Home / Quotes / Quote by Trevor Noah

Quote by Trevor Noah

“I was lucky to come along for the ride. [My mother] really is an amazing woman. And the world we lived in in South Africa at the time was a very matriarchal society because so many black men had been removed from the home.”

Quote by Trevor Noah

Author

Trevor Noah is a South African-born comedian, writer, and television host. He is known for his unique sense of humor and insightful commentary on social issues. Born on February 20, 1984, Noah grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa. He began his career performing in comedy clubs in Johannesburg and has since gained recognition in the television and radio industry. more

You May Also Like

“Families were living separately from the fathers. And so although, according to African culture, men were the head of the household, the truth is women were the ones who were raising everybody, including men. And growing up with my mother, that was something I really learned to appreciate.”

Men Mother Culture Father Growing Up Growing Truth Is Appreciate Including Household African Culture

Author:Trevor Noah

“I speak English, obviously, Afrikaans, which is a derivative of Dutch that we have in South Africa. And then I speak African languages. So I speak Zulu. I speak Xhosa. I speak Tswana. And I speak Tsonga. And like - so those are my languages of the core. And then I don't claim German, but I can have a conversation in it. So I'm trying to make that officially my seventh language. And then, hopefully, I can learn Spanish.”

Trying I Can Speak Language Conversation Claims South Core Hopefully South Africa Dutch Derivatives Speak English

Author:Trevor Noah

“Living with my mom, I saw how she used language to cross boundaries, handle situations, navigate the world.”

World Used Language Situation Saws Mom Crosses My Mom Boundaries Handle Navigate

Author:Trevor Noah

“I learned to use language like my mother did. I would simulcast, give you the program in your own tongue.”

Giving Use Mother Language Program Tongue

Author:Trevor Noah

“I'd get suspicious looks from people just walking down the streets. Where are you from? They'd ask. I'd reply in whatever language they'd addressed me in using the same accent that they used. There would be a brief moment of confusion, and then the suspicious look would disappear.”

People Looks Moments Would Be Used Asks Language Streets Walking Disappear Confusion Accents Suspicious Brief Moments

Author:Trevor Noah

“[Languages] became a tool that served me my whole life.”

Whole Language Tools Whole Life

Author:Trevor Noah

“One day as a young man, I was walking down the streets. And a group of Zulu guys was walking behind me closing in on me. And I could hear them talking to one another about how they were going to mug me. (Speaking Zulu). Let's get this white guy. You go to his left, and I'll come up behind him. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't run.So I just spun around real quick and said (speaking Zulu). Yo, guys, why don't we just mug someone together? I'm ready.”

Knows Men Said Real Running Together Young Guy Left White Behinds Talking Groups Streets Ready Walking One Day Come Up Young Man Closing Spun White Guys Mug

Author:Trevor Noah

“If you spoke to me in Zulu, I replied to you in Zulu. If you spoke to me in Tswana, I replied to you in Tswana. Maybe I didn't look like you, but if I spoke like you, I was you.”

Ifs Looks Like You Spokes

Author:Trevor Noah

“I became a chameleon. My color didn't change. But I could change your perception of my color.”

Color Perception Chameleon

Author:Trevor Noah

“Smaller incidents in my life made me realize that language, even more than color, defines who you are to people.”

People Made Language Realizing Color Who You Are Incidents

Author:Trevor Noah