401 Vincy Caribbean Proverbs
Amazing Expressions to Guide You
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
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Several Vincy Caribbean proverbs, technically crafted, promote the story, “Whey horse reach donkey go reach,” steadily guiding us through breathtaking cultural experiences for successful living.
Vincentian (Vincy) Caribbean proverbs are a vital part of the Vincentian culture. This book captures that dynamic language inherited from past generations. It uncovers this unique legacy to guide people into maximizing their existence. Our dialect (“Vincy Twang”) is our first language. It’s a combination of Standard English (our second language) and languages from our ancestors. Two asterisks (**) follow the expressions which are verified as uniquely ‘Vincy’.
The book is divided into sections with topics such as lifestyles, love, relationships, conflict, looks, problematic people, unfairness and suffering. They’re charged with wisdom, philosophy and laughter, and created to make us pause and think deeply.
Here’s a sample…
UPPER BODY: HEAD
Proverb: Roun’ tongue. **
English: A round tongue.
Meaning: A lying tongue. A stranger to the truth.
Usage: Mary said that Tom has a roun’ tongue.
Proverb: Shut mout’ no catch fly.
English: Closed mouths do not catch flies.
Meaning: Don’t give out information, lest you get in trouble.
Usage: “Boy, keep it confidential. Shut mout’ no catch fly.”
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Proverb: Teet’ and tongue close.
English: Teeth and tongue are very close.
Meaning: The closest friends can become bitterest enemies.
Usage: “Those girls are best friends. Teet’ and tongue close.”
ANIMAL PROVERBS
Proverb: Whey horse reach, donkey go reach.
English: Where horses have reached, donkeys will also reach.
Meaning: You can, like others, achieve your destiny in life.
Usage: “I’ll get my dream; whey horse reach donkey go reach.”
Proverb: Mine cow an’ calf.
English: Mind a cow and her calf.
Meaning: To support and care for a woman and her child.
Usage: His wife had a baby, now he has to mine cow an’ calf.
Proverb: Donkey say de world na level.
English: Donkey says the world is not level.
Meaning: Being unjust; not giving fair deals to one another.
Usage: “They rejected my claim. Donkey say de world na level.”
Proverb: Wo ah joke fu school pickney ah det fu crapo. **
English: A joke for school children is death for crapaud.
Meaning: Someone’s fun may place others in serious danger.
Usage: “Stop, wo ah joke fu school pickney ah det fu crapo.”
CONFLICT AND CONFUSION
Proverb: Dem mout’ ah run like ah river. **
English: Their mouths run like a river.
Meaning: Persons who can’t keep information confidential.
Usage: “Tell them nothing; dem mout’ ah run like ah river.”
Proverb: Na mix me up. **
English: Do not mix me up.
Meaning: Do not confuse me with what you are saying.
Usage: “Tell me what happened, slowly. Na mix me up.”
Proverb: Na mek yo mout’ too farse. **
English: Never make your mouth too fast.
Meaning: Be slow to speak what you know.
Usage: “Old people often say, na mek yo mout’ too farse.”
FOOD AND HUNGER
Proverb: Ah have ah bone fu pick wid yo.
English: I have a bone to pick with you.
Meaning: I have an issue against you to reason out with you.
Usage: “Ah have ah bone fu pick wid yo,” John told George.
Proverb: Show me how water does go ‘een ah pumpkin. **
English: Show me where water walks to enter pumpkins.
Meaning: To publicly curse, fight and disrespect me.
Usage: “Yes, show me how water does go ‘een ah pumpkin.”
Proverb: Little Potato. **
English: Little Potatoes.
Meaning: Persons not in authority to make vital decisions.
Usage: “I want to speak to a manager; not to any little potato.”
LOOKS AND LIKES
Proverb: She lookin’ hot.
English: She is looking hot.
Meaning: She is looking very attractive.
Usage: “She lookin’ hot in her evening wear on stage.”
Proverb: Poh-po poh-po. **
English: Poor-po poor-po.
Meaning: Slim, thin, lean or skinny persons.
Usage: She looks poh-po poh-po but he is looking very fat.
Proverb: Rarny bones.
English: Rarny bones.
Meaning: A very thin, slim or underweight person.
Usage: The little child looked hungry, weak and rarny bones.
LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS
Proverb: De younger de couple de tighter de squeeze. **
English: The younger the couple, the tighter the squeeze.
Meaning: New couples are more intimate than older couples.
Usage: “Surely, de younger the couple de tighter de squeeze.”
Proverb: Every moley bread ha ‘e moley cheese.
English: Every moldy bread has its moldy cheese.
Meaning: Even the strangest person is sure to find a soulmate.
Usage: “I’ll find a mate. Every moley bread ha ‘e moley cheese.”
Proverb: Beg back.
English: To ask back.
Meaning: To ask a friend to revive friendship with you.
Usage: “Tom, just humble yourself, go to Joan and beg back.”
Proverb: More fish dey in de sea.
English: More fish are in the sea.
Meaning: There are people all over the world seeking love.
Usage: Dad told us, “Don’t worry, more fish dey in de sea.”
PROBLEMATIC PEOPLE
Proverb: Raza-blade. **
English: Razorblade.
Meaning: A hypocrite. A traitor and liar.
Usage: “Don’t trust that man. He is a raza-blade.”
Proverb: Showself people.
English: Show-self people.
Meaning: Very selfish and proud; working to be seen by men.
Usage: They’re showself people, pretending to look important.
Proverb: Out ah ardar.
English: Out of order.
Meaning: Being rude or insensitive to someone or their rights.
Usage: “He was out ah ardar to call uncle a clown yesterday.”
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
VINCY CARIBBEAN PROVERBS AND IDIOMS SERIES Uncovers amazing proverbs of Vincentian Caribbean culture, charged with wisdom, philosophy and laughter.
“This book, 401 Vincy Caribbean Proverbs, is as lively and witty as the English Caribbean lingo it represents.” MARLON JOSEPH, EXECUTIVE OFFICER, S.V.G. TOURISM AUTHORITY.
“401 Vincy Caribbean Proverbs is a breath of cultural air. It effectively mirrors the unique communication skills of a people - the Vincentian people…one would not be able to avoid ‹cracking-up›, as the words belonging to nowhere else emerge, where a people tell their own story, and experience their own reality.” DR. GEORGE R. FREDERICK, AUTHOR, DIVISION & DICHOTOMIES - STOP THE BICKERING.
“Never before this has our Vincy proverbs been recorded with such insightfulness, giving us a deeper sense of who we are.” JANICE FRASER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, VINSAVE, S.V.G.
“Brilliant work; makes quite interesting reading. A must-read for generations.” DAVID “DARKIE” WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT, S.V.G. GARIFUNA HERITAGE FOUNDATION.
The 401 Vincy Caribbean Proverbs to Guide You comes with a companion website designed to go hand in hand with this book in order to enhance and complete your learning experience.
About the Author
Nigel A. Morgan was born on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (S.V.G.). He has authored several poems and magazines including the historical Vincentian Literacy Success Magazine. He has voiced stories for Global ‘Vincy Twang’ Bible Audio Series. This long-standing educator, motivational speaker and Theater Arts icon asserts, “Whey horse reach donkey go reach.”
The 401 Vincy Caribbean Proverbs to Guide You comes with a companion website designed to go hand in hand with this book in order to enhance and complete your learning experience.