Methali za Kiswahili

Discover the wisdom of East Africa through traditional Swahili proverbs

🌟 Proverb of the Day

Anayekuja pasi na hodi, huondoka pasi na kuaga
He who comes without 'may I come in', leaves without 'goodbye'
Rudeness in entry leads to rudeness in exit

Meaning: The shadow of a Deleb-palm provides a shelter for those who are far away

Context: Great things benefit even those at a distance

Meaning: The blindness of that one is his good fortune

Context: Ignorance can be bliss

Meaning: A good thing sells itself, a bad thing advertises itself

Context: Quality is self-evident; defects need promotion

Meaning: Koko would never be reached by water

Context: Some things are naturally protected

Meaning: A handful of water cannot be grasped

Context: Some things cannot be held onto

Meaning: One fault does not warrant the divorce of a wife

Context: Do not end a relationship over a single mistake

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: If you leave your work to others, it will not be done properly

Context: Personal supervision ensures quality

Meaning: There is plenty of giving of good advice but not listening to it

Context: People give advice but rarely follow it themselves

Meaning: The fear of God is not the wearing of a white turban

Context: True piety is internal, not external

Meaning: Leave well alone! You won't improve matters by going on tinkering

Context: Over-meddling can make things worse

Meaning: To die like a sheep is to die like a gentleman

Context: Dying peacefully is dignified

Meaning: Death is not without its advantages

Context: Death can benefit others

Meaning: The death of a relative is a wedding

Context: The death of a distant relative is less painful

Meaning: When the lips die, the saliva is scattered

Context: When a leader dies, the group disperses

Meaning: To live long is to see much

Context: Long life brings extensive experience

Meaning: To stumble is not to fall down, but it is to go forward

Context: Mistakes are part of progress

Meaning: Borrowing is like a wedding, repaying is like mourning

Context: Borrowing is easy; repaying is hard

Meaning: A hen does not break her own eggs

Context: One does not harm their own

Meaning: A new fowl does not lack a string round its leg

Context: New things are often treated with extra care