Growing up in a Jamaican household means that there’s no shortage of proverbs and sayings to learn. Most of these were used as a way to warn children of the consequences of their actions and some are just token sayings every Jamaican child will know.
My father is the king of these Jamaican proverbs. He had one for every occasion:
1. Dance ah yaad before yuh dance abroad.
Take care of business at home before you head out into the world.
2. Come nuh!
Come on or stop.
3. Beg you likkle…?
Can I have some? Typically used right before you’re about to have to share something.
4. Wah sweet nanny goat will run him belly.
Not everything good is good for you.
5. Pass di ting deh…
Pass the…followed by whichever item is in plain sight and could easily be retrieved by the asking party.
6. Run down ah shop fi me.
Can you go to the store for me? Notice that in patois, it isn’t so much of a question.
7. Puss and dog nuh have di same luck.
What might work for one, might not work for another.
8. Learn fi creep before you walk.
Learn to crawl before you walk. (My father’s favorite.)
9. Who cyaa hear mus feel.
Who can’t hear, must feel.
10. Let sleeping dogs lie.
Don’t stir up trouble.
11. Small up yuhself.
Move over or make space.
12. Di tongue dat does buy yuh does sell yuh.
The person who flatters you, may also deceive you.
13. Di devil does find work fi idle hands.
Idle hands will find trouble.
14. How yuh room look so chaka chaka?
Why is your room messy?
15. Haad ears pickney nyam rockstone.
Children who don’t listen will learn the hard way.
16. Cool nuh man.
Relax.
17. Yuh tahment?
Are you tormented? Heard most prominently if you’re all over the place and can’t sit still.
18. Low it.
Leave it alone.
19. Yuh too red eye.
You just want what someone else has.
20. Mi an you ah nuh fren.
You and I are not friends. Caribbean parents love to remind their children of this.
21. Mi nuh wan see no crocodile tears.
No crying.
22. Mi will show yuh which God yuh ah serve.
I will show you who is boss! If you hear this one, run.
23. Ah craven yuh craven!
You just want everything! Typically used in situations pertaining to food.
24. Nuh badda wid it.
Don’t start with this.
25. Di fus wata hog pass, him wash himself.
Make use of the opportunities that come first.
All in all, #GrowingUpJamaican has taught me:
What do you remember most from #GrowingUpJamaican? Let us know in the comments below!
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