Traditional Cape Verde Wisdom

Kábu ki ta kume, ta paga.

“What you eat, you pay for.”

Every action returns to the one who committed it; consequences always catch up with you.

Odjo mas grandi ki stangu.

“The eyes are bigger than the belly.”

People often want or claim more than they can actually use or handle.

Katxor ki ta ladra ka ta mordi.

“The dog that barks does not bite.”

Loud threats and complaints are often empty; the real danger comes from those who stay quiet.

Mau kaminhu ka ta leba bon lugar.

“A bad path does not lead to a good place.”

Wrong methods and dishonest means do not produce a good outcome, however tempting the shortcut.

Pior surdu é kel ki ka krê obi.

“Worse than the deaf is the one who does not want to listen.”

Willful ignorance is more damaging than any physical limitation; refusing to listen is a choice.

Saku bazíu ka ta sakedu.

“An empty sack cannot stand up straight.”

A person without food, rest, or resources lacks the strength to carry on; needs must be met before effort.

Katxor ta mordi si donu.

“Even a dog bites its own owner.”

Betrayal can come even from those closest and most trusted; no bond is a guarantee against harm.

Makaku ka ta djobi si rabu.

“The monkey does not see its own tail.”

People are quick to spot faults in others while remaining blind to the very same faults in themselves.

Fidju di kabra tudu ta ba rotxa.

“The goat's kid always heads for the rocks.”

Children naturally follow the nature, habits, and paths of their parents and upbringing.

Baka ki ka ten rabu, Deus ta banal.

“The cow that has no tail, God shoos the flies for her.”

Providence looks after those who lack the means to help themselves; the powerless are not forgotten.

Verdadi é sima malguéta: é ta ardi.

“Truth is like chili pepper: it stings.”

Honest words are often painful to hear, but that sting does not make them any less true.

Bariga ka ta kosadu ku kaska di kana.

“A bellyache is not mended with a strip of sugarcane peel.”

A serious problem cannot be fixed with a flimsy or token substitute; real needs require real solutions.

Bariga ka ta fila ku arros, ki féra ku mídju.

“The belly is not filled with rice, let alone with corn.”

When even the better option is not enough, the lesser one certainly will not be; scarcity has degrees.

Bariga pode dôbu, ma bu ka ta toma faka pa bu rompel.

“The belly may ache, but you do not take a knife to cut it open.”

However great the suffering, do not answer it with a rash or self-destructive act; endure it wisely instead.

Bianda di kalderon ka ten donu.

“Food in the big pot has no owner.”

When there is abundance, it is meant to be shared freely; plenty belongs to everyone at the table.

Bianda sabi ka ta tarda na kabas.

“Tasty food never lasts long in the bowl.”

The good things in life tend to be consumed or pass by quickly, so they should be appreciated while they last.

Bunitesa di agu salgadu é bunitu, ma é kansadu bebe.

“The sea's beauty is beautiful, but tiring to drink.”

Something can be attractive to look at yet useless or exhausting when you actually try to rely on it.

Bu purba lêti, bu pidi baka.

“Taste the milk, and next you will ask for the cow.”

A small taste of something good can quickly grow into a much bigger demand; appetite feeds on itself.

Ka ten sabi ki ka ta kaba.

“There is no flavor that does not run out.”

No pleasure, good fortune, or comfort lasts forever, so nothing should be taken entirely for granted.

Kabra ten barba, má é baka ki é grandi.

“The goat has a beard, but it is the cow that is big.”

Looking venerable or important on the surface is not the same as having real size, strength, or substance.

Katchor-di-mangu ta kumâ pa kada kin sabe di si kabesa.

“The mongoose says everyone knows their own head best.”

Every person is ultimately responsible for their own conduct and must answer for their own choices.