Traditional Trinidad & Tobago Wisdom

Wha' is fuh yuh cyah be un-fuh yuh.

“What is for you cannot be un-for you.”

Whatever is destined to come to you will reach you, and nothing meant for you can be taken away.

One one cocoa full basket.

“One by one, the cocoa fills the basket.”

Small, steady contributions accumulate into something substantial over time.

Cockroach have no right in fowl party.

“The cockroach has no business at the fowls' party.”

Those who overstep their place among people who do not welcome them will come to harm.

Monkey know wha' tree to climb.

“The monkey knows which tree to climb.”

A cunning person knows exactly whom they can take advantage of.

Play de fool to catch de wise.

“Play the fool to catch the wise.”

Sometimes feigning ignorance is the cleverest way to outwit someone smarter than you.

Sweet mouth does bruk bone.

“A sweet mouth can break bones.”

Flattery and smooth talk can lead you into serious trouble if you are not careful.

Every day eh Christmas.

“Every day is not Christmas.”

Good fortune and celebration do not last forever, so enjoy them while they come and prepare for ordinary days.

If yuh cyah get de meat, yuh have to eat de bone.

“If you cannot get the meat, you must eat the bone.”

When you cannot obtain what you truly want, you must make do with what is available.

Empty barrel making de most noise.

“The empty barrel makes the most noise.”

People with the least substance or knowledge often boast and talk the loudest.

Wha' sweet in goat mouth sour in he belly.

“What is sweet in the goat's mouth turns sour in its belly.”

Something that brings pleasure in the moment can bring pain and regret afterward.

Trouble doh set like rain.

“Trouble does not gather like rain clouds.”

Unlike rain, which you can see coming, trouble often arrives without any warning at all.

God doh sleep.

“God does not sleep.”

Wrongdoing will eventually be answered for, even if justice seems delayed.

Yuh cyah get vex and eat done food.

“You cannot get vexed and refuse food that is already cooked.”

Do not let anger or pride cause you to waste or turn away something good that is already yours.

Bad talk does bruk friendship.

“Bad talk can break a friendship.”

Gossip and careless words can destroy relationships that took years to build.

De higher de monkey climb, de more he expose.

“The higher the monkey climbs, the more it exposes itself.”

The more prominent or boastful a person becomes, the more clearly their flaws are revealed.

Yuh cyah run 'way from yuh own shadow.

“You cannot run from your own shadow.”

You cannot escape your own nature, past, or conscience, no matter how far you go.

Yuh cyah please everybody.

“You cannot please everybody.”

No matter what you do, someone will always find fault, so live according to your own judgment.

Hard ears does get licks.

“Hard ears get licks.”

Someone who refuses to listen to warning or advice will eventually suffer painful consequences.

All skin teeth eh a laugh.

“Not all bared teeth are a genuine laugh.”

A smiling face does not always mean genuine friendliness; some smiles hide other intentions.

New broom does sweep clean, but de old broom know de corner.

“A new broom sweeps clean, but the old broom knows the corners.”

Newcomers may bring fresh energy, but experience knows the hidden details that others miss.

Backin' ah jackass in ah horse race.

“Backing a jackass in a horse race.”

Supporting a side, plan, or person that has no real chance of succeeding.

Behin' dog is dog, in front dog is mister dog.

“Behind your back you are dog, in front of your face you are mister dog.”

Some people gossip about you privately while acting warm and respectful to your face.

Common sense make before book sense.

“Common sense was made before book sense.”

Practical wisdom and life experience can matter as much as formal schooling.

Doh count egg in fowl bottom.

“Do not count the eggs while they are still inside the hen.”

Do not celebrate or rely on an outcome before it has actually happened.

Laugh an cry does live in de same house.

“Laughter and crying live in the same house.”

Joy and sorrow are always close neighbors in life, and one can quickly follow the other.

Monkey doh si he own tail.

“The monkey does not see his own tail.”

People are often quick to notice others' flaws while remaining blind to their own.

Whe horse reach, jackass does reach an pass.

“Where the horse reaches, the jackass reaches and passes.”

Slow and steady effort can eventually overtake those who seemed far ahead.

Better belly buss than good food waste.

“Better the belly bursts than good food goes to waste.”

It is preferable to overindulge a little than to let something valuable go to waste.

Every bread have a cheese.

“Every bread has its cheese.”

Everyone, no matter how unlikely it seems, eventually finds someone or something suited to them.

Yuh cyah make love on hungry belly.

“You cannot make love on a hungry belly.”

Basic needs and financial stability must be secured before romance can truly flourish.

To boil down like bhaji.

“To boil down like bhaji.”

Strong anger or excitement can shrink away quickly, the way leafy bhaji wilts down fast in a hot pot.

Playing dead to ketch corbeau alive.

“Play dead to catch the corbeau alive.”

Pretending to be weak, foolish, or unaware can be the smartest way to expose someone dishonest.

Yuh cyah play mas an fraid powder.

“You cannot play mas and be afraid of the powder.”

If you choose to take part in something, you must be willing to accept everything that comes with it.

When yuh neighbor house on fire, wet yours.

“When your neighbor's house is on fire, wet your own.”

Take precautions as soon as you see trouble strike nearby, rather than waiting until it reaches you.

When de mark buss.

“When the mark bursts.”

Hidden secrets and false appearances eventually break open and become known to everyone.

Dog doh make cat.

“A dog does not make a cat.”

Children usually take after the nature and character of their own parents.

I wasn't invited to the wedding so doh invite me to the funeral.

“I was not invited to the wedding, so do not invite me to the funeral.”

Someone who was excluded during good times should not be expected to show up and help during hardship.

Beat de iron while it hot.

“Beat the iron while it is hot.”

Act on an opportunity while conditions are favorable, before the moment passes.

Doh cut off yuh nose tuh spoil yuh face.

“Do not cut off your nose to spoil your own face.”

Do not harm yourself in an attempt to hurt or spite someone else.

Frien' does carry yuh but doh bring yuh back.

“A friend can carry you along, but will not always bring you back.”

Companions who lead you into trouble or mischief often leave you to deal with the consequences alone.

Doh trouble trouble until trouble trouble yuh.

“Do not trouble trouble until trouble troubles you.”

Avoid stirring up problems that are not already bothering you.

Band yuh belly.

“Band your belly.”

Brace yourself and prepare to endure hard or lean times ahead.

Doh make track for 'gouti to pass.

“Do not make a track for the agouti to pass.”

Do not make it easy for someone to take advantage of or exploit a situation.

Who have cocoa in de sun always looking out for rain.

“Whoever has cocoa drying in the sun is always watching for rain.”

Someone who has something valuable or something to hide stays constantly alert for trouble.

Two bad jumbie nevah walk fuh long.

“Two bad spirits never walk together for long.”

Partnerships built between two dishonest or troublesome people rarely last.

Pot cyah tell kettle he bottom black.

“The pot cannot tell the kettle that its bottom is black.”

It is hypocritical to criticize someone else for a fault that you share yourself.

Tail doh wag de dog.

“The tail does not wag the dog.”

The lesser or subordinate party should not be the one controlling the greater one.

Time longer dan twine.

“Time is longer than twine.”

Hardships and troubles feel endless in the moment, but with patience they eventually stretch out and pass.

What eh meet yuh eh pass yuh.

“What did not meet you was never meant to pass by you.”

Whatever did not happen to you was simply not meant for you, so there is no need for regret.