English is St Helena’s first language, however, due to our descent from a concoction of nations, our tongue has evolved into a unique way of speaking. English speaking visitors may find it hard to understand parts of our dialect. It may be surprising to hear but even in an island as small as St. Helena there used to be (and perhaps still are) regional dialects between the different districts on the island.
In 2015 a book was published by Creative Saint Helena (with the support of the Saint Helena Community Development Organisation) entitled “Speaking Saint”. Can at it here from Amazon.co.uk – Speaking Saint: Yarns from the island
Speak Saint
Saint pronunciation
‘Proper’ english pronunciation
Luvie
Friend/relative
Cooldrink
Canned fizzy drink
Couple (several – can be 2 or more)
Couple (meaning 2)
How you
How are you
Bite
Spicy flavour
See you
Bye/see you later
Who you is?
Who are you?
Breead
Bread
Bita
A bit of
Chirren
Children
Gorn (“he gorn home”)
Gone
Pants
Trousers
How you? (reply: “not too bad luvie”
How are you?
Most
Almost
Nuttin
Nothing
Not it a while
Not for a while yet
Next (next side)
Other
Ting
Thing
Dat
That
Tank you
Thank you
Us is
We are
windoo
Window
Nuff
Enough/plenty
Oh la!
Oh look (Indignant exclamation)
Oww!
Amazement (‘oww nuff rain!’ or ‘oww how dat?’)
Phew ya
Exasperation (i.e. ‘phew ya, it some hot!’)
Gorn now
Oh go on now
