Analysis of Proverbs in Jamaican Creole (JMC)

JMC Proverb:
“Ben di trih wen it yong, kaaz wen it uol it a goh brok.”

English Translation:
“Bend a tree while it is young, because when it is old, it will certainly break.”

Meaning:
“Bring up a child in the way he should be, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

JMC Proverb:
“Ef fish deh a riba batam an tel yuh seh aligetah a gom bwail, biliivi im.”

English Translation:
“If a fish that is at the bottom of the river, tells you that an alligator has a gum boil, believe him.”

Meaning:
“Always pay attention to the voice of experience.”

JMC Proverb:
“Noh expek notn fram a pig bot a gront.”

English Translation:
“Don’t look for refinement from an uncouth person, but only crudeness.”
(“If you know someone is uncouth, don’t act surprised.”)

JMC Proverb:
“Noh romp wid mahga koh, a kudah bul muhmah.”

English Translation:
“Don’t idle with a skinny cow, it might be the bull’s mother.”

Meaning:
“Don’t underestimate those who may appear weak and insignificant to you, because you may not know what powerful allies they may have in their corner.”

JMC Proverb:
“Plei wid popi daag, popi daag lik yuh fies. Plei wid big daag, big daag a goh bait yuh."

English Translation:
"If you keep company with those who admire you, they may flatter you. If you keep company with those who despise you, they may put you in harms way."

Meaning:
"While birds of a feather may flock together, familiarity in other cases may also breed contempt."

JMC Proverb:
"Sahri fi mahga daag, mahga daag tong rong bait yuh."

English Translation:
"Don't feel sorry for the skinny dog, who might ungratefully bite you."

Meaning:
"Sometimes it's the very people you've shown kindness to, who stab you in the back."

JMC Proverb:
"Seik a mout fish a get kech."

English Translation:
"Because of its mouth the fish got caught."

Meaning:
"Being too talkative will often get one in trouble."

JMC Proverb:
"Yuh a swap blak daag fi monki."

English Translation:
"You are going from the frying pan into the fire"
("You are leaving one situation that is bad to enter into another that is worse.")