Wise Jamaican
Jamaican Proverbs - “To Di Worl”
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“A nuh ebry fish a sea a shark”
Filed under Animals, PersonalityMay 20A nuh ebry fish a sea a shark
Translation: It is not every fish in the sea is a shark
Meaning: Don’t make assumptions about people based on where they live
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“Yu neber see pop-gun kill alligata”
Filed under Animals, Jamaican LifeMay 13Yu neber see pop-gun kill alligata
Translation: You never see a pop-gun kill an alligator
Meaning: Don’t expect a child to perform a man’s service if you send him on an errand beyond his ability
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May 4
Quattie bread fill monkey belly
Translation: A quattie’s worth of bread will fill a monkey’s stomach
Meaning: The poor are easily satisfied
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“Fowl nyam done, wipe mout’ a grung”
Filed under Animals, RelationshipsApr 29Fowl nyam done, wipe mout’ a grung
Translation: When a fowl is through eating, it wipes its mouth on the ground
Meaning: Some people show ingratitude for hospitality
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Apr 22
Ants falla fat
Translation: Ants follow fat
Meaning: Prosperity comes with hard work
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Apr 15
Dem short fe singer when dem put peacock in a choir
Translation: They are short of singers when they put a peacock in the choir
Meaning: When there is a lack of resources, sometimes you are forced make do with an inappropriate option
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Apr 8
Peel neck chicken cry fi life, im no cry fi fedda
Translation: Peel neck chicken cries for life, he doesn’t cry for feathers
Meaning: Being beautiful is not everything- life is more important
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Apr 1
Dwaag sey him won’t work him wi sit down an look fa him mus get a libin
Translation: The dog says he won’t work; he will sit down and look, for he must get a living
Meaning: Some people prefer to wait on others to give them handouts instead on working for their own money
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Mar 25
Don’t mek goat watchman fe breadfruit tree
Translation: Don’t make a goat the watchman for a breadfruit tree
Meaning: Don’t put an unsuitable person in an important position
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“A nuh one day monkey waan wife”
Filed under Animals, RelationshipsMar 18A nuh one day monkey waan wife
Translation: It is not for only one day that the monkey wants a wife
Meaning: Never forget the people that help you today, as you may need their help in the future
