Haitian proverbs

      Proverbs from all Haitian speaking parts of the world.

      B

      • "Bay piti pa chich."
        • Translation: To give little is not [being] cheap.
        • Smith (2001). When the Hands Are Many: Community Organization and Social Change in Rural Haiti. Cornell University Press. p. 74. 
      • "Byen prè pa lakay."
        • Translation: Very close is not home yet.
        • English equivalent: A miss by an inch is a miss by a mile.
        • Toussaint (2005). Haiti, a Different Image. AuthorHouse. p. 23. 

      D

      • "Dèyè mon gen mon."
        • Translation: Behind the mountain, there are mountains.
        • Meaning: There is more to a person than you see.
        • English equivalent: More than meets the eye. (idiom)
        • García, Fishman (2002). The Multilingual Apple: Languages in New York City. Mouton De Gruyter. 

      L

      • "Lafimen pa janm leve san dife."
        • Translation: Smoke never rises without fire.
        • Meaning: Everything happens for a reason.
        • Other meaning: A rumour contains some truth.
        • Silva, Spear (2004). A quoi rêve Haïti?. Éditions L'Harmattan. p. 140. 

      M

      • "Men anpil, chay pa lou."
        • Translation: Many hands [make] the load lighter.
        • English equivalent: Many hands make light work.
        • Averill (1997). A Day for the Hunter, a Day for the Prey: Popular Music and Power in Haiti. University of Chicago Press. 
      • "Men anpil, chay pa lou."
        • Translation: Many hands make a load lighter.
        • English equivalent: Many hands make light work.
        • Smith (2001). When the Hands Are Many: Community Organization and Social Change in Rural Haiti. Cornell University Press. p. 170. 
      • "Merite pa mande."
        • Translation: Deserve, do not ask.
        • English equivalent: First deserve, then desire.
        • Heurtelou, Vilsaint (2004). Guide to Learning Haitian Creole. Educa Vision. p. 189. 

      P

      • "Piti piti zwazo fè nich."
        • Translation: Little by little the bird makes his nest.
        • Meaning: Many incremental changes will eventually make a significant difference.
        • English equivalent: Many a mickle makes a muckle.
        • Das (1994). Sociology In Latin America. MD Publications. p. 81. 

      Z

      • "Zafè kabrit pa zafè mouton."
        • Translation: The goat's business is not the sheep's business.
        • Maximin (2008). Dynamiques interculturelles dans l'aire caribéenne. Karthala. p. 213. 
        • Meaning: Focus on how you do your own work instead of interfering with other's work.
      Last modified on 12 June 2013, at 06:01