Belize
Jamaica
adjective
Full of spirit and fight
also known as
wassy
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21 comments
w
w
12 years ago

I suspect this is a variant of the word 'stalwart'

a
a
anonymous
12 years ago

talawah aslo means little but sexy

Martinique
Martinique
mahself
10 years ago

&gt; I suspect this is a variant of the word 'stalwart' <br /><br /> this is the most credible interpretation I've found of this hard-to-pinpoint term.<br /> I thougght initially it was or indian origin, but "stalwart" seems far more plausible<br /> good flair !

D
D
DG
9 years ago

The actual meaning on the island of JA has long been "rough, tough," etc., never sexy. However, a compliment on the island may be "She little, but she talawah!"

Barbados
Barbados
Mike
7 years ago

It means strong/courageous or successful for his/her size. I figure it to be a mash up of "tall or wuh". Eg She small but she "tall or wuh".

Jamaica
Jamaica
Jah
7 years ago

Any body fram Jamaica kno seh dis iz commonly said of wi island & peeps. " WI LIIKKL BUT WI TALAWAH " . Talawah also can mean strength/strong/powerful, for person's small or " bini " as wi seh inna Ja! Dwl

Jamaica
Jamaica
Jah
7 years ago

I belive word can be traced back to the akan language of South Africa. Yea mon nuh tru!

Jamaica
Jamaica
Bobzy
7 years ago

Akan isa blanket term used to refer to the Akan language spoken in  south central, Ashanti Province; Akuapem are southeast, north of Accra; Fante are south central, between Winneba, Takoradi, and obuasi

Guyana
Guyana
julia
7 years ago

Really

Jamaica
Jamaica
Bobzy
7 years ago

Akan language spoken in (Ghana/Ivory Coast) which is in West Africa.

Jamaica
Jamaica
Tallawah
7 years ago

adj. sturdy, strong, fearless, physically capable. From Ewe talala

Turks & Caicos
Turks & Caicos
Sethu
6 years ago

The word I guess has its origin coming from the Tamil (South Indian Language) word Thalaiva meaning leader or stalwart. Indentured servants from India who spoke the language might have naturalized the word.

D
D
DJ
6 years ago

may be

Jamaica
Jamaica
Chas
6 years ago

From research I have done, the likeliest derivation is from the English word "stalwart" of which it is a corruption. As someone else has noted, there is a very well known phrase going back over a century - "Him lickle bit but him talawah."

M
M
Mathan
4 years ago

I thing that word talawah is derived from tamil language word thalaiva. In tamil language thalaiva means leader, king etc...

A
A
Alfa Nut
4 years ago

Reggae big, reggae little, reggae talawah....fever talawah...Steel Pulse forever....

Antigua & Barbuda
Antigua & Barbuda
Venkatesh
4 years ago

Thalaiva means in tamil slang is thalaivar

US Virgin Islands
US Virgin Islands
Makku
3 years ago

Unlike "Tallawah", Tamill thalaiva is unrelated to Stalwart. http://www.encyclo.co.uk/meaning-of-Senaithalaivar

Martinique
Martinique
Joelle
2 years ago

I always thought it was an arawak word

Jamaica
Jamaica
Heartbeat
2 years ago

It is a Arawak word. Meaning stronge in proportion to size.

n
n
null
5 months ago

Which island made it famous?