METHALI ZA KISWAHILI

Ada ya mja hunena, mwungwana ni kitendo.It is customary for a slave to talk, but a free man acts. (Mja is only used in this way in this proverb, otherwise it would be - a foreigner)

Adhabu ya kaburi, aijua maiti. The torture of the grave is known only to the dead. (The one who wears the shoes knows where they pinch.One who has personally experienced poverty, need and suffering, knows how difficult life can be.) 

Afua ni mbili, kufa na kupona. Deliverance(from ill luck or disaster) is of two kinds, to die or to get better(live). 

Afugaye ng’ombe tume, mwenye maziwa la kujaza.He who keeps a healthy cow will have plenty of milk.(If you are diligent, you will enjoy the fruit of your labour.)

Ahadi ni deni. A promise is a debt.(A promise is binding. A trustworthy person keeps his word.) 

Aibu ya maiti, aijua mwosha.The real shame of the dead is only known by the Moritician. (No man is a hero to his wife.You get to know the weak aspects of another person´s character through closer contact.)

Aisifuye mvua / jua, imemnyea / limemwangaza. He who praises rain / sun has been rained on / has been shone on by the sun.(He who talks of man's goodness is one who has benefited by it)

Ajali haina kinga wala kufara. Fate has no prevention or sacrifice of avail.

Ajidhaniye amesimama, aangalie asianguke..He who believes to be standing firm, should be careful not to fall. (The moment you presume all is well, trouble is likely to start.)

Akaaye karibu na moto, huandaliwa mwanzo.If you sit near to the fire (where the food is being cooked), you will be the first to be served. (Maintain good relations with influential persons. Keep close to those in power. Take advantage of good opportunties. It will help you to prosper. You are at an advantage if you be in the right place at the right time.) 

Akiba haiozi. A reserve(savings) does not decay.(Put something away for a rainy day). 

Akiba si mbi (mbaya), na ingawa kumbi.Savings are not bad, even if they are only coconut fibres. (Savings will be of benefit to you, even if they be of a meagre value now.) 

Akikaanga, tu chini ya gae. When he fries, we are under the frying pan.(The walls have ears.Somebody always finds out a secret)

Akili (ni) mali.Knowledge is (brings) wealth. (If you acquire higher studies or have learnt a profession, you will be able to maintain yourself.)

Akili ni nywele; kila mtu ana zake. Reasoning is like hair, every person has his own. No two people are alike.

Akili nyingi huondowa maarifa. Too much wit diminishes wisdom,intelligence. (Too much thought overlooks the wisdom.If you believe that you are more intelligent than others and ignore good advice given to you, you are likely to underestimate difficulties and go astray.) 

Akipenda chongo huita, huona kengeza. If he loves, he will call a one-eyed person a squinter. (Love is blind)

Akishindwa sultani, raia huweza nini?.When even the king knows no solution to a problem, what can a citizen do to solve it? (Listen to the advice of people more competent than you. Keep within your limits.) 

Akitaka kaa, mpe moto..If he wants a piece of charcoal give him fire. (If someone is looking for a quarrel, give him “hell”. If someone needs help from you, be generous.) 

Akomapo mwenyeji na mgeni koma papo..Where the native stops, the guest should stop too. (If you are living in a foreign country, adapt yourself to the customs of the people there.) 

Akufukuzaye hakwambii, Toka!.The person who wants to drive you away, does not say, ”Get out!” (When you feel that your presence is unwanted, retire gracefully at the right moment. Carefully observe the attitude of others towards you.) 

Akumulikaye mchana; usiku akuchoma. He who shines a light on you during the day, sets fire to you during the night.(shows your inconsistencies and destroys your reputation at night)(He who flatters you is a hypocrite. He wants to expolit you.) 

Akupaye kisogo si mwenzio. He who turns his back on you is not your friend. 

Akupigaye, ndiye akufunzaye..He who beats you is the one who teaches you.(Rigid discipline is necessary in educational matters.)

Akutendaye mlipe.Reward a person who does good to you. 

Akutendaye mtende; usimche asiyekutenda. Harm him who harms you and fear him who harms you not.(Better to have an enemy whom you know well, than to associate with a friendly person whose background and intentions are vague and not transparent.) 

Alalaye usimwamshe; ukimwamsha, utalala wewe. Don't awake one who is asleep; if you awake him, remember you too will sleep. Let sleeping dogs lie.

Alisifuyejua, limemwangaza. He who praised the sun, now has the sun shining on him.

Aliyekando, haangukiwi na mti. He who stays to the side will not be hit by a falling tree.

Aliyeko juu, mungojee chiniWait at the bottom of the ladder for the one who is at the top of it.Play your part.

Aliyekupa wewe kiti, ndiye alinipa mimi kumbi. He who gave you a chair(throne) is the one who gave me a coconut husk. (Do not despise me because of my station in life)

Aliyepandisha wengine ngazini, hupigwa teke menoni.. The one who has helped others climb the ladder, gets kicked in the teeth. (Do not expect gratitude from anyone you have helped.

Aliyepata fedha, hutaka kuiliza.. He who has received money, wants to make it sound.(Those who were paupers and then got rich, like to show off.) 

Aliyetota, hajui kutota. He who has drowned, does not know how to drown. (If you have nothing, you know not poverty.)

Amani haipatikani ila kwa ncha ya upanga. Peace is not possible except by the point of a sword.(If you want peace, prepare for war. If you are bold and resistant, you will not be easily subject to ill-treatment.)

Ambiwao ngano, naye ana zake.. The one who is told a story, he himself has his own story. (The one listening to your story, knows when you are telling tales.) 

Amekula ngano.He has eaten wheat. (A person does harm to himself by disobeying the given laws and regulations.In Islam, the forbidden fruit is wheat.)

Amepata fimbo, atapata mambo..He has a walking stick (symbol of power,insignia), he will have matters(power). (Status wields power.)

Amerudisha tende Manga..He has returned dates to Arabia.(Arabia exports dates. It makes no sense doing useless work.He is preaching to the choir.) 

Amnyimae punda adesi, kampunguzia mashuzi. He who withholds lentils from a donkey, reduces the donkey's farts.

Ana hasira za mkizi. He is as angry as a cuttlefish(a fish which jump out of the water and lands on a boat or beach, killing itself). (Out of the frying pan and into the fire)

Anayekataa wengi ni mchawi. He who does not like crowds(company) is a sorcerer.(He who avoids people has something to hide)

Anayekuja pasina hodi, huondoka pasina kuaga. He who comes without asking to enter, will leave without saying goodby.(Untrustworthy)

Anayeonja asali, huchonga mzinga. He who tastes honey will build a hive.

Anayetaka hachoki; hata akichoka kishapata. He who wants does not tire; when he tires he has what he wants.

Angeenda juu kipungu, hafikilii mbinguni. Even though the hawk flies high, it does not reach heaven.

Angepaa kipungu, marejeo ni mtini.The eagle may soar upwards, but he will return to his tree. (We may go abroad, but will return home one day. We are inclined to go back to our roots.) 

Angurumapo simba, mcheza nani? Where the lion roars, who will play?(consider your place in society before challenging)

Amini uonayo, siyo uyasikiayo.Trust what you see, do not believe what you hear. (Trust facts, not rumours (gossip).)

Amnyimaye punda adesi, kampunguzia mashuzi..He who withholds lentils from a donkey, reduces his farts.

Ana hasira za mkizi..He has the temper of a cuttle-fish. (A hot-temper causes rash action.)

Ana usingizi kama pono.He sleeps like a pono-fish. (He is lazy and lethargic.)

Anikataaye, nami namkataa..He who rejects me, I too reject him . 

Aninyimae mbuzi kanipunguzia mashuzi. . One who with holds goat meat from me, reduces my farts. (Do not add coal to the fire.)

Anipendaye, nami nampenda.I shall love the one who loves me.

Apataye, si mwenzioHe who gets rich is no longer your friend. (Those who prosper are inclined to forget their origins.)

Apewaye ndiye aongezwaye. He who is given is the one who is given even more.(The rich get richer. God has his own preferences.) 

Aisifuye mvua, imemnyeshea..He who praises rain has been rained upon.(The one who has profited from something also knows to appreciate it. Also... The moment you presume all is well, trouble is likely to start.)

Asali na shurubat, hayana ladha moja .Honey and syrup do not have the same taste.

Ashibaye, hamjui mwenye njaa..He who has his fill, does not know the needs of a hungry person. (The rich take care of themselves and ignore the underprivileged.)

Asimamaye haendi mbio, hajafukuzwa..The one who stands (firm), does not move quickly or easily but has not been chased away. (It is not easy to dislodge a dignitary once he is in power, but it is possible.) 

Asiyebahati habahatiki(shi). He who is unlucky is never lucky.

Asiyefunzwa na mamaye, hufunzwa na ulimwengu. He who is not taught by his mother, is taught by the world.(Spare the rod, spoil the child)

Asiyejua maana, haambiwi maana. He who does not know reason cannot be told reason.(You cannot teach a fool.)

Asiyekubali kushindwa, si mshindani. He who does not admit defeat or agree to lose, is not a competitor, fighter or debater.(Some people will never admit they are wrong)

Asiyekujua hakuthamini. He who does not know you, does not value you.

Asiyekuwapo machoni, na moyoni hayupo. He who is not in sight, is not in the heart.(Out of sight, out of mind.)

Asiyekuwapo na lake halipo. He who is absent loses his share.

Asiye na kumi, ana moja.He who does not have ten, has at least one. (No one is totally destitute with no talents at all.) 

Asiye na mengi, ana machache. He who does not have much, has few problems.

Asiyepo haangukiwiThe one who is not there, nothing will fall on him. (He who stands aloof from others avoids difficulties.) 

Asiyesikia la mkuu(wazee), huona makuu(huvunja guu) He who does not listen to the leader(elders), comes to grief(breaks a leg).

Asiyeuliza, hanalo ajifunzalo. He who does not ask, does not have what he needs to learn.

Atambaaye na nyasi, mtambulie ni nyoka..If you hear something creeping in the grass, take it for granted that it is a snake. (If someone flatters you, take it for granted that he wants something.) from you.

Atangaye sana na jua hujuwa. He who always wanders around in the sun(by day)learns much. (The more you see, the more you learn) (Keep your eyes open)

Atangazaye mirimo si mwana wa ruwari. The one who announces the tasks is not necessarily the son of the Liwali(headman). Don't kill the messenger.

Auguaye huangaliwa. He who is sick is cared for.

Avuaye nguo huchutama. He who removes his clothes, squats.(Do not display in public. If you have made a mistake, lie low.)

Avumaye baharini papa (kumbe wengine wapo). At the seaside, it is the shark which has a bad name(Giving a dog a bad name).The shark may be the "catch", but there are other fish in the sea.