Maahmaah Soomaali

Discover the wisdom of East Africa through traditional Somali proverbs

🌟 Proverb of the Day

Doqoni saaf carro loogu riday, sad bursiinyo ma mooddo
When given clean soil, a fool thinks it's insult, not blessing
The foolish can't recognize kindness or value

Meaning: Sense enters beasts through the nose, animals through the nostrils, men through the chest, and women through the eyes

Context: A humorous proverb describing perceived differences in intelligence or perception among beings

Meaning: O lipless one, how will you whistle?

Context: Don't attempt what you're unfit for — know your limitations

Meaning: The tongue and teeth are close, yet they bite each other

Context: Even those closest to you may hurt you sometimes — conflict is natural among kin

Meaning: The tongue and its jaws are close, yet they bite one another

Context: Disagreements occur even among those who live together

Meaning: You don't show a cow its grass

Context: The experienced don't need instruction — they know their way

Meaning: Anger between brothers cools with time

Context: Family bonds overcome anger — patience restores peace

Meaning: Carraabo's laziness brought him despair

Context: Idleness leads to hopelessness — hard work brings relief

Meaning: A greedy tongue can be seen, but a hidden heart cannot

Context: Words reveal greed, but inner motives remain unseen

Meaning: Oh children, your playfulness has ruined you

Context: Too much carelessness leads to harm — heed warnings early

Meaning: Children fear authority but not one another

Context: Respect comes from hierarchy — fear flows downward

Meaning: Mischievous children kill playfully and meet death seriously

Context: Recklessness leads to disaster — play can turn deadly

Meaning: A child is neither infidel nor Muslim — it becomes what it's taught

Context: Children are shaped by environment — upbringing determines belief

Meaning: Children are a pain one outgrows

Context: Raising children is hard but rewarding — patience leads to pride later

Meaning: Red color adds nothing to beauty

Context: True beauty lies in character, not in appearance

Meaning: What happens to you in the afternoon, you're mocked for in the evening

Context: People are quick to gossip — misfortune invites criticism

Meaning: Shame doesn't kill, anger doesn't explode, and insults don't wound

Context: Don't be too sensitive — endure words and move on

Meaning: If you know your first flaw, you needn't be told a thousand

Context: Self-awareness prevents humiliation — correct yourself early

Meaning: A well with water isn't far away

Context: Opportunity is always near — seek what's valuable

Meaning: A well that swallows people is tested with a stick

Context: Test danger before facing it — caution prevents harm

Meaning: The one who troubles you when asking for the donkey will trouble you when leading it

Context: People troublesome in small matters will be worse in big ones — avoid them early