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Jamaican Proverbs that will have you laughing ridiculously

. “Fear is only temporary. Regrets last forever”

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Jamaican Proverbs represents African and European dominance. Also, they are deep phrases mainly created on facts or on everyday doings of people throughout history. Parents and Grandparents taught lessons about life through proverbs. Here you will find a list of Jamaican proverbs along with their translations and meanings. Have a blast!


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1. No mek one donkey choke yuh.

Translation: Don’t let one donkey choke you.

Meaning: Don’t’ be tricked by an idiot. 

2. When chobble tek yuh pickney shut fit yuh!


Translation: When in trouble a child’s shirt will fit you.

Meaning: whatever helps you get in a challenging position, valve it and adapt to the conditions.

3. Sorry fi mawga dawg, mawga dawg tun roun bite yuh!

Translation: Feeling sorry for a hungry dog, he will turn around and bite you.

Meaning: The said individual that you help, are the same ones that are very ungrateful.

4. Play wid puppy dawg, puppy dawg lick yuh face. Play wid big dawg, big dawg bite yuh!

Translation: Play with a small dog, and he will lick your face. Play with a big dog, and he will bite you.

Meaning: The better we know people, the more likely we are to find fault with them.

5. Yuh a swap black dawg fi monkey?

Translation: Are you swapping a black dog for a monkey?

Meaning: To surrender one bad position for another?

6. Puss and dawg nuh have di same luck!


Translation:  Cats and dogs do not have the same luck.

Meaning:  Favoritism will exploit the outcome of some situations.

7. Ben di tree while it young, wen it ole it haad fi bruk!

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

Meaning: It is easier to train a child when they are young than when they are older

8. Nuh romp wid mawga cow, a cudda bull mumma!

Translation: Don’t play with a skinny cow it could be the bull’s mother.

Meaning: Belittling persons because they may seem helpless is the worse thing you can do because you don’t know the type of high-profile and influential persons they have by their side.

9. Sake a mout fish get ketch.

Translation: Because of its mouth the fish got caught.

Meaning: When you talk a lot, you are more likely to be in problems.

10. Every hoe ah dem tick ah bush!

Translation: Every hoe has their thicket of bushes.

Meaning: There is someone for everyone.

11. Wah sweet nanny goat ah guh run him belly!

Translation: What tastes good to a goat will upset his belly later.

Meaning: situations that appear to be great at present can damage you later.

12.Duppy know who fi frighten!

Translation: A ghost knows whom to frighten.

Meaning: Basically bullies know to pick on those who are least able to defend themselves

13. One, one coco full basket!

Translation: One by one cocoa can full a basket.

Meaning: You have to work hard to achieve what you want in life. Accomplishment don’t come immediately. It takes time.

14. Mi throw mi corn but me neva call nuh fowl!

Translation: I threw my corn but I did not call any fowl.

Meaning: Stating a standard speech without condemning a specific individual. The accountable individual will present themselves.

15. Learn fi creep before yuh walk!

Translation: Learn to crawl before you walk.

Meaning: This suggests that you learn the basics before you try to do things that are more complexed. Take things one step at a time

16. Time longa dan rope !

Translation: Time is longer than a rope.

Meaning: Persons must work hard and have hope and faith, knowing they will reach their set goals.

17. Trouble nuh set like rain

Translation: Trouble doesn’t give signs like the rain

Meaning: Person are not informed when trouble is close by which is different from the weather where you would get a warning.

18. Wahti wahti cyah get it, getti getti nuh wah it!

Translation: Those who really want something cannot get it, those who get things on a regular basis don’t want it.

Meaning: Appreciate what you have and don’t a complaint or be ungrateful.

19. Mi old but mi no cold!

Translation: I am old but I am not cold.

Meaning: Don’t belittle the worth of the elderly.

20. See an blind, Hear an def

Translation: See and blind, hear and deaf .

Meaning: Its identical to the phase "see no evil, hear no evil". Do not interfere in someones’ life. You should concentrate on your own personal affairs.

21. Mi nuh come yah fi hear ass dead an cow fat!

Translation: I didn’t come here to hear that a horse is dead and a cow is fat.

Meaning: State exactly what you want to say and don’t waste time you cannot get back.

22. Every mikkle mek a mukkle!

Translation: Every little makes something.

Meaning. All the money you saved is all money you earned.

23. Si mi an cum live wid mi a two different tings!

Translation: To see me and come live with me are two different things.

Meaning: This is similar to the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover”. Appearance can be misleading. So, you must be careful of the decisions you make.

24. Ole fire stick easy fi ketch!

Translation: Old fire stick is easily ignited.
Meaning: To restart an old relationship is very easy.

25. Kacroach nuh biznizz eena fowl fight!


Translation: A cockroach has no business in fowl fights.
Meaning Don't get involved in a situation that has nothing to do with you.

26. Ef fish deh a river bottom an tell yu seh alligator have gum boil, believe him!

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

Meaning: You must adhere to the words of wisdom.

Do do know any Jamaican provides? Are they already apart of my list? Share below!

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