What Does “Bomboclat” Mean? (Plus, When & How to Use It)

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Learn what this slang term means & where it comes from
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You may have seen the word “bomboclat” (or “bumbaclaat”) on social media, but what exactly does it mean? This Jamaican slang word is often used to convey shock, dismay, or frustration, but it can also take the place of a curse word—depending on context. In this article, we’ll fill you in on the meaning of “bomboclat,” including its origin, various meanings, and whether or not it’s okay to use in conversation.

“Bomboclat” Meaning & Usage

“Bomboclat” is a Jamaican slang word that’s used to express shock, dismay, or frustration. “Bombo” means butt and “clat” means cloth, so the direct translation of "bomboclat" is “butt cloth.” The term refers to menstrual pads or toilet paper, so it can also be a vulgar insult to mean “douchebag” or “motherf***er.”

Section 1 of 5:

What does “bomboclat” mean?

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    In Jamaican Patois, the word “bombo” means “butt,” while “clat” means “cloth.” Combined, “bomboclat” translates to “butt cloth” in English, referring to menstrual pads or toilet paper. It’s most often used as an interjection to express shock, stress, disgust, dismay, or any other intense emotion. [1]
    • “Bomboclat! Mi just wa fi guh home… (Ugh! I just want to go home…)”
    • “Bomboclat! Mi neva expecting tuh si yuh here. (Ah! I wasn’t expecting to see you here.)”
    • “Bomboclat! Mi cyaa believe di weekend ova already. (Damn! I can’t believe the weekend is over already.)”
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    When used as a noun, “bomboclat” is a savage insult that indicates anger and frustration toward someone. It’s considered disrespectful in Jamaican and Caribbean households, so reserve it for moments when you’re really, really upset. [2]
    • “Dat bomboclat cheat pan mi. (That douchebag cheated on me.)”
    • “Yuh bomboclat! Gimmi mi funds back!! (You motherf***ker! Give me my money back!!)”
    • “Yuh acting like a real bomboclat right now. Calm dung. (You’re acting like a real douchebag right now. Calm down.)”
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    Today, “bomboclat” is recognized as a swear word in Jamaican Patois, similar to saying “f***” or “s***” in English. [3] It can be used as a noun, verb, adjective, or exclamation, and when used with a possessive adjective, it roughly translates into “I’m f***ed.” [4] Save it for casual conversations with people around your age or younger than you.
    • “Yuh a bomboclat ediat! (You’re a f***ing idiot!)” [5]
    • “Bomboclat! Mi drop mi ring inna di toliet. (S***! I dropped my ring in the toilet.”)
    • “My bomboclat! Mi lose $2000 playing blackjack. (I’m f***ked! I lost $2000 playing blackjack.)”
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Section 2 of 5:

When & How to Use “Bomboclat”

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    Whenever you’re feeling down, overwhelmed, or surprised, use “bomboclat” to express yourself and relieve stress. It can take the place of “wow,” “f***,” “damn,” “OMG,” or any other interjection of your choice.
    • “Bomboclat, di team pan fire tonight! (Wow, the team is on fire tonight!)”
    • “Bomboclat, mi fail di exam! Wah should mi tell mi parents? (F***, I failed the exam! What should I tell my parents?)”
    • “Mi bredda tell mi mada dat mi push him. Him a bomboclat liar! (My brother told my mom that I pushed him. He’s a f***ing liar!)”
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    Did someone push past you without apologizing or cut you off while driving? These are just some of the instances when it’d be appropriate to call them a “bomboclat.” It’s another way of saying “douchebag” or “motherf***ker,” so feel free to get creative and come up with the perfect insult .
    • “Yuh di definition of a bomboclat. (You’re the definition of a douchebag.)”
    • “Get outta mi lane, yuh bomboclat! (Get out of my lane, you motherf***er!)”
    • “Wash yuh shoes before yuh speak tuh mi, bomboclat. (Wash your shoes before you speak to me, motherf***er.”)
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    Popularized by then-Twitter user @rudebwoy_lamz in September 2019, some social media users have mistakenly interpreted “bomboclat” to mean “sco pa tu manaa (caption this)” It’s a trend on social media to upload a funny side-by-side reaction image or meme with the caption “bomboclat.” [6]
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Section 3 of 5:

Origin & Spread of “Bomboclat”

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    During this time, African slaves created a language they could use to communicate with each other, which was a mix of broken English, African dialects, and Creole influences. “Bomboclat” was a new word, which referred to the padded cloth that females wore during their menstrual cycle. [7]
    • “Bombo” means “butt” and “clot” means “cloth,” so the direct translation of “bomboclat” is “butt cloth.”
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    Based on the Old Testament in the Bible, some Rastafarians believe that sleeping with a menstruating woman is impure or sinful. The taboo surrounding menstruation carried over and became widespread in Jamaican culture, in the form of “bomboclat.” [8]
    • In the 1980s, Jamaicans living in New York City started using “bomboclat” in place of “bulls***.” This didn’t go mainstream, but it eventually became part of American gang slang in the late ‘80s and ‘90s to mean “motherf***er.”
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Section 4 of 5:

Is it inappropriate to say “bomboclat?”

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    In Jamaican and Caribbean culture, the word “bomboclat” is considered vulgar and disrespectful, especially among older generations. It’s not used in everyday conversation, unless someone is extremely angry or frustrated. In fact, you can get arrested for using it around police officers, or dismissed for using it in school or a formal setting. [9]
    • Some women believe “bomboclat” is an offensive term that turns menstruation into a sexist taboo.
Section 5 of 5:

Terms Related to “Bomboclat”

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    This common Jamaican curse word translates into “blood cloth,” which refers to a woman’s sanitary napkin or tampon. Since menstruation is considered unclean in Jamaica, “bloodclaat” is a vulgar insult to imply someone is dirty. [10]
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    The English translation of this Jamaican curse phrase is “suck your mother.” It’s extremely offensive because it’s used to tell someone to perform oral sex on their mother, so saying “suck yuh mada” will probably result in a fight. [11]
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    In April 2019, this slang phrase went viral because it was part of Ghanaian artist Patapaa’s verse on the song “Daavi Neba.” The phrase is actually gibberish in Ghanaian, but people started using it on social media to mean “what’s your opinion?” or “what’s your experience?” [12]
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      • The slang word “bomboclat” is pronounced “bom-bo-clah-t.” If you’re struggling to pronounce it, look up videos of Jamaican people pronouncing the word on YouTube.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://thetab.com/uk/2019/11/07/bomboclaat-meme-meaning-explained-131016
      2. ↑ https://jamaicanpatwah.com/b/jamaican-curse-words-explained
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/pHSdoSzOcHY?t=38
      4. ↑ https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/bumbaclot/
      5. ↑ https://jamaicanpatwah.com/b/jamaican-curse-words-explained
      6. ↑ https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/bomboclaat
      7. ↑ https://resortcaribbean.co/what-does-the-jamaican-saying-bomboclat-or-bloodclaat-mean/
      8. ↑ https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/bumbaclot/
      9. ↑ https://jamaicanpatwah.com/b/10-popular-jamaican-curse-word-and-phrases
      1. ↑ https://jamaicanpatwah.com/b/10-popular-jamaican-curse-word-and-phrases
      2. ↑ https://jamaicanpatwah.com/b/10-popular-jamaican-curse-word-and-phrases
      3. ↑ https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/sco-pa-tu-manaa

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