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65+ Jamaican Patois Quotes, Proverbs & Sayings + Meanings

Jamaican people use a lot of sayings and expressions in daily life which offer advice and even sometimes have hidden meanings.

These Jamaican proverbs and quotes below to give insight into Jamaican beliefs and ways of thinking. 

Here’s a bunch of famous Jamaican quotes, inspiring Jamaican sayings and common Jamaican proverbs with meanings. 

Famous Jamaican Proverbs & Jamaican Sayings

Below I’ve listed the most famous Jamaican proverbs and their meaning as well as some common Jamaican sayings.

These are used often in day to day life.

  1. Finger neber say ‘look here’, him say ‘look yonder’ – The finger never says ‘look here’, it says ‘look yonder’.

This Jamaican proverb means that people do not usually point out their own faults.

  1. Peacock hide him foot when him hear ’bout him tail – The peacock hides his foot when he hears about his tail. 

This Jamaican proverb teaches us that a proud person doesn’t like their weaknesses being exposed and will try to hide them.

  1. Cack mowt kill cack – The rooster was killed by his own mouth.

This Jamaican proverb teaches us not to boast or speak out of turn as it could lead to our own downfall.

Famous Jamaican proverb which reads 'the rooster was killed by his own mouth'.
  1. Rocka ‘tone a ribba bottom no feel sun hot – A stone at the bottom of the river nevers feels the heat of the sun.

This proverb means that those in easy circumstances do not understand the hardship of others. 

  1. ​​Pit inna de sky, it fall inna yuh y’eye – If you spit into the sky, it falls back into your eye.

This proverb teaches us that when we do things to hurt others, we only end up hurting ourselves.

  1. Poun’ ah fret cyaan pay ownse ah dett – One pound of fret cannot pay an ounce of debt.

This Jamaican proverb teaches us that problems are not solved by worrying. The time spent worrying isn’t helping to solve the problem.

  1. Good frien’ betta dan packet money – A good friend is better than money in the pocket.

This Jamaican proverb about friends means that true friends are more important than money or any other material possession. 

  1. If yu noh mash ants, yu noh fine him guts – If you do not smash an ant, you won’t find its guts.

This proverb means that you have to get close to someone and see them when they are angry to see their true colors. 

  1. If you get your han’ in a debil mout’ tek it out – If you put your hand in the devil’s mouth, take it out carefully.

This proverb in Jamaican patois teaches us to act cautiously when we get into difficult situations. 

  1. You ‘fraid fe yeye, you neber nyam head – If you are afraid of the eye, you will never eat the head.

This Jamaican saying means that you shouldn’t care too much about the opinions of others because it will hold you back.

  1. Cowad man kip soun’ bone – A cowardly man keeps sound bones.

This Jamaican proverb means that it is better to be thought of as a coward than to put yourself into danger and get hurt.

  1. Wa de goat du, de kid falla – What the goat does, the kid follows.

This Jamaican proverb highlights how children often copy the behavior of their parents. We should set good examples for our children. 

Jamaican proverb which reads 'what the goat does, the kid follows'.
  1. Chicken merry, hawk deh near – The chicken makes merry whilst the hawk is near.

This Jamaican proverb teaches us that danger is everywhere and we should always be prepared for it.

  1. Fishaman neva seh him fish tink – A fisherman never says that the fish stinks.

This Jamaican proverb about money teaches us that a salesperson will never point out the faults of their merchandise. 

  1. Wha sweet a mout’ hat a belly – What tastes sweet in the mouth burns the belly. 

This proverb means that things that appear good are not always good for us and could cause us pain or trouble later on. 

  1. Ebry day da fishing day, but ebry day no fe catch fish – Every day is a fishing day but you won’t catch fish every day.

This Jamaican proverb about life means that you won’t always be rewarded for your actions and you need to be consistent.

  1. Payshent man ride danki – A patient man rides a donkey.

This Jamaican proverb about patience teaches us the value of patience. We must be patient to reach our goals.

  1. Wan han wash de oda – One hand washes the other.

This proverb is similar to the English version ‘one good turn deserves another’. It means that if you do something good for someone, they will likely return the favor. 

  1. ​​De more yu luk, de less yu si – The more you look, the less you see.

This Jamaican proverb means that it is impossible to know every single detail about something. The more you find out, the less you know.

  1. No matta how kokkuch junk, im noh waak pass fowl yaad – No matter how drunk the cockroach becomes, he will never walk past the fowl’s yard.

This proverb teaches us to not put ourselves in situations where we will likely get hurt.

  1. ​​Yu nebba see sumoke widout fiyah – You never see smoke without fire.

This Jamaican proverb about life means that there is usually some truth to all rumors.

Jamaican proverb which reads 'you never see smoke without fire.'
  1. Tek whey yuh get tell yu get whey yu want – Take what you can get until you can get what you want. 

This proverb teaches us to take every opportunity and use it as a stepping stone to get your ultimate goal. 

  1. ​​Ef yu cyaan get turkey, yu haffi satisfy wid Jancro – If you can’t get turkey, you have to be satisfied with John Crow.

This proverb in Jamaican patois means that we should be prepared to accept a situation that may not be to our liking if we cannot get what we truly want. 

  1. Bifoe gud food pwile, meck belly bus – Before letting good food spoil, make the belly burst.

This old Jamaican saying means that you should make the most of every opportunity and not let anything go to waste.

  1. ​​Tu much ratta nebba dig gud hole – Too many rats never dug a good hole.

This proverb is similar to the English version ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’. It means that a task cannot be completed effectively if too many people are trying to help.

  1. ​​Cry-cry picney neber hab him right – A crybaby never gets his rights.

This proverb means that those who are always complaining, never get what they want and are never listened to.

  1. ​​Stranger no know where da deep water in de pass – A stranger doesn’t know where the deep water is in the road.

This proverb is used as a caution against doing something you know little about.

  1. Bruk calabash, bring new one – Broke the calabash, bring a new one.

This Jamaican proverb teaches us to always replace something if we break it. 

Jamaican Quotes & More Jamaican Proverbs 

Below I’ve listed a range of famous and inspirational Jamaican quotes in Jamaican patois as well as more interesting Jamaican proverbs.

  1. Big blanket mek man sleep late – A big blanket makes a man sleep late.

This Jamaican quote means that if a person has too many luxuries in life, they become complacent and take life for granted.

Famous Jamaican sayings which reads 'a big blanket makes a man sleep late'.
  1. Ebry dyay debble help teef; wan dyah Gad wi help watchman – Every day the devil helps the thief, one day God will help the watchman.

This Jamaican patois quote means that we shouldn’t be upset when bad people get away with things as one day we will be rewarded for being good.

  1. No wait till drum beat before you grine you axe – Do not wait until the drum beats before you grind your ax.

This Jamaican patois quote means that you should be prepared for everything. 

  1. A no want a fat mek nightingale foot ‘tan’ sol – It is not for the want of fat that the nightingale’s legs stand so.

This quote in Jamaican patois means that you shouldn’t judge people by their appearance.

  1. Dawg no hol ef im ha bone – The dog does not howl if he has a bone.

This Jamaican quote means that people don’t become upset or angry if they have what they need.

  1. Waant aal, lose aal – If you want it all, you lose it all.

This proverb means that if you want everything then you will eventually lose everything. 

  1. Yu cyaan sidung pahn cow bak cuss cow kin – You cannot sit on the back of the cow and curse the cow’s skin.

This Jamaican quote is similar to the English saying ‘don’t bite the hand that feeds you’. It teaches us to be grateful to those who have helped us.

  1. Yu shake man han, but yu noh shake im hawt – You can shake a man’s hand but you cannot shake his heart.

This saying means that it is hard to tell if someone is a good person by just shaking their hand. You need to get to know them properly. 

  1. Fiyah deh a muss-muss tail, in tink a cool breeze – There is a fire at the mouse’s tail but he thinks it’s a cool breeze.

This famous quote in Jamaican patois means that we can be naive, often ignoring signs of danger until it is too late. Interpret signs of danger and act sooner.

Jamaican saying which reads 'there is a fire at the mouse’s tail but he thinks it’s a cool breeze'.
  1. ​​Yuh pred yuh bed haad, yu haffi liddung pan i’haad – If you spread your bed hard, you must lie on a hard bed.

This Jamaican patois quote means that you must accept responsibility for your actions.

  1. When chubble tek yu, pikney shut fit yu – When you find yourself in trouble, a child’s shirt will fit you.

This Jamaican quote means that when in trouble, we should accept any help that we are offered even if it’s not the best option.

  1. Yu cyaan ketch Quaku, yu ketch im shut – If you cannot catch Quaku, catch his shirt.

This quote in Jamaican patois means that it isn’t always possible to get everything you want. 

We should be satisfied with what we can get i.e. if we can’t get Quaku, we should be satisfied with getting his shirt.

  1. ​​Wanti wanti cyaan getti, an’ getti getti noh wanti – He who wants it, can’t get it and he who gets it, doesn’t want it.

This quote means that we should appreciate everything we have and recognise that many things we have are luxuries and we shouldn’t take them for granted.

  1. New broom sweep clean, but owl broom noe dem cahna – The new broom sweeps clean but the old broom knows the corners.

This Jamaican saying is all about finding a happy balance between the old and the new. We should try to combine the freshness of new things with the experience of the old.

  1. Mischiff kum by de poun’ an’ go by de ownse – Mischief comes by the pound and goes by the ounce.

This saying means that mischief can be created by just a few words or one action but this leads to more mischief.

  1. Wah drap offa head, drap pan shoulda – What drops off the head, drops onto the shoulder.

This saying means that from every act, someone will derive some benefit. 

Jamaican proverb which reads 'what drops off the head, drops onto the shoulder'.
  1. ​​Quatti buy chubble, hunjed poun’ cyaan pay farri –  A penny-halfpenny buys trouble, £100 cannot pay for it. 

This Jamaican quote means that one small mistake can lead to difficult situations that we may find it hard to rectify.

  1. ​​Lang run, shaat ketch – Long run, short catch.

This quote means that it doesn’t matter if you’ve been doing bad things for a long time, you will be caught eventually.

  1. No mug no bruk, no cawfee no dash weh – The mug isn’t broken so no coffee was wasted.

This proverb means that we should count our blessings and not blow simple matters out of proportion. 

  1. ​​Wen coco ripe, im mus buss – When the cocoa ripens, it bursts.

This proverb means that it is easy to tell someone’s intentions by their actions.

  1. Wen man belly full, im bruck pat – When a man’s belly is full, he breaks the pot.

This Jamaican proverb means that when someone is satisfied or has what they need, they often forget what hunger or need is. 

  1. ​​Self praise a no no rekumendayshan – Self praise is not a recommendation.

This Jamaican patois quote teaches us not to boast too much. 

  1. ​​A no ebryting kum fram abuv a blessen – Not everything that comes from above is a blessing.

This proverb means that we should enjoy blessings that come from above but should realize that people in superior positions often use their positions only for themselves. 

  1. ​​Hungry hungry and full full no trabel same pass – The hungry person and the full person don’t walk along the same road.

This Jamaican proverb about life means that poor people and rich people go different ways and rarely meet.

  1. Goat deh sweat but long hair cover it – The goat sweats but its long hair covers it.

This Jamaican patois quote means that a person may be suffering but they won’t always show it.

Jamaican proverb which reads 'the goat sweats but its long hair covers it'.
  1. No mek one donkey choke you – Don’t let one donkey choke you.

This saying teaches us to not be misled by a fool.

  1. So cow a grow so him nose hole a hoppen – The more a cow grows, the more its nostrils open.

This quote in Jamaican patois means that the more you grow, the better you become with knowledge and experience. 

Best Jamaican Idioms & Jamaican Expressions

Below I’ve listed the most well-known Jamaican patois idioms and expressions. Many of these have hidden meanings.

  1. Me come yah fe drink milk, me noh come yah fe count cow 

This Jamaican idiom literally means ‘I came here to drink milk, not to count cows’. This saying is actually used to say ‘mind your own business’.

  1. Ole fiyah tick easy fe ketch

This Jamaican idiom literally means ‘old fire sticks are easily re-kindled’. 

This saying is used to say that if a relationship has previously existed between 2 people, it’s easier to rekindle this relationship than start again with someone new.

  1. Nuh draw mi tongue

This Jamaican idiom literally means ‘don’t draw my tongue’ however it is actually used to say ‘don’t provoke me’ or ‘don’t argue with me’.

  1. Tek milk out a cawfe

This idiom literally means ‘take milk out of a calf’ however it is actually used to describe someone who is a skillful thief.

  1. Wha gawn bad a maanin, cyaan kum gud a evelin

This idiom literally means ‘what went wrong in the morning can’t become good in the evening’.

This Jamaican saying is used to tell someone to not worry too much about problems they cannot solve as it does nothing.

  1. Willful was’e bring woeful waant

This Jamaican saying literally means ‘willful waste brings woeful want’.

It means that you shouldn’t willfully waste what you have or you may regret it later.

Jamaican saying which reads 'willful waste brings woeful want'.
  1. ​​Noh buy puss inna bag

This idiom literally means ‘do not buy a cat in a bag’. It’s used to tell someone to examine whatever they want to buy carefully and not just assume it is genuine. 

  1. Hag nyam wha im myne gi im fah

This Jamaican idiom literally means ‘the pig eats whatever his mind gives him’. It is used to say ‘to each his own’.

  1. Anancy rope tie anancy

This Jamaican saying literally means ‘a spider’s web traps himself’. It is used when someone has tried to get others into trouble but ends up in trouble themselves.

  1. Alligator lay egg, but him no fowl

This idiom literally means ‘the alligator lays eggs but he is not a fowl’. It is used to say that you shouldn’t view someone from just one angle.

  1. Sleep hab no massa

This Jamaican saying literally means ‘sleep has no master’. It’s used to say that sooner or later, you must sleep.

Check out the videos below which feature a range of famous Jamaican patois quotes and well-known Jamaican sayings & proverbs.

Thanks for reading this post on the best Jamaican quotes about life, famous Jamaican sayings and fascinating Jamaican proverbs.

These Jamaican quotes & sayings give an interesting insight into the Jamaican beliefs and language.

Did you find your favorite Jamaican quote? Mine was number 42.

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