Labrish
/ LAB-rish /Quick answer: Labrish (pronounced LAB-rish) is gossip, idle chat.
What does Labrish mean?
Labrish means gossip or chatter — talking about other people’s business. It can be a noun (‘pure labrish’) or a verb (‘dem love labrish’).
Where does Labrish come from?
Its origin is uncertain. The word was celebrated by the poet Louise Bennett-Coverley (‘Miss Lou’), whose book Jamaica Labrish helped establish Patois as a literary language.
How to use Labrish
Related: su-su (whispered gossip), long-mout (talkative), chat-chat (gossipy).
| Jamaican Patois | English |
|---|---|
| Dem love labrish ’bout people business. | They love gossiping about other people’s business. |
| Stop di labrish an’ do yuh work. | Stop gossiping and do your work. |
| A pure labrish dat. | That’s just gossip. |
Other spellings
Because Patois is mostly spoken, spellings vary. You may also see: labba-labba.
Related Patois words
Su-su · Labba-labba · Long-mout · Chat-chat
Frequently asked
What does labrish mean?
Gossip or idle chatter.
Who wrote Jamaica Labrish?
Louise Bennett-Coverley (Miss Lou).
Look up more words in the Jamaican Patois Dictionary, or see Labrish in the dictionary.