Jamaican Proverbs

Here are a few Jamaican proverbs along with their explanation that we hope you'll enjoy! 

 

"Every fish eena sea a nuh shark" - Don't paint everyone with the same brush.

 

"Alligator lay eggs, buy it a nuh fowl" - Things are not always what they seem to be.

 

"When wata trow weh it cyaan pick up back" - You cannot turn back the hands of time.

 

"Pretty roses got macca jook" -  There are two sides to a coin.

 

"Sorry fi mawga dawg, den mawga dawg tun roun and bite yuh" - Be careful of those you try to help.

 

"When rat like ramp roun puss jaw, one day him gwine en up eena puss claw" - You will get burned when you play with fire.

 

"One, one apple full basket" - Slow and steady does the job.

 

"When dawg flea bite yuh, you haafi scratch" - It is normal to respond to a stimulus.

 

"When jackass smell corn 'im gallup" - People respond to the right type of encouragement.

 

"Chicken merry, hawk deh near" - While you are having a good time you should be cautious/responsible.

 

Last but not least, one of our favorite proverb:

"Doah you cyaan stop flyin crow feda fram drap, yuh cyah hinder crow from mek nest pon yuh head top!" - Control you own destiny!