Traditional proverbs of Mauritius in fr and English — each with its meaning and source.
Dilo trankil ena so profonder.
“Even still water has its depth.”
Calm, quiet people should not be underestimated — a still surface can hide deep knowledge or feeling.
Source: Traditional Mauritius proverb, public-domain oral tradition
Tou lannwit ena so gramatin.
“Every night has its morning.”
No matter how dark or difficult a time feels, it will pass and better days will follow.
Dilo lor bred sonz.
“Water on taro leaves.”
Criticism or harsh words roll off without effect, like water sliding off a taro leaf — "in one ear and out the other."
Priye bondie, kaka diab.
“He prays to God but does the devil's business.”
Calls out hypocrisy — someone who acts pious in public while behaving badly in private.
Lalang kabri.
“A goat's tongue.”
A compliment for someone whose words carry real weight and tend to come true, as if spoken with an almost prophetic tongue.
Zordi mwa, dime twa.
“Today me, tomorrow you.”
What goes around comes around — fortune or misfortune eventually reaches everyone in turn.
Leker dimun kass ros.
“With the human heart, you can break stones.”
Human will and love have the power to overcome even the hardest obstacles.
Soley briye pou tou dimounn.
“The sun shines for everyone.”
Life's joys and opportunities belong equally to all people, regardless of background.
Zafferes mouton napas safferes cabris.
“The sheep's business is not the goat's business.”
Mind your own affairs — do not meddle in matters that do not concern you.
Malade vine lahaut lieve, li alle lahaut tourtie.
“Illness arrives on a hare, but leaves on a turtle.”
Sickness strikes suddenly and fast, but recovery is slow — patience is needed while healing.
In dizef poul napa gagn ti kanar.
“The hen's egg does not hatch a duckling.”
Children resemble their parents in character as well as appearance — similar to "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
Bef travay souval manze.
“The oxen work and the horses eat.”
A complaint about unfairness — some people do all the labor while others reap the reward.
Bate rande napa fer dimal.
“Returning what you receive does no harm.”
A call for fairness and reciprocity — treat others as you wish to be treated; giving back in kind is never wrong.
Dan vye karay ki fer meyer kari.
“It is in the old pot that the best curry is made.”
Experience and age bring wisdom and skill, much like the saying that fine wine improves with age.
Frekant lisien gayn piss.
“Keep company with dogs and you will catch fleas.”
The people you associate with shape your character and fate — choose your company wisely.
“Most impenetrable to the thoughts of others are those who have no personal language.”
People who lack a distinct voice or way of expressing themselves struggle most to understand the minds of others.
Source: Malcolm de Chazal, Sens-Plastique (Gallimard, 1947), trans. Irving Weiss, Green Integer (2008)
“Laughter is regional: a smile extends over the whole face.”
Laughter is localized and specific, while a smile is universal and spreads across the entire face — a meditation on the differing nature of joy and warmth.
“The idealist walks on tiptoe, the materialist on his heels.”
A vivid image contrasting the light, aspiring nature of idealism with the grounded, weighty nature of materialism.
Danplas ou donn enn dimounn enn poison toulezour pou li ranpli so vant, pli vomye ou montre li lapes.
“Rather than give someone a fish every day, it is better to teach them how to fish.”
A traditional saying of the Mauritian Hakka community: giving someone a lasting skill serves them far better than giving repeated handouts.
Source: National Inventory for Intangible Cultural Heritage, Republic of Mauritius (National Heritage Fund & Ministry of Arts and Culture), Domain 1: Oral Traditions and Expressions, Category I: Folk Sayings, Element 1: Proverbs (submitted to UNESCO)
Kan to boir delo, to bizin touzour pans so lasours.
“When you drink water, always remember its source.”
A Mauritian Hakka community proverb urging gratitude — never forget the people or origins that first sustained you.
Seki to fer pou to parents, to zenfan pou trait toi parey.
“However you treat your parents, your own children will treat you the same way.”
A Mauritian Hakka community proverb warning that the respect, or neglect, shown to one's elders becomes the example the next generation follows.
Bina royle Maa dudh nay piyawela.
“Until the child cries, the mother does not feed him.”
A Bhojpuri proverb of Mauritius's Indo-Mauritian community: a need must be voiced before it can be met — silence rarely brings help on its own.
Neki kar awri dariya mein daal.
“Do good, and cast the memory of it into the river.”
Perform good deeds without expecting credit or repayment — let them flow away unremembered by the giver.
Pran jay par vacchan na jay.
“The body may die, but a promise must not.”
Honoring one's word matters more than life itself; a broken promise outweighs even death.
Sach ko anch nahin.
“Truth has nothing to fear.”
The innocent and the honest need not be afraid, for the truth cannot ultimately be harmed.
Ghar ke bediya Lanka mein aag dale la.
“The enemy within can set even Lanka ablaze.”
Referencing the Ramayana's Vibhishana, this Bhojpuri proverb warns that betrayal from inside one's own household or circle causes the greatest damage.
Jaissen des, awsan bhes.
“As is the country, so should be one's manner.”
Adapt your behavior to the customs of the place you are in — the Mauritian Bhojpuri equivalent of "when in Rome, do as the Romans do."
Naach na jaane aangan tera.
“One who cannot dance blames the crooked courtyard.”
A person who fails at something often blames their surroundings or tools rather than admitting their own shortcomings.
Ek hanth se thapri nain baje la.
“One hand alone cannot clap.”
Conflict, cooperation, or blame always involves more than one side — it takes two hands to make a sound.
Kaleja mein teer ghoomela.
“An arrow keeps twisting in the heart.”
Cruel or hurtful words leave a wound that lingers and aches long after they are spoken.
Uppar thukba ta naak par gire la.
“Spit upward, and it falls back on your own nose.”
Actions meant to demean or harm someone beyond your reach tend to return and injure the one who acted.
Chota mou, bari baat.
“A small mouth, but big talk.”
Said of someone who boasts or speaks with more authority than their actual standing warrants.
Chor chor mawsere bhai.
“Thieves are brothers to one another.”
Wrongdoers recognize and protect their own kind, shielding one another from consequence.
Jaissen baap, oissan beta.
“Like father, like son.”
Children inherit and reflect the character and habits of their parents.
Chat mangni, pat biya.
“A quick asking, a quick marrying.”
Describes doing something important, such as arranging a marriage, in undue haste without proper thought.
Saw baat ke ego baat.
“Of a hundred words, only one truly matters.”
Say what genuinely needs to be said rather than burying the point in excessive talk.
Dudh ke dudh, pani ke pani.
“Separate the milk from the water.”
Distinguish clearly between right and wrong, or truth and falsehood, without letting them blend together.
Jetna tel, otna anchar.
“As much oil as you have, that much pickle you make.”
Live and act according to your actual means, adjusting your plans to the resources you truly have.
Tawa garam ba, roti seink la.
“While the pan is hot, bake the bread.”
Seize the right moment to act while conditions are favorable — the Bhojpuri version of "strike while the iron is hot."
Chilal khansi hanth se chut gail.
“The hawk's prey slipped away from the hand.”
A golden opportunity, once nearly secured, was lost through carelessness or hesitation.
Ghar ke murgi dal barabar.
“The chicken at home is worth no more than a bowl of lentils.”
What is familiar and close at hand is undervalued simply because it is common, however precious it may truly be.
Hamre billi, hamre se miaw.
“My own cat meows back at me.”
Describes an ungrateful dependent who turns against the very person who raised or supported them.
Kutta bhonke hazaar hathi chale bazaar.
“The dog barks, and a thousand elephants still pass through the market.”
Small, noisy criticism cannot stop those who are truly strong or determined from moving forward.
Aanuvu kaani chota adhikula manaraadu.
“One should not claim authority in a place where it does not belong to them.”
A Telugu proverb of Mauritius's Indo-Mauritian community cautioning against overstepping one's true standing in unfamiliar settings.
Eruka vidikedu danamu.
“Acquaintance and understanding are worth more than money.”
Knowledge, familiarity, and genuine relationships hold greater lasting value than mere wealth.
Maanamu poyina venaka praanamu yenduku?
“If honor is lost, what use is life?”
Dignity and honor are held to matter more than life itself in this Telugu saying.
Swatantramu swargalokamu, paratantramu vraana samkatamu.
“Independence is heaven; dependence is hardship.”
Self-reliance is likened to paradise, while depending on others is likened to suffering.
Kaalamu povunu, maata niluchumu.
“Time passes, but a spoken word remains.”
The moment fades, yet the words spoken in it, and their consequences, endure long afterward.
Kaaranamu lekane kaaryamu puttadu.
“No effect arises without a cause.”
Every outcome has an origin; nothing happens without a reason behind it.
La langue na poin lezo.
“The tongue has no bone.”
A warning against gossip and loose talk: because the tongue bends freely with no bone to restrain it, careless words spread rumor and harm easily.
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