I an I
/ EYE an EYE /Quick answer: I an I (pronounced EYE an EYE) is the Rastafari way of saying ‘we’ or ‘me’ — expressing unity.
What does I an I mean?
I an I is a Rastafari expression meaning ‘I’, ‘me’ or ‘we’. It expresses the unity of the speaker with others and with God (Jah) — there is no ‘you and me’ division, only ‘I and I’.
Where does I an I come from?
Rastafari ‘I-words’ replace ‘me’ (seen as making the speaker an object) with ‘I’, and turn other words into positive ‘I’ forms: ital, irie, idren, overstand.
How to use I an I
‘I an I a go a di grounation’ — I’m going to the Rasta gathering.
| Jamaican Patois | English |
|---|---|
| I an I a go a di grounation. | I’m going to the Rasta gathering. |
| Jah guide I an I. | God guides us. |
| I an I nuh deal wid dat. | I don’t get involved in that. |
Other spellings
Because Patois is mostly spoken, spellings vary. You may also see: I and I, InI, I-n-I.
Related Patois words
Jah · Ital · Overstand · Idren
Frequently asked
What does I and I mean?
Me, I or we — expressing unity with others and God in Rastafari speech.
Who says I and I?
Rastafarians, and it’s widely known through reggae.
Look up more words in the Jamaican Patois Dictionary, or see I an I in the dictionary.