Gyal
/ GYAL /Quick answer: Gyal (pronounced GYAL) is girl or young woman.
What does Gyal mean?
Gyal means girl or young woman. It is everyday Patois and appears constantly in dancehall songs. Tone matters: it can be affectionate, neutral or dismissive.
Where does Gyal come from?
It is the Jamaican pronunciation of ‘girl’ (via ‘gal’), with the characteristic ‘gy’ sound Patois uses before some vowels — as in gyaan or cyaan.
How to use Gyal
Phrases include gyal dem (the girls), gyal-pickney (daughter), bad gyal (bold, confident woman) and gyalis (a ladies’ man).
| Jamaican Patois | English |
|---|---|
| Di gyal dem a dance. | The girls are dancing. |
| She a bad gyal. | She’s a bold, confident woman. |
| Him have a gyal a country. | He has a girlfriend in the countryside. |
Other spellings
Because Patois is mostly spoken, spellings vary. You may also see: gal, gyal dem.
Related Patois words
Gyal dem · Bad gyal · Gyalis · Gyal-pickney
Frequently asked
Is gyal rude?
Not by itself — it simply means girl — but tone and context can make it dismissive.
What is a gyalis?
A man with many girlfriends.
Look up more words in the Jamaican Patois Dictionary, or see Gyal in the dictionary.