Ever overheard the word “bomboclat” and just knew that it must mean something, only you’re not exactly sure just what? Then this article is the one for you, because we’re going to cover everything you need to know…
We’ll kick off with the meaning of the word, before delving into its origins, and going through multiple examples of the phrase in use, so you know how to use it yourself. Then we’ll go on to similar and synonymous words that can often be used in its place. Finally, we’ll be rounding off with discussions of notable uses of the term in protests, in music and online.
So, without further ado, let’s get straight to it.
What does the slang word “bomboclat” mean”?
Literally speaking, the word bomboclat (which can also be written as bomboclaat) refers to sanitary products such as toilet paper or menstrual cloths.
That said however, the current meaning isn’t strictly literal, and is most often used as an expletive, to express strong emotion such as shock, anger, surprise or frustration.
What’s the origin story of the word “bomboclat”? How was it popularised?
The word bomboclat is derived from Jamaican Patois, also known as Jamaican Creole. It is an English-based creole language with significant West African influences. Etymologically, the word can be broken down to bumba, which means buttocks, and claat, which means sanitary cloth. Thus literally, a bomboclat is sanitary cloth or toilet paper, which is not the main meaning that’s used today.
However, due to the profane nature of the word, rooted in the taboo of menstruation in some parts of Jamaican culture, the word soon became a strong expletive, much like the curse word motherf**ker. Its usage as an expletive dates back to the 1950s.
That said however, as the expletive began to spread and became more commonly used, it has evolved to a less offensive, more casual term. The term grew in popularity through its use in music in the 1970s, but it didn’t become mainstream until it started to spread online in late 2019 with the bomboclat internet meme.
The meme worked as follows: A user would post an image, GIF, or video with the caption “Bomboclaat.” Other users would quote or reply, providing captions, commentary, or jokes that “explain” or reframe the image. For example, an image of someone looking disappointed might be posted with “Bomboclaat.” Replies might caption it as: “When you open the fridge and your leftovers are gone.” Celebrities and brands engaged with the meme, further mainstreaming it, and it became a Word of the Year (2019) finalist on certain internet trend lists.
How people can use the word bomboclat - featuring examples
Although the word bomboclat can be used to refer to toilet paper or sanitary towels, it is most frequently used as an expletive, to express emotions such as shock, horror, surprise, anger or frustration. As an expletive its usage is not suitable for polite company. You can use it as you would use any other expletive. Here are some whole sentence examples of the phrase in use:
- He missed the shot and shouted, “bomboclat, that was so close!”
- “My flight was supposed to land at 2:15, and I’m only just getting off my flight!! Wat in the bomboclat!!!”
- “Bomboclaat, mi jus buck mi toe ’gainst di table” translates to “Damn it, I just stubbed my toe on the table”.
- “Bomboclat, that was amazing!”
- “Bomboclat, I can’t believe I missed the bus!”
When considering using the word, you should be careful. Its use by people outside of Jamaican culture can be considered problematic or offensive, especially when used in an exaggerated or mocking way, which could be seen as cultural appropriation.
Similar and synonymous sayings comparable to bomboclat
Since bomboclat is an expletive, we’re just going to give you an edited, PG version of similar and synonymous words that can be used in place. They include the following:
- F**k
- B*tch
- Motherf**ker
- F**king hell
- Damn it
- Shit
- Bloody hell
Notable usage of the word bomboclat in protests
In times of political corruption or economic hardship, protesters have shouted bomboclat in local Jamaican marches and rallies. Its power lies in its ability to break decorum and express unfiltered rage at authority. To call a politician or police officer a bomboclat is not merely an insult; it is a symbolic stripping of dignity, equating the oppressor with something filthy and disposable.
In Caribbean diaspora protests (for example, against racial injustice in the UK or US), Jamaican Patois sometimes surfaces as a rallying cry. Words like bomboclat become both a unifier (shared slang among Caribbean descendants) and a marker of defiance against mainstream institutions.
Notable usage of the word bomboclat in music
In the 1970s, Reggae musicians such as Peter Tosh and Burning Spear drew heavily on Jamaican street language to articulate defiance against colonial oppression, racism, and political corruption. Bomboclat, and related “claat” expletives, surfaced in live performances, dub poetry, and unreleased recordings as forceful ways to punctuate anger.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Dancehall, with its faster rhythms and streetwise lyrics, embraced Patois in its full spectrum, including profanity. Artists such as Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, and later Vybz Kartel and Mavado frequently employed bomboclat as an interjection or insult in lyrical battles.
Later, American rappers with Caribbean heritage, like Notorious B.I.G. (whose mother was Jamaican) helped popularize patois slang, including “bomboclat,” in urban vernacular.
Notable online usage of the word bomboclat
As mentioned earlier, 2019 saw the advent of the bomboclat meme, which owed its popularity to writing the cryptic caption (bomboclat) and prompting users to provide their own humorous or insightful context; the raw energy of the patois profanity gave it significant comedic weight.
Final word
So, to sum up, the word bomboclat means sanitary cloth, but is now mostly used as a common expletive. It has its origins in Jamaican patois, but it didn’t become mainstream until the viral trend of the bomboclat meme in late 2019.
