(1) Play wid puppy dawg, puppy dawg lick yuh face. Play wid big dawg, big dawg bite yuh.
English translation: Play with a small dog and he will lick your face. Play with a big dog and he will bite you.
Meaning: If you play out of your league you may get a lesson you won't forget.
English translation: Play with a small dog and he will lick your face. Play with a big dog and he will bite you.
Meaning: If you play out of your league you may get a lesson you won't forget.
(2) Bend di tree while it young, cause when it old it a go bruk.
English translation: Bend the tree while it is young, because when it is old it will break.
Meaning: Discipline your children and teach them the right way when they are young, because trying to do it when they are older might be too late for them and yourself.
English translation: Bend the tree while it is young, because when it is old it will break.
Meaning: Discipline your children and teach them the right way when they are young, because trying to do it when they are older might be too late for them and yourself.
(3) Ef fish deh a river bottom an tell yuh seh alligator hav gum boil, believe him!
English translation: If a fish at the bottom of a river tells you that an alligator has gum boil, believe the fish.
Meaning: Listen to the voice of experience.
English translation: If a fish at the bottom of a river tells you that an alligator has gum boil, believe the fish.
Meaning: Listen to the voice of experience.
(4) Yuh a swap black dawg fi monkey.
English translation: You are swapping a black dog for a monkey.
Meaning: To give up one bad situation for another, often used in relationships.
English translation: You are swapping a black dog for a monkey.
Meaning: To give up one bad situation for another, often used in relationships.
(5) Nuh expect nutten fram ah pig but ah grunt.
English Translation: Don't expect anything from a pig except a grunt.
Meaning: Do not expect class or grace from a pig : In other words, if you know someone is an idiot, why be surprised when he/she acts like one.
English Translation: Don't expect anything from a pig except a grunt.
Meaning: Do not expect class or grace from a pig : In other words, if you know someone is an idiot, why be surprised when he/she acts like one.
(6) Sake a mouth fish get ketch.
English Translation: Because of it's mouth the fish got caught.
Meaning: Talking too much will get you in trouble.
English Translation: Because of it's mouth the fish got caught.
Meaning: Talking too much will get you in trouble.
(7) Nuh romp wid mawga cow, a cudda bull mumma!
English Translation: Don't play with a skinny cow, it could be the bull's mother.
Meaning: Don't underestimate people who may seem weak or insignificant, because you don't know what kind of powerful and influential people they have in their corner.
English Translation: Don't play with a skinny cow, it could be the bull's mother.
Meaning: Don't underestimate people who may seem weak or insignificant, because you don't know what kind of powerful and influential people they have in their corner.
(8) Sorry fi mawga dowg, mawga dawg tun roun bite yuh.
English Translation: Don't feel sorry for the skinny dog as he could turn around and bite you.
Meaning: Sometimes it is the people we've helped the most who are the most ungrateful.
English Translation: Don't feel sorry for the skinny dog as he could turn around and bite you.
Meaning: Sometimes it is the people we've helped the most who are the most ungrateful.
(9) Monkey mus know weh him gwine put him tail before him order trousiz.
English Translation: The Monkey must know where he is going to put his tail before he orders the trousers.
Meaning: Be clear of how you are going to carry a thing through before you initiate the process - AND One must know one's self before doing what others are doing.
English Translation: The Monkey must know where he is going to put his tail before he orders the trousers.
Meaning: Be clear of how you are going to carry a thing through before you initiate the process - AND One must know one's self before doing what others are doing.
(10) Rockstone a riva bottom nuh know sun hat.
English Translation: The rocks at the bottom of the river do not know that the sun is hot.
Meaning: If you are in a sheltered situation, you do not know what hardship is.
English Translation: The rocks at the bottom of the river do not know that the sun is hot.
Meaning: If you are in a sheltered situation, you do not know what hardship is.
(11) What dawg see mek him bark all night, ramgoat see it too,but it nuh trouble him.
English Translation: What the Dog sees that causes him to bark all night, is also seen by the Ramgoat, but it does not trouble him.
Meaning: Things affect people differently.
English Translation: What the Dog sees that causes him to bark all night, is also seen by the Ramgoat, but it does not trouble him.
Meaning: Things affect people differently.
(12) When you go a Jackass yard, you nuh fi chat bout big ears.
English Translation: When you go to the Jackass's yard, you must not talk about big ears.
Meaning: Don't criticise others in their presence.
English Translation: When you go to the Jackass's yard, you must not talk about big ears.
Meaning: Don't criticise others in their presence.
(13) Wen rat like fi romp roun' puss jaw, one day him a go en' up inna puss craw
English Translation: When a rat loves to play around a cat's mouth, one day he will end up in the cat's claw.
Meaning: When one flirts too much with danger, soon he/she will get caught.
English Translation: When a rat loves to play around a cat's mouth, one day he will end up in the cat's claw.
Meaning: When one flirts too much with danger, soon he/she will get caught.
(14) Man nuh dun cross rivah nuffi cuss alligator say him mouth long.
English Translation: If a man is not finished crossing the river, he should not curse the alligator about his long mouth.
Meaning: Do not curse those who have the power to hurt you, or hinder your progress.
English Translation: If a man is not finished crossing the river, he should not curse the alligator about his long mouth.
Meaning: Do not curse those who have the power to hurt you, or hinder your progress.
(15) A nuh one day monkey waan wife.
English Translation: It is not for only one day that the monkey wants a wife.
Meaning: (1) You don't know how often you will need help in the future, so be careful not to turn your back on those who help you.(2) Never forget the people that help you today, as you may need their help in the future.
English Translation: It is not for only one day that the monkey wants a wife.
Meaning: (1) You don't know how often you will need help in the future, so be careful not to turn your back on those who help you.(2) Never forget the people that help you today, as you may need their help in the future.
(16) Finga nuh sey look ya, it seh look deh.
English Translation: A finger does not say look here, it says look there.
Meaning: Never criticise others before looking at yourself.
English Translation: A finger does not say look here, it says look there.
Meaning: Never criticise others before looking at yourself.
(17)
Nuh matta 'ow kokroach junk, im nuh waak pass fowl yaad
English Translation: No matter how drunk the cockroach becomes, he never makes the mistake of walking past the fowl's yard.
Meaning: People can naturally recognize dangerous situations and avoid them.
English Translation: No matter how drunk the cockroach becomes, he never makes the mistake of walking past the fowl's yard.
Meaning: People can naturally recognize dangerous situations and avoid them.
(18) When man belly full, im bruck pat
English Translation: When a man's belly is filled, he breaks the pot
Meaning: When man is satisfied, he often forgets what hunger or need is, and is indifferent to the sources of his repast, until he again finds himself in need.
English Translation: When a man's belly is filled, he breaks the pot
Meaning: When man is satisfied, he often forgets what hunger or need is, and is indifferent to the sources of his repast, until he again finds himself in need.
(19) Ef yuh lie wid dawg, yuh git up wid fleas.
English Translation: If you lie with dogs you get up with fleas.
Meaning: Other people judge you by the people you associate with and you will get the same reputation that they have.
English Translation: If you lie with dogs you get up with fleas.
Meaning: Other people judge you by the people you associate with and you will get the same reputation that they have.
(20) Mi cum yah fi drink milk, mi nuh cum yah fi count cow
English Translation: I came here to drink milk, not to count cows.
Meaning: (1) Mind your own business. (2) Enjoy what you are entitled to.
English Translation: I came here to drink milk, not to count cows.
Meaning: (1) Mind your own business. (2) Enjoy what you are entitled to.
(21) Trouble deh a bush Anansi carri cum a yaad
English Translation: Trouble in the bushes Anansi brings it home.
Meaning: (1) If you know something or someone will be a problem, don't bring them into your home. (2) What does not concern ou, leave it alone.
English Translation: Trouble in the bushes Anansi brings it home.
Meaning: (1) If you know something or someone will be a problem, don't bring them into your home. (2) What does not concern ou, leave it alone.
(22) Ef alligator seh fish mout tink, believe im
English Translation: If Alligator says that fish mouth is stink, believe him.
Meaning: Listen to those with more wisdom and experience.
English Translation: If Alligator says that fish mouth is stink, believe him.
Meaning: Listen to those with more wisdom and experience.
(23) Yuh cyaan sidung pan cow bak an' cuss cow kin
English Translation: You cannot sit on the cow's back and curse the skin of the cow
Meaning: We should never be ungrateful to, or disdainful of those who help us
English Translation: You cannot sit on the cow's back and curse the skin of the cow
Meaning: We should never be ungrateful to, or disdainful of those who help us
(24) Wah gawn bad a maanin cyaan cum gud a evelin
English Translation: What went wrong in the morning cannot be remedied in the evening
Meaning: It makes no sense to take precautions after we carelessly allowed a situation to get out of hand.
English Translation: What went wrong in the morning cannot be remedied in the evening
Meaning: It makes no sense to take precautions after we carelessly allowed a situation to get out of hand.
(25) Wah de goat du, de kid falla
English Translation: What the goat does, the kid follows.
Meaning: Children absorbs behavioural cues from their parents, and other significant adults in their lives. We should set good examples for our children
English Translation: What the goat does, the kid follows.
Meaning: Children absorbs behavioural cues from their parents, and other significant adults in their lives. We should set good examples for our children
(26) peel neck fowl bawl fi life, im nuh bawl fi fedda
English Translation : Peel neck fowl cries for life, not for feather
Meaning : Outward beauty is not the most important thing.
English Translation : Peel neck fowl cries for life, not for feather
Meaning : Outward beauty is not the most important thing.
(27) When eskimo hav money im buy fridge
English Translation : When Eskimo has money, he buys fridge
Meaning : People with too much money spend it on unnecessary things.
English Translation : When Eskimo has money, he buys fridge
Meaning : People with too much money spend it on unnecessary things.
(28) Parson crisson him pickney fus
English Translation : Pastor christen his child first
Meaning : Take care of your affairs before you attend to the affairs of others
English Translation : Pastor christen his child first
Meaning : Take care of your affairs before you attend to the affairs of others
(29) evryday bucket a go a well, one day di bottom ago drop out
English Translation : If Everyday the bucket goes to the well, one day the bottom will fall out
Meaning : If you repeatedly take the same risks, eventually it will end in disaster.
English Translation : If Everyday the bucket goes to the well, one day the bottom will fall out
Meaning : If you repeatedly take the same risks, eventually it will end in disaster.
(30) wen bull foot bruk, im nyam wid monkey
English Translation : When the bull foot breaks, he eats with the monkey
Meaning : Misfortune or harsh times create unlikely companionships
English Translation : When the bull foot breaks, he eats with the monkey
Meaning : Misfortune or harsh times create unlikely companionships
(31) If yuh cuss johncrow peel head, turkey wi bex
English Translation : If you curse Johncrow peel head, the Turkey will also be offended
Meaning : People resent when you criticize others that are similar to them
English Translation : If you curse Johncrow peel head, the Turkey will also be offended
Meaning : People resent when you criticize others that are similar to them
(32)Fowl weh feed a yaad nuh hard fi ketch
English Translation : The fowl that feeds at home is easy to catch
Meaning : It is easy to catch up to someone who is avoiding or running away from you when that person depends on you for something essential
English Translation : The fowl that feeds at home is easy to catch
Meaning : It is easy to catch up to someone who is avoiding or running away from you when that person depends on you for something essential
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