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Proverbs

Sayings, verbatim, with their meaning.

Meet · 59 entries

Read each one with its meaning; open an entry for its source and notes.

Notice

Notes from the corpus, in English, on how these entries are used.

Wazyé tini zowèy. Bush has ears.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Rasiers tinî zoreîes.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Jaden lwen, gonbo gaté. The garden far, the ochro spoils.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Jâdin loèn, gombo gâter.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Tanbou tini gwan twen pas andidan li vid. A drum makes a loud noise because it is empty within.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Tamboû tinî grand train páce en-didans li vide.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Jan fenyan ka mandé twavay épi bouch, men tjè-yo ka pwiyé Bondyé pou yo pa touvé. Lazy people ask for work with their lips, but their hearts beg God to prevent their getting it.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Gens féñants ca mander traväî épîs bouche, main chêrs yo ca pouier Bondié poû yeaux pas touver.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Bagay ki fè zyé fè né. Whatever affects the eye affects the nose.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Baggaïe qui fair ziex fair nez.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Bèf pa jamen ka di savan “mèsi.” Ox never tells the pasture, “thank you.”
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Bêf pas jamain ca dîe savane, “mêci.”” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Fo pawòl mò pou moun pé viv. Words must die that men may live.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Faut paouôles môr poû mounes pé vive.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Makak konnèt ki bwa li ka monté. Monkey knows what tree to climb.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Macaque connaîte qui bois li ca monter.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Ou ponkò twavèsé lawivyè; pa jiwé maman kayman. You have not yet crossed the river; do not curse the crocodile’s mother.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Ous pôncor travesser läîvièr; pas jirez maman caïman.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Bon bouch ka ganyen chouval a kwédi. Fair words buy horses on credit.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Bon-bouche ca gañèn chouvals à-crédit.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Mizè ka fè makak manjé piman. Want makes monkey eat pepper.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Misèr ca fair macaque manger piments.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Sé nan tan lapli bèf bizwen latjè-li. It is in rainy season that the ox has need of his tail.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Cé nans temps laplîe bêf bisoèn laché li.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Sé lang kwapo ki ka twahi kwapo It is the frog’s own tongue that betrays him.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Cé langue crapaud qui ca trahî crapaud.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Sé kouto ki konnèt sa ki nan tjè jiomou. It is the knife that knows what is in the heart of the pumpkin.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Cé couteau qui connaîte ça qui nans chêr geomou.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Ki mélé zé nan kalenda wòch? What business have eggs in the dance of stones?
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Qui méler zéfs nans calenda ouôches?” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Si koulèv pas té fonté, fanm sé pwend li fè wiban jip. If the adder were not so brazen, (dangerous) women would take it for coat-strings.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Si coulève pas té fonté, femmes sé pouend li fair ribans jipes.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Sé lè van ka vanté moun ka wè lapo poul. It is when the wind is blowing that we see the skin of a fowl.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Cé lhèr vent ca venter moune ca ouèr lapeau poul.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Badnen byen épi makak, men pwengad manyen latjé-li. Joke freely with the monkey, but beware of handling his tail.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Badnèn bien épîs macaque, main pouèngâde mañèn laché li.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Kanawai vlé wi chodyè. The clay-pot wishes to laugh at the iron-pot.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Canari vlé rîe chôdièr.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Makak pa jamen ka di ich-li lèd. Monkey never says its young is ugly.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Macaque pas jamain ca dîe iche li laide.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Dan pa jamen wi bon bagay. Teeth never laugh at things that are good.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Dents pas jamain rîe bons baggaïes.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Tanpé ka ganyen malè sa doublon pa sa géwi. A penny buys troubles which doubloons cannot cure.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Tampée ca gañen malhèrs ça doublons pas sa gérî.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Menm baton ki bat chyen nwè-la pé bat chyen blan-la. The same stick that beat the black dog can beat the white.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Même baton qui batte chein noèr la pé batte chein blanc la.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Kwab pa maché, li pa gwa; li maché twòp é li tonbé nans chodyè. Crab has not walked, he is not fat; he has walked too much, and has fallen into the pot.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Crabe pas mâcher, li pas gras; li macher touop, et li tomber nans chôdièr.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Benyen ich moun, men pa lavé dèyè zowèy-yo. Bathe people’s children but do not wash behind their ears.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Baignèn iches mounes, main pas lavez dêièr zorèîes yeaux.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Kouyonad sé pa limonad. Nonsense is not sugar-water.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Couyenade cé pas limonade.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Makak kawésé ich-li twòp, li fouwé dwèt nan zyé-li. The monkey fondling its young too much has (at length) poked her finger into its eye.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Macaque caresser iche li touop, li fourer doègt nans ziex li” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Pawòl pa tini koulè. Words have no colour.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Páouôles pas tini coulèr.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Yon dwèt pa sa pwand pis. A single finger cannot catch fleas.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Yon doègt pas sa pouend pices.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Gwès pa tini santiman. Fat has no sentiment.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Graisse pas tinî sentiment.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Kwapo pa tini chimiz – ou vlé li pòté kaneson! Frog has no shirt (the necessary), and you wish him to wear drawers (the superfluous)!
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Crapaud pas tinî chimise – ous vlé li poter caneçon!” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Sé soulyé tousèl ki sav si ba tini tou. Shoes alone know if the stockings have holes.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Cé souliers tout-sêl qui save si bas tinî tous.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Wavèt pa jamen wézon douvan poul. Cockroach never is in the right where the fowl is concerned.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Ravette pas jamain tnî raison douvant poule.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Si zandoli té bon viand li pa sé ka dwivé. If the lizard had eatable flesh, it would not be so common.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Si zandoli té bon viâne li pas sé ca driver.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Palé pa wimèd. Talking is no remedy.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Pâler pas rimède.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Jan ki ka ba ou konsèy ganyen chouval gwo bouden nan louvenay, nan kawèm pa ka widé ou nouwi li. They who advise you to buy a big-paunched horse in the rainy season (when grass is abundant) don’t help you to feed him in the dry season (when grass is scarce).
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Gens qui ca bâ ous conseï gañèn chouval gouos boudins nans lhouvênaie, nans carême pas ca rider ous nourî li.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Kozé sé manjé zòwèy. Conversation is the food of the ear.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Causer cé manger zoreîes.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Ki mélé wòz nan paké bwa Jak? What business has a rose in Jacques’ bundle of wood?
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Qui méler rose nans paquet bois Jacques?” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Fè pou fè pa mal. Do for do is not hard.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Fair poû fair pas mal.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Dousman dwèt. Slow and straight.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Doucement doète.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Jan bon-tan ka alé di gouvèné bonjou. Idle people go to wish the governor good day.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Gens bon-temps ca aller dîe gouvêner bonjoû.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Dèyè chyen, sé “chyen”; douvan chyen sé “misyé chyen”. Behind dog’s back, it is “dog”; but before dog, It is “mister dog.”
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Dêïèr chein, cé “chein”; douvant chein sé “missier chein”.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Liann yam ka mawé yam. The yam vine ties the yam.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Liane yame ca mârer yame.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Tan moun konnèt lòt nan gwanjou, nan nwit yo pa bizwen chandèl poû kléwé yo. When a person has known another in the day-time, he does not need a candle to recognise him at night.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Temps moune connaîte lôte nans grand-joû, nans nouite yeaux pas bisoèn chandelle poû clérer yeaux.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Manjé yon fwa pa ka wizé dan. Eating once does not wear out teeth.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Manger yon fois pas ca riser dents.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Si léfan pa té sav boyo-li gwo, li pa sé valé kalbas. Had the elephant not known the size of his intestines, he would not have swallowed calabashes.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Si léphant pas té save boyaux li gouos, li pas sé valer calebasses.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Kouwi pa lèd, tan lafòs pa la. To run away is not ugly, when one has no strength.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Cououî pas laide, temps lafôce pas là.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Nonm mò, zèb ka lévé douvan lapòt-li The man has died, grass grows before his door.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Nômme mort, zêbes ca lever douvant lapôte li.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Dan pa tjè. Teeth are not hearts.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Dents pas chêrs.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Si kwapo di ou kayman tini malzyé, kwè li. If the frog tells you the crocodile has sore eyes, believe him.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Si crapaud die ous caïman tinî malziex, coèr-li.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Dan pa ka pòté dèy. Teeth do not wear mourning.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Dents pas ca poter dëî.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Lagè vèti pa ka pwand vyè nèg nan kabawé. A war that is threatened does not overtake old Negroes in the grog-shop.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Lagêr vêti pas ca pouend viéx nègues nan cabarets.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Malhè pa ka chajé kon lapli. Accidents do not threaten like rain.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Malhèrs pas ca châger con laplie.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Voyé chyen, chyen voyé latjé-li. Send dog, dog sends his tail.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Voyer chein, chein voyer laché li.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Palé twòp ka lévé chyen nan donmi. Too much talking rouses the watchdog from sleep.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Pâler touop ca léver chein nans dômi.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Hay moun, men pa bay yo panyen pou chayé dlo. Hate people, but don’t give them baskets to fetch water.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Häî moune, main pas bâ yeaux pañèn poû châïer dleau.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Twavay pa mal; sé zyé ki kapon. Work is not hard; it is the eyes that are cowards.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Traväî pas mal; sé ziex qui capons.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Maman ka fè ich, mé pa tjè-yo. Mothers make (beget) children, but not their hearts.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Mamans ca fair iches, mais pas chêrs yeaux.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.
Pa fòt lang ki fè bèf pa sa palé. It is not for want of tongue that ox cannot speak.
Thomas's original 1869 orthography: “Pas fôte langue qui fair bêf pas sa pâler.” — historical reference only, never a spelling guide.

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