Rahtid
/ RAH-tid /Quick answer: Rahtid (pronounced RAH-tid) is an exclamation of surprise or anger — a clean alternative to swearing.
What does Rahtid mean?
Rahtid is an exclamation of surprise, shock or annoyance, similar to ‘wow!’ or ‘good grief!’. It can also mean angry: ‘him get rahtid’ (he got angry).
Where does Rahtid come from?
It is usually explained as coming from ‘wrath’ — as in ‘wrathed’ — via Bible-reading Jamaica, which is why it is acceptable in company where real curse words are not.
How to use Rahtid
Rahtid is a handy word for visitors: it shows strong feeling without being vulgar.
| Jamaican Patois | English |
|---|---|
| Rahtid! Look how di place mash up! | Wow! Look how wrecked the place is! |
| Him get rahtid when him hear. | He got angry when he heard. |
| Rahtid, a dat mi want! | Wow, that’s what I want! |
Other spellings
Because Patois is mostly spoken, spellings vary. You may also see: rahted, raatid, rhaatid.
Related Patois words
Kiss mi neck · Cho · Lawd · Raas
Frequently asked
Is rahtid a swear word?
No. It’s a strong but clean exclamation.
What does ‘get rahtid’ mean?
To get angry.
Look up more words in the Jamaican Patois Dictionary, or see Rahtid in the dictionary.