demtntdays.com 
Trini emails making the rounds...
Trinidad and Tobago Trini characteristics
Petition from SOS Tobago Trini drivers
Help Save Charlotteville Trini dictionary
Is time to burn yuh Trini passport... Trini Valentine
Sun, 13 May, 2001 Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Heaven, God went missing for six days.Eventually, Michael the archangel found him, resting on the seventh day. He inquired of God, "Where have you been?" God sighed a deep sigh of satisfaction and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds, "Look Michael, look what I've made. Archangel Michael looked puzzled and said, "What is it?" "It's a planet," replied God, "and I've put LIFE on it. I'm going to call it Earth and it's going to be a great place of balance." "Balance?" inquired Michael, still confused. God explained, pointing to different parts of Earth, "For example, Northern Europe will be a place of great opportunity and wealth while Southern Europe is going to be poor; the Middle East over there will be a hot spot. Over there I've placed a continent of white people and over there is a continent of black people," God continued, pointing to different countries."This one will be extremely hot and arid while this one will be very cold and covered in ice." The Archangel, impressed by Gods work, then pointed to a small island just
off a larger one close to a southern continent and said, "What's that one?" "Ah," said God. "That's Tobago, the most glorious place on Earth. There are lovely beaches, beautiful reefs with pretty fishes and corals and sea creatures. Lovely streams and hills with glorious views. The people from
Tobago are going to be strong, modest and humble and they're going to be great calypsonians and star footballers. They'll be extremely amiable, hard-working and high-achieving, and they will be known throughout the area as good decent people." Michael gasped in wonder and admiration but then proclaimed, "What about balance, God? You said there will be BALANCE!" God replied wisely, "Wait until you see the loud-mouth slackers I'm putting next to them in Trinidad."
Tuesday, 24 April, 2001 Yuh know yuh is a rell West Indian, particularly Trini when:
Yuh unduhstand dis sayin: "What sweet in goat mout is sour in he bambam!"
Yuh fadduh does buss out all dem old Parang tapes fuh Christmas!
Yuh call everybody "Dred".
Yuh know what a "grip" is and struggle to keep it unduh 70 lbs. when yuh goin` back home.
Yuh know dat "cuff" and "box" are fightin words.
Yuh call every bee, wasp, or hornet a "jaxpania".
Yuh pronounce San Juan: "Sah-Wah"
Yuh have a peppuh sauce bottle on de table fuh every meal.
Yuh always tiefin` de pigtail from de callaloo.
Yuh tiyud of hearin "Who let da dogs out?"...but miss Hot, Hot, Hot by Arrow.
Yuh know not to call any big gyul "tanti"
"Umpteen" is between 19 an 20, but means plenty more.
Yuh put salt on every citrus fruit yuh eat.
Yuh can avoid potholes wit skill.
Yuh grow up wit Klim, Milo, or Ovaltine.
De maxi taxi yuh just ride in had "Sweet #1 lover" on de windshield.
Every carbonated beverage is called a "sweet drink"
A good lime is not edible.
Yuh had to take cod liver oil pills when yuh was young.
"A beer is a..." (fill in the rest)
Yuh have a BWEE story to tell.
Yuh know what are "totee squeezuhs"!
Roti is good, but "buss-up-shut" and a good curry or stew is bettuh!
You, yuh mudduh, or yuh Tantie have a big iron pot.
Yuh can finish dis: "If Trinidad is a boat...."
Yuh don`t call it "Avocado", yuh call it...
Yuh say "sevm" fuh #7. And "tree" fuh #3.
Yuh was a chile, yuh mudduh pull off she rubbuh-ding-ding and hit yuh wit it.
"donkey years" means a very long time.
"boomsey, totee, and tot-tots" are human body parts.
A cockset has nutting to do wit chicken or sex, only wit mosquitos.
Yuh clap wit everybody else when de BWEE plane land in Port of Spain.
Yuh put two verbs together to make sumting edible: "fry" and "bake".
Yuh know what a bouf is and can pelt one bettuh den anybody.
Crix and cheese taste good fuh breakfast.
"Yuh want a piece of ______ for Christmas..."
Yuh call yuh sweetie "choonk-a-loonks", "doux-doux" or "mammy nice chile."
B.W.I.A. stands fuh plenty of different tings.
Yuh can get vex and dig no horras at de same time.
Yuh fraid de mocojumbie and soucouyant (soo-coo-yah) when yuh was small.
Yuh doh trouble trouble til trouble trouble yuh.
Yuh unduhstand: "Good ting no cheap. Cheap ting no good."
Yuh pelt stone at corbeaux (co-bo) at Maracas beach.
Yuh get vex when de barber zug-up yuh head.
Yuh can take a fruit like mango and curry it.
Yuh catch de "itis" aftuh yuh eat and get lazy like a macajuel.
Yuh know dis sayin: "Crapaud smoke yuh pipe!"
Someone in yuh family like Mauby.
Anybody who is in a hurry is a Russian.
Yuh put battries in a torchlight.
Any garbage pail is call a dustbin.
Yuh can handle a cutlass easy.
Yuh put goat mout on somebody yuh doh like.
Yuh mudduh and fadduh raise yuh wit broughtupsy.
Yuh fadduh give yuh one calpet in yuh head when yuh was young.
Yuh have an uncle dat like to give fatigue (fa-tique).
Yuh hate when dey dish out de pelau bub-bun.
Yuh have rhythm and nevuh dance dingolay.
Sumbody ask yuh if yuh fadduh is a glass-maker.
Yuh get coki-eye starin at sumting too long.
Yuh call it a car park instead of parking lot.
De Quay-zay always busy and smellin founkie and rancid.
Yuh get sick once, suckin too much salt prune.
Yuh doh like Tabanca. (guys AND gyuls!)
When yuh was a chile, yuh get rub dong wit Vicks (an know somebody who does it, too).
Yuh see trouble comin, yuh coo-coo cook!
Yuh doh go to de movies, yuh go cinema or tyeta.
Yuh know sumbody dat mout open, story jump out.
These two sayings mean de same ting: "Two man-rat cyah live in de same hole" and "Two bad jumbie nevuh walk fuh long."
Yuh wine and grind in a mas camp with a Carib in one hand and pictures of mas on de walls.
Yuh cyah stand soup dat cold like dog nose. Wit not enough dumplin. And oxtail.
Yuh mashin up de place wit Toro Toro...or yuh runnin to take cover from de bachannal!
Yuh know dat monkey know wut tree to climb.
Yuh ask Mr. Bissessar to roll up de tassa.
A cutlass is call a "poor-man gun".
De best part of dollar dollar is "gimme big money wine!..."
Yuh nevuh mess in de road, cause yuh goh pass back an mash it.
Yuh call him constaple and yuh fraid when "he come to show what police can do!..."
Yuh can yam down plenty pow, buh wonder who does eat ALL provision.
Yuh can wine lower den "Nani"
Yuh always ask: "Buh whey de gravy?!?"
Yuh say peas an rice...not rice an peas.
Yuh know de words: "Look de devil dey!" an "Dey was a man in meh bedroom..."
Yuh on time when yuh get dey, and yuh leavin when yuh ready to goh.
A flag is fuh wavin, not fuh flyin on a pole.
Gyuls wear "pum-pum shorts", not "cut-offs" or "Dazey Dukes".
Chinese Laundry is a person, not a laundromat owned by a chinese man
Sparrow doh fly and Kitchener is not a city.
A roti an doubles beats an "extra value meal" any day.
Yuh relatives always mamaguy yuh.
Yuh can make punch from peanuts.
Yuh belly start gripin yuh, fuss yuh hongry.
Yuh love to hang somebody jack and get tree points.
Yuh prefer Peardrax, Big Red, Cydrax and any Solo to Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, and Sunkist.
Yuh nearly boncks down a dog at least once back home.
De best mangos are named "Julie"
Yuh done bade at two points: Pigeon and Crown.
A mighty bird tell yuh "saltfish" stand fuh two different tings.
Yuh drink a dozen Chubby an like yuh still tusty.
Co-bo pee on yuh when yuh have bad luck.
Horn have nutting to do wit a rhino or moto-cah, buh when yuh get it, is rell pressuh, padnuh!
Yuh best friend is yuh paliwal.
If snake come out of bush an say "Snake dey"....He dey.
Yuh picnic get spoil by one set of batchac.
Yuh have a nice round stone to mash de gyalic.
"Kool-Aid? *cheups* Pass de pala-juice!"
Yuh know cockroach have no right in fowl party.
Yuh know de big gundy doh make joke aftuh yuh get ketch once.
De bone taste jus as good as de meat.
Yuh vex cause people always tiefin yuh pyrex dish and doh wanta give it back.
Yuh always seem to meet someone yuh knew in secondary school.
Yuh cousin does trow ketchup all ova he/she pelau.
Yuh start to cuss an get on when yuh have to wait too long fuh anyting.
"LAWD! De peppuh buss in de calaloo!"
A haul u tail have nothing to with a moving truck
Sent to you by the one and only.............Ryan
Monday, May 21, 2001 PETITION FROM SOS TOBAGO
Save Our Sea Turtles (SOS) Tobago is a non-profit community-based organization operating in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. Our mission is: "To conserve sea turtles and their habitats in
Tobago through community initiatives in education, research and ecotourism." SOS is working very hard to patrol nesting beaches to try to stop the rampant slaughter of turtles that is taking place in
Tobago. We need your support to ask the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for stronger conservation laws to protect sea turtles on the nesting beaches and while in Trinidad and Tobago waters. The current Fisheries Act allows for hunting of these critically endangered species for five months of the year outside of 1,000 yards from shore. This provides a loophole for the continued illegal slaughter on nesting beaches and inshore waters and sale of turtle meat. We ask the Government to take immediate action to amend this law and ban hunting and sale/possession of meat, eggs and other products of sea turtles in Trinidad and Tobago. The environmental laws of Trinidad and Tobago need to reflect public interests and Government policies and international
agreements. Please sign below to show your support and pass on this message (copy and paste please). When the list reaches 50 please return to nleotaud@hotmail.com. SOS and the turtles thank you!
Wednesday, 30 May, 2001 From the Trinidad Express, by-lined Waveney Joseph, it purports to describe the driving habits of Trinidadians. Be honest now: Do you recognise yourself in any of A to Z:
• A - Accelerate and pass the stupid driver who stopped at the red light. Time is evidently not important to him.
• B - Brake suddenly after overtaking a vehicle. Is that driver to “ketch” if he hits you from behind.
• C - Call yuh partner on yuh cell phone as yuh fly down the highway, and tell him yuh know yuh late, but yuh’ll still reach in time fuh de lime.
• D - Demonstrate your driving ability by resting your right forefinger on the steering wheel while you look at your girlfriend seated next to you, and hug her around the neck with your left arm. That will show her how much you love her.
• E - Estimate how far you can throw your empty beer bottle while driving.
• F - Follow the car in front of you if you are not sure of the direction to the wedding reception. The driver may be going there too.
• G - Give the next car a “bad drive” if it will help you to reach hell faster.
• H - Honk your horns as loudly as you can when in a wedding procession. Serve the two fools right if the noise deafens them.
• I - Increase the volume on your radio if you are stuck in traffic. The other cars may not have radios of their own.
• J - Join the last-minute crowd when you have to renew your driving permits. You will meet a lot of your old friends whom you have not seen for a long time.
• K - Keep looking back to talk with your companions in the back seat. Your car knows the way. No harm will result from taking your eyes off the road.
• L - Leave your car in front of someone’s driveway if you can’t find anywhere else to park. What do they expect you to do?
• M - Make a U-turn at any intersection that pleases you. It is unreasonable of the authorities to expect you to drive any distance at all before you can get on the other side of the road.
• N - Never look to see if children standing by the side of the road will suddenly dash across in front of you to get to the other side. They do it often, that being the instinctive nature of children, but that is their business.
• O - Overtake on the left of the vehicle in front to you if you if you can’t make it on the right.
• P - Proceed slowly on the fast lane if you see a half-naked chick with heavily-powdered neck walking ahead of you. (Men only!)
• Q - Question the authority of any policeman who does not want you to drive on the shoulder of the road. “What wrong wid he?”
• R - Race from the scene of an accident rather than try to help. The chances of the victim being a relative of yours are slim.
• S - Slow down and create a traffic jam so that you can find out what that rowdy assembly is all about.
• T - The middle of the road is the ideal place to stop to get change from another taxi-driver. Other Trinis are not in a hurry to get where they are going.
• U - Under no circumstances must you consider the welfare of others. If you do not seek your own interest who, pray tell, will do it for you?
• V - Verify that you’d be the greatest racing driver this side of Brazil by racing ahead of anything in front of you even if it is an 18-ton trailer blinking that it is about to turn right.
• W - When another driver eases you up by giving you the right-of-way to which you are not entitled, ignore his kind gesture. Never think of acknowledging it graciously. Who asked him anyway?
• X - X-amine carefully the depth of the pothole on the left side of the road. But it won’t be my fault if you break your axle in the one on the right.
• Y - Yell out and wave to someone you know in another lane. The driver behind you would be stupid to think that you are giving him some kind of hand signal.
• Z - Zero in on the driving faults of others. You know that you yourself are one of the best drivers not only in Trinidad and Tobago, but in the whole wide world and the indisputable proof is that the drunker you are the better you drive. See you, then, when you wake up. Assuming, of course, that you do.
Friday, August 17, 2001 HELP TO SAVE CHARLOTTEVILLE.....PETITION FROM CONCERNED VILLAGERS.....
The Central Government of Trinidad & Tobago has notified the nation in a tiny "Legal" article on page 40 of a national newspaper that it "Proposes to aquire" 8 parcels of Beachfront property in this idyllic sleepy fishing village "For the purpose of a PORT and related facilities". This was the first that anyone heard about the proposal, and having drawn much media and public attention to the plight of the villagers, we have no information as to what these "Proposals" may be! No plans have been submitted to any Department, no environmental impact surveys done, nor any residents consulted on the matter. The Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly was himself unaware of these proposals!!!! If we do not stop this project NOW, then this beautiful Bay could be turned into an industrial port and the villagers, who have fished these waters for centuries, lose their livelihoods, not to mention the socio/economic impacts, since hundreds of the villagers rely on the Tourist industry for their main income. The people of Charlotteville have plans for the village, in keeping with sustainable development, and are asking for support in their BATTLE against the Government. The loss of our pristine coral reefs would constitute a marine ecological disater. The Man O' War Bay is an important nursery for Caribbean marine life, as well as important nesting beaches for the critically endangered Leatherback, & Hawksbill turtles which lay in the bay's coves each year. Please sign below to show your support and pass on this message (copy and paste please). When the list reaches 50 please return to dive_tobago@hotmail.com
We thank you for your support...........
Thursday, 22 May, 2003Trini Language Dictionary
"A" Ah -Substitute for "I"
Allyuh -All of you people. A group
Ax (Ask). -To ask a question
Aye-yah-yie -An _expression of anticipation or pain, etc.
"B" Bacchanal -Scandal, heavy quarreling, big party, confusion
Back chat -Insolent response, especially from a child to an adult
Bad eye(cut-eye) -A look of anger, especially when looking from the corner of the eye
Ba-John -A bully or a really tough customer
Bamsee -The rear end, what you sit on
Bam-se Lambe -Rather attractive bamsee
Bol'face -A pushy person, unreasonably demanding
Broughtupsy -Showing that a person was properly brought up, decorum
Buh wait nah -But wait a minute, now hold on/it
"C" Callaloo -A thick soup made from dasheen leaves, ochroes, coconut milk, seasoned to taste, invariably includes crab
Calypso -A musical and lyrical comment on any subject, usually composed for, but not limited to, the Carnival season
Calypsonian One who sings calypsoes
Cheups(Steups) -A noise made by sucking your teeth
Chinkee -Very tiny portions of anything
Chupid -Stupid
Chupidee -A foolish person
Coki-eye -Cross-eyed
Commesse -Confusion associoated with arguments, gossip and slander
Cuff -Hitting someone or something with a clenched fist
Cyah -Can't
"D" Da is you? -Is that you?
Dan-dan -Any sharp looking outfit
Dat good for yuh -Serves you right
Dat -That
Doh -Don't
Dotish -Silly, stupid, foolish and dumb
Dougla -Mixture of East Indians and African parentage
Drevait(dree-vay) -Wayward person who likes to "knock about"
"E" Eh -What did you say?
Eh-eh -No, no way, oh no
Eh-heh -Oh really? I understand. Yes
En'less -Plenty, endless
Ent? -Is that not so? That's true, isn't it?
"F" Fall out -To stop speaking with someone or to terminate a friendship
Faddah -Father
Fed up -The state of being bored
Fete -A party, loud music, lots to eat and drink, dancing to wee hours of the morning
Flim -Film
Founkie(foong-key) -Foul-smelling, stink odour
Fuh true/troot? -Yes that is true. Is that really so?
"G" Goin'orf -Someone who appears to be going out of their mind, acting
strangely
Gun talk -Fighting words, to threaten verbally
Gyul - Girl
"H" Harden -Disobedient
Hototo(hotoetoe) -A very large amount of anything
"I" I eh payin' tax fuh mih mout' -I could say anything I want
In ting -To be involved in current activity
Is so? -Is that so?
"J" Jeez-an-ages -Used for any reason where an outburst is appropriate
Jook -To stab at anything
Jumbie -Spirit, ghost
Jus'now -In a little while
Jus'so? -Just like that?
Jus'so -Out of the blue, totally unexpected
"K" Ketch -Catch
Klim -Any brand of powdered milk
"L" Lef dat -Leave that
Leh -Let, let's
Leh go -Let go
Leh we -Let us
Lick dong -To accidentally hit someone or something
Licks -A beating, physical punishment
Like t'ing -To be somewhat mischievous
Lil'bit -In small meaningless portions
Lime -When a small group of people engage in a sometimes
pre-arranged activity
Long eye -A person who is envious of the possessions of others
Look nuh! -An _expression of annoyance
"M" Maco -A person who minds other people's business for the purpose of gossip.
Macocious -A person having the trait of a maco
Maga -Very thin, skinny
Mamaguy -To make fun of, to ridicule
Mama Yo! -_Expression denoting shock and surprise
Matter Fix -Everything is well organized
Mih han' slip -An _expression used when too much of an ingredient is used
Mooma -Mother
Mout'er -A boaster
Much up -To pamper, to butter up
"N" Nah -No
Nastiness -An _expression of disgust applied to a good-for-nothing person
Never see come see -Someone who has recently been exposed to something new and who overdoes it to ridiculous proportions
Ning ning -Tired eyes
Now fuh now -Instantly
Nowherian -A person who does not have any fixed place of abode
"O" Obzokee -Awkward in appearance, anything bent or twisted out of shape
Oh geed! -An _expression used when an offensive smell arises
OH gosh!-
Oh gorm man!-
Oh shimps man!- These are all expressions denoting shock, surprise indignation and admiration
Ol' talk -Idle chatter, social chit-chat
One set ah -A lot of anything
Own-way -Stubborn person
"P" Pallet -Frozen lolly
Papa yo! -Exclamation of surprise
Pesh -Money
Pissin' tail -A person of no class or importance
Planasse -To hit someone continuously with the flat part of a cutlass
Playin' social -Someone who pretends to be of a higher social strata than they are
Pong -Pound
Po-po -Very small child, baby
Prim-prim -Disgustingly proper and formal
"Q" Quenk -An irritating person
Qualey -Withered, dried up
"R" Raff -To grab suddenly
Ragadang -Broken down
Ram-cram -Packed to capacity
Rumfle -Ruffled or wrinkled
"S" Saga boy/girl -Flashy dresser, dandy
Shades -Sunglasses
Shif' yuh carcass -Move over, get going
Shub -Shove, move or cast aside
Skinnin' yuh teet' -Grinning
Skin up yuh nose -To turn up one's nose at anything
Sometimeish -Moody
Strims -Shrimps
Sweetie -Any confectionary
Swell up yuh face -To look angry, to pout
"T" Tabanca -The forlorn feeling one gets when a love affair is over
Tanty -Aunt
Tight -Intoxicated, drunk, stoned
T'ing -Thing
To besides -Besides which
Too-tool-bay -A confused state,in a daze, also head over heels in love
Tot tots -Female breasts
"U" Umpteen -Plenty of anything
"V" Vampin' -An offensive smell
Vaps -To suddenly behave excitedly or in a strange manner
"W" Wajang -A roudy, uncouth person
Warap -A very weak mixture
Well yes! -An _expression of disbelief
Whappen? -What's the matter with you?
Wha-happenin' dey? -What's happening
Whey -Where
Whey yuh say? -What did you say?
"Y" Yampee -Mucus, found in the corner of the eye
You an' all? -You too?
You so -People like you
Yuh faddah head -An _expression of annoyance
Yuh faddah is a glassmaker? -You are blocking my view.
Yuh look fuh dat -It's your own fault
Yuh makin' joke! -You can't be serious!
"Z" Zug-up -A rough and uneven cutting of anything
If more than 5 of these words are unfamiliar to you, YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT A
TRUE TRINI!!!!!!
Wednesday, 30 January, 2002Yuh know is time to burn yuh Trini Passport when....
Yuh start "hangin' out" instead of limin'....
Yuh feelin' embarrass to 'storm' ah party....
Yuh eating roti with knife and fork.....
Yuh start making road signals when yuh driving .......
Yuh cyah take even "slight" pepper in yuh doubles .......
Yuh stop tinkling de ice in yuh drink before yuh drink it .........
Yuh have problems makin' ah steups wit' yuh mout'..........
Yuh stop eatin' sugar cake, toolum and paw paw balls because dey
have too much calories.....
Yuh worried dat the red stuff in "red mango" not good fuh ya.
Yuh cyah turn yuh back an' still 'mako' ah conversation from across
de room.......
Yuh not usin' expressions like "Ay boy", "Yeah", "Orright", "Eh-eh" with every other sentence.
Yuh have to ask somebody what tune win roadmarch dis year.
Yuh worried about not gettin enough sleep at Carnival time.
Yuh find the weather too hot for you.
Yuh fraid to laugh out loud because people might "look at yuh funny..."
Yuh drinkin' coconut water from ah straw (Oh Lord!No!)................
If you answer Yes to more than four..... You have officially crossed
over....is time to 'bun' yuh passport.
Saturday, 2 February, 2002Trini Valentine
This is dedicated to all my Trini peeps
Happy Valentine's Day
How Do I Love Thee...
Let me count the ways ....
You are the essence in my mauby
De fish in my fishcakes
I love you love you dearly
You are the lardoil in my bakes.