Methali za Kiswahili
Discover the wisdom of East Africa through traditional Swahili proverbs
🌟 Proverb of the Day
Meaning: The death of a relative is a wedding
Context: The death of a distant relative is less painful
Meaning: Cooling the tongs is not the end of forging
Context: A pause does not mean the end of work
Meaning: If after pounding I eat no flour, I withhold my pestle
Context: If not rewarded, one withdraws effort
Meaning: Old rust is for the stranger
Context: Guests are offered the best, even if it is old
Meaning: A new fowl does not lack a string round its leg
Context: New things are often treated with extra care
Meaning: A hen does not break her own eggs
Context: One does not harm their own
Meaning: Borrowing is like a wedding, repaying is like mourning
Context: Borrowing is easy; repaying is hard
Meaning: To stumble is not to fall down, but it is to go forward
Context: Mistakes are part of progress
Meaning: To live long is to see much
Context: Long life brings extensive experience
Meaning: When the lips die, the saliva is scattered
Context: When a leader dies, the group disperses
Meaning: A stone is not aimed at a hen with chickens
Context: Do not harm those who are vulnerable
Meaning: Death is not without its advantages
Context: Death can benefit others
Meaning: To die like a sheep is to die like a gentleman
Context: Dying peacefully is dignified
Meaning: Leave well alone! You won't improve matters by going on tinkering
Context: Over-meddling can make things worse
Meaning: The fear of God is not the wearing of a white turban
Context: True piety is internal, not external
Meaning: There is plenty of giving of good advice but not listening to it
Context: People give advice but rarely follow it themselves
Meaning: If you leave your work to others, it will not be done properly
Context: Personal supervision ensures quality
Meaning: A goshawk is an egg child—if it sleeps hungry, that's its own fault
Context: One is responsible for their own well-being
Meaning: One fault does not warrant the divorce of a wife
Context: Do not end a relationship over a single mistake
Meaning: A handful of water cannot be grasped
Context: Some things cannot be held onto