Good morning
gud MOR-ning
Good morning
Greeting anyone, even strangers, before you ask for anything. Jamaicans expect it
Travel guide
Learn Jamaica before you go
Misty blue mountains, waterfalls that run into the sea, the beat of reggae, and a plate of ackee and saltfish for breakfast.
CapitalKingston
CurrencyJamaican dollar (JMD)
Official languageEnglish, the language of government, law, schools and the media. Most Jamaicans also speak Jamaican Patois (Patwa), an English-based creole, in everyday life
Drives on theLeft, as in Britain
Calling code+1 876 (and +1 658). Jamaica is part of the North American numbering plan
10 phrases to learn
Capital letters show the stressed part. Tap the heart to practise a phrase later.
Wah gwaan?
wah GWAHN
What's going on? How are things?
The everyday friendly greeting among friends and neighbours
Mi deh yah
mee deh YAH
I'm here
Telling a friend you have arrived, or that you are still around
Everyting irie
EV-ree-ting EYE-ree
Everything is all right
Saying that all is well
Big up!
BIG up
Well done! Respect to you!
Praising someone or greeting them warmly
Bless up
BLESS up
Hello, goodbye, all the best
A warm greeting or farewell
Mi soon come
mee SOON kum
I'll be right back; I'll be there soon
Stepping out for a moment. Be aware that 'soon' can be flexible in Jamaica
Likkle more
LIK-l MOR
See you later
Saying goodbye to someone you will see again
Walk good
WAWK GOOD
Have a safe trip, take care on your way
Wishing someone well as they leave
One love
WUN LUV
Unity and good wishes to all
A friendly goodbye; also the title of a famous Bob Marley song
At the table
- Greet everyone with 'Good morning' or 'Good afternoon' when you walk into a shop, café or home, before asking for anything. Jamaicans find it rude to skip the greeting.
- Sunday dinner is the big family meal, usually after church. If you are invited, expect rice and peas with a meat dish, and say yes to a second helping.
- Scotch bonnet peppers are very hot. When a dish comes with pepper sauce on the table, try a tiny drop first.
- Jerk and patties are often eaten with your hands, straight from the paper, at a roadside stall or bakery. This is completely normal.
- Many dishes are cooked with a whole Scotch bonnet for flavour. If you find it on your plate, leave it aside unless you love very hot food.
- Address older people politely as 'sir' or 'ma'am'. Respect for elders matters a great deal at the table and elsewhere.
Local tips
Check on the west after Hurricane Melissa
Hurricane Melissa hit western Jamaica very hard in October 2025. As of May 2026 the British government reported that some communities there still lacked electricity and piped water, and that healthcare was limited in the worst-hit areas. Check the latest travel advice and ask your hotel or tour operator before you go.
Mind the hurricane season
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, and storms are most likely from August to October, which is also when fewer visitors come. Take out good travel insurance and follow local warnings if a storm is forecast.
Traffic keeps left
Jamaica drives on the left. Roads are often narrow, winding and busy, and rural roads can be dangerous in heavy rain. Many visitors prefer licensed taxis, tours or hotel transfers to driving themselves.
Greet people and respect elders
It is customary to say 'Good morning' or 'Good afternoon' to people, even strangers, before starting a conversation. Call older people 'sir' or 'ma'am'. Religion matters to many Jamaicans, so avoid mocking it.
Money and cash machines
The currency is the Jamaican dollar. Cash machines are often called ABMs. Use them in daylight, in busy, well-lit places, and don't take out large sums at once.
Stay safe
Crime rates are high in some inner-city areas, although tourist areas are usually not affected by gang violence. Don't walk alone on isolated beaches or at night, don't show valuables, and use reputable taxis and tour companies.
Emergency numbers
As of September 2026, call 119 for the police and 110 for an ambulance or the fire service.
Leave your picnic at home
As of September 2026 it is illegal to bring meat and dairy products into Jamaica, and customs officers may search bags and destroy them. Fill in the online customs form (C5) before you land if you can.
Dishes to try
- Ackee and saltfish: Jamaica's national dish: soft yellow ackee fruit cooked with flakes of salted cod, onion, tomato, thyme and Scotch bonnet pepper. The ackee looks and tastes a little like scrambled eggs. It is eaten above all at breakfast, with fried dumplings, boiled green bananas, breadfruit or hard dough bread.
- Jerk chicken and pork: Chicken or pork rubbed with a fiery paste of Scotch bonnet peppers, allspice, spring onion, thyme and other spices, then cooked slowly over a smoky fire, traditionally of pimento wood. Jerk is sold at roadside stalls all over the island and eaten with hard dough bread or festival.
- Curry goat: Pieces of goat on the bone, marinated in Jamaican curry powder, garlic, thyme and Scotch bonnet, then browned and simmered slowly until tender, often with potatoes. It is the dish for parties and special occasions, served with white rice or rice and peas.
- Rice and peas: Rice cooked with red kidney beans, which Jamaicans call 'peas', in coconut milk with thyme, spring onion, allspice and a whole Scotch bonnet pepper for flavour. It is the classic Sunday dinner side dish. At Christmas many families make it with gungo (pigeon) peas instead.
- Stew peas: A thick, comforting stew of red kidney beans cooked with coconut milk, salted pork or beef, pigtail, thyme and allspice, with thin flour dumplings called 'spinners'. It is served over white rice. A version without meat is called ital stew peas.
- Brown stew chicken: Chicken pieces seasoned and browned in hot oil, then simmered slowly with onion, carrot, tomato, garlic, thyme and a little ketchup until the sauce is dark and rich. It is a favourite Sunday dinner with rice and peas. The same method is used for pork, oxtail and cow foot.
- Escovitch fish: A whole fried fish covered with a sharp pickle of vinegar with thin strips of onion, carrot and Scotch bonnet pepper. It is served hot or cold with festival or bammy, especially at beachside cook shops.
- Jamaican patty: A half-moon pastry with a flaky yellow crust, coloured with turmeric or annatto, filled with spicy minced beef. There are also chicken, vegetable, callaloo and cheese fillings. Many Jamaicans eat a patty for lunch folded inside a soft coco bread.
Cities to see
- Kingston (capital): The Bob Marley Museum and Devon House, National Heroes Park and the National Gallery, Sabina Park cricket ground and a lively music scene.
- Spanish Town: The old square with the Rodney Memorial and the facade of the Old King's House, An early cast-iron bridge from 1801 over the Rio Cobre, One of the oldest Anglican churches outside England.
- Montego Bay: Sam Sharpe Square, named after the leader of the 1831 rebellion, Beaches, resorts and the 'Hip Strip', Rose Hall great house nearby.
- May Pen: The Denbigh agricultural show, held around Independence Day, Citrus packing, including the ugli fruit, Its clock tower from 1908.
- Mandeville: The courthouse of 1820 with its horseshoe staircase, Manchester Golf Club, founded in 1868, Northern Caribbean University.
- Ocho Rios: Dunn's River Falls, Fern Gully, a road through a gorge full of ferns, A bobsled ride at Mystic Mountain.