Caribbean Glossary

Essential terms and definitions for understanding Caribbean culture, commerce, and daily life. Whether you're a visitor, expat, or local, this glossary helps you navigate the Caribbean.

Doubles

Doubles is a popular street food from Trinidad and Tobago consisting of two pieces of fried flatbread (bara) filled with curried chickpeas (channa) and various chutneys.

Maxi Taxi

A maxi taxi is a shared minibus service in Trinidad and Tobago that operates on fixed routes, identifiable by color-coded bands indicating their service area.

A pardner, also known as sou-sou or susu, is a Caribbean informal savings system where a group of people contribute a fixed amount regularly, with each member receiving the full pool on a rotating basis.

Liming

Liming is the Caribbean, particularly Trinidadian, term for socializing, hanging out, or spending leisurely time with friends, often involving food, drinks, and conversation.

Fête

A fête is a large party or event in the Caribbean, particularly associated with Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival season, featuring soca music, DJs, food, and drinks.

Roti

Roti in the Caribbean context refers to a flatbread wrap filled with curried meat, vegetables, or legumes, originating from the Indo-Caribbean community and now a staple across the region.