Antiguan and Barbudan Creole Dictionary: Part I

Updated: 20 hours ago

This page is a raw set of tables for readers who prefer not to read the Antiguan and Barbudan Creole Dictionary in PDF format.

This is a supplemental publication– a full dictionary is in progress.

Read Part II. The PDF version will provide a better reading experience. Read it here. Part I This supplemental Antiguan and Barbudan–English dictionary is published as an educational resource for the Antiguan and Barbudan-speaking population due to the lack of an accessible and free guide to the Antiguan and Barbudan language. This guide uses Axarplex orthography-based standardised spelling with minimal exceptions. Abbreviations  The following abbreviations are used in this dictionary:  Nad - North Antiguan  Sad - South Antiguan

Bar - Barbudan Orthography The Antiguan and Barbudan Language Academy at Axarplex has developed a standard orthography, or alphabet, for the Antiguan and Barbudan language. This orthography allows for consistent spelling, reducing conflicts on what is and what is not a correct way to spell a word. Vowels

IPA	Letter
/iː/	ee (ë)
/i/	i
/ɪ/	i
/Ɛ/	e
/ə/	a
/uː/	uu (ü)
/ʊ/	u
/ɔ/	o (aw)
/ɔː/	oo (aw)
/ä/	a
/äː/	aa (ä)
/o/	o
/ɒ/	o

Diphthongs

IPA	Letter
/ia/	ie
/ie/	ie
/eɪ/	ie
/ua/	ow
/aɪ/	ai
/oʊ/	ou

Semi-vowels

IPA	Letter
/w/	w
/j/	y

Consonants

IPA	Letter
/p/	p
/b/	b
/t/	t
/k/	k
/g/	g
/t∫/	ch
/dʒ/	j
/f/	f
/v/	v
/s/	s
/z/	z
/∫/	sh
/ʒ/	zh
/m/	m
/n/	n
/ŋ/	ng
/l/	l
/r/	r
/ks/	x
/h/	h
/d/	d
/kʃ/	xh
/c/	ky (c)
/ɟ/	gy

To simplify spelling, it is recommended that in cases where “ng” is followed by “g”, instead of using the spelling “ngg”, the sound /ŋg/ is written as “ng”. While most Creole language orthographies use “ks” to represent the sound /ks/, it is recommended in all circumstances that “x” be used to represent the sound instead. The absence of the letters “c” and “q” should be noted– except for “ch” being used to represent /t∫/ and the possibility of “c” representing /c/, the characters “c” and “q” should not be used in any circumstances.  All vowels in the Antiguan and Barbudan language except schwa can be nasalized. Nasalized vowels are represented by the vowel plus <n’>. /ä̃/ for example becomes /an’/. Aanteegan an’ Baabyuudan English Notes

a present tense marker

a I Bar

a it

a of

a it’s, it is

a-go volition marker

aacha archer

aachanaat astronaut

aachanama astronomer

aada order

aadvantij teka advantage taker

aaf off

aafisa officer

aafruo afro

Aagas August

aak act

aal all

aamchia armchair

aamhol underarm, armpit

aamstik underarm, armpit

aan on see pan

aanchouba eggplant

aanda deodorant

aansa answer

Aanteega Antigua

aanteeman gay male

aapl banana little banana

aarait alright

aas ask

aashum grind corn with sugar

aasuu box hand scheme

aat art

aat hot

aata after

aatanuun afternoon

aatis artist

aatleet athlete

aawi we, us

aaxhin auction

aaxhinia auctioneer

aayu you all

abie sticking out the tongue

abuu chalkboard stick

achar a type of condiment

agud good for you

agyuu argue

ais ice

aiwie highway

aiyan iron

akaardin according

Aktouba October

alektrishan electrician

am it Bar

an hand

an’ and

anaal also, as well, too

andem plural marker

andie plural marker Bar

aprieshan operation

aprieta operator

aprietin operating

arda order

arnda deodorant

arz as soon as

au how Nad, Bar

aus house

avispa wasp

ax ask

ayuudeez you all

baaba barber

Baabyuuda Barbuda

baada bother

baada worry

baadarieshan to be bothersome

baakal bottle

baal bawl, cry

baal shout

baan born

baang to bang

baang to beat up

baang-waata-kom-ya immigrate illegally

baangal bracelet

baangdaag to beat up

baangup beat up

baasabaasa to fool around

baasman title used among males to address friends

baat bath

baatmaat bathmat

baatsuut bathing suit

baax a box, box hand scheme

baaxdung to hit with an open palm

baaxdung to slap

babash A type of rum

babilon Babylon

babilon corrupt regime

babilon United States

bad bad

badfeelin nausea

badgiet bad habit

badjaan bully, gangster

badmaindid spiteful, envious

badtaak defame

badwud swear

bafani disability

bagsaruukuu dark skinned person

bagtwain string from a bag

bainup to be constipated

bak back

bakaan to hit someone with the back of one’s hand

bakam bottom

bakamfut sole of a foot

bakanaal carnival

bakanaal drama

bakanaal scandal

bakanaal conflict

bakbak to go backwards

bakchaat talk back

bakra slave owner

baksaid excitement, disbelief

bakstaaba backstabber

bakuu spirit of a dead person

bam bum (buttocks)

bambam bumbum (buttocks)

bambuula cassava

bankin elevated row of soil

bargee an sam everybody, everyone

bart large metal tub

baskit basket

batabata a heavy load that holds someone back

batendung a tree with plenty of fruit

batendung close all windows and doors in a home

bati buttocks

batibwoi gay male

batihol anus

bedin bedding

bedpred bedspread

befuo taim a long time ago

beka better

belee swel bakl a bottle containing a liquid believed to deter theives

beleekutin stomach ache

bena benna music

berfes to be proud of one’s bad actions

bes best

bex to be angry or upset

bidauten without

bie bay, beach

biebee baby

biebee wacha babysitter

bied bathe

biek to bake

biek a type of bread

bieka baker

bienk bank

bienka banker

bies vase

biesaid beachside, coastline, bayside

bigstuon swollen testicle

bigup to shoutout

bihain behind

bihain buttocks

bil a handheld tool

bilda builder

birdspeed to move fast

birtperpa birth certificate

bitabush a type of vine

blaakail black and sticky substance

blabamaut blabbermouth

blakled pencil

blienk to ignore

blienkit blanket

bliez to hit hard

bluda balloon

boba clothing

bobolee idiot

braata a little bit more

brosh brush

bruk broke

bruum broom

buk book

bukhaus library

bukhausman librarian (male)

bukhausuuman librarian (female)

bukra slave owner

bul sex

bula gay male

bulf bulb

bum to beg, to wait around a home in expectation of food

bumpa buttocks, bumper

bun burn

buod bird, penis

buon bun

buonee bony, skinny

bus to burst

bwai boy

bwail boil

chaat to chat

chakta tractor

chap to cut

chat talk

chee tree

chek check

chia chair

chibyuut tribute

chied trade

chieda trader

chiga trigger

chim trim

chimbl to tremble, to shiver

choli trolley

cholong to leave

chook to poke

chou to throw

chouba eggplant

chout throat

chubfish parrotfish

churd-naiga third-person

chus to trust, to use a credit card

chuu real, true

chuu through

chuun tune

chuupit stupid

chuuris tourist

chuut truth

chuuttinkin philosophy

daab to dab, to spread

daakta doctor

daar expensive

dairekta director

damek that’s why

dat that

dem them, they

dem plural marker

demdie those

demya these

den then

dex desk

die them, they Bar

die there, there is, there’s

diktieta dictator

dilee sapodilla

dina dinner

dis this

disya this

dokosie short person

dotish stupid

doz used to, usually

dumaar dark skinned person

dun indicates completion of an action

dung down

dungkiedam indifferent

duo door

duomaat doormat

duoman doorman

duomaut doorway

dutee dirty

duukuuna ducana

eba ever

ebee heavy

ee he, him, she, her, it Nad, Bar

eebnin evening

een in

eena in

ej edge

elp help

elplis helpless

elt health

eng hang

expolikietid excused, forgiven

faada father

faak fork

faala to follow

famblee family

farid forehead

faris forest

fas fast

feda feather

fejaal federal

fejieshan federation

fes face

fet fete

flim film

flipflaap flip flop

fluxee unripe fruit

forin foreign

fraat gibberish

frak dress

fram from

fried afraid

frij refrigerator

friken frighten

fruuzee bad body odour

fu to, whose, for

fu’am its Bar

fu’om its Bar, Sad

fu'um its

fu’unu for you all Bar, used to address children

fuaawi our, ours

fuaayu for you all

fuhi his

fumi my

funjee fungee

fuoman foreman

fus first

fus-naiga first-person

fushi hers

fuujuu cool, ripe

fuyu yours

gaad guard

gaadn garden

gaadna gardener

gaan to leave

gaan agwasa lost, confiscated

Gad God

gee to give

go to

graba guava

grada bulldozer

grangou strong, fighting person

gras grass

gree agree

grong ground

gruo to grow

gruonut peanut

gruosha grocer

gruoshree grocery

gruoshree tuo grocery store

gut stomach

guta gutter

gwaan going on

gyal girl

ha present tense marker Sad

ha it Sad

haada order Sad

Haagas August Sad

haal all Sad

haas ask Sad

habie sticking out the tongue Sad

habuu chalkboard stick Sad

han hand Sad

hanaal also, as well, too Sad

harda order Sad

harz as soon as Sad

hau how Sad

haus house Sad

hax ask Sad

helt health Sad

heng hang Sad

hi he, him, it Sad

hil hill Sad

holheep many

holheep-a-ting plural, many

hongl only Sad

honglis only Sad

hongs ounce Sad

hu who

hud hood

huol old, hole Sad

huufa whose Sad

huumach how much Sad

iaplog earplug

iemen amen

ienga hanger

iepuot airport

ier air, hair, year, to hear

ierbrosh hairbrush

ierjaia hairdryer

ierklip hairclip

if if

il hill

inbenta inventor

inbesta investor

injaneer engineer

injaneerin engineering

instraal intestine

jaakee jockey

jaap drop

jaf draft

jaia dryer

jaib to drive

jaiba driver

jaikleena drycleaner

jain-up group, cursive

jak I mean it, will you

jam to jam, to poke

jed dread

jedlaak dreadlock

jednut coconut

jes dress

jibl to dribble, drool

jiel jail, prison

jiela jailer

jinaraal general

joj judge

jom drum

joma drummer

jongk drunk

jongkaad drunkard

jumbee ghost

juuie fiddler crab

kaak cork

kaakl cockle

kaan corn

kaana corner

kaat cart

kaatin curtain

kag copy, cheat

kakanafuun to tumble

kakaruoch roach

kakaweel a used thread spool

kambou scar on the limbs

kanfejieshan confederation

kapa one cent

karal coral

kasaada cassava

kasi cactus

kata catta

kauch couch

kazmou cosmos

kech to catch

kee quay

keep keep

keepup maintenance, celebration

kenip guinep

kie care, cay

kiek cake

kies case

kil kill

kila killer

kimbou kimbo

kin skin

king king

klaak clock

klaat cloth

klafee idiot

klamee sticky

klapa mouth

kleen clean

kleena cleaner

klouz close

kokobie leprosy

kol cold

kola color, cola

kom come

kom-fram to come from

konchi country

kongkongsa to take sides, to be biased

kongou eel, Congo

kongsl council

korukl stuff, apparatus, mess, system

kraab crab

kraap scratch

krai cry

kraiwaata tears

kranana zero, nothing

kranee skinny

krufee dry skin

kuda could’ve

kudum cousin

kuf to hit on the head

kumkumsa one who falsely deems themself knowledgable

kunumunu fool, a man who is subservient to a woman

kuol cold

kuom comb

kus curse

kus cuss, curse

kuu to look

kuushuu cashew

kuushuuma cashew apple

kwaat twenty-five cents

kwarel quarrel

kween queen

kwie care, cay

kwilt quilt

kyaan can

kyaan can’t

kyaant can’t

kyakl cattle

kyapm captain

kyarn can’t

kyash cash

laaba to talk, to gossip

laak lock

laak aaf turn off

laak on turn on

laam alarm

laamklaak alarm clock

laamp lamp

laan land

laan learn

laba talk, gossip

laf laugh

laif life

laifgaad lifeguard

laka alike

lakawa very

langwij language

las last

lebin leftovers

lef leave

lib to live

liba liver

lichree literary

lie leave

liecheen latrine

likl little

lisn to listen

loko train, locomotive

lokotaap train stop

long long

lub love

luukwaam lukewarm

luut to beg

ma marrow

maakit market

maanin morning

maas moss

maasee moss that accumulates at the bottom of ponds

maaskeeta mosquito

maat mat

maatal mortal

man man

mas mas

mash to mash, to destroy

mata matter, pus

maut mouth

max mask

meegou Arab

meegou-uuman Arab female

meegouman Arab male

meekain meat

meera mirror

mek make

mek aawi let’s, let us, make us

melee gossip, rumour

mesinja messenger

mi me, I

mi past tense marker Bar

migl middle

min past tense marker

Mingo Santo Domingo

misa mister

monee money

mongkee monkey

mumuu idiot

mung everybody, everyone

munku large bump

musa must be, must’ve

musee must be

myuuzik music

na don’t

na not

na ‘taal not at all

na min did not, was not

naal not

nais nice

naitstaan nightstand

naiz noise

nak hit, strike

nakstrok work

nas nurse

neba never

neegl dragonfly, needle

neenyam food

nieba neighbour

niebahud neighbourhood

niebl navel

niega people

non nun

nort zero

nuh indicates a statement of fact at the end of a sentence

nuos nose

nuosuol nostril

nut nut

nyaasi nasty

nyam to eat

nyuuz news

nyuuzman journalist (male)

nyuuzuuman journalist (female)

oba over

obeea obeah

oda other

okro okra

om it Bar, Sad

ongl only

onglis only

ongs ounce

onta hunter

oulaad oh lord

ozbaan husband

paa path

paach to roast

paanee used paint can, large water container

paasa pasture

paasan pastor

padlaak padlock

pafyuum perfume

pai spy, investigator

pain pine, pineapple

palitishan politician

pampalam vagina

pan on (upon)

pangkiek pancake

pankuut idiot

pap porridge

parasuol umbrella

pataalajis pathologist

peesa piece of

pepa pepper

perpa paper

pes pest

pes kila exterminator

pia avocado

pien pain

pigee piggy, vagina

pigl to urinate

pik pick

pikcha picture

pikiniega children

pikni child

pilaa pillow

pilaakies pillowcase

pit spit

plat to braid

plenti plenty

plonja plunger

pompa oversize

powa power

prafesa professor

praim minista prime minister

prangrana pomegranate

prie pray

priea prayer

prizm prism

puot port

pusee cat

puup to fart

pwail to spoil

Raabak Antiguan and Barbudan language

raas ass, to beat

rada rather

Radawnda Redonda

rag-up destroy

raispap type of porridge

rak rack

rampl wrinkle

rang wrong

rata rat

rax spit

rech reach, arrive

redmem very light-skinned

reef reef

reschaant restaurant

riba river

ribaej dyke

ridim rhythm

riejaalajis radiologist

rienj range

rienja ranger

rij ridge

rog rug

rong round

rongxhan disturbance

ruop rope

ruul rule

saabis sensible, handy, precocious

saach search

saan sand

saang song

saanrij shoal

saf soft

saians science

santapee centipede

sapee wet overcooked food

sebm seven

sef self

sekan-naiga second-person

shai to trick someone into flinching

shaligou blue crab

shap shop

shasha cornbread

shi she, her

shuga diabetes, sugar

shuu shoe

shuubaax shoebox

shuubrosh shoe brush

slabee obese person

slak indecent behavior

sleep sleep

sleepmax sleep mask

slieb slave

slipa slipper

sluo slow

sluuee slippery

smadee somebody

snuo snow

solja soldier

sou so

spaar friend

spek glasses

spich to dive

subm something, thing

subn something, thing

sudn something, thing

swaatee obese

sweet sweet

sweetee candy, sweetie

swel swell

taakelpa interpreter

taam time

taap stop

taat tart

taikl title

tailit toilet

tailitbrosh toilet brush

taim time

taip type

taipis typist

tait tight

taitong speech disorder

tambrin tamarind

tamp-up to stomp on

tan stand

tangou beef from an old cow

tangx thanks

tantee aunt

tap top

tari story

tark talk

tata stutter

taual towel

teecha teacher

teef to steal

teelee penis

teema steamer

teet teeth

tek to take

tekeen to catch (an illness), to faint

tekumwie independent, wild

tenait tonight

tensel chamber pot

terichree territory

tiekawie subtract

tiela tailor

ties to taste

tif stiff

tilet toilet

ting thing

tingk think, stink

titimus tetanus

tomara tomorrow

tomuk stomach

tong town, tongue

toris tourist

tralala confusion, scandal, argument

trang strong

triet straight

tukl turtle

tump to punch

tun turn

tunkuu steam roller

tuo store

tuut everybody, everyone

tyaad tired

tyuuta tutor

um it

unu you all Bar, used to address children

uol old, hole

up up

uufa whose

uumach how much

uuman woman

vais voice

valees valise

vim cleaning powder

vuom to pass quickly

wa what

waadn warden

waajuob wardrobe

waak walk

waam warm

waasklaat washcloth

waata water

wach to watch

Wadadlee Wadadli

wai why

wajee used clothing

wamek why

wan one, indefinite article

wan-ting singular

wantalee intentionally

wari warri

warihee buttocks

wash wash

weda weather

weld weld

welda welder

wen when

wentaim when

wi will

wich which

wichpaat where

wie where

wieb wave

wil will

wil will (legal term)

wilk whelk

win Wind

winda window

wod to curse, word

wotlis worthless

wud word

wud wood

wuda would’ve

wudbuk dictionary

wusara worse, intensifier

ya here

yaaba cooking vessel

yai eye

yaidaakta eye doctor

yampee rheum

yap talk

yap to yap

yieyie eye

yieyiedaakta eye doctor

yu you, your

yuuman human

yuut youth

zaboka zaboca

zamee lesbian

zanana pineapple

zingk zinc

zuutuupeg uncultured

zwaag promiscuous woman Sources Lawrence, Joy. The Way We Talk and Other Antiguan & Barbudan Folkways. 2002. Sugarmill Tales, 2016. Joseph, Jerene. Antigua and Barbuda Dictionary. 2019.