5 Jamaican Proverbs to Live By

This post was originally published on September 14, 2014. It was last edited and updated February 2021.

 

” Proverbs are short sentences drawn from long experience.”
Cervantes, Don Quixote, 1605

How well do you know Jamaican proverbs? Guess the missing words in this short quiz to test your knowledge.

1. “One one coco _____basket.”
2. “No wait til drum beat before you _____ you axe.”
3. “If  you get your han’ in a _____ mout’ tek it out.”
4. “Ebry dyay debble help _______; wan dyah Gad wi help watchman.”
5. Yu caan ______________ pahn cow back cuss cow kin.”

Well, how well did you do? 

Keep reading. I’ll share the answers with you in a little while.

So, you may be wondering, what’s that language? 

You’re looking at Jamaican proverbs. They are written in non-standard Jamaican English known as Jamaican patois (pronounced pat-wah).

What is a proverb?

One of the oldest definitions of a proverb, dating back to 1605 is offered by Miguel Cervantes. He identified a proverb as “a short sentence based on long experience.” The more modern Grammar About.com labels a proverb as “a short, pithy statement of a general truth, one that condenses common experience into memorable form.

And for Jamaican historian and newspaper columnist, Dr. Rebecca Tortello, proverbs are  “short excerpts from stories about life’s lessons.” 

Proverbs are part of the oral tradition of a country. Heavily influenced by African and European ancestors, Jamaican proverbs originated from the language of the slaves who lived on Jamaican plantations. These symbolic witticisms are often used to poke fun, says historian, Dr Rebecca Tortella. 

“Replete as they are with cultural symbolism, proverbs convey important ideas about human nature, health and social relations that often transcend their culture of origin, even though occasionally to fully understand their meaning some grounding in that culture is helpful.. Although they can poke fun many express a desire for tolerance and respect. Many also express similar ideas, reflecting the idea that there is often more than one way to say any one thing.”

     – Dr Rebecca Tortella, The Jamaica Gleaner

All definitions agree on one thing: These nuggets of wisdom teach us life lessons. If you are not a Jamaican native, by the end of this post, you will learn some Jamaican proverbs. And if you’re a good sport, you could also add some native patois into your vernacular.

So, let’s not waste any more time. Let’s review the five Jamaican proverbs I quizzed you on earlier. 

5 Jamaican Proverbs . . . Translated

The complete proverb along with English translation and explanations are provided. Where my translations fall short, the images (intended to entertain) should illustrate the full meanings of these cultural sayings.

Jamaican Proverb #1: “One one coco full basket.”

English Translation: Just keep adding one coco, then another, and another to fill a basket.

Explanation: Do not expect to achieve success overnight. It takes time.

A basket of coco. Coco is a starchy tuber used by many Jamaicans in soups.

 

Jamaican Proverb #2: “Nuh wait til drum beat before you grine you axe.”

English Translation: Do not wait until the drum beats before you grind your axe.

Explanation: Be prepared for all eventualities.

 

Jamaican Proverb #3: “If you get your han’ in a debil mout’ tek it out”

English Translation: If your hand get’s caught in the devil’s mouth, take it out carefully.

Explanation: Act cautiously in getting out of difficulty.

Jamaican Proverb #4: “Ebry dyay debble help teef; wan dyah Gad wi help watchman.”

English Translation: Every day the devil helps the thief; one day God will help the watchman.

Explanation:  We should not despair when it appears to us that unscrupulous persons repeatedly take advantage of us. The Man Upstairs gives us a long rope to repent, and sees the actions of those who love evil.  He will one day reward the efforts of the good and the bad.

              Look Up! for your punishment draweth nigh!

 

Jamaican Proverb #5: “Yu cyaan siddung pahn cow bak cuss cow kin.”

English Translation: You cannot sit on the back of the cow and curse the skin of the cow.

Explanation: We should not disparage or mock those who help us.

 

Conclusion

As illustrated, proverbs have universal messages that transcend geography and ethnicity. These graphic messages can be expressed in more ways than one.

So, what five pieces of wisdom did our Proverbs teach us today? I’ll sum them up for you:

1. Be patient and work hard. Little efforts will lead to big rewards one day.
2. Life is full of surprises. Prepare for eventualities. In short, have a Plan B or escape plan.
3. When caught in a dangerous situation, apply caution and wisdom. If that doesn’t work, RUN!
4. Payback/retribution can come at any time from the other direction.
5. Be grateful. Never burn your bridges behind you or bite the hand that feeds you.

Want to see more Jamaican Proverbs and their meanings? Visit the National Library of Jamaica website here.

Which of these Proverbs have similar messages/life lessons in your culture? Share in the Comments box below.