sista
The Jamaican word for sister is sista.
The term refers to a woman or girl having the same parents.
Meaning: woman or girl having the same parents (noun)
Which one should you use?
sista is an informal phonetic rendering of 'sister' used in Jamaican Patois, while sis is an informal variation of 'sister' used in Jamaican Patois.
Did you know?
- In many Jamaican communities, the term 'sista' is inseparable from the concept of 'sisterhood' found in Rastafarian culture, where it denotes a spiritual connection to the African diaspora.
- In Jamaica, calling a female stranger sista is a common way to show respect or friendliness, much like saying 'ma'am' or 'miss' in English.
- The use of sista among women in Jamaica is closely tied to the concept of 'sisterhood', a powerful social network that provides informal childcare and emotional support.
Examples in context
- Mi sista way better dan mi.My sister is much better than me.
- She a mi only sista.She is my only sister.
- Di sista dem deh a di shop.The sisters are at the shop.
Example conversation
Damion is asking Tanesha about her family.
- DamionTanesha, yuh have any brother or sista?Tanesha, do you have any brother or sister?
- TaneshaYeah, mi have one sista.Yes, I have one sister.
- DamionShe older than yuh?Is she older than you?
- TaneshaNo, she a mi likkle sista.No, she is my little sister.
