Maahmaah Soomaali

Discover the wisdom of East Africa through traditional Somali proverbs

🌟 Proverb of the Day

Lax gawracan maqaarsiib kuma xanuunsato
A slaughtered sheep doesn't feel skinning
The worst has already happened — suffering has limits

Meaning: When the hyena tires, its fight is visited

Context: Weakness invites attack — stay prepared

Meaning: The hyena runs straight whichever way it's chased

Context: Pressure brings clarity — fear sharpens focus

Meaning: The hyena can't be reached by stick or outrun by foot

Context: Some problems can't be solved by force — they need wit

Meaning: What you've learned is your survival kit

Context: Knowledge is wealth — it can't be stolen or lost

Meaning: The time that's gone can't be reached

Context: You can't recover lost time — focus on the present

Meaning: Chop wood for food that doesn't exist

Context: Prepare before need arises — foresight prevents hunger

Meaning: Beauty is in your eyes, worth is in your destiny

Context: True value lies in character and fate — not appearance

Meaning: The slow walker isn't pricked by thorns

Context: Caution prevents harm — patience beats haste

Meaning: A cough and a pregnancy can't be hidden

Context: Truth eventually shows — nothing stays secret forever

Meaning: A smile can give support

Context: Kindness uplifts — encouragement heals silently

Meaning: Too much laughter becomes foolishness

Context: Excess joy breeds disrespect — moderation brings dignity

Meaning: Sticks must be tied before being carried

Context: Preparation precedes action — organization leads to success

Meaning: He who's content with what he sees, is content with what he drinks

Context: Contentment brings peace — satisfaction is wealth

Meaning: Everyone grows from what they consume

Context: Nourishment — physical or mental — shapes who we become

Meaning: Everyone reaps what they plant

Context: Actions have consequences — your deeds determine your reward

Meaning: Everyone carries their share of burden on their neck

Context: Each person bears their own fate — no one escapes responsibility

Meaning: One should never despair while a living person stands before them

Context: Life always carries hope — as long as there's breath, there's a way

Meaning: A fence that's far from you doesn't protect you from cold

Context: Distance weakens protection — stay close to what guards you

Meaning: Fallen twigs are gathered by their height

Context: Even among equals, order and hierarchy exist — organization keeps peace

Meaning: Carrying and pulling the fence serve the same home

Context: Different efforts can serve the same goal — teamwork unites purpose