Mamaguy

Mamaguy [ma’amǝ gī] has been a common term used in Trinidadian English and Trinidadian Creole English since the mid-20th century, and possibly earlier.

Etymology

• 1. from Sp. mamar gallo 'make a monkey of'.
• 2. Alteration of Venezuelan Spanish mamar gallo "feed the rooster," used to describe the behavior of a rooster that only pretends to fight.

Definitions and usages

Mamaguy (transitive verb). (past and past participle: ma·ma·guyed, present participle: ma·ma·guy·ing, 3rd person present singular ma·ma·guys)

1. To make fun of; to ridicule.

"All yuh don mamaguy me, nuh man, or ah mash yuh face, oui!" (= "Don't ridicule or tease me or I'll smash your face, believe me!")

2. To deceive. To fool someone with smart talk or slick reasoning.

"Don try to mamaguy me, man. You tink I's a fool or what?"

3. To flatter someone to get something

Mamaguy (noun).

*1. Teasing

*2. Flattery

"Is only a mamaguy, man, you hear?"

"Eh, eh. He gi'me a mamaguy!"

See also

• Flattery
• Tease
• Deceive

References

• Mendes, John (1986). Cote ce Cote la: Trinidad & Tobago Dictionary. Arima, Trinidad.
• Wiwords, the West Indian Dictitonary
• MSN Encarta Dictionary (Archived 2009-10-31)
• "Trini Talk: a dialect poem" by Miguel Browne.