Soca

The music which has developed from kaiso/ calypso. The young voice of the caribbean sing soca as their own social commentray. Its consists of fun loving lyrics,infectious beats and bass lines.

J'ouvert

Different names are used throughout the caribbean but in Barbados J'ouvert morning is also known as 'Foreday Morning'. It takes place the morning before carnival day (Grand Kadooment) from 2am-5am. Revellers chip n dance through the streets in costumes and also use paint, mud or chocolate.

Spring Garden Highway

This is where the climax of the carnival in Barbados takes place. Spring Garden Highway is also described as 'The Last Lap' as it is the last road on the carnival route (The Stadium-Spring Garden Highway)

Play Mass

This is what many people all over the world come to the caribbean to do. You dress up in your beautiful costume and play mass down the road. Dance, sing, drink, socialise etc down the carnival route.

Lime

Caribbean phrase meaning to chill out with friends, catch up, have a good time etc

Chipping

Meaning to follow behind the truck on carnival day. Chipping is when the truck is playing groovy/ragga soca and the revellers are walking in time of the beat cooling down from the jump up section.

Ramajay

A caribbean word meaning to 'show off'

Bachanal

This is one of thw words that describe carnival, describing the 'street party'

Fete

This is a caribbean word which describes a party-more specifically a soca party. Fetes take place through-out the year in the caribbean but the most occur during the carnival season

Savannah

Queen’s Park Savannah is the largest open green space located in Port-of-Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, with a perimeter of a little over two miles. This is wherew alot of the carnival competitons take place as it has the capacity of fitting 15,000-18,000 people!

Wuk / Wukkin

This describes the way you dance to soca music, basically meaning winning you waist in a clockwise rotation in time with the beat.

Horn / Horning

When you get a 'horn' this basically mean that you partner has been unfaithful. 'Horning' describes an individual that continuously unfaithful-in other words a player.

Big truck

Describes the 'main truck' on carnival day. Each carnival band will consist of two-three trucks but the 'big truck' is usually the first truck which plays the best music and has the calypso artist's whom will perform throughout the day.

Jumbie

Is a caribbean word which describes ghosts or the living dead, jumbie can also be described as 'duppy'.

Iron

Depending on what context it is used in, it could mean different things. If a woman is talking about her man or a man's 'Iron' then she is talking about his penis. If it is in the context of 'the Iron band' this describes the soca music that use a lot of iron instruments (e.g Red Hott Flames).

Mas Camp

This is a meeting point for carnival bands. The mas camp is where everyone will meet to find out important information about what their band is doing on carnival day. Also costumes will be picked up and customised here.

Judging point

This is the point where all the carnival bands will get judged on their carnival costume. Marking will include use of colour, creativeness and historic background.

Macco

Is a carribean word which is used to describe people that like to get involved on other peoples business and spread rummors. This can also be described as being 'malicious'.

Glow Fete

This is an annual fete that takes place usually a week or two weeks before carnival day. This fete you are required to wear something white so that when the uv light comes on everybody will start glowing.