) Last minute street partying on Carnival Tuesday which goes until midnite when Ash Wednesday begins. The very last of Carnival.

"Lime - limin' Hanging out, loafingMah-ko

(Maco) - Nosy person, busybody, gossipMah-kocious (Macocious) A person who is nosy, a maco

Mamaguy To fast talk or sweet talk someone; to try to fool someone.

Maracas Bay The most beautiful beach in Trinidad, high waves, great scenery.

Mass* (Mas) Carnival costumes, or playing mas, street revelry in carnival costume.

"Moco Jumbie Stilt dancers, an African tradition carried over to Trini carnival Their costumes represent jumbies, or spirits, of African mythologyr "

Pan* Steel band, invented in Trinidad in the 1930's, melodic percussion instruments made out of oil drums. One hundred piece steel orchestras compete playing classical, soca, pop during Carnival.

Road March Kind of Trinidad's song of the year, or best song of Carnival. As the costume bands cross the stage in the Queen's Park Savannah, the song that most bands dance to is declared Road March for the year, and wins a large cash prize.

Roti East Indian dish made with flat baked dough resembling a tortilla filled with curried beef, chicken, goat, shrimp or other meat with potatoes, onions, tomato and spices.

Sucuyant A Trini vampire that sheds it's human skin and flies at night as a ball of fire, sucking the blood of it's victims while they sleep.

Tantie (Tante) Aunt

Tent* A calypso or soca concert featuring 20 singers and comedians. Started in the 1800's in large military tents, now held in concert halls or stadiums.

TNT* Trinidad and Tobago, twin island nation six miles off the coast of Venezuela, South AmericaToo-bay-go Trini pronunciation (Tobago)

Tot Tots Female breasts

T.T. Trinidad currency, as in "Does this cost $5.00 T.T. or $5.00 U.S.?"

Wais Trini pronunciation (Waist) The ability to wine "De gyul only trowin ral good wais!"

Wee From the French (Oui) Yes, as in "Eh eh, dat is ral good buss up shut, oui?"

Wine*, Winin' A sexually suggestive dance using winding hip movements that can make the hula look tame, usually done to soca music.

Yang-Key Trini pronunciation (Yankee) An American

Consider yourselves TRINIFIED!!

TTYL!
Raquel

21 comments:

Lisa said...

Between you and Gail at Squared Off I am learning 2 different ways to speak.

Thanks for the awesome lesson. I cant wait for your Carnval to begin!!

Penny said...

These are fun! Don't test me just yet, as I can only really learn a few at a time because I'm easily BAZODEE'D!

Didn't you teach us about CALLALOO before? The leaves are like collards/spinach? I've made collards with coconut milk, but never thought to add okra. The coconut in the collards was indeed pretty darn tasty.

You've got to be kididng about the Doo doo* (Doux doux) - Sweetheart often used with darling, as in "do do dahlin'", right? If I say to my husband, "how you doing DOO DOO darlin'?" I don't think he'll think I'm being sweet, I think he'll think I'm being sarcastic or something. Ha!

In the US bars LAS LAP is called Last Call. Same but different.

Well, I better quit MAH-KO and get back to work today. Thanks for the lessons. I may have to come back to this post a few times to get it all.

Hugs,
Penny

Raxx - A day in the life said...

Yours so welcome Gail1

OMG!! LMAO!! Penny youre just too funny!! I love how you used our slangs! Youre right on the money!

Justine said...

Holy crap, that's a lot of weird words for us to learn. I'm glad you're putting them on the sidebar! But hey, a FROG is NOT a reptile! It's an amphibian! Why do you hate them so much? They can't all be poisonous? Show me a pic of a poisonous one, if you can handle it. I haven't forgotten your story about standing on the furniture when one got in your house! LOL

Justine :o )

Unknown said...

I am so glad to have found your blog. when I lived on the east coast, it was easier for me to visit the islands. Now that i live in California--not so easy. But I am delighted to have found you. I'll keep reading. Good Luck in your preparation.

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for the lexicon! cool.. will have to study these so I can keep up with everyone. now off to work on my own word stuff...

Life on the Edge said...

This was so much fun! I love learning about other cultures and their words and traditions! Can't wait to hear more about Carnival!

Kady, the jagabat with the big tot tots, lol

Bridget said...

I'm not bazodee anymore! Penny is right Doo Doo Darlin' would not go over well here in the states.

Raxx - A day in the life said...

OMG!! Everytime I hear you guys use these words it cracks me up! ROTFLMAO!!

Lisa (aka) French said...

I love this stuff! It surprised me how many were similar to those used in Jamaica! Thanks for the lesson will have to come back for a refresher when I have more time;) French

Anonymous said...

Holy Smoke Girl!!!! I am going to have to study that! (LOL) Thanks for the lesson. :)

xoxoxoxo
Donna

Anonymous said...

this is great fun. So glad ifound your blog. Not only do I know where oregon is - I can now throw in a few Trinidadian words although probably the wrong ones. I never knew there was so much French influence. We didn't do that in history class. Keep on giving us heathens more!
By the way what do you call the area around your house a yard or garden or something much more exciting?

Anonymous said...

Morning, Pretty One! Now Raxx, I'm hoping there won't be a test later. I'm getting old and my memory is not as good as it used to be! I love all these great words, though, especially du du darling! I just may have to use that one sometimes! ;)

Oh, on Tablescapes...you can set your table for a dinner party before the guests come and take a picture of it. Or, like a lot of us do...just start playing and setting things up for fun! Leave it out a few days - put it away and play again! It is fun!!

Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Penny said...

Hey Raquel! Thanks and HUGS TO YOU I added plain ole okra to my zucchini and onion tonite. I sauteed in a little olive oil and OH MY GOODNESS. You know what? I love it WAY better than fried. Clay loved it too. What is so strange is that wasn't slimey. I expected it to be slimey which is why I don't make it often. Big mistake on my part because this is so good! Thank you for turning me on to a new way for me to enjoy a great veggie.
Hugs,
Penny

artis1111 said...

I saw someone trying on your costume! I have proof! Heeee Kathy

artis1111 said...

I saw someone trying on your costume! I have proof! Heeee Kathy

niartist said...

Hey Raxx!

I'm back! YAY! And I've got a great contest going at the Blog! You can win a CalicoCorners $200 gift certificate for sending me a photo of a room you'd like to change with fabric!

Hope you play along! Deadline to enter is September 10th!

Artie

Buffie said...

I love this blog today!!! I love learning about other cultures and languages! Way cool Rax!

SG said...

LMAO!!! That is hysterical! I remember the callaloo. All those terms! I'm dizzy. Some of them were so funny. I'm sure some of what we say is funny to you too. Thanks for the laugh... and the lesson.

Raxx - A day in the life said...

Becky youre not dizzy, youre bazodeee!

santamaker said...

So glad you came to visit me! Wow, I feel so important, you game me a little red dot somewhere in the south caribbean area! Thanks! LOL
What a fun and interesting post about carnival. You all must have the best time with all that wild music and the wine! Would love to experience that some time.
be good,
santa