Big up
/ BIG up /Quick answer: Big up (pronounced BIG up) is praise, respect, a shout-out.
What does Big up mean?
Big up means to praise, respect or give a shout-out. ‘Big up yuhself!’ means ‘well done’ or ‘respect to you’.
Where does Big up come from?
It comes from Jamaican sound-system culture, where selectors ‘bigged up’ people and places in the crowd. It is now standard slang in the UK and beyond.
How to use Big up
Use it for congratulations, thanks and shout-outs: ‘Big up all di teachers dem!’
| Jamaican Patois | English |
|---|---|
| Yuh pass? Big up yuhself! | You passed? Well done! |
| Big up everybody inna di place! | Shout-out to everybody here! |
| Mi haffi big up mi madda. | I have to give credit to my mother. |
Other spellings
Because Patois is mostly spoken, spellings vary. You may also see: big up yuhself, big up unu.
Related Patois words
Big up yuhself · Respect · Nuff respect · Bless up
Frequently asked
What does ‘big up yourself’ mean?
Well done — respect to you.
Is big up British or Jamaican?
It’s Jamaican in origin and popular in UK slang.
Look up more words in the Jamaican Patois Dictionary, or see Big up in the dictionary.