Mandem
/ MAN-dem /Quick answer: Mandem (pronounced MAN-dem) is the guys, a group of men, your crew.
What does Mandem mean?
Mandem means ‘the guys’ — a group of men or a man’s circle of friends. It works like ‘the boys’ in English.
Where does Mandem come from?
It combines man with dem, the Patois plural marker (as in di pickney dem). From Jamaica it spread into London’s Multicultural English, where ‘mandem’ is now everyday slang.
How to use Mandem
The female version is gyal dem. ‘Big up di mandem’ is a shout-out to the guys.
| Jamaican Patois | English |
|---|---|
| Mi an’ di mandem a go beach. | The guys and I are going to the beach. |
| Big up all di mandem! | Shout-out to all the guys! |
| Weh di mandem deh? | Where are the guys? |
Other spellings
Because Patois is mostly spoken, spellings vary. You may also see: man dem.
Related Patois words
Gyal dem · Bredren · Posse · Dem
Frequently asked
Is mandem Jamaican or British?
It started in Jamaican Patois and spread to UK slang.
What is the female version?
Gyal dem.
Look up more words in the Jamaican Patois Dictionary, or see Mandem in the dictionary.