pickney
/ˈpɪknɪ/
In Jamaican, the phrase for little boy is pickney.
While pickney can refer to a little boy, it is more broadly used as a general term for any small child or offspring, regardless of their gender.
Meaning: a diminutive male child (noun)
Which one should you use?
The English phrase 'little boy' is gender-specific, whereas pickney is a gender-neutral term that can refer to a boy, a girl or even a group of children.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the word pickney plural, you add the marker dem after the noun to form pickney dem.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpɪknɪ/
Did you know?
- The word pickney shares deep linguistic roots with 'pikinini' used in Pacific island languages like Bislama and Tok Pisin.
- Using pickney to address an adult is often a way of patronising them or telling them to stay out of adult affairs.
- The word pickney is a descendant of the English word 'pickaninny'.
Examples in context
- Di pickney a play ball.The little boy is playing ball.
- Dat pickney too loud.That little boy is too loud.
- Di pickney hungry enough.The little boy is quite hungry.
Example conversation
A mother and father are watching their son in the yard.
- ShaniceLook how di pickney run fast!Look how the little boy runs fast!
- RicardoYeah, him energetic, man.Yeah, he is energetic, man.
- ShaniceHim sweet, nuh?He is sweet, isn't he?
- RicardoTrue, him a good pickney.True, he is a good little boy.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pickney, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pickney, CC BY-SA 4.0.
