Soon come
/ SOON kum /Quick answer: Soon come (pronounced SOON kum) is ‘I’ll be right back’ — on Jamaican time.
What does Soon come mean?
Soon come means ‘I’ll be back soon’ or ‘it’s coming soon’. The joke in Jamaica is that ‘soon’ can mean five minutes or five hours — it’s the heart of ‘Jamaican time’.
Where does Soon come come from?
It comes straight from English ‘soon come’ (will come soon), shortened in Patois style. It reflects Jamaica’s famously relaxed attitude to timekeeping.
How to use Soon come
If someone says ‘mi soon come’, don’t hold your breath. Tourists hear it from waiters, taxi drivers and tour guides alike.
| Jamaican Patois | English |
|---|---|
| Hol’ on, mi soon come. | Wait, I’ll be right back. |
| Di bus soon come. | The bus is coming soon (eventually). |
| Him seh him soon come — dat was two hour ago! | He said he’d be right back — that was two hours ago! |
Other spellings
Because Patois is mostly spoken, spellings vary. You may also see: mi soon come, soon come back.
Related Patois words
Jamaican time · Jus’ now · Now-now · Hol’ a corner
Frequently asked
How long is ‘soon come’?
Anything from a minute to several hours — it’s a running joke.
What is Jamaican time?
A relaxed approach to punctuality.
Look up more words in the Jamaican Patois Dictionary, or see Soon come in the dictionary.