wayhomestudioo/Envato Elements
Ret nan wòl ou!
Meaning
Use this expression to tell someone not to interfere, overstep their boundaries, or act outside their proper role.
Depending on the situation, it can mean Stay in your lane!, Know your place!, or Mind your own business!
Translation: Stay in your lane! Know your place!
Literal Meaning: Stay in your role!
Example 1
Gade, ti fi! Ret nan wòl ou! Pa rele sou mwen konsa!
Listen, girl! Stay in your lane! Don't yell at me like that!
Example 2
Silvouplè, di Jean pou l ret nan wòl li! Li fawouche m twòp.
Please tell Jean to stay in his lane! He makes fun of me too much.
Using Ret nan Wòl with Other Pronouns
The possessive pronoun after wòl changes according to the person whose role is being discussed.
M ap ret nan wòl mwen. — I will stay in my role.
Ret nan wòl ou. — Stay in your role.
Li dwe ret nan wòl li. — He or she must stay in his or her role.
Nou dwe ret nan wòl nou. — We must stay in our role.
Yo dwe ret nan wòl yo. — They must stay in their role.
Therefore, the expression does not always have to be ret nan wòl ou. However, the subject and the possessive pronoun should match the person being discussed.