The Virgin Islands Dictionary

A Ain Pullin’ [ain puh-lin] Idiom- 1. the result of a disagreement. 2. to be at odds; where a relationship once was. 3. fallen out badly. 4. actively separated from a past relationship; especially friendship. Say it like we: “Gyul, look wah dem come too. Dey used to be so close and now dem ain pullin.” A Barh [Ah Baarh] Verb- 1. Bar. 2. a ride given by a bicycle rider to another person on either the handle bar or top tube of a bicycle. 3. an uncomfortable ride given by a friend from one place to another on a bicycle. 4. a ride given to a person on a bicycle where they are required to sit on the handle bar and in between the legs of the rider. 5. a ride given to another person on a bicycle sometimes on the back of bicycle standing on the cogset. 6. also known as “a tow.” Say it like we: “Kevin, gimme a barh down the road nuh man, I ain able to walk.” A book [ah book] Noun– 1. refers to the programme book that is printed for a funeral service. 2. highly sought-after memento from a funeral service. 3. an item that no proper Virgin Islander feels complete without once having attended a funeral. Say it like we: “See if yuh cuh bring a book fuh meh when yuh go by the chuch, ah wahn see if ah know dah pursin.” A Cause [ah kawz] Noun- 1. a reason. 2. a purpose. 3. a calling. Say it like we: “Ah glad yuh geh ketch because you ain had a cause goin’ in Mr. Merrit pineapple fiel.” A Clout [ah klout] Noun- 1. a hard blow delivered to the back of the head with the open palm of the hand. 2. a serious blow driven to the head of one person by another in anger or in play. Say it like we: “Keep playin’ wid me and see if I dohn hit you a clout today.” A Do [ah doo] Verb- 1. a chance. 2. an opportunity 3. a turn. Say it like we: “Gimme a do on the Play Station nuh, you always hoggin’ up dah game.” A Handle [ah han-dl] Noun- 1. a formal title placed before a name as Virgin Islanders consider it rudely disrespectful to call older people by their first name only unless invited to do so. 2. ‘Ms.’; ‘Mrs.’; ‘Teacher’; ‘Hon.’ and others. Use it like this: “I find myself still calling ev’ryone Ms. Ana, Ms. Darlene or Ms. Lydia because when we were young we were taught never to call someone by their first name only or we would get slapped.” A Lick [ah lik] Noun- 1. a hit with the hand or an object. 2. a successful strike. 3. a blow to the body or to an object. Say it like we: “Glenford, dohn leh me hit you a lick. Stop putting yuh han in my face.” A Lime [ah lahym] Noun- 1. a relaxing time. 2. a time where you hang out and do nothing more. 3. an outing with friends. 4. taking it easy, but not at home. Say it like we: “I goin’ tung for a lime, just to geh out duh house.” A piece ah breeze [ah peece ah breez] Noun- 1. meaning a strong coolin’ flow of air. 2. a particularly pleasing flow of air usually welcomed after experiencing severe heat. Say it like we: “Lawd we need a piece ah breeze to cool dah place, it so hot.” A song an a prayer [ah sawng an ah prair] Expression- 1. reference to the church practice that includes the singing of hymns and reading of prayers from a prayer book. 2. an indication of the amount of time that will be needed to complete a task. 3. an indication of the degree of power and/or will that will be necessary to accomplish something. Say it like we: “Gettin’ trew wid anyting in Govament does tek a song and a prayer.” A Tow [ah toh] Verb- 1. a ride given by a bicycle rider to another person on either the handle bar or top tube of a bicycle. 2. an uncomfortable ride given by a friend from one place to another on a bicycle. 3. a ride given to a person on a bicycle where they are required to sit on the handle bar and in between the legs of the rider. 4. a ride given to another person on a bicycle sometimes on the back of bicycle standing on the cogset. 5. also known as a barh. Say it like we: “Gimme a tow on your bike nuh, I ain able to walk.” Ablunce [ey-buhl-unce] Noun- 1. strength. 2. having necessary power, skill, resources, or qualifications. Say it like we: “Betsaida and Sophie, I ain gah duh ablunce today wid no Cabinet Paper. We goin’ have to draft dat tomorrow,” the Permanent Secretary said. Ack [ahk] Verb-1. behave. 2. the process of doing. Say it like we: “He does ack funny sometimes so I dohn noh when to hail he or to leave he alone.” Ack Biggity [ahk big-gee-tee] Verb-1. pompous behaviour. 2. behaving with superfluous importance. Say it like we: “Since he come a lawyer, I fine he does ack biggity.” Acking Up [ah-kin-uhp] Verb- 1. said of a child who is not behaving properly in a controled environment like church. 2. restlessness of a child that is distracting to the parent and other attendees at an event. Say it like we: “My modda used to hit me hard if I wah acking up in chuch when ih wuh boring.” Acks [ahks] Verb- 1. to make a request. 2. to solicit for something. 3. to pose a question. Say it like we: “Lemme acks yuh a question, das your woman?”