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👨‍👩‍👧 Haitian proverbs about family

The family proverbs carry more weight than affection. Children are called the wealth of the poor. A mother dog never bites her pup to the bone. Neighbours are family. These are sayings from a country where the household, not the state, is what actually holds.

Zanmi pre pi bon pase fanmi lwen

A near friend is better than distant family

— Haitian proverb —

friendship, family

Pitit tig se tig

A tiger's child is a tiger

— Haitian proverb —

heredity, family

Pitit se richès malere

Children are the poor person's wealth

— Haitian proverb —

family, poverty

Tanbou bat nan raje, men se lakay li vin danse

The drum beats in the bush, but it comes home to dance

— Haitian proverb —

consequence, home

Manman chen pa janm mòde pitit li jous nan zo

A mother dog never bites her pup to the bone

— Haitian proverb —

family, mercy

Dwèt ou santi, ou pa ka koupe l jete

Your finger stinks, you cannot cut it off and throw it away

— Haitian proverb —

family, loyalty

Rad sal lave nan fanmi

Dirty clothes are washed within the family

— Haitian proverb —

family, discretion

Sa foumi genyen, se sa l bay pitit li

What the ant has is what it gives its young

— Haitian proverb —

family, poverty, generosity

Byen prè pa lakay

Very near is not home

— Haitian proverb —

home, effort

Tete pa janm twò lou pou mèt li

The breast is never too heavy for the one who carries it

— Haitian proverb —

burden, family

Bourik fè pitit pou do l ka poze

The donkey bears young so that its own back can rest

— Haitian proverb —

family, labour