pickney
/ˈpɪknɪ/
The Jamaican word for child is pickney.
pickney is used to refer to a son, a daughter or someone's child. The term 'pickney' is commonly used in Jamaican Patois to refer to children.
Meaning: son or daughter, someone's child (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpɪknɪ/
Did you know?
- The word pickney is part of a global linguistic chain that includes pikinini in Tok Pisin and biginini in Australian Kriol.
- The term is so central to the identity of many English-based creole languages that it is often used by linguists to track how these languages spread through the Pacific and Caribbean.
- Depending on the context, pickney can be used as a term of endearment or a sharp rebuke when a child is being scolded.
Examples in context
- De pickney hungry.The child is hungry.
- Mi pickney deh a school.My child is at school.
- Yuh pickney behave gud.Your child behaves well.
Example conversation
Shanice and Kevon are talking about family at a party.
- ShaniceYuh have any pickney, Kevon?Do you have any children, Kevon?
- KevonYeah, mi have one small pickney boy.Yes, I have one small son.
- ShaniceAww, how old him be?Aww, how old is he?
- KevonHim just turn three last month.He just turned three last month.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “child” translations and entries pickney, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pickney, CC BY-SA 4.0.
