Ginnal
/ GIN-nal /Part of our Jamaican Patois Dictionary — 1,400+ words and phrases with meanings and examples.
Quick answer: Ginnal (pronounced GIN-nal) is a con artist or trickster.
What does Ginnal mean?
A ginnal is a con artist, trickster or swindler — someone who cheats people with clever schemes. Ginnalship is the trickery itself.
Where does Ginnal come from?
The origin isn’t certain. The trickster figure has deep roots in Jamaican culture through Anansi the spider, the hero of folk tales who wins by cunning.
How to use Ginnal
Similar words: samfie man (con man), bandooloo (crooked dealings).
| Jamaican Patois | English |
|---|---|
| Nuh trus’ him, a ginnal dat. | Don’t trust him, he’s a con man. |
| A pure ginnalship dem a run. | It’s all a con. |
| Di ginnal sell him a fake phone. | The trickster sold him a fake phone. |
Other spellings
Because Patois is mostly spoken, spellings vary. You may also see: ginal, jinnal, ginnalship.
Related Patois words
Samfie · Bandooloo · Ginnalship · Anansi
Frequently asked
What is a ginnal?
A con artist or trickster.
What is ginnalship?
Trickery or con artistry.
Look up more words in the Jamaican Patois Dictionary, or see Ginnal in the dictionary.
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