wicked
The Jamaican word for great is wicked.
In Jamaican, wicked is used to describe something that is impressive, excellent or outstanding. It is a common way to praise things such as music, a person's skill or an event.
Meaning: very good (adj)
Which one should you use?
While wicked typically carries a negative connotation of being evil or morally bad in Standard English, in Jamaican Patois it functions as a positive intensifier to mean great.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
wicked is a slang term.
Did you know?
- While wicked is common, Jamaicans may also use tun up to describe something that is great or high-energy, literally meaning the volume has been turned up.
- The use of wicked as a compliment is part of a broader Jamaican linguistic trend of 'inversion', where words traditionally associated with negativity are flipped to express peak positivity.
- In some contexts, the phrase mad is used interchangeably with wicked to describe something so great that it is almost unbelievable.
Examples in context
- Di food tasted wicked!The food tasted great!
- Dat a wicked movie, yuh know.That is a great movie, you know.
Example conversation
Tanesha and Andre are talking about a concert they just attended.
- TaneshaDid yuh enjoy the show, Andre?Did you enjoy the show, Andre?
- AndreYeah, the music was wicked!Yeah, the music was great!
- TaneshaMi agree, the singer have a powerful voice.I agree, the singer has a powerful voice.
- AndreIt was a wicked night out.It was a great night out.
