Methali za Kiswahili

Discover the wisdom of East Africa through traditional Swahili proverbs

🌟 Proverb of the Day

Asiyejua maana haambiwi maana
He who does not recognise reason is not told reason
Do not waste explanations on the unreasonable
Found 192 proverb(s) starting with "M"

Meaning: He who desires all, misses all

Context: Greed can lead to total loss

Meaning: He who relies on the hump (of a camel) will not fail to grow fat

Context: Relying on a wealthy or knowledgeable person brings benefits

Meaning: An aimless wanderer wears away his legs

Context: A person who never settles achieves nothing of substance

Meaning: A connoisseur never comes to the end of desire

Context: The more you know, the more you want the best

Meaning: A log cannot move except by the help of rollers

Context: No one can succeed without some help

Meaning: An old man always keeps something in reserve

Context: Experience teaches one to be prepared for emergencies

Meaning: When a baby is carried on its mother's back, it looks at the nape of her neck

Context: A child naturally follows and imitates their parent

Meaning: When a child cries for a razor, give it to him

Context: Sometimes, letting someone learn from a minor mistake is the best lesson

Meaning: If you take away a knife from a child, give it a piece of wood to play with

Context: When you deny someone something dangerous, offer a safe alternative

Meaning: As you bring up a child, so he will be

Context: Upbringing determines character

Meaning: If the son of a blacksmith fails at forging, he works the bellows

Context: Even if you can't do the main task, you can still help in a supporting role

Meaning: The child of a snake is a snake

Context: Children inherit the nature of their parents

Meaning: A person does not object to being called, but to what they are called for

Context: The issue is not the invitation, but the reason or task behind it

Meaning: A person scratches themselves where their hand can reach

Context: You can only deal with problems you have the means to address

Meaning: A person is asked about what they are wearing, not about what they have eaten

Context: People judge based on outward appearance, not private matters

Meaning: One who relies on his brother for maintenance will die poor

Context: Self-reliance is the key to prosperity

Meaning: The carrier of a secret message is not told its meaning

Context: For security, messengers are sometimes kept in the dark

Meaning: Serve even an unbeliever to attain your own ends

Context: Be pragmatic; sometimes you must work with anyone to achieve your goal

Meaning: He who throws away a millipede, throws away the stick he used to pick it up with

Context: If you want to break a bad habit, you must also give up everything associated with it

Meaning: The husband of a mother is a father

Context: The social/legal father is the one married to the mother