'Saints'

St. Helena has a small population mainly descended from people from Europe (mostly planters, government employees and ex-soldiers serving in the local St Helena Regiment), Chinese (itinerate workers from about 1810) and slaves (mostly from Madagascar and Asia, only a few coming from Africa from 1840 onward).

The estimated population of St Helena at the end of October 2006 is 4,030.

St. Helenians, also known as ‘Saints', are known for their friendliness; everyone waves and greets each other, even to passing cars. 

Saints are renowned for their hospitable nature.  Getting involved in our local social life will give you an insight into how vibrant, fun and welcoming we are. 

Local language/lingo  

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.  See some examples below:

Saint pronounciations/dialect:                     Translated proper English:

Chips                                                               Crisps

Cooldrink                                                         Canned fizzy drink/soda

Couple  (Several; can be more than 2)            Couple (means 2 in English)

How you                                                          How are you

‘Eierce' (pronounced like pierce)                      Yes

Bite                                                                 Spicy ‘hot' flavour

See you                                                           Bye/see you later

‘Mussie'                                                           It must be

Who you is?                                                    Who are you?

Breead                                                            Bread

Heead                                                             Head

Beead                                                             Bed

Bita  ("I get my bita dinner first")                     A bit of 

Chirren                                                            Children

Don't ("he don't hear too good")                       Doesn't

Gorn ("He gorn home now")                             Gone

How you? (reply: "not too bad luvie")               How are you?

Ing ("I took ing home")                                    Him

Jorb                                                                 Job

Kitch                                                                Catch

Kittle                                                                Kettle

La (luh)   ("rain cumin now la")                         Look

Most - ("most time to get my lunch")                Almost

Nuttin                                                               Nothing

Not yit a while                                                  Not for a while yet

Next - ("next side or next way")                       Other

One - ("one man call for you")                          A

Porket                                                             Pocket

Ting                                                                 Thing

Dat                                                                  That

Tank you                                                          Thank you

Us is                                                                 We are

Wush                                                                Wash

Windoo                                                             Window

Nuff                                                                   Enough/Plenty

 

 

Exclamations

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