Haitian proverbs

Proverbs from all Haitian speaking parts of the world.

B

• "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. 

• "Byen prè pa lakay."
  • Translation: Very close is not home yet.
  • English equivalent: A miss by an inch is a miss by a mile.
  • Toussaint (2005). Haiti, a Different Image. AuthorHouse. p. 23. 

D

• "Dèyè mon gen mon."
  • Translation: Behind the mountain, there are mountains.
  • Meaning: There is more to a person than you see.
  • English equivalent: More than meets the eye. (idiom)
  • García, Fishman (2002). The Multilingual Apple: Languages in New York City. Mouton De Gruyter. 

L

• "Lafimen pa janm leve san dife."
  • Translation: Smoke never rises without fire.
  • Meaning: Everything happens for a reason.
  • Other meaning: A rumour contains some truth.
  • Silva, Spear (2004). A quoi rêve Haïti?. Éditions L'Harmattan. p. 140. 

M

• "Men anpil, chay pa lou."
  • Translation: Many hands [make] the load lighter.
  • 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."
  • Translation: Many hands make a load lighter.
  • 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."
  • Translation: Deserve, do not ask.
  • English equivalent: First deserve, then desire.
  • Heurtelou, Vilsaint (2004). Guide to Learning Haitian Creole. Educa Vision. p. 189. 

P

• "Piti piti zwazo fè nich."
  • Translation: Little by little the bird makes his nest.
  • Meaning: Many incremental changes will eventually make a significant difference.
  • English equivalent: Many a mickle makes a muckle.
  • Das (1994). Sociology In Latin America. MD Publications. p. 81. 

Z

• "Zafè kabrit pa zafè mouton."
  • Translation: The goat's business is not the sheep's business.
  • 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.