• Two men hugging

    Martinique Creole proverbs

Born in the first half of the 17th century, the Creole language is a vibrant mosaic. The Amerindian heritage was supplemented by the dialects of French colonists, West Africans, and later Coolies from India and China. Contrary to popular belief, Creole proverbs are not words from the past, or “pawol an tan lontan” (words from the past) as they say in Martinique. Proverbs are immortal, eternal, and indispensable. As they say in Martinique: “Pa konnet mové” (It is bad not to know). Click on the title to read the moral.





                                        
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
"Nothing having" is not good.
We must be content with the little that we have, do not have anything is not better.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
Blood is thicker than water.
Family ties are stronger than others.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
It is in the mouth of the hunchback that you find the most beautiful contempt.
The more faults one has, the more one finds in others.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
You can dupe only once a prostitute under a icaque tree.
We cannot dupe twice the same person.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
It is the benny that betrays the buttocks.
Hidden acts have visible consequences. (Same meaning as Kékèt pa ka palé, boudin bava.")

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
Grains of rice make the rice bags.
The small streams make big rivers.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
This is the climbing stem of yam that attaches the yam.
One can be caught in his own trap and that can be betrayed by his own.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
Only the knife knows what is in the pumpkin.
You alone know your misery.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
The money stays where it is
Money goes to money. The richer one is, the more we can make money.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
It's money that makes the devil dance.
The number of people who appreciate someone increases with the money he has.