Dining phrases

Jamaica is a food lover's paradise with a diverse cuisine influenced by various cultures. From jerk chicken to international favorites, there's something for everyone. This phrasebook section teaches basic Jamaican Patois phrases for ordering, menu inquiries, compliments, and local food sayings.

100 phrases in this category

Ordering food and drinks

20 phrases

A wah di price fi di oxtail dinna?

English translation What's the price for the oxtail dinner?

Mi waan a di curry chicken and roti

English translation I want the curry chicken with roti

A wah di side options dem?

English translation What are the side options?

Mi waan ordah di jerk chicken

English translation I want to order the jerk chicken

Mi waan a cold Red Stripe beer

English translation I want a cold Red Stripe beer

Mi waan di mannish wata

English translation I want a bowl of mannish water soup (a traditional Jamaican soup made with goat)

Mi waah di pineapple ginga juice

English translation I want the pineapple ginger juice

Yu hav nuh vegetarian option?

English translation Do you have any vegetarian options?

Mi waan a bakkle a Ting

English translation I want a bottle of Ting (a Jamaican grapefruit soda)

Gimme di beef patty dem

English translation Give me the Jamaican beef patties

Dietary restrictions and preferences

20 phrases

Mi waan di food fi be gluten-free

English translation I want the food to be gluten-free

Mi waan di food fi be sugar-free

English translation I want the food to be sugar-free

Mi waan di food fi be ital

English translation I want the food to be organic

Mi nuh eat meat

English translation I don't eat meat

Mi waan di food fi bi nut-free

English translation I want the food to be nut-free

Mi a pescatarian

English translation I am a pescatarian

Mi hav food allergies

English translation I have food allergies

Mi nuh nyam dairy products

English translation I don't consume dairy products

Mi hav a lactose intolerance

English translation I have lactose intolerance

Mi a vegan

English translation I am a vegan

Paying the bill and tipping

20 phrases

Di service did excellent. Mi waan tip extra

English translation The service was excellent. I want to tip extra

A wah di policy fi splitting di bill?

English translation What's the policy for splitting the bill?

Mi waan pay di bill in installments

English translation I want to pay the bill in installments

Mi ready fi pay di bill

English translation I'm ready to pay the bill

Yu hav change fi dis?

English translation Do you have change for this?

A wah time di restaurant close?

English translation What time does the restaurant close?

Di gratuity included inna di bill?

English translation Is the gratuity included in the bill?

A wah di service charge percentage?

English translation What's the service charge percentage?

Di food did delicious. Mi waan show appreciation

English translation The food was delicious. I want to show appreciation

Mi waan pay cash

English translation I want to pay with cash

Expressing satisfaction or dissatisfaction

40 phrases

Mi highly disappointed inna di quality of di food

English translation I'm highly disappointed in the quality of the food

Mi belly happy, di food nice

English translation My belly is happy, the food is delicious

Di food taste so good, mi can't get enough

English translation The food tastes so good, I can't get enough

Mi taste buds happy when mi eat dis food

English translation My taste buds are happy when I eat this food

Di food luk overcooked

English translation The food looks overcooked

Di food luk burnt

English translation The food looks burnt

Di food luk unappetizing

English translation The food looks unappetizing

Di food nice till it sweet mi belly

English translation The food is so delicious, it satisfies my hunger completely

Mi can taste di oil inna di food

English translation I can taste the oil in the food

Mi nyam till mi belly buss!

English translation I eat until my belly is full!

More phrases

8 phrases

Mi hungry

English translation I'm hungry

Mi thirsty

English translation I'm thirsty

Mi a vegetarian

English translation I'm vegetarian

Mi wudda waah dinna

English translation I would like dinner

Mi nuh nyam pork

English translation I don't eat pork

Mi wudda waah breakfast

English translation I would like breakfast

Weh di restaurant deh

English translation Where is the restaurant?

Mi wudda like sum spring wata

English translation I would like some bottled water

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