• 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.





                                        
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
Through having caressed her child, the macaque killed him.
Trying too hard to do well, you end up destroying everything.



                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
It's not when you're hungry you have to start to cook your meal.
You should know exercise foresight and responsiveness.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
It's not for a bone that I'm going to say to a dog,"hello father-in-law".
I'm not going to consent to humiliate myself for any benefit.



                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
Not all pants contain a man.
Two interpretations here:
  • It's not enough to wear pants to claim to be a man; you have to prove it in your actions.
  • Clothes don't make the man.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
There are two kwis in a calabash.
There are some things in life that you just have to accept.
The calabash is a fruit used as a cooking vessel. Cut in half, it is often used to make two containers in which to put the meal presented on the table.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
In life it is one and the other.
Unity makes strength.



                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
Under the earth, there is no fun.
We must take advantage of every day life offers us.



                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
 A house without children is a garden without flowers.
The children are the delight of parents.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
A lick is a niche of wood hen (animal like termite)
A word can have terrible consequences.

                  

      

    

                                    
    

      

        
      

      

        

                      
A mother is a lidded bowl.
Any mother knows how to hide the defects of his children.