Piti piti, zwazo fè nich (Little by little, the bird builds its nest)

Piti piti, zwazo fè nich.
Little by little, the bird builds its nest.

Memorizing this simple phrase in Creole will amaze your friends in Haiti and give you something to say – especially when sharing in a group conversation. The meaning is plain, small tasks are the reliable way to accomplish big goals.

We used this kind of phrase when talking about building a house. Most people in Haiti don’t have access to mortgages, so they literally build their homes little by little. If you ever wondered why so many things look unfinished, know you know.

This phrase is also useful when talking about learning a new skill or expanding a business.

We love Creole proverbs (sometimes called folk wisdom). You can find many more the book called “Hidden Meanings: Truth and Secret in Haiti’s Creole Proverbs” by Wally Turnbull.

HT to the Haiti Hub newsletter for reminding us about the proverbs!