weh
The Jamaican word for why is weh.
weh is used as an interrogative adverb to ask for the reason or cause behind an action or situation, equivalent to the English word why.
Meaning: (interrogative) for what reason (adv)
Did you know?
- In Jamaican Patois, weh is a versatile word that can mean 'why', 'where' or 'which' depending on the context of the sentence.
- The word weh can also function as a relative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'who', such as in the phrase di man weh walk, meaning 'the man who walked'.
- A common rhetorical response to a weh question in Jamaica might be a shrug or a clicking sound, which can be as communicative as a verbal answer.
Examples in context
- Weh di reason yuh a gwaan so?Why are you behaving like that?
- Weh mek yuh do dat deh ting deh?Why did you do that thing?
- Weh yuh lef di party fah?Why did you leave the party for?
- Weh mek yuh an him fall out?Why did you and him have a falling out?
- Weh mek yuh neva ansah di question?Why didn't you answer the question?
- Weh yuh a do so?Why are you doing that?
- Weh yuh late so late?Why are you so late?
- Weh di food taste so bad?Why does the food taste so bad?
Example conversation
Damion and Latoya are talking in the kitchen.
- DamionLatoya, weh yuh look so upset?Latoya, why do you look so upset?
- LatoyaMi jus' miss mi mama.I just miss my mother.
- DamionWeh yuh deh a cry so?Why are you crying like that?
- LatoyaMi just need a likkle time.I just need a little time.
