yuh mean
To say "you're mean" in Jamaican, use yuh mean.
yuh mean is used as a statement to tell someone that they are unkind or cruel.
Which one should you use?
You might also use Yuh wickid! to say someone is acting mean or cruel or Yuh too bad-mind! to accuse someone of being mean-spirited.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Jamaican Patois, the verb 'to be' (am/is/are) is often omitted in this type of descriptive phrase.
Did you know?
- The phrase yuh mean can sometimes function as a question to ask 'do you mean?' depending on the intonation, despite the page describing it as a statement of character.
- In Jamaican culture, being bad-mind is viewed as a specific spiritual or social toxin involving jealousy, not just general unkindness.
- Jamaicans distinguish between someone who is mean as a person and someone who is 'tight', the latter referring specifically to stinginess with money.
Examples in context
- Yuh mean fi real.You're mean for real.
- Stop dat, yuh mean.Stop that, you're mean.
Example conversation
Latoya refuses to share her snack with Andre.
- AndreLatoya, gi mi a likkle bit a dat.Latoya, give me a little bit of that.
- LatoyaNo, mi nuh waan share it wid yuh.No, I don't want to share it with you.
- AndreYuh mean, Latoya!You're mean, Latoya!
- LatoyaMi nuh care, Andre.I don't care, Andre.
