Liberian English is quite distinct from British or American usage. Word order is often quite different as well, so that question sentences are phrased differently than in standard English. Please speak as much Liberian English as possible! The more you practice, the more local folks will understand you! Again : still; yet, already. Bad heart : evil-minded, hateful. Beg : solicit; plead; a request. Many times they will tell you they will hold your foot, that is a very humble type of a beg.
Behind : to run behind, or to be behind one; nag; keep after; insist. Belly : pregnant. Also standard term for stomach. Book : to know book; literate.
Still commonly used in the interior. Bossman : Anyone who is the head of something. Bot up with : Met up with. Burned : bit; stung. Bush : forest; secret society groves. Business : matters; concerns. Butter Pear : avocado. Can : do; will. I am no liar. Carry : take; convey. Chunk : to throw; to hit.
Cold water : a gift to soothe ruffled feelings, to appease anger, or to ask forgiveness. Copper : one cent a copper penny. Country : tribal or traditional. It is the most common means of referring to native or indigenous customs. Country chop : indigenous West African cuisine. Craw-craw : a term used for any bad skin condition often scabies. Cup : unit of measurement.
Usually a cup is a twelve ounce tin can. Also may mean broken or split. My shoe is cut. Or to be wounded. They cut each other when they were fighting. Da-me : It is me. Da-nat : That is not. Dash : a tip; a gift. Also a verb: to give something to-dash me. Dear : expensive. Different-different : varied; many kinds. Drivers : This term refers to car or bus drivers. Dry : sickly, undernourished, skinny.
