- Tobago love (n): Said of a relationship characterized by lack of demonstration of affection, or by fighting.
- Is only sweetie he sending she by de post – like is Tobago love or what? (Baptiste 1993:157).
The various slang and phrases of Trinidad and Tobago can sometimes be specific to one of the islands that make up the twin island state. Tobago Love is one such slang that suggests it is a relationship between two persons that are constantly fighting like cats and dogs but secretly long for one another.
Trini folklore such as La Jabless is an oral tradition meant to pass on the stories to the next generation. Other Trini phrases in the vernacular are Waving Gallery, Jhorts, Sprawl Off, Doux-Doux, Kote-si-Kote-la.
Want to learn another Trini slang? Then click Trini for an alphabetical listing of all the slangs.
Source: Dictionary of the English/Creole of Trinidad & Tobago by Lise Winer
Featured Image by Photo by Hoàng Nguyễn on Unsplash
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Elaborate, please?
Tobago love is used to describe a relationship that is not functional. Equating anything from Tobago as less than.
Ah ok…so not every Tobagoan’s favorite phrase?
Nope. Every Trinidadian because they believe Tobagonians are “backward”