Folklore 104: Devinèt (Riddles and Verbal Play)

Timtim? Bwa chèch! 

Timtim? Bwa chèch! is a call-and-response used specifically to signal a riddle or a puzzle.

The structure is:

Timtim? — Essentially “Are you ready?” It has no direct meaning in Kreyòl beyond the call itself. It’s just an alliterative onomatopoeia…a device that is used quite commonly in Haitian folklore and music.
Bwa chèch! — Literally “dry wood.” Dry wood catches fire easily, meaning “I am ready.”

Then a devinèt (riddle/puzzle) is told, and the responder must try to solve it.

This structure is often conflated with Kirk Krak and the storytelling practice of “tirè kont” they are distinct. Devinèt are frequently shared within communal storytelling spaces, which is the source of the confusion.

Riddle time… here are a few. How many can you get right?

Timtim?
Bwa chèch!
Devinèt: Mwen gen yon kay, li pa gen pòt, li pa gen fenèt. Kisa li ye?
English: I have a house with no doors and no windows. What is it?
Repons / Answer: Ze (Egg)

Timtim?
Bwa chèch!
Devinèt: Li gen kat pye nan maten, de pye midi, twa pye aswè. Kisa li ye?
English: It has four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three in the evening. What is it?
Repons / Answer: Moun (Human)

Timtim?
Bwa chèch!
Devinèt: Mwen toujou ap monte, mwen pa janm desann. Kisa mwen ye?
English: I am always going up but never coming down. What am I?
Repons / Answer: Laj (Age)

Timtim?
Bwa chèch!
Devinèt: Plis ou pran nan mwen, plis mwen vin gwo. Kisa mwen ye?
English: The more you take from me, the bigger I get. What am I?
Repons / Answer: Twou (Hole)

Timtim?
Bwa chèch!
Devinèt: Mwen gen dan men mwen pa manje. Kisa mwen ye?
English: I have teeth but I don’t eat. What am I?
Repons / Answer: Peny (Comb)

Timtim?
Bwa chèch!
Devinèt: Mwen gen zèl men mwen pa vole. Mwen gen dlo men mwen pa naje. Kisa mwen ye?
English: I have wings but I don’t fly. I have water but I don’t swim. What am I?
Repons / Answer: Kay (House)

Timtim?
Bwa chèch!
Devinèt: Yon ti bagay wouj ap mache nan bwa, li pote kay li sou do li. Kisa li ye?
English: A small red thing walks in the forest carrying its house on its back. What is it?
Repons / Answer: Eskagòt (Snail)

Timtim?
Bwa chèch!
Devinèt: Mwen leve chak maten pou m reveye tout moun, men mwen pa janm dòmi. Kisa mwen ye?
English: I wake up every morning to wake everyone else, but I never sleep. What am I?
Repons / Answer: Solèy (Sun)

Timtim?
Bwa chèch!
Devinèt: Mwen gen yon tèt, mwen gen yon pye, men mwen pa gen kò. Kisa mwen ye?
English: I have a head and a foot, but no body. What am I?
Repons / Answer: Kabann (Bed)

Timtim?
Bwa chèch!
Devinèt: Mwen pale san bouch, mwen tande san zòrèy. Kisa mwen ye?
English: I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. What am I?
Repons / Answer: Eko (Echo)

Timtim?
Bwa chèch!
Devinèt: Moun ki fè li vann li, moun ki achte li pa sèvi avè li, moun ki sèvi avè li pa janm wè li.
English: The person who makes it sells it, the person who buys it does not use it, the person who uses it never sees it.
Repons / Answer: Kòf mò (Coffin)

Timtim?
Bwa chèch!
Devinèt: Dlo kouche.
English: Water lying down.
Repons / Answer: Yon chemen (A path)

Timtim?
Bwa chèch!
Devinèt: Fizi kout tire lwen.
English: A short gun that shoots far.
Repons / Answer: Yon zòtèy (A toe)

Timtim?
Bwa chèch!
Devinèt: Kisa ki gen je men li pa ka wè?
English: What has eyes but cannot see?
Repons / Answer: Yon zegwi (A needle)

Timtim?
Bwa chèch!
Devinèt: Mwen pa vivan men mwen ka grandi, mwen pa gen poumon men mwen bezwen lè. Kisa m ye?
English: I am not alive but I grow, I have no lungs but I need air. What am I?
Repons / Answer: Dife (Fire)

Timtim?
Bwa chèch!
Devinèt: Mwen fèt nan dlo, men si mwen antre nan dlo mwen ap mouri. Kisa m ye?
English: I am born in water, but if I go into water I die. What am I?
Repons / Answer: Sèl (Salt)