Methali za Kiswahili

Discover the wisdom of East Africa through traditional Swahili proverbs

🌟 Proverb of the Day

Dua mbaya haombolezewi moto
A baby should not be hushed with a bad prayer
Do not use harmful means to solve problems
Found 47 proverb(s) starting with "A"

Meaning: He who does not admit defeat is no sportsman

Context: Good sportsmanship includes accepting loss

Meaning: He who is absent loses his share

Context: Presence is necessary to claim one's due

Meaning: He who does not listen to his elder's advice comes to grief

Context: Disregarding wise counsel leads to trouble

Meaning: The one who allocates the tasks is not the son of the Livali

Context: Authority is not always inherited

Meaning: A sick person is cared for

Context: The ill receive attention

Meaning: He who is naked squats low

Context: Shame leads to humility

Meaning: The one that is famous in the sea is the shark; but then, there are many others

Context: Do not overlook others in the presence of a prominent figure

Meaning: Peace cannot be secured save at the point of the sword

Context: Sometimes strength is necessary to maintain peace

Meaning: He who wanders around a lot by day, he knows

Context: Experience brings wisdom

Meaning: He who does not know you, does not value you

Context: Familiarity breeds appreciation

Meaning: He who is not in sight, is not in the heart

Context: Out of sight, out of mind

Meaning: He who does not recognise reason is not told reason

Context: Do not waste explanations on the unreasonable

Meaning: He who was not taught by his mother will be taught by the world

Context: Life teaches hard lessons if parents fail

Meaning: An unlucky person never becomes lucky

Context: Some people are perpetually unfortunate

Meaning: He is angry as an mkizi

Context: Someone who reacts violently when provoked

Meaning: He who withholds lentils from a donkey, reduces his passing of wind

Context: Withholding necessities leads to reduced output

Meaning: He who is given is the one who is given more

Context: Those who have will receive more

Meaning: He who withholds pigeon-peas from me reduces my passing of wind

Context: Denying someone resources reduces their capacity

Meaning: Who dares play when the lion roars?

Context: No one challenges authority when it is present

Meaning: Even if the hawk goes high, he does not reach the sky

Context: There are always limits