Haitian proverbs
This is a collection of Haitian Creole proverbs and idioms, sorted alphabetically.
Some proverbs are literary; that is, from a written source. Most originated orally among folk spiritualists, families, street vendors, other commoners and all walks of life, that has been since transcribed.
B
[edit]- Bay piti pa chich.
- Translation: To give little is not [being] cheap.
- Smith (2001). When the Hands Are Many: Community Organization and Social Change in Rural Haiti. Cornell University Press. p. 74.
- Toupre pa lakay.
- English equivalent: A miss by an inch is a miss by a mile.
- Toussaint (2005). Haiti, a Different Image. AuthorHouse. p. 23.
D
[edit]- Dèyè mòn, gen mòn.
- English translation: Beyond mountains, more mountains
L
[edit]- Lafimen pa janm leve san dife.
- English equivalent: Where there's smoke, there's fire.
- Meaning: A rumour contains some truth.
- Silva, Spear (2004). A quoi rêve Haïti?. Éditions L'Harmattan. p. 140.
M
[edit]- Manman pa janm mode pitit li jouk nan zo.
- English translation:A mother never bites her child to the bone.
- Haitian Proverbs: An Integral Part of the Creole Language Kean University
- Haitian Proverbs
- Mapou mouri, kabrit manje fey li.
- English translation: When the mapou (oak-like tree) dies, goats would eat its leaves.
- Haitian Proverbs: An Integral Part of the Creole Language Kean University
- Haitian Proverbs
- Men anpil, chay pa lou.
- English equivalent: Many hands make light work.
- Averill (1997). A Day for the Hunter, a Day for the Prey: Popular Music and Power in Haiti. University of Chicago Press.
- Men anpil, chay pa lou.
- English equivalent: Many hands make light work.
- Smith (2001). When the Hands Are Many: Community Organization and Social Change in Rural Haiti. Cornell University Press. p. 170.
- Merite pa mande.
- English equivalent: First deserve, then desire.
- Heurtelou, Vilsaint (2004). Guide to Learning Haitian Creole. Educa Vision. p. 189.
P
[edit]- Piti piti zwazo fè nich li.
- English translation: Little by little the bird builds its nest.
- Through Haiti's Eyes
Z
[edit]- Zafè kabrit pa zafè mouton.
- Translation: The goat's business is not the sheep's business.
- English equivalent: All girdles do not hang on one handle.
- Maximin (2008). Dynamiques interculturelles dans l'aire caribéenne. Karthala. p. 213.
- Meaning: Focus on how you do your own work instead of interfering with other's work.
- en Español: El negocio de las ovejas no es el negocio de la cabra.
- en français: L'affaire de la chèvre n'est pas l'affaire du mouton.