Methali za Kiswahili
Discover the wisdom of East Africa through traditional Swahili proverbs
🌟 Proverb of the Day
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