Meaning & use
Jamaica
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Meanings
proper nounproper
An island country in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba, whose capital is Kingston.
Grammar: A proper noun, so it takes no article: go to Jamaica, not 'go to the Jamaica'.
Patterns
- in Jamaica
- from Jamaica
- visit Jamaica
My aunt moved to Jamaica when she was twenty.
Jamaica is famous for its music, food, and beautiful beaches.
The flight from Miami to Jamaica takes about an hour and a half.
nounproper
The name of a large island in the Caribbean that forms the main part of that country.
Grammar: Used as a place name; the country and the island share the same name.
Patterns
- the island of Jamaica
The island of Jamaica lies about 145 kilometers south of Cuba.
Hurricanes sometimes pass close to Jamaica in late summer.
Common combinations
- Jamaica Inn
- We stayed at a small guesthouse near Jamaica Inn on the north coast.
- Jamaican music
- Jamaican music such as reggae is popular all over the world.
- the Jamaican dollar
- Prices are listed in the Jamaican dollar, not the US dollar.
- Jamaican patty
- He bought a spicy Jamaican patty for lunch.
Word family
- Jamaican adjective
- Relating to Jamaica, its people, or its culture.
- Jamaican noun
- A person who comes from Jamaica.
Commonly confused: Jamaica or Jamaica, Queens?
Jamaica vs Jamaica, Queens
A neighborhood in New York City has the same name; in the US, 'Jamaica' alone can sometimes mean that area, so context matters.
Practice
Which sentence uses the place name correctly?
Choose one answer.
Country and island names like Jamaica take no article, so 'go to Jamaica' is correct. 'The Jamaica' and 'a Jamaica' wrongly treat it as a common noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Jamaica”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.