drawas
The English phrase "underwear" is drawas in Jamaican.
drawas is a common term used to refer to underwear or undergarments in general.
Meaning: clothes worn next to the skin (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
drawas is a phonetic spelling of the English word "drawers".
Did you know?
- In certain Jamaican folk songs and dancehall lyrics, mentioning drawas is often used as a playful or provocative double entendre to imply intimacy.
- The phrase drawas reflects the historical influence of 18th and 19th century British English clothing terms on the development of Jamaican Patois.
- There is a cultural habit in some Caribbean regions of referring to any bottom-layer clothing as drawas, even if they are more like leggings or tights.
Examples in context
- Mi need fi buy some new drawers fi di weekend.I need to buy some new underwear for the weekend.
- Mi sister always aks mi fi har panty dem.My sister always asks me for her underwear.
- Mi need fi buy new drawas.I need to buy new underwear.
- Di drawas deh deh inna di drawer.The underwear is in there in the drawer.
- Yuh drawas clean enuff?Is your underwear clean enough?
Example conversation
Kevon and Latoya are doing laundry at home.
- KevonLatoya, mi can't find mi white drawas.Latoya, I can't find my white underwear.
- LatoyaCheck di wash basket, Kevon.Check the wash basket, Kevon.
- KevonYeah, mi see dem deh pan di floor.Yeah, I see them there on the floor.
- LatoyaPick dem up and put dem inna di machine.Pick them up and put them in the machine.
