• 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.





                                        
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
 Women are chestnuts, men are breadfruit.
A woman always finds the strength to get up after a disappointment.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
Fallen woman never despairs.
The woman is never discouraged.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
Do a footstep of a wildcat.
Make a quick getaway.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
It must flatter the dog until we arrived near a pile of rocks.
You should use malice to achieve your purposes.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
It is necessary that you are drowning you for you to learn to swim.
It is by making mistakes that we learn.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
You must hit the testicles to see if it is a male.
Before acting, always check.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
Do not sharpen the knife before have the goat.
Do not sell the skin of the bear before killing him.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
You must treat the mother for the girl.
To marry a woman, you must first courting the mother.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
The big cock does what he wants, the little rooster does what he can.
The reason of the strongest is always the best.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
The big fish eat the little ones.
The strongest often abuse their powers.