All the Proverbs
Finger neber say "look here," him say "look yonder."
Translation: Finger never says “look here,” he says “look yonder”.
Explanation: People do not usually point out their own faults
If you get your han' in a debil mout' tek it out.."
Translation: If you put your hand in the devil’s mouth, take it out carefully.
Explanation: Act cautiously in getting out of difficulty.
Peacock hide him foot when him hear 'bout him tail.
Translation: The peacock hides his foot when he hears about his tail.
Explanation: A proud person does not like his little weaknesses exposed.
No wait till drum beat before you grine you axe
Translation: Do not wait until the drum beats before you grind your axe.
Explanation: Be prepared for all eventualities.
You ‘fraid fe yeye, you neber nyam head
Translation: If you are afraid of the eye, you will never eat the head.
Explanation: If you regard too much the good opinion of any one you will never prosper.
A no want a fat mek nightingale foot ‘tan’ sol.
Translation: It is not for the want of fat that the nightingale’s legs stand so.
Explanation: Do not judge by appearances.
Ebry dyay debble help teef; wan dyah Gad wi help watchman.
Translation: Every day the devil helps the theif; one day God will help the watchman.
Explanation: We should not despair when it appears to us that unscrupulous persons continue to take advantage of us with no apparent deterrent. God never sleeps, and is fully aware of everything that occurs. He will one day reward the efforts of the faithful.
Cowad man kip soun’ bone
Translation: A cowardly man keeps sound bones.
Explanation: It is better to be thought of as a coward than to give away one’s life through impetuous behaviour. It is certain that, as in the old Chinese proverb, “The man who fights and runs away, will live to fight another day”.
Cack mowt kill cack
Translation: The rooster was killed by his own mouth. (The butcher would not have known where to find him if he had not opened his mouth to crow.)
Explanation: One should never boast, nor should one speak out of turn. We should choose our words with care, lest we by our own tactlessness, cause ourselves unhappiness.
Dawg no hol ef im ha bone.
Translation: The dog does not howl if he has a bone.
Explanation: The dog is an animal which is very fond of bones, and is not likely to appear miserable if it has bones to gnaw on. Similarly, people do not become upset or agitated if they are comfortable. It is also difficult for some persons to lobby against issues which do not directly concern them.
If yu noh mash ants, yu noh fine him guts
Translation: If you do not smash an ant, it is impossible for you to find its guts.
Explanation: It is only when you are closely involved with some persons that you are able to really know them. If one is not provoked, it is impossible to know the extent of his/her fury.
Ole fiyah tick easy fe ketch
Translation: Old fire sticks are easily re-kindled.
Explanation: It is much easier to light coals which have been burnt before, than to get a fire going with fresh logs. Similarly if a relationship has previously existed between two people, it is easier to rekindle the flames of love than to start a new relationship with someone else.
Chicken merry, hawk deh near
Translation: The chicken, unaware of the danger posed by the hovering hawk, makes merry.
Explanation: Danger can lurk in some of the most unexpected places. We should temper, therefore, our most light-hearted moments with a little sobriety.
Yu cyaan sidung pahn cow bak cuss cow kin
Translation: You cannot sit on the back of the cow and curse the skin of the cow.
Explanation: We should not disparage others. Worse yet, we should never be ungrateful to, or disdainful of, those who help us.
Yu shake man han, but yu noh shake im hawt
Translation: You can shake a man’s head, but you cannot shake his heart.
Explanation: It is impossible to detect what a person has in his mind toward you through mere physical contact. Do not, therefore, take people, their opinions, or their feelings for granted.
Fiyah deh a muss-muss (moos-moos) tail, in tink a cool breeze
Translation: There is a fire blowing at the tail of the mouse, but he believes he is feeling the effects of a cooling breeze.
Explanation: Many times, in our naiveté, we remain unaware of impending danger until it actually overtakes us. Also, the foolhardy blithely interpret the signs of danger to mean that all is well.
When chubble tek yu, pikney shut fit yu
Translation: When you find yourself in trouble, a child’s shirt fits you.
Explanation: It is ridiculous to contemplate the sight of a full-grown man fitting comfortably into a child’s shirt. However, one can readily understand that when we are in trouble, we appreciate whatever help we can get to extricate ourselves. This is so, even if under normal circumstances we would have thought such help woefully inadequate.
Wha gawn bad a maanin, cyaan kum gud a evelin.
Translation: What went wrong in the morning cannot be remedied in the evening.
Explanation: It is unwise to spend valuable time worrying about those problems we cannot solve. Also, it makes no sense to take precautions after we carelessly allowed a situation to get out of hand.
Big blanket mek man sleep late
Translation: A thick blanket causes a man to sleep late.
Explanation: An over-abundance of luxuries causes one to become complacent, and to take life’s blessings for granted.
Wha sweet a mout’ hat a belly
Translation: What tastes sweet in the mouth burns the belly.
Explanation: Some things are not good for us, although they appear to be exactly what we want. We should be cautious about what we latch on to, lest we cause ourselves much pain and embarrassment.
Me come yah fe drink milk, me noh come yah fe count cow
Translation: I came here to drink milk, not to count cows.
Explanation: Mind your own business. Enjoy what you are entitled to. Don’t worry about details which do not concern you.
Pit inna de sky, it fall inna yuh y’eye
Translation: If you spit in the sky, it falls into your eye.
Explanation: What you do to, or wish for others, could eventually be the cause of your own downfall. Be careful of how you treat others.
Yu cyaan ketch Quaku (Harry), yu ketch im shut
Translation: If you cannot catch Quaku (Harry), catch his shirt
Explanation: It is not always possible to get everything you want. Be satisfied with what little you have, until you are able to get all you want. Having caught Quako’s shirt, you are all the closer to catching him.
Payshent man ride danki
Translation: A patient man rides a donkey.
Explanation: It is customary that travellers in a great hurry are loath to go via the slow but sure donkey. For them, a horse, used to galloping at terrific speeds for sustained periods seems a more logical choice. However, the donkey, although much slower, eventually gets to its journey’s end. SImilarly, we must exercise great patience in order to reach our goals.
Waant aal, lose aal
Translation: If you want everything you see, you will eventually lose all.
Explanation: Take just what you can comfortably manage, rather than attempt to grab everything for yourself, lest you destroy all in the process.
Chubble deh a bush, Anancy cyah I’kum a yaad
Translation: There is trouble in the business, and Anancy takes it home.
Explanation: Anancy, the folk hero of West African origin, is never satisfied with leaving things in their proper place. He sometimes takes home the spoils of his foraging, many times to the unhappiness of his family. What does not concern us, we should leave strictly alone.
Wanti wanti cyaan getti, an’ getti getti noh wanti
Translation: He who wants it desperately cannot get it; he who get it easily does not want it or appreciate it.
Explanation: Be thankful for the blessings that come to you, always realising that many of the things we take for granted are luxuries to others.
New broom sweep clean, but owl broom noe dem cahna
Translation: The new broom sweeps clean, but the old broom knows all the corners.
Explanation: We should strive for a happy blend between the old and the new, combining the freshness of the new with the valuable experience of the old.
Mischiff kum by de poun’ an’ go by de ownse
Translation: Mischief comes by the pound and goes by the ounce.
Explanation: Mischief makers can stir up a tremendous amount of trouble with only a few words or maybe one action. The effects of this can be difficult to minimise. Let us not be mischief-makers. We could hurt ourselves and others irreparably.
Poun’ ah fret cyaan pay ownse ah dett
Translation: One pound of fretting, cannot repay one ounce of debts.
Explanation: Problems are not solved by worrying. The time spent fretting could be more gainfully spent on considering workable alternatives and solutions.
Willful was’e bring woeful waant
Translation: Willful waste brings woeful want.
Explanation: Don’t willfully waste what you have or you could end up bitterly regretting what you wasted when you find yourself in need.
Noh buy puss inna bag
Translation: Do not purchase a pussycat in a bag.
Explanation: Examine carefully whatever you purchase or accept from someone else. In matters of the head and heart, do not be quick to accept a person as the “genuine article”, without a thorough investigation.
Mek wan jackass bray
Translation: Allow one jackass (donkey) to bray at a time.
Explanation: It is difficult to see the merit in other persons’ ideas if everybody attempts to speak at the same time. Also, if someone is speaking foolishly, avoid adding to the confusion.
Quatti buy chubble, hunjed poun’ cyaan pay farri
Translation: A penny-halfpenny (1 1/2d) buys trouble, one hundred pounds (£100) cannot pay for it.
Explanation: Little blunders can cause us to find ourselves in situations so complex that we cannot extricate ourselves.
Lang run, shaat ketch
Translation: Long run, short catch.
Explanation: It may take a long while for you to be caught and punished for wrong-doing, but you will be caught one day.
Wan han wash de oda
Translation: One hand washes the other.
Explanation: One good turn deserves another.
De more yu luk, de less yu si
Translation: The more you look, the less you will see.
Explanation: It is impossible to know every single detail about any matter. Also, the more you find out, the less you know.
No matta how kokkuch junk, im noh waak pass fowl yaad
Translation: No matter how drunk the cockroach becomes, he never makes the mistake of walking past the yard of the fowl.
Explanation: The cockroach is considered to be a delicacy for fowls. In the interest of self-preservation, cockroach is reluctant to go past any area where he may be easily caught by a fowl. For humans, he same should apply, self-preservation being the first law of the of the species.
Hag nyam wha im myne gi im fah
Translation: The hog/pig eats whatever its mind gives it for [or wants].
Explanation: To each, his own.
Bowl go, packy come
Translation: Bowl goes, calabash comes
Explanation: It was a very common occurrence in traditional Jamaican life, to see covered dishes carrying some delicious meal being borne by a child, and bound for some neighbour’s home. It was also customary, although certainly not mandatory, for the bearer to return with something for the sender, perhaps in a packy (calabash scraped and used as a bowl). Also one good turn deserves another.
Wan finga cyaan kill louse
Translation: One finger alone cannot kill lice
Explanation: Co-operation is necessary for projects involving more than one person.
Yuh pred yuh bed haad, yu haffi liddung pan i’haad
Translation: If you spread your bed hard, you must lie on a hard bed.
Explanation: You must accept responsibility for your actions, and whatever you sow, you will surely reap.
No mug no bruk, no cawfee no dash weh
Translation: The mug is not broken, therefore the coffee is not thrown away (or wasted).
Explanation: Even in the most difficult of times, if total devastation has not occurred, one should count his/her blessings. Do not blow simple matters out of proportion.
Ebry dawg hab him day, an ebry puss him 4 o’clock
Translation: Every dog has his day, and every cat has his 4 o’clock.
Explanation: We should not behave as if we are better than others, or allow our position in life to blind us to the fact that tremendous opportunities can be given to those persons whom we would least expect to reap these benefits. (“Your day will come.”)
Wen mawga plantin wan’ fi dead, ‘im shoot
Translation: When a meagre plantain wants to die, it shoots.
Explanation: After a plantain tree shoots and bears a bunch of familiar fruit, it has ended its useful life, and dies thereafter. When we are no longer concerned about the safety of our persons, the preservation of our good character of job or family, then we are to apt to behave stupidly.
Wen coco ripe, im mus buss
Translation: When the cocoa (cacao) ripens, it bursts.
Explanation: It is easy to identify the intentions of an individual by his/her actions.
Wen man belly full, im bruck pat
Translation: When a man’s belly is filled, he breaks the pot.
Explanation: When man is satisfied, he often forgets what hunger or need is, and will be indifferent to the sources of his repast or succour, until he again finds himself in need.
Wa de goat du, de kid falla
Translation: What the goat does, the kid follows.
Explanation: Children absorb behavioural cues from their parents and other significant adults in their lives. We should set good examples for our children.
Yu nebba see sumoke widout fiyah
Translation: You never see smoke without fire.
Explanation: Sometimes, actions that appear to be trivial, are actually indications of some deep-rooted resentment, or of trouble or romance brewing.
Tek whey yuh get tell yu get whey yu want
Translation: Take what you can get until you can get what you want.
Explanation: Every opportunity, well used, can be a stepping stone to realization of your ultimate goals.
Ef yu cyaan get turkey, yu haffi satisfy wid Jancro
Translation: If you are unable to get turkey, then you must be satisfied with John Crow.
Explanation: No well-thinking Jamaican would be “caught dead” with a portion of crow’s meat in his plate. However, this proverb simply advises us to be prepared to accept situations that may not be to our liking, for peace sake. Sometimes second best is not so bad after all.
Good frien’ betta dan packet money
Translation: A good friend is better than money in the pocket.
Explanation: No matter how valuable our material possessions may be to us, a good friend, especially in times of trouble, is always proven to be of more more worth. We should treasure our friends, not only recognising them when we are in need.
Bifoe gud food pwile, meck belly bus
Translation: Before allowing good food to spoil, allow the belly to burst.
Explanation: Taken literally, this proverb could see the demise of many persons who are unable to control their appetite. The moral behind this old saying, however, is that one should make every good use of life’s opportunities; also, never waste or discard today that which you or someone else may be able to use tomorrow.
Tu much ratta nebba dig gud hole
Translation: Too many rats never dug a good hole.
Explanation: A good job/project/activity could be spoilt if there are too many individuals attempting to carry out the same task. Ideally, work should be delegated, and one should avoid frustrating those who can really do the work, by gently re-deploying those who are time-wasters.
Self praise a no no rekumendayshan
Translation: Self praise is no recommendation
Explanation: The Bible advises “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own lips.”, (Proverbs). If the only recommendations of our own worth are pronounced by ourselves, then it is certain that such pronounciations are mere vanity. One should be too quick to “sound his own trumpet”.
A no ebryting kum fram abuv a blessen
Translation: Not everything that comes from above is a blessing.
Explanation: Enjoy those blessings which come from above, but do not be misled by deceivers who use their superior positions to dispossess the unfortunate.
Wen po’ git up, im tun chubble tu de wole
Translation: When the poor man gets up, he becomes trouble to the world.
Explanation: The elevation of someone who used to be disdained or sneered at by others, could be cause for much disturbance in the minds of those who did not wish him well.
Rain neber fall a’ one man door
Translation: Rain never falls at one man’s door (only). (Beckwith)
Explanation: When it rains it rains on all. (Anderson, Cundall)
Parson christen him own pickney first
Translation: The Parson always christens his own child first. (Beckwith)
Explanation: Charity begins at home. (Anderson, Cundall)
When ashes cold dog sleep dere.
Translation: When the ashes are cold, even a dog can sleep there. (Beckwith)
Explanation: Circumstances alter cases. (Anderson, Cundall)
Alligator lay egg, but him no fowl.
Translation: The alligator lays eggs, but he is not a fowl. (Beckwith)
Explanation: Never view a subject from one point only.
Cry-cry picney neber hab him right
Translation: A crybaby (for a stubborn) never gets his rights. (Beckwith)
Explanation: Those who are always complaining are seldom listened to. (Anderson, Cundall)
Nanny goat neber scratch him back till him see wall
Translation: A he-goat never wants to scratch his back till he see a stone wall. (Beckwith)
Explanation: Await the proper opportunity. (Anderson, Cundall)
Rocka ‘tone a ribba bottom no feel sun hot
Translation: A stone at the bottom of the river never feels the heat of the sun, (Beckwith)
Explanation: Those in easy circumstances do not realise the hardship of others. (Anderson, Cundall)
Ebry day da fishing day, but ebry day no fe catch fish.
Translation: Every day’s fishing day, but not every day’s a day to catch fish. (Beckwith)
Explanation: Reward does not always follow labour. (Anderson, Cundall)
Hungry hungry and full full no trabel same pass. (Anderson, Cundall)
Translation: The Hungry belly and the full belly do not walk the same road.
Explanation: The poor man and the rich man go different ways. (Anderson Cundall)
Shoes alone know if stocking hab hole
Translation: Shoes alone know if the stocking have holes. (Beckwith)
Explanation: The wearer alone knows where the shoe pinches. (Anderson Cundall)
John Crow neber make house till rain come.
Translation: John crow never thinks of making his house until it rains. (Beckwith)
Explanation: Some people never make provision for a rainy day. (Anderson, Cundall)
Stranger no know where da deep water in de pass
Translation: A stranger does not know where the deep water is. (Beckwith)
Explanation: A caution against undertaking to do something you don’t fully understand. (Anderson, Cundall)
Sleep hab no massa
Translation: Sleep has no master. (Beckwith)
Explanation: Sooner or later you must sleep. (Anderson, Cundall)
John Crow tink him own pickney white.
Translation: Young John crows are white when hatched, but do not remain white. (Anderson, Cundall)
Explanation: What is one’s own is always the best.
Too much si-dun bruk breeches. (Anderson, Cundall)
Translation: Sitting down too much wears out one’s trousers. (Anderson, Cundall)
Explanation: Idleness leads to wants. (Anderson, Cundall)
Woman mout’ an’ fowl a one. (Beckwith)
Translation: A woman has a mouth like a fowl. (Beckwith)
Explanation: Equally ungrateful. (Anderson, Cundall)
No mek one donkey choke you. (Anderson, Cundall)
Translation: Don’t let one donkey choke you. (Beckwith)
Explanation: Do not be misled by a fool. (Anderson, Cundall)
Darg among doctor, cockroach among shaver. (Anderson, Cundall)
Translation: A dog among doctors, a cockroach among shavers. (Beckwith)
Explanation: Stick to the surroundings to which you are most fitted. (Anderson, Cundall)
If you can’ get turkey you must sati’fy wid John Crow. (Anderson, Cundall)
Translation: If you can’t get turkey, you must satisfy with John Crow. (Beckwith)
Explanation: If you cannot get what you want must be satisfied with that which comes nearest to it in appearance. (Anderson, Cundall)
Driber fum him wife fus’. (Anderson, Cundall)
Translation: The driver flogs his own wife first. (Beckwith)
Explanation: If you would do real justice, favour no one. (Anderson, Cundall)
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