Good Morning Haiti

Bèl dan pa di zanmi

Fine teeth do not say friend

Today's lesson

A smile is not friendship. Warns against reading warmth as loyalty.

Share today’s wisdom

All proverbs →

Popular proverbs

Proverb of the day - All proverbs - Themes - People

Men anpil, chay pa lou

Many hands, the load is not heavy

— Haitian proverb —

solidarity, work

one source

Piti piti zwazo fè nich li

Little by little the bird makes its nest

— Haitian proverb —

patience, perseverance

one source

Dèyè mòn gen mòn

Behind mountains there are mountains

— Haitian proverb —

hardship, endurance

one source

Sak vid pa kanpe

An empty sack does not stand up

— Haitian proverb —

hunger, substance

one source

Bay kou bliye, pòte mak sonje

The one who strikes forgets, the one who carries the mark remembers

— Haitian proverb —

memory, injustice

one source

Se rat kay k ap manje kay

It is the household rat that eats the house

— Haitian proverb —

betrayal, trust

one source

Twou manti pa fon

The hole of a lie is not deep

— Haitian proverb —

truth, deceit

one source

Chak koukouy klere pou je l

Each firefly shines for its own eyes

— Haitian proverb —

self-interest

unverified

Apre dans, tanbou lou

After the dance, the drum is heavy

— Haitian proverb —

consequence

one source

Bourik travay, chwal galonnen

The donkey works, the horse shows off its trim

— Haitian proverb —

labour, injustice, class

unverified

Lè chat pa la, rat bay kalinda

When the cat is not there, the rats throw a kalinda

— Haitian proverb —

authority, mischief

unverified

Ravèt pa janm gen rezon devan poul

The cockroach is never in the right in front of the chicken

— Haitian proverb —

power, justice

one source

Kreyon Bondye pa gen gòm

God's pencil has no eraser

— Haitian proverb —

fate, faith

unverified

Pale franse pa vle di lespri

Speaking French does not mean intelligence

— Haitian proverb —

class, language, pretension

unverified