yuh
In Jamaican, 'you' is translated as yuh.
The word is a subject pronoun used to address the person being spoken to.
Meaning: subject pronoun: the person being addressed (pron)
Which one should you use?
While yuh can be used for both a single person and a group, there are specific terms for different contexts. Unu is a colloquial term for "you all" or "you guys" used to address a group. Di Man Dem is a phrase used to address a group of men and Di Gyal Dem is a phrase used to address a group of women.
How does it change in a sentence?
In many Jamaican contexts, the form yuh is used for both the singular 'you' and the plural 'you'.
Did you know?
- The word unu is a linguistic fingerprint of West African influence in Jamaica. It is believed to derive from the Igbo word unu, which is used to address a group of people.
- Because yuh can be both singular and plural, the speaker often relies on tone and gesture to signal who is being addressed. This makes non-verbal communication essential to the grammar.
- The use of unu serves as a linguistic way to create a sharp distinction between an individual and a collective, preventing the confusion that often occurs in English.
Examples in context
- Weh yuh did deh?Where were you?This sentence shows how to ask about someone's location using yuh.Tatoeba #5710328 by Kyle, translation #16486 by CK
- Yuh nyam too much.You eat too much.This sentence uses yuh to describe an action performed by the person being addressed.Tatoeba #5712241 by Kyle, translation #3822193 by CK
- Mi deh wish yuh a Merri Crissmuss.I wish you a Merry Christmas.This sentence uses yuh as the object of a well-wish.Tatoeba #5711823 by Kyle, translation #62819 by lilygilder
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kevon and Latoya are talking on the street.
- KevonYuh look good today.You look good today.
- LatoyaYuh too kind, Kevon.You are too kind, Kevon.
- KevonWha yuh a do?What are you doing?
- LatoyaMi jus' a walk.I am just walking.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
