• 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.





                                        
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
Life is not a bowl of toloman.
Life is not rosy.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
Misfortune continues to plague on the back of the Negro.
If you are poor, bad luck befalls you.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
L'argent fait danser les chiens
L'argent peut tout faire.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
Money does not buy happiness, but happiness make money.
Money is not a source of happiness, but happiness is a source of wealth.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
Money is not avocado
The money can be kept indefinitely.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
Money is the devil.
Money drives to crime.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
Money is ether.
The money slips through your fingers.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
When you're at your mother's home, hen droppings becomes the egg and dried cod soup.
Nothing is better than that which comes from a mother.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
The sea has no branches.
In the sea there is nothing to hold on, you have to be careful, otherwise you could drown easily.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
 Precaution is the mother of bliss
Caution is safety.