Methali za Kiswahili

Discover the wisdom of East Africa through traditional Swahili proverbs

🌟 Proverb of the Day

Aliyetota, hajui kutota
A man who has absolutely nothing, doesn't know what poverty means
Those who have nothing have nothing to lose

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