• 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.





                                        
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
The profit of the rat returns to the snake.
Ill-gotten profit ends up in the hands of more evil than itself.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
Good buy is not current.
Do good business is rare.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
A good rooster crows in all barns.
We must learn to impose everywhere.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
Cheap is expensive
Stinginess can be very expensive.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
"Hello" does not fill the belly.
We must welcome politely people that you come across, it does not hurt.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
His mouth has no Sunday.
It is very talkative.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
Drink everything, eat everything, did not say anything.
You should hold your tongue.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
Each firefly illuminates his own soul.
In life, it is "every man for himself."

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
Every Hindu will fall one day in the gutter.
Hindus are doomed to decay.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
When the cat's away, the rats organize dances.
You have to know to take advantage of circumstances.