adj
Uncommon
Jamaican
juh-MAY-kuhn
Jamaican (adj) means relating to Jamaica, its people, culture, or language. Example: “She cooked a spicy Jamaican jerk chicken for dinner.”
adj
1
Relating to Jamaica, its people, culture, or language.
"Thomas says his only option now is to apply for Jamaican citizenship through his late father. But he does not plan to, since “my life, my kids, my family is back in the States,” he said."
— Zoe Sottile (2025)
"She cooked a spicy Jamaican jerk chicken for dinner."
noun
1
A person from Jamaica.
"Many Jamaicans emigrated to the UK in the mid-20th century."
How to use Jamaican
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes anything from or connected to Jamaica, or refers to a Jamaican person.
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Etymology
Formed from "Jamaica" plus the suffix "-an," used to form nationality adjectives and nouns.
Rhymes for Jamaican
See all rhymes for Jamaican →Frequently asked questions
What does “Jamaican” mean?
The word “Jamaican” means relating to Jamaica, its people, culture, or language. In plain terms, describes anything from or connected to Jamaica, or refers to a Jamaican person.
How do you pronounce “Jamaican”?
“Jamaican” is pronounced juh-MAY-kuhn (/d͡ʒəˈmeɪkən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Jamaican” in a sentence?
Here is “Jamaican” used in a sentence: “She cooked a spicy Jamaican jerk chicken for dinner.”
What part of speech is “Jamaican”?
Depending on how it is used, “Jamaican” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “Jamaican” a common word?
“Jamaican” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Jamaican” have?
“Jamaican” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to Jamaica, its people, culture, or language.
Is Jamaican used as both an adjective and a noun?
Yes. As an adjective, Jamaican describes something relating to Jamaica, its people, culture, or language, as in 'Jamaican music.' As a noun, a Jamaican is a person from Jamaica.
Is 'Jamaican' always capitalized?
Yes, Jamaican is a proper adjective and noun derived from the place name Jamaica, so it should always be capitalized in standard English, regardless of whether it is describing a person, culture, or language.
Does Jamaican refer to a specific language as well as a nationality?
Jamaican can describe the Jamaican people and culture generally, and it is also used in reference to Jamaican language varieties, such as Jamaican Patois, alongside its use as a general nationality term.
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