Farrin
/ FAR-rin /Quick answer: Farrin (pronounced FAR-rin) is abroad — especially the US, UK or Canada.
What does Farrin mean?
Farrin means overseas or abroad — usually the United States, England or Canada, where large Jamaican communities live. ‘Him gaan a farrin’ means he has gone abroad (often to live).
Where does Farrin come from?
It’s the Jamaican pronunciation of ‘foreign’, used as a noun for ‘abroad’ rather than an adjective.
How to use Farrin
Relatives in farrin send barrels of goods home, and people who return are ‘farrin people’ or returning residents. Someone acting fancy after a trip may be teased for ‘gwaan like dem come from farrin’.
| Jamaican Patois | English |
|---|---|
| Him gaan a farrin from las’ year. | He went abroad last year. |
| Mi cousin dem live a farrin. | My cousins live overseas. |
| Yuh come from farrin? | Have you come from abroad? |
Other spellings
Because Patois is mostly spoken, spellings vary. You may also see: foreign, a farrin.
Related Patois words
Barrel · Returning resident · Yaad · Farrin people
Frequently asked
What does ‘gone a farrin’ mean?
Gone abroad, usually to live or work.
Is farrin a place?
It means ‘abroad’ in general, most often the US, UK or Canada.
Look up more words in the Jamaican Patois Dictionary, or see Farrin in the dictionary.