Trinidadian English or Trinidad and Tobago Standard English is a dialect of English used in Trinidad and Tobago. English co-exists with both non-standard varieties of English as well as Creole varieties, primarily Trinidadian Creole English in Trinidad and Tobagonian Creole English in Tobago. Most speakers use Trinidadian or Tobagonian Creole in informal discourse but switch to the standard dialect of English (to varying degrees) in formal settings. Speakers of the standard variety also switch to the Creole dialect either for humour or to connect with "the common people."
As for all other varieties of English, Trinidadian English was originally based on a standard of British English. Located in the Americas, TE now uses many Americanisms from its larger and more dominant neighbour, including apartment, trunk (of a car) and truck, although flat is also used, and bonnet continues to be more commonly used than hood (of a car) (but lorry is not used). In addition, many words from the vernacular have found their way into standard English, including such words as to lime (to 'hang out' or 'to party'), fête (French) meaning 'to party', lagniappe (of Spanish origin from la ñapa) meaning 'a little something extra', and dougla (of Hindi origin), now meaning 'a person of both African and Indian parentage'.
The sound of Trinidadian English is often compared with that of South Wales and India.
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