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