Ten Dialectic Sayings of Trinidad and Tobago

Every language has its own regional dialects and in the Caribbean it is no different. For the sake of those not acquainted with “Trini” or Trinidad and Tobago dialect “doh”  means “don’t”, “tief” is “thief” or “steal”, “de” is “the”, “fadda” is “father”, “mudda” is “mother” and “chile” is “child.”

(1)   “What monkey see monkey do.”

This means that people do the mischief that they see others doing. Everyone follows everyone like a monkey.

(2)   “Monkey doh see its own tail.”

People will accuse you vehemently for things they themselves are doing. This probably originated from the text in Matt. 7:3 which says:

“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”

(3)   “Tief from tief make God laugh.”

When a thief steals from another thief that is sweet justice so it makes God laugh.

(4)   “There is more in de mortar than de pestle.”

Have you ever read a crime story and found that something was missing in that story; you felt that something does not add up and that there must be more to that story than what was stated? Well, that is what the creole expression means.

(5)   “De pot calling de kettle black.”

This one is similar to saying #2 except that in this case the accuser is worse off than the accused.

(6)   “Where horse reach donkey will reach.”

A horse may run much faster than a donkey but over time a donkey can reach the same place. In life some make make a success very early but the slow learner can reach where they have reached.

(7)   “Playing dead to catch corbeau alive.”

Vultures (like corbeau) feed on dead animals. If you want to catch a vulture you have to play dead. Sometimes in life people pretend to be passive and indifferent to win out over their enemy, catching them offguard.

(8)   “Laugh and cry does live in the same house.”

In life you will experience both joy and sorrow. As they say “Some rain must fall.”

(9)   “Crapaud smoke yuh pipe.”

This is said to indicate that all sorts of bad things will happen to you if you take a certain course of action. Even a frog will smoke your pipe. That indicates your helplessness in the situation.

(10) “She fadda chile in print.”

This is said when a daughter greatly resembles her father. There is a similar expression “She mudda chile in print” that means that she really resembles her mother.

These are some of the colorful dialectic expressions of the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Now you can understand your Trinidadian or Tobagonian friends a little better. Why not surprise them with a saying or two?

For Part Two see:

http://trifter.com/caribbean-latin-america/more-dialectic-sayings-of-trinidad-and-tobago-part-two/

Part Three:

http://socyberty.com/society/more-dialectic-sayings-of-trinidad-and-tobago-part-three/

Part Four:

http://socyberty.com/society/still-more-dialectic-sayings-of-trinidad-and-tobago-part-four/