Ah, Guyanese slang—a melodic mash-up of English, Creolese, African, Indian, Portuguese, and a splash of Caribbean spice. If you’ve ever been confused by a Guyanese saying (or had to explain it over and over to your “aunty from foreign”), you’re not alone. But don’t fret—we’ve got you covered with this fun, straightforward guide to the most popular slang phrases straight outta GT (Georgetown, of course).
So, whether you’re planning a trip to Guyana or just want to understand your cousin’s WhatsApp voice notes, here’s your cheat sheet to talking like a true “G.T. bad man.”
1. “Abee” / “Dem” / “Yuh” – It’s All in the Pronouns
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Abee = We / Us
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Dem = They / Them
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Yuh = You
Example:
“Abee gon market later, yuh wan come?”
Translation: We’re going to the market later, do you want to come?
2. “Wha Gwaan?” – The GT Greeting
Our version of “What’s up?” or “What’s going on?”—you’ll hear this everywhere, from the bus park to the fish shop.
Example:
“Wha gwaan, bai? Yuh lookin fresh today!”
Translation: Hey man, you’re looking good today!
3. “Big Man Ting” – Serious Talk Now
Borrowed from Jamaican patois but 100% at home in GT, this phrase means you’re talking about something real or serious.
Example:
“Big man ting, the oxtail at Palm Court slap hard.”
Translation: Seriously, the oxtail at Palm Court is amazing.
4. “Bun Yuh Eye” – Ignore the Foolishness
Used when you want someone to look the other way or ignore bad behavior.
Example:
“He talkin stupidness again. Bun yuh eye.”
Translation: He’s talking nonsense again. Just ignore him.
5. “Story Come to Bump” – Plot Twist Incoming
This is how Guyanese people signal that things just got real or juicy.
Example:
“She seh she at work, but story come to bump—she deh by he house!”
Translation: She said she was at work, but surprise—she’s at his place!
6. “Wuk” – Work or Job
In GT lingo, your “wuk” is your job, gig, hustle—whatever keeps the lights on.
Example:
“He get a new wuk at GPL.”
Translation: He got a new job at the power company.
7. “Mash Up” – Totally Destroyed (Physically or Emotionally)
This one’s versatile. It could describe a car crash or the way you feel after a weekend lime.
Example:
“Me liver mash up after dem shots at SleepIn.”
Translation: My liver is wrecked after drinking at SleepIn hotel.
8. “Lime” – No, Not the Fruit 🍋
To lime is to hang out, relax, and enjoy good company—preferably with some Banks Beer and pepperpot.
Example:
“We limin by the seawall later, come through.”
Translation: We’re chilling by the seawall later—join us.
9. “Chupidee” – A Hot Mess
Used to describe someone or something that’s all over the place, usually in a not-so-great way.
Example:
“She come to de wedding in some chupidee outfit.”
Translation: She showed up to the wedding in a ridiculous outfit.
10. “A Whole Scene” – Drama Galore
Whenever something escalates, gets messy, or turns into neighbourhood gossip, you’ve got a whole scene.
Example:
“She catch he texting another girl. Was a whole scene in front the yard.”
Translation: She caught him texting another woman—it was full-on drama in front of the house.
Final Thoughts: Keep It Real, GT Style 🇬🇾
Learning Guyanese slang is like learning a love language—it’s quirky, warm, and full of personality. It connects you with the culture, the humour, and the heartbeat of Guyana.
So next time, aunty from Canada calls and asks, “Wha y’all mean by ‘lime’?”—send her this article and let her get schooled, GT style.
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