Traditional Réunion Wisdom

Bon kari i fé dann vië marmit.

“Good curry is made in an old pot.”

Experience and tradition produce the best results — old ways and old hands still work best.

Boug la li bat la mèr pou guinye lekïm.

“He beats the sea just to get foam.”

Working hard for something empty or worthless — all effort and no real result.

Bef dovan i boir d'lo prop.

“The ox in front drinks the clean water.”

Whoever arrives first gets the best of what is available — first come, first served.

Dann oui la poin batay.

“In yes, there is no quarrel.”

Agreement avoids conflict; saying yes keeps the peace, even when it costs something.

Deux poules i pond' pa dann' mèm nid.

“Two hens do not lay eggs in the same nest.”

Two strong-willed women cannot share the same household in peace.

Espèr trouv boudin kui dann vant koshon.

“Hoping to find the blood sausage already cooked inside the pig's belly.”

Wishing for a finished reward without doing any of the work needed to earn it.

Fèr in noce èk in queue la morue.

“To throw a wedding feast with just a piece of salt-cod tail.”

Making a big show of abundance out of almost nothing — exaggerating what little you have.

Foutan i angrèss pa cochon.

“Mockery does not fatten the pig.”

Criticism is easy to give but produces nothing — real work is what actually counts.

Goni vide i tien pa d'bout.

“An empty sack cannot stand up straight.”

A person who has not eaten has no strength — you must be fed to keep going.

Gro poisson i bèk su l'tar.

“The big fish bites late.”

A good opportunity or reward can be worth the wait — patience pays off.

Gèt èk le zié, fini èk le kèr.

“Look with your eyes, and be content with your heart.”

Sometimes all you can do is admire from a distance — wanting more will bring you nothing.

I fé pa la bou avan la plï.

“One does not make mud before the rain falls.”

Do not draw conclusions or act on something before it has actually happened.

In bon zo i tomb zamé dann la guèl in bon shien.

“A good bone never falls into the mouth of a good dog.”

Good fortune does not always find the people who truly deserve it.

Kalbass amèr i suiv la racine.

“The bitter calabash follows its root.”

Children inherit the nature of their parents — like father, like son.

Kan gro béf i charge, sort dovan!

“When the big ox charges, get out of its way.”

When someone powerful or angry is on the move, it is wise to step aside.

Kan i koz èk Boukané, sosis rès pandiyé.

“When you speak to Boukané, the sausage stays hanging.”

When a conversation is between two specific people, a third party has no say in it.

Kan la mer i bat, lèss ali bat.

“When the sea is churning, let it churn.”

Let people vent their anger or gossip out — it will pass on its own.

Kan la rivièr i desann, la bou i desann ansanm.

“When the river rushes down, the mud comes down with it.”

When a scandal breaks, everyone involved is swept up in its consequences.

Kass pa la tèt la plï i farin, Soley va rovnir!

“Do not worry over the fine drizzle — the sun will return.”

Hard times pass; after the rain comes the sunshine again.

Kont pa sï bato ton frèr pou sot la rivièr.

“Do not count on your brother's boat to cross the river.”

Do not rely on others to carry you forward — you must make your own way.

Kok mon voizin grosër mon marmit.

“My neighbor's rooster always looks bigger than my own cooking pot.”

What belongs to others always seems more desirable than what we already have.

Koshon i komann pa la kord.

“The pig does not give orders to its own rope.”

You cannot control or dictate to someone who holds authority over you.

Koulër la po lé pa koulër lo kèr.

“The color of the skin is not the color of the heart.”

A person's skin does not reveal their true character — judge the heart, not appearance.

Krapo i argard aou, ou lé pa blizé guèt ali gro zië.

“If a toad stares at you, you need not glare back with wide eyes.”

You do not have to respond to every provocation in kind — restraint is wiser.

La lang na poin le zo.

“The tongue has no bone.”

It is easy to talk endlessly; words alone cost nothing and prove nothing.

Na in zour i apèl domin.

“There is a day called tomorrow.”

Tomorrow is another day — what cannot be resolved today may still be resolved later.

Nouri lo ver pou pik out kër.

“You feed the worm that ends up piercing your own heart.”

Being betrayed by someone you yourself raised, trusted, or helped.

Ou donn in pië, i pran in karo.

“Give a foot, and they will take a whole field.”

Give someone a small allowance and they will take far more than you intended.

Ou va war kel koté brinzel i sharz.

“You will see which way the eggplant plant leans under its load.”

You will soon find out someone's true weight or worth — wait and see what they are really made of.

Pakapab lé mor san esayé.

“'I cannot' dies without ever having tried.”

Never give up before attempting — nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Payanké dann siel i voi pi son pti dann trou.

“The payanké bird, once high in the sky, no longer sees its own chick in the burrow.”

Once people rise in status, they often forget or look down on those they left behind.

Pèz su la tèt pou war si la kë i bouz.

“Press on the head to see if the tail moves.”

Test something indirectly, or feign one thing, to uncover the real truth of a matter.

Poul i ponn pa kanar.

“A hen does not lay a duck egg.”

Children resemble their parents — like breeds like.

Poul ki kakay, lï minm la ponn.

“It is the hen that cackles who has just laid the egg.”

The person who raises the loudest alarm is often the one responsible for the deed.

Rod le pou dan la tët na poin sheveu.

“Looking for lice on a head that has no hair.”

Searching for trouble or problems where none actually exist.

Sak i frekant lo shien, y guinye le pus.

“Whoever keeps company with the dog will catch its fleas.”

Keeping bad company eventually brings you the same trouble that company carries.

Si tonton la di wi, rod pa kosa va dir tantine.

“If uncle has already said yes, do not go looking for what auntie will say.”

Once a decision is settled, do not go looking for conflicting opinions to complicate it.

Ti asch i koup gro bwa.

“A small axe can still cut down a big tree.”

With enough persistence, even modest effort can accomplish a great task.

Tortue i oua pa son queue.

“The tortoise cannot see its own tail.”

We easily see the faults of others while remaining blind to our own.

Tout martin, la zèl lé blan.

“Every martin bird has a white wing.”

Many things share the same basic features — much resembles much.

Zenfan i plèr pa, i gaigne pa d'lait.

“The child who does not cry gets no milk.”

You must speak up and ask to receive what you need — silence brings nothing.

Zorey koshon dann marmit poi.

“Like a pig's ear left in the pea pot.”

Turning a deaf ear — pretending not to hear what one does not want to hear.

Doner de rou i ral pa charet.

“Giving away the wheels does not pull the cart.”

The one who gives bad advice is rarely the one who suffers its consequences.

Lo promier i lance galet, a li mem i tend pas la zou.

“The first to throw the pebble never offers his own cheek.”

Those who never question themselves are the quickest to criticize others.