Jamaican Proverbs
and Sayings
There are many timeless Jamaican proverbs and Jamaican sayings that have been handed down through generations.
Here are some of the more
popular proverbs, along with a few priceless, more obscure sayings. After each, I have attempted to give an equivalent English
proverb, or an explanation.
Please forgive me if the translations sound clumsy - some things just can't be expressed
in English!
Jamaican Proverbs
- When trouble ketch yu pickney shut fit yu
Any port in a storm
- What a fi yu, cyaan be un fi yu
What is yours will always be yours
- Di higher monkey climb, di more him expose himself
The higher your status, the more your vulnerabilities are exposed
- When puss belly full im seh rat batty bitter
People forget where they come from
- If fish deh a river bottom an tell yu seh alligator have gum boil, believe him!
Listen to the voice of experience
- Cockroach nuh business inna fowl fight
Don't meddle in things that don't concern you
- Young bud nuh know storm
Experience teaches wisdom
- One one coco full basket
Every little bit adds up
- Wha sweet nanny goat a go run him belly
You can have too much of a good thing
- Play wid puppy, puppy lick yu mout
Familiarity breeds contempt
- Who born fi heng cyaan drown
You can't control destiny
- Man nuh dead nuh call dem duppy
Never underestimate people
- Every dawg have him day an every puss him 4 o'clock
Every dog has his day
- Dawg a sweat an long hair hide it
All that glitters is not gold
- Rock stone a river bottom cyaan know sun hot
He who feels it knows it
- Every hoe ha dem tick a bush
There's that perfect someone for everyone
- Puss and dawg nuh have di same luck
Some people are luckier than others
- Chicken merry, hawk deh near
Danger is often looming when you're having fun
- Duppy know who fi frighten
People know who they can intimidate
- Ole fire stick easy fi ketch
It's easy to rekindle an old romance
For everday Jamaican words and their meanings, click here.
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