go
The English verb "go" is translated as go in Jamaican.
The word is used to express the action of moving through space, particularly when moving from one place to another.
Meaning: to move through space (especially from one place to another) (verb)
Which one should you use?
While go is a form used for the verb, the word Gwaan can also be used to mean "go" or "to go".
Did you know?
- While go describes movement, the word Gwaan is often used as a greeting to ask what is happening, as in Wah gwaan? This turns a verb of motion into a way of asking 'What's going on?'
- Jamaican Patois often replaces the English future tense 'will go' with the phrase a go, making go a marker for future intention as well as physical movement.
- The expression gwaan is frequently used to describe someone's behavior, such as saying someone is gwaan like a certain person, meaning they are acting or behaving in a specific way.
Examples in context
- Mi haffi gwaan now.I have to go now.
- Mi deh 'bout fi go a di market.I am about to go to the market.
- Yuh neva fi go deh late at night.You should never go there late at night.
- Mi a go a di shop now.I am going to the shop now.
Example conversation
Ricardo and Shanti are talking outside in the street.
- RicardoShanti, yuh a go a di party later?Shanti, are you going to the party later?
- ShantiYeah, mi a go go straight deh.Yeah, I am going to go straight there.
- RicardoCool, mi a go meet yuh deh.Cool, I am going to meet you there.
- ShantiAlright den, mi a go see yuh later.Alright then, I will see you later.
