mi
The Jamaican word for "my" is mi.
The word mi is used to indicate possession, functioning as the possessive adjective "my".
Meaning: belonging to me (det)
Which one should you use?
In English, there is a distinction between the possessive "my" and the object pronoun "me", but in Jamaican, mi is used for both roles.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word mi functions as both the possessive adjective "my" and the object pronoun "me". Additionally, the phrase Fi mi can be used to mean either "my" or "for me".
Did you know?
- In Jamaican Patois, the word mi can also function as the subject pronoun 'I', meaning a speaker might say mi hungry instead of 'I am hungry'.
- The use of mi reflects the influence of West African substrate languages, which often have different rules for possessive markers than Standard English.
- Because mi serves as 'I', 'me', and 'my', a single word can be used repeatedly in a sentence like mi tell mi mada mi love mi dog.
Examples in context
- Dis ah my buk.This is my book.
- Mi fren a kom ova.My friend is coming over.
- Mi a go du it wid mi one han.I will do it with my own hands.
- Dis yah fi mi son.This is for my son.
- Mi mama tell mi.My mother told me.
- Mi car deh down de road.My car is down the road.
- Mi mother cook good food.My mother cooks good food.
Example conversation
Damion and Latoya are looking for a bag.
- DamionLatoya, you see mi bag?Latoya, do you see my bag?
- LatoyaNo, mi no see it.No, I haven't seen it.
- DamionIt deh pon mi table.It is on my table.
- LatoyaCheck deh, Damion.Check there, Damion.
