35 Best Haitian Creole Quotes And Sayings

Many Haitian Creole phrases are good and useful to be used in the language. Here is a look at some of the best Haitian Creole quotes and sayings to use in country and enrich your time there.

Bel anteman pa di paradi. – A beautiful funeral doesn’t guarantee heaven.

Bel dan pa di zanmi. – Just becasue someone is smiling at you doesn’t mean they’re your friend.

Bondye Bon. – God is good.

Bondye fe san di. – God acts and doesn’t talk.

Bourik swe pou chwal dekore ak dentel –

Dye mon, gen mon. – Beyond the mountains, more mountains.

Fanm pou you tan, manman pou tout tan. – Wife for a time, mother for all time.

Konstitisyon se papie, bayonet se fe. – The constitution is paper, bayonets are steel.

Kreyol pale, kreyol komprann. – Speak plainly, don’t try to deceive.

Makak pa janm kwe petit-li led. – A monkey never thinks her baby’s ugly.

Manman pa janm mode pitit li jouk nan zo. – A mother never bites her child to the bone.

Mapou mouri, kabrit manje fey li. – When the mapou (oak-like tree) dies, goats would eat its leaves.

Milat pov se neg, eg rich se milat. – A poor mulatto is black, a wealthy black is mulatto.

Moun pa se dra. – A protector is like a cloak.

Nan tan grangou patat pa gen po. – In times of famine, sweet potatoes have no skin.

Neg di san fe. – People talk and don’t act.

Ou konn kouri, ou pa konn kache. – You know how to run, but you don’t know how to hide.

Pal franse pa di lespri pou sa. – Speaking French doesn’t mean you are smart.

Pise gaye pa kimen. – Spread piss doesn’t foam.

Piti, piti, wazo fe nich li. – Little by little the bird builds its nest.

Rache manyok bay te a blanch. – Uproot the manioc, and clear the land.

Ravet pa janm gen rezon devan poul. – Roaches are never right when facing chickens.

Sa ki pa touye ou, li angrese ou. – That which doesn’t kill you makes you fat.

Sak vid pa kanp. – An empty sack can’t stand up.

Santi bon koute che. – Smelling good is expensive.

Se bon kè krapo ki fè l san tèt. – It is because the toad is too kindhearted that he has no intelligence.

Se nan chimen jennen yo kenbe chwal malen. – If you want to catch a wild horse, find a tight corral.

Sel pa vante tèt li di li sale. – Salt doesn’t boast that it is salted.

Si travay te bon bagay, moun rich la pran-l lontan. – If work were a good thing the rich would have grabbed it a long time ago.

Sonje lapli ki leve mayi ou. – Remember the rain that made your corn grow.

Tanbou prete pa janm fè bon dans. – A borrowed drum never makes good dancing.

Ti chen gen fos devan kay met li. – A little dog is really brave in front of his master’s house.

Ti moun fwonte grandi devan baron. – An impudent child grows up under Baron’s eyes.

Here is a look at the top 20 words for your next trip to Haiti. This will help you experience a more meaningful and fulfilling trip to this beautiful country.