• 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.





                                        
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
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.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
When your friend's beard on fire, waters yours.
Do not mock the misfortune of others and always put its own house.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
When the rooster isn't in the pitt, he sees all the kicks he'd give.
Whoever is not in the battle on the field always has all the solutions.



Note that the pitt is a cockfighting arena.



                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
 The advisers are not the payers.
People who give advice are not those that will have to face the consequences of their words.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
When acoma fell, everyone says it's rotten wood.
When a person falls from his pedestal, people dare to criticize it.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
When you win a horse dealing in anquites, you lose in dealing in anquites.
That you acquire in dubious circumstances, you lose in these conditions.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
When the hen drinks water, she does not forget to thank God.
Do not forget to thank God for all that He gives us.