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.

Speaking-saint-bookIn 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