Swahili Proverbs II

J

* Jambo usilolijua ni kama usiku wa giza.
o Idiomatic Translation: A matter about which you know nothing is like a dark night.
o Literal Meaning: You will not be able to easily comprehend things about which you know nothing.

* Jicho halina pazia.
o Idiomatic Translation: The eye doesn't have a curtain.
o Literal Meaning: You can't draw a curtain across peoples' eyes. If you are doing something wrong and someone sees you it's not their fault but yours.

* Jogoo hulia "uta wangu u kule".
o Idiomatic Translation: The rooster crows "my bow is just over there" (to the chicken hawk).
o Literal Meaning: Words without the actions to back them up are worthless.

* Jogoo wa shamba haiwiki mjini.
o Idiomatic Translation: The cock from the country doesn't crow in the city.
o Literal Meaning: When someone who is familiar with one environment move to a different one they are no longer able to do things effectively.


K

* Kazi mbaya siyo mchezo mzuri.
o Idiomatic Translation: Bad work isn't good play.
o Literal Meaning: Any work, even of the lowest kind, is more valuable than the best kind of playing.

* Kelele za chura hazimkatazi ng'ombe kunywa maji.
o Idiomatic Translation: The noise of a frog doesn't stop the cow from drinking water.
o Literal Meaning: See Kelele za mwenye nyumba hazimkatazi mgeni kulala.

* Kelele za mwenye nyumba hazimkatazi mgeni kulala.
o Idiomatic Translation: The noise of the landlord doesn't prevent the tenant from sleeping.
o Literal Meaning: A person who wants help will ignore all the distractions and insults coming from the one they need the help from.

* Kibuzi na kibuzi hununua jahazi.
o Translation: Small goat by small goat buys a ship.
o Meaning: By working for a small gain (e.g. selling a small goat) you only get a little way to your goal but eventually you will make it.
o See Also: Haba na haba hujaza kibaba.

* Kidole kimoja hakivunji chawa
o Translation: One finger cannot kill a louse
o Meaning: Teamwork is important

* Kilio huanza mfiwa ndipo wa mbali wakaingia.
o Idiomatic Translation: The bereaved begins the wailing so that those from afar can come and join in.
o Literal Meaning: If you want others to help you you must begin by helping yourself.

* Kinyozi hajinyoi na akijinyoa hujikata.
o Idiomatic Translation: The barber doesn't cut his own hair and if he does he cuts himself.
o Literal Meaning: No one is completely self sufficient; we all rely on each other.

* Kivuli cha fimbo hakimfichi mtu jua.
o Idiomatic Translation: The shade of a stick doesn't hide a person from the sun.
o Literal Meaning: Someone with limited abilities (weak, poor, etc.) can't be depended on to protect others.

* Konzi ya maji haifumbatiki.
o Idiomatic Translation: A palm full of water can't be grasped.
o Literal Meaning: Do not waste time trying to do that which is impossible.

* Kosa moja haliachi mke.
o Idiomatic Translation: One mistake isn't reason enough to leave your wife.
o Literal Meaning: A single mistake should be met with forgiveness, not condemnation.

* Kucha Mungu si kilemba cheupe.
o Idiomatic Translation: Reverence for God isn't a white turban.
o Literal Meaning: Worship should not be boastful.

* Kufa kikondoo ndiko kufa kiungwana.
o Translation: To die like a sheep is indeed a civilized death.
o Meaning: When goats are slaughtered they bleat and thrash around but when sheep are slaughtered they die stoicly and without fuss. For a man to die like a sheep shows good breeding.

* Kufa kwa mdomo mata hutawanyika.
o Idiomatic Translation: The death of the mouth scatters spit.
o Literal Meaning: When the head of a family or clan leaves or dies the clan scatters from lack of leadership to hold them together.
o Related: Kufa kwa mkundu mavi hutawanyika
o Idiomatic Translation: The death of the anus scatters shit.

* Kuku hawekwi shahidi wala hajui sheria.
o Idiomatic Translation: A chicken isn't called to testify nor does it know the law. (?)
o Literal Meaning: One who knows nothing about a subject should stay out of any matters relating to that subject. Don't let an idiot weigh in on matters about which he knows nothing.

* Kumwashia taa kipofu ni kuharibu mafuta.
o Idiomatic Translation: Lighting a lantern for a blind person is a waste of kerosene.
o Literal Meaning: Don't waste your time advising someone who doesn't have the wisdom to listen to your advice.

* Kuni ya juu uchaga hucheka iliyo motoni.
o Idiomatic Translation: Wood that is on top of the woodpile laughs at the wood in the fire.
o Literal Meaning: Don't laugh at those in trouble because you never know when trouble will come your way.

* Kupata si kwa werevu na kukosa si ujinga.
o Idiomatic Translation: Bounty doesn't come from cleverness nor lack from stupidity.
o Literal Meaning: God is the provider and everything comes from him, not from the efforts of man.

* Kusikia si kuona.
o Translation: Hearing isn't seeing.
o Meaning: Seeing is believing.

* Kutaataa siyo dawa ya kufa.
o Idiomatic Translation: Running about madly won't prevent death.
o Literal Meaning: Acting busy and concerned won't fix a hopeless situation.


L

* La kuvunda halina ubani.
o Idiomatic Translation: The stench of something rotting can't be hidden with incense.
o Literal Meaning: When something or someone is truly bad there is nothing that can hide that fact.

* Lililo moyoni ulimi huiba.
o Idiomatic Translation: The tongue steals what is in the heart.
o Literal Meaning: A person can't help but to speak what they feel.

* Leo kwako, kesho kwa mwenzio.
o Idiomatic Translation: Today is yours, tomorrow is your friend's.
o Literal Meaning: What ever you get today, blessing or curse, don't boast or complain too much because if you do, tomorrow you'll just have to listen to your friend doing the same.
o See Also: Every dog has his day.


M

* Maiti haulizwi sanda.
o Translation: A corpse isn't asked about the choice of shroud.
o Meaning: A person in trouble doesn't get to choose the kind of help they are offered.

* Maji ukiyavulia nguo huna budi kuyaoga.
o Idiomatic Translation: If you strip off your clothes by the water you have no choice but to bathe.
o Literal Meaning: If you have been heading towards a goal, have prepared and finally arrived at the end, don't stop now. Finish what you have begun.

* Maji ya kifuu bahari ya chungu.
o Idiomatic Translation: The water in a coconut is an ocean to an ant.
o Literal Meaning: What appears minor to you might seem enormous to someone else.

* Mapenzi ni kikohozi, hayawezi kufichika.
o Idiomatic Translation: Love is like a cough, it can't be hidden.
o Literal Meaning: No matter how hard you try to hide it, your affection for another will be apparent to everyone.

* Mchezea mavi hayaachi kumnuka.
o Idiomatic Translation: One who plays with shit will stink like it.
o Literal Meaning: If you stir up trouble you can't help getting involved in and damaged by it.

* Mchonga mwiko hukimbiza mkono wake.
o Idiomatic Translation: One who carves a spoon saves his hand (from a burn).
o Literal Meaning: A man works towards his own profit.

* Mchuma juani hula kivulini.
o Idiomatic Translation: One who harvests in the sun eats in the shade.
o Literal Meaning: Hard work now will pay off later.

* Meno ya mbwa hayaumani.
o Idiomatic Translation: A dog's teeth don't bite each other.
o Literal Meaning: People of one tribe might quarrel but they will always come back together.

* Mfa maji haishi kutapatapa.
o Idiomatic Translation: One who is drowning doesn't stop struggling.
o Literal Meaning: One who has a big problem won't rest until it is solved.

* Mficha uchi hazai.
o Idiomatic Translation: One who hides their nakedness can't give birth.
o Literal Meaning: We should let our friends know our troubles so they can help us, even if that involves revealing something shameful.

* Mgema akisifiwa, tembo hulitia maji.
o Idiomatic Translation: If you praise the palm wine tapper he will water down the palm wine.
o Literal Meaning: For some people, if you praise them they will begin to brag and boast, thus removing the cause of the praise.

* Mgomba haushindwi na mkunguwe.
o Idiomatic Translation: A banana tree isn't broken by it's stalk of bananas.
o Literal Meaning: No one is given a burden that is too big for them to carry.

* Mjinga mpe kilemba utamwona mwendowe.
o Idiomatic Translation: Flatter a fool and you'll see how he goes.
o Literal Meaning: A fool will seek to use flatery to deride his fellows while a wise man will accept it humbly.

* Mkono mmoja haulei mwana.
o Idiomatic Translation: One hand can't raise a child.
o Literal Meaning: Two parents are necessary in order to raise a child well.

* Mkono mtupu haulambwi.
o Idiomatic Translation: The empty hand isn't licked.
o Literal Meaning: You don't get help without providing something in return.

* Mkono usioweza kuukata, ubusu.
o Idiomatic Translation: Kiss the hand you can not cut.
o Literal Meaning: Don't struggle against an opponant you can't hope to beat. Better to join with them and combine your abilities towards a common goal.
o See Also: If you can't beat them, join them.

* Mla mbuzi hulipa ng'ombe.
o Idiomatic Translation: One who eats a goat will repay a cow.
o Literal Meaning: If someone does a small favor for you, you will repay it with a larger favor.

* Mlinzi hulinda ndege, mke mzuri halindwi.
o Idiomatic Translation: A guard guards birds (i.e. a wayward wife), a good wife doesn't need to be guarded.
o Literal Meaning: A trustworthy person doesn't need to be watched over closely. (?)

* Mnywa maji kwa mkono mmoja, kiu yake i pale pale.
o Idiomatic Translation: One who drinks water with one hand remains thirsty.
o Literal Meaning: If you focus your entire attention on the task at hand you will be more likely to complete it sucessfully, i.e. don't multitask!

* Moto hauzai moto, huzaa jivu.
o Idiomatic Translation: Fire doesn't beget fire, it begets ashes.
o Literal Meaning: Parents don't raise children exactly like themselves.

* Mpanda ngazi hushuka.
o Idiomatic Translation: One who climbs up a ladder climbs back down.
o Literal Meaning: Whoever is on top will surely come down.

* Mpiga ngumi ukuta huumiza mkonowe.
o Idiomatic Translation: One who boxes with a wall hurts his hand.
o Literal Meaning: One who goes looking for trouble shouldn't expect sympathy when he finds it.

* Mpofu hasahau mkongojo wake.
o Idiomatic Translation: A blind person doesn't forget his cane.
o Literal Meaning: The truly important can't be forgotten / aren't forgotten.

* Msema kweli hukimbiwa na rafiki zake.
o Idiomatic Translation: One who always tells the truth is avoided by his friends.
o Literal Meaning: Too much honesty can be bad.

* Mtafunwa na nyoka akiona unyasi hushtuka.
o Idiomatic Translation: One who has been bitten by a snake startles at a reed.
o Literal Meaning: Someone who has been harmed once is forever cautious.
o See Also: Once bitten twice shy.

* Mtegemea nundu haachi kunona.
o Idiomatic Translation: One who lives on rich food gets fat.
o Literal Translation: One who supports himself on the fatty hump from a cow's back doesn't stop getting fat.
o Literal Meaning: He will prosper who has as his benefactors the rich and the wise.

* Mtego bila chambo hanasi.
o Idiomatic Translation: A trap without bait won't catch anything.
o Literal Meaning: Don't expect to succeed at a task unless you have the expertise needed, Don't expect success without outlay.

* Mtembezi hula miguu yake.
o Translation: An idle wanderer consumes his legs.
o Meaning: One who wanders aimlessly just tires out his legs without gaining any profit.

* Mtoto akililia wembe, mpe.
o Idiomatic Translation: If a child cries for a razor blade, give it to him.
o Literal Meaning: If someone doesn't know the dangerousness of something, let him go ahead and be hurt by it if he wants so he will understand.

* Mtumi wa kunga haambiwi maana.
o Idiomatic Translation: The one sent with the secret message isn't told its meaning.
o Literal Meaning: If you send someone on an important errand, don't tell them what its importance is.

* Mvumilivu hula mbivu.
o Idiomatic Translation: The patient person eats the ripe fruit.
o Literal Meaning: Patience will get you to your goal.

* Mvuvi ndiye ajuaye pweza alipo.
o Idiomatic Translation: The fisherman knows where the octopuses are.
o Literal Meaning: Octopuses are hard to find so only those used to hunting them know where they are. If you are trying to do something difficult or find something or someone ask a specialist or someone with with wisdom specific to that thing.

* Mwenda pole hajikwai.
o Idiomatic Translation: One who goes slowly/carefully doesn't stumble.
o Literal Meaning: Rushing through a task results in a shoddy product.
o See Also: A stitch in time saves nine.

* Mwenye haja ndiye aendaye chooni.
o Idiomatic Translation: The one with the need is indeed the one who goes to the bathroom.
o Literal Meaning: If you want to reap the reward you must put in the work yourself.