Kurdish Proverbs

A

* "Agir xweşe, lê xwelî jî jê çê dibe"
o Idiomatic Translation: Some perceived good things may have unintended bad consequences
o Literal Translation: Fire is good, but ashes are also produced from it.

B

* "Berd le cêgay xoyda qurs tire"
o Idiomatic Translation: One will feel more famous and valued at home among his/her own than among those in a foreign place.
o Literal Translation: A rock is heavier in its own resting place.

* "Berxwedan jîyane û jîyan berxwedane"
o Translation: To struggle is life and life is a struggle.

Ç

* "Çi dil hizir deket, dev xeber dedet."
o Idiomatic Translation: One can never hide his/her true feelings indefinitely.
o Literal Translation: Whatever the heart thinks, the mouth will speak.

D

* "Dagîrker dellê.. Malî xom bo xom, malî toş dexom"
o Idiomatic Translation: The occupier's philosophy has been: What is theirs is theirs and what is yours is also theirs.
o Literal Translation: The occupier says.. My house for me, your house I eat.

* "Dengî dehol le dûr xoşe"
o Idiomatic Translation: Some things seem better from far but are far from better
o Literal Translation: The sound of the drum is better from far

* "Derdî xencer asane, derdî dil pir girane"
o Idiomatic Translation: Pain in one's heart is far greater than the physical wound inflicted by a dagger.
o Literal Translation: The pain of a dagger is easy, the pain of a heart is heavy.

* "Destê betal ser zikê birçî"
o Idiomatic Translation: You have to work for what you want in life or else you get nothing.
o Literal Translation: A hand that does not work will rest on a stomach that is hungry.

* "Dest yê li kiftikê, û çav yê li afikê"
o Idiomatic Translation: The greedy may do good work but for their own wrong intentions
o Literal Translation: A person is doing something but his/her eyes are on something else.

E

* "Eger bar neçite ber kerî, ker diçite ber barî."
o Idiomatic Translation: If one is not fitted for a certain role, he/she should not try to assume it
o Literal Translation: If the load doesn't go on the donkey, the donkey will go under the load.

* "Eger gul nît, dirrigîş mebe."
o Idiomatic Translation: If you cannot contribute positivity, least do not contribute adversity.
o Literal Translation: If you are not a rose, do not be a thorn either.

G

* ''Gul Gul bû, baran jê ra hat û sil bû"
o Idiomatic Translation: He/She is sweet like a flower, but when bad days approach like rain, the sweetness withers away and turns into rage.
o Literal Translation: A flower was a flower, the rain came and made it angry.

H

* ""Her berek cihê xwe heye."
o Idiomatic Translation: Everyone and everything has a meaning and position to fill in life
o Literal Translation: Every rock has its place

M

* "Mirina ser pîyan baştire li jîyana ser çûkan."
o Idiomatic Translation: To die free is better than to live as a slave.
o Literal Translation: Death on your feet is better than life on your knees.

* "Mist destek na hên lêdan."
o Idiomatic Translation: It takes two to achieve a task.
o Literal Translation: You cannot clap with one hand.

R

* "Rêgey hezar mil bi hengawêk dest pêk dekat."
o Translation: The distance of 1000 miles begins with one step.

* "Rûvî negihişt tirî, got tirş e."
o Idiomatic Translation: One will suppress their desire for something they perceive impossible to attain
o Literal Translation: The fox did not reach the grape, said it's unripe. (w:Sour grapes)

Ş

* "Şam şekire, lê Kurdistan şêrîn tire"
o Idiomatic Translation: Foreign lands may be beautiful and sweet but one's homeland will always hold a more special place in one's heart
o Literal Translation: The Fertile Crescent is like sugar but Kurdistan is still sweeter.

* "Şêva reş, ji êvarê kifşe"
o Idiomatic Translation: Bad things are always foreshadowed / You can identify a bad person by observing his/her behaviors
o Literal Translation: A dark night is evident from the evening.

* "Şêr şêre; çi jine çi mêre"
o Idiomatic Translation: A hero could be a woman or a man / Gender is irrelevant to what can be achieved.
o Literal Translation: A lion is a lion, whether male or female.

* "Şola demî paşayê ser textî"
o Translation: Task done on time, and you are a king on your bed

* "Şolkerê xo be, xoşteviyê xelkî be"
o Translation: Help yourself, and be loved by others.

T

* "Tenha çiyakan dostmanin" / "Heval tune, ji xeyni çîyan"
o Idiomatic Translation: Kurds should never expect foreign support for only their true friends, the mountains, have protected them from the invaders' atrocities.
o Literal Translation: No friends but the mountains.

* "Tîrek mehawe ke le xot bigerêtewe
o Idiomatic Translation: Do not do something that may only harm you in the future
o Literal Translation: Don't throw the arrow that will return against you

Z

* "Zanetîyê sivik, barê giran"
o Idiomatic Translation: The less educated will have greater burdens.
o Literal Translation: Light wisdom, heavy burden.

* "Zimanê me, hebûna meye"
o Idiomatic Translation: A nation's language is the most crucial element to its existence.
o Literal Translation: Our language is our existence.