Jamaicans are very expressive by nature, and simply stating their displeasure or approval is not enough. The use of the word ‘very’ just seems to fall short. There are a few ways Jamaicans may express this to you, and rest assured, they will ensure that you get a clear visual idea of just how they are feeling.

Skipping ‘Very’, Just Double It Up

1. Fenkeh fenkeh: (adj.) Cheap or of little worth; weak; puny.
   • “A wah kinda fenkeh fenkeh present dat?”
2. Doogoo doogoo: (vb.) To engage in secretive sexual intercourse at an age when you shouldn’t be thinking about that.
   • “Before yuh go study yuh book yuh a talk bout doogoo doogoo.”
3. Placka placka: (adj.) Wet, nasty, unsightly, and generally disgusting in appearance, usually describing food.
   • “No sah! Why your dumpling always so sof’ and placka placka?”

Relatable Comparisons

4. It’s very big: “Big lacka Martha pun pan.”
   • Context: “Pun pan” refers to a very large dutchie our grandparents used for baking puddings.
5. You are very selfish: “Mean like star apple.”
   • Context: A star apple is a fruit that is very difficult to pick and would rather rot on the tree than fall for someone to eat.
6. You look very disheveled: “Look like you and fowl did a fight.”
   • Context: This means you look like you were fighting with a chicken and was indicative of a very disheveled beaten down appearance.

References to Past Events

7. You are very old: “Old like Methuselah.”
   • Explanation: Methuselah is a biblical figure said to have lived for 969 years. Yes, we are sticklers for exaggeration too.
8. I have been waiting for a very long time: “Mi a wait from Whappi kill Phillop and all now!”
   • Explanation: Whappie and Phillip refer to a very old story, one of Jamaica’s first official homicide cases.
9. Your clothes are very old and outdated: “You look like you and Moses did a walk.”
   • Explanation: This suggests that your clothes are so old they look like they are from biblical times when Moses walked the earth.

In most cases, these phrases are said with the straightest faces you can find, and not a minute is missed coming up with the perfect comparisons. It’s like a second sense, and while they aren’t always ill-intentioned, you are bound to get the picture and make the necessary adjustments if needed.