In Jamaica, the Igbo were often referred to as Eboe or Ibo. There are a substantial number of Igbo language loanwords in Jamaican Patois, however, the majority of African loanwords in Jamaican Patois are from the Akan language of modern-day Ghana.
Igbo people mostly populated the northwestern section of the island. Here are a few:
1. Akara
This derived from the Yoruba àkàrà, and points to a type of street food — bean cakes.
2. Attoo
This derived from the Igbo átú, meaning “chewing stick”
3. Big-eye
“Big Eye” is derived directly from the Igbo “anya ukwu”, meaning “greedy”
4. Breechee
This is from mbùríchì, meaning an Nri-Igbo nobleman
5. Buckra
This is an Efik term from mbakára, meaning “white man”
6. Chink, Chinch
This is from the Igbo chị́nchị̀, meaning “bedbug”
7. Country ibo
from Ị̀gbò, Pluchea odorata or Ptisana purpurascens
8. De, Deh
This is derived from the Igbo dị, [with adverbial] meaning “is” (to be)
9. Door-mouth
This is a claque from ọ́nụ́ ụ́zọ̀ (mouth + door), meaning “doorway”
10. Hard-head
This is from Igbo ísí íké, (head + hard, strength), meaning “obstinate”
11. Himba
This is from Igbo mba, “yam root”, a type of yam, Rajania cordata
12. Kaba-kaba
is derived from Yoruba (and Akan, Ewe) and means ‘unreliable, inferior, worthless’
13. Mumu
means “dumb”, but is derived from Yoruba (and Ewe) where it means ‘slow in the head’
14. Obeah
from Igbo ọbiạ, meaning “doctoring”, “mysticism”
15. Okra
This is from the Igbo ọkwurụ, a vegetable
16. Poto-poto
This is from the Yoruba “opoto-opoto”, mkpọtọ-mkpọtọ, meaning “mud”, “muddy”
17. Red Ibo, Eboe
from Ị̀gbò, a person with a light skin colour or a mulatto of mixed parentage
18. Se
This is from the Igbo sị, which usually follows with a quote. Also from Akan se and English say
19. Soso
This is from the Igbo sọsọ meaning “only”
20. Unu
from Igbo language únù, meaning “you (plural)”
