Mla mbuzi hulipa ngombe.
The eater of a goat pays back a cow.
Friday 23 May 2014
Mla mla leo mla jana kala nini?
Mla mla leo mla jana kala nini?
The real eater is todays eater not yesterdays.
Mla nawe hafi nawe ila mzaliwa nawe
Mla nawe hafi nawe ila mzaliwa nawe.
He who eats with you will not die with you except he who was born with you.
Mlenga jiwe kundini hajui limpataye
Mlenga jiwe kundini hajui limpataye.
He who who flings a stone amid a crowd,does not know the it hits.
Mlimbua nchi ni mwananchi
Mlimbua nchi ni mwananchi.
He who enjoys the first fruit of a country is son of that country.
mnywa maji kwa mkono moja,Kiu yake i pale pale
mnywa maji kwa mkono moja,Kiu yake i pale pale.
He who drinks water with one hand finds out his thirst is still there.
Moja shika,si kumi nenda urudi
Moja shika,si kumi nenda urudi.
Take one,not that you may return with ten.
Mpanda farasi wawili hupasuka msamba
Mpanda farasi wawili hupasuka msamba.
One who rides two horses at once will split asunder.
Tuesday 20 May 2014
Mpemba akipata gogo hanyii chini
Mpemba akipata gogo hanyii chini.
If a native of pemba can get a log he does not relive himself on the ground.ie nothing but the best
Mpemba hakimbii mvua ndogo
Mpemba hakimbii mvua ndogo.
A native of Pemba does not run away fro a small shower.
Mpiga ngumi ukuta huumiza mkonowe
Mpiga ngumi ukuta huumiza mkonowe.
He who fights with a wall will only hurt his hand
Mpofuka ukongweni,hapotewi na njia
Mpofuka ukongweni,hapotewi na njia.
He who becomes blind in his old age does not lose his way.
Msafiri masikini ajapokuwa sultani
Msafiri masikini ajapokuwa sultani.
A traveller is poor,even though he being a ruler
Msema pweke hakosi
Msema pweke hakosi.
One who talks to himself can not be wrong.Ie no one to correct him.
Mshale kwenda msituni haukupotea
Mshale kwenda msituni haukupotea.
If an arrow goes into a forest it is not lost.
Monday 19 May 2014
Mke ni nguo ,mgomba kupalilia
Mke ni nguo ,mgomba kupalilia.
A wife is like clothes and banana plant needs weeding.
Mkamia maji hayanywi.
Mkamia maji hayanywi.
He who fixes his mind much on water ends up not drinkink it
Mkamatwa na ngozi ndiye mwizi
Mkamatwa na ngozi ndiye mwizi.
The one who is caught with the skin is the thief.
Mjinga akierevuka mwerevu yupo mashakani
Mjinga akierevuka mwerevu yupo mashakani.
When a fool becomes enlightened,the wise man is in trouble.
Miye nyumba ya udongo ,sihimili vishindo
Miye nyumba ya udongo ,sihimili vishindo
I am a mud hut, I can not stand shocks.
Mgeni njoo mwenyeji apone
Mgeni njoo mwenyeji apone.
Let the guest come so that the host may benifit.
Friday 16 May 2014
Mgema akisifiwa tembo hulitia maji
Mgema akisifiwa tembo hulitia maji.
If the palmwine tapper is praised,he dilutes the palm-wine with water.
Mgaagaa na upwa hali wali mkavu
Mgaagaa na upwa hali wali mkavu.
A lazy person with a nephwe does not eat dry rice.
Mfukuzwa kwao hana pakwenda
Mfukuzwa kwao hana pakwenda.
He who is expled from home has no where to go
Meno ya mbwa hayaumani
Meno ya mbwa hayaumani.
The teeth of a dog do not lock together.i.e brothers do not harm one another when they fight
Mdharau biu,hubiuka yeye
Mdharau biu,hubiuka yeye.
He who riducules a deformed person becomes deformed himself.
Mchumia juani,hula kivulini
Mchumia juani,hula kivulini.
He who earns his living in the sun,eats in the shade.
Sunday 4 May 2014
Siku utakayokwenda uchi, ndiyo siku utakayokutana na mkweo
Siku utakayokwenda uchi,
ndiyo siku utakayokutana
na mkweo.
The day you go
naked, is the day you will
meet your father/
mother.in-law .
Sikio halipwani kichwa. Alt: Sikio halipiti kichwa
Sikio halipwani kichwa.
Alt: Sikio halipiti kichwa.
The ear does not surpass
the head.
Sikio halilali na njaa
Sikio halilali na njaa.
An
ear dots not go to bed
hungry (there's always
plenty of gossip).
Si kila mwenye makucha huwa simba
Si kila mwenye makucha
huwa simba.
Not all that
have claws are lions. cf All
that glitters is not gold.
Shoka lisilo mpini halichanji kuni
Shoka lisilo mpini
halichanji kuni.
An axe
with rio handle does not
split firewood.
Shimo Ia ulimi mkono haufutiki
Shimo Ia ulimi mkono
haufutiki.
A pit of (dug
by) the tongue cannot be
covered up by the hand
(words are more
dangerous). Cf. The pen is
mightier than the sword.
Shika! Shika! na mwenyewe nyuma
Shika! Shika! na
mwenyewe nyuma.
Hold
him! Hold him! and you
yourself after him (i.e. you
shouldn't expect others to
do all the work).
Samaki mmoja akioza, huoza wote
Samaki mmoja akioza,
huoza wote.
If one fish
rots, they all rot. cf. A
rotten apple spoils its
neighbours. A sickly sheep
infects the whole flock.
Shika! Shika! na21. Sahani iliyofunikwa, kilichomo kimesitirika
Shika! Shika! na21. Sahani iliyofunikwa,
kilichomo kimesitirika.
When a plate is covered,
its contents are hidden.
Sahani iliyofunikwa, kilichomo kimesitirika
Sahani iliyofunikwa,
kilichomo kimesitirika.
When a plate is covered,
its contents are hidden.
Monday 28 April 2014
Mchuma janga hula na wakwao
Mchuma janga hula na wakwao.
He who earns calamity,eats it with his family.
Mchovya asali hachovi mara moja
Mchovya asali hachovi mara moja.
He who dips his finger into honey does not dip it once.
Mchonga mwiko hukimbiza mkono wake
Mchonga mwiko hukimbiza mkono wake.
The maker of wooden spoons saves his hand from fire.
Mchimba kisima hungia mwenyewe
Mchimba kisima hungia mwenyewe.
He who digs a pit will fall into it himself
Mchezea zuri ,baya humfika
Mchezea zuri ,baya humfika.
He who ridicules the good will be overtaken by evil.
Mcheza hawi kiwete,ngoma yataka matao
Mcheza hawi kiwete,ngoma yataka matao.
A dancer will not become crippled for dancing calls for grace.
Mcheka kilema hafi bila kumpata
Mcheka kilema hafi bila kumpata.
He who laughs at a cripple will not die without becoming himself
Mchele moja mapishi mengi
Mchele moja mapishi mengi.
Rice is all one but they are many ways of cooking it.
Mchelea mwana kulia hulia yeye
Mchelea mwana kulia hulia yeye.
He who fears the crying of a child,will cry himself.
Mchama ago hanyeli,huenda akauya papo.
Mchama ago hanyeli,huenda akauya papo.
A traveller does not make a mess where he had made a camp as he might one day come back.
Mchakacho ujao,halulengwi na jiwe
Mchakacho ujao,halulengwi na jiwe.
You dont throw stones at an approching craclin noise in the bush wait and see what is it first
Mchagua nazi hupata koroma
Mchagua nazi hupata koroma.
He who selects coconut with great care ends up getting a bad coconut
Mbiu za mgambo ikilia kuna jambo
Mbiu za mgambo ikilia kuna jambo.
When an oxhorn of a news man is sounded,something is wrong
Mbio za sakafuni huishia ukingoni
Mbio za sakafuni huishia ukingoni.
Running on the roof finishes at the edge.
Mbinu hufuata mwendo
Mbinu hufuata mwendo.
A double jointed arm follows the leg action.i.e Like father like son.
Mavi usioyala,wayawingiani kuku
Mavi usioyala,wayawingiani kuku?
Why drive away fowls from the dung you do not eat yourself?
Saturday 26 April 2014
Paka hakubali kulala chali
Paka hakubali kulala
chali.
A cat can never he
made to lie on its back.
303. Paka wa nyumba
haingwa. A cat belonging
to the house is not chased
away
Paka akiondoka, panya hutawala
Paka akiondoka, panya
hutawala.
when the cat
goes away, mice reign. cf.
When the cat's away, the
mice do play.
Thursday 24 April 2014
Masikini na mwanawe tajiri na mali yake
Masikini na mwanawe tajiri na mali yake.
A por man with his child a rich man with his wealth.
Masikini haokoti,akiokota huambiwa kaiba
Masikini haokoti,akiokota huambiwa kaiba.
A poor man does not pick up things if does they say he stole them.
Masikini akipata matako hulia mbwata
Masikini akipata matako hulia mbwata.
When a poor man gets something he boasts of his new wealth.
Maneno mema hutowa nyoka pangoni
Maneno mema hutowa nyoka pangoni.
Pleasent words will draw the snake from its hole.
Manahodha wengi chombo huenda mrama
Manahodha wengi chombo huenda mrama.
With many captains,the ship does not sail properly.i.e.Too many cooks spoil the broth
Majuto ni mjukuu
Majuto ni mjukuu.
Regrets are like a child,They come some considerable time after event.
Maji yakimwagika hayazoleki
Maji yakimwagika hayazoleki.
If water is split,it can not be gathered up
Mpanda ngazi hushuka
Mpanda ngazi hushuka.
He who climbs a ladder comes down again.i.e.What goes up must come down
Tuesday 22 April 2014
Maji ya kifufu ni bahari ya chungu
Maji ya kifufu ni bahari ya chungu.
Water in a coconut shell is like an ocean to an ant.
Thursday 17 April 2014
Wednesday 16 April 2014
Maji ya kifufu ni bahari ya chungu
Maji ya kifufu ni bahari ya chungu.
Water in a coconut shell is like an ocean to an ant.
Monday 7 April 2014
Maji usiyoyafika hujui wingi wake
Maji usiyoyafika hujui wingi wake.
You can not know the extent of water in a pond that you have never been to
Maji ukiyavuliya nguo huna budi kuyaogelea
Maji ukiyavuliya nguo huna budi kuyaogelea.
If you take of your clothes for water you must bathe
Maji huteremka bondeni,hayapandi mlima
Maji huteremka bondeni,hayapandi mlima.
Water flows down the valley does not climb the hill.
Mafahali wawili hawakai zizi moja
Mafahali wawili hawakai zizi moja.
Two bulls do not live in the same shade.
Lisemwalo lipo,ikiwa halipo laja
Lisemwalo lipo,ikiwa halipo laja.
What is benig talked about is here,and if its not it's comming around behind.
Wednesday 2 April 2014
Monday 31 March 2014
Maji huteremka bondeni,hayapandi mlima
Maji huteremka bondeni,hayapandi mlima.
Water flows down the valley does not climb the hill.
Mafahali wawili hawakai zizi moja
Mafahali wawili hawakai zizi moja.
Two bulls do not live in the same shade.
Lisemwalo lipo,ikiwa halipo laja
Lisemwalo lipo,ikiwa halipo laja.
What is benig talked about is here,and if its not it's comming around behind.
Friday 28 March 2014
Leo ni leo asemayo kesho ni mwongo
Leo ni leo asemayo kesho ni mwongo.
Today is today who says tommorrow is a liar
Lake mtu halimtapishi bali humchefusha
Lake mtu halimtapishi bali humchefusha.
One's foul smelling does not sicken one self but merely disguts one
La kuvunda (kuvunja)halina ubani
La kuvunda (kuvunja)halina ubani.
They is no incence for something rotting.
La kuvunda(kuvunja) halina rubani
La kuvunda(kuvunja) halina rubani.
A vessel running agroud has no captain.
Kwa mwoga huenda kicheko na kwa shujaa huenda kilio
Kwa mwoga huenda kicheko na kwa shujaa huenda kilio
.i.e.timidity often ends in a laugh, bravado in a lament.
Kuzima koleo si mwisho wa uhunzi
Kuzima koleo si mwisho wa uhunzi.
Cooling the tongs is not end of forging.
Monday 24 March 2014
Kutoa ni moyo usambe ni utajiri
Kutoa ni moyo usambe ni utajiri.
Charity is the matter of the heart not of the pocket
Kupanda mchongoma ,kushuka ngoma
Kupanda mchongoma ,kushuka ngoma.
You may climb a thorn tree,and be unable to come down
Kunguru mwoga hukimbiza mbawa zake
Kunguru mwoga hukimbiza mbawa zake.
The timid crow withdraws his wings from harm
Kulea mimba si kazi kazi kulea mwana
Kulea mimba si kazi kazi kulea mwana.
It is not hard to nurse a pregnency,but it is hard to bring up a child.
Kuku mgeni hakosi kamba mguuni
Kuku mgeni hakosi kamba mguuni.
A new fowl always has string around its legs.
Kukopa harusi kulipa matanga
Kukopa harusi kulipa matanga.
Borrowing is like a wedding ,repaying is like mourning.
Wednesday 19 March 2014
Kujikwa si kuanguka,bali ni kwenda mbele
Kujikwa si kuanguka,bali ni kwenda mbele.
To stumble is not falling down but it is to go forward.
To stumble is not falling down but it is to go forward.
Kufa kwa mdomo,mate hutawanyika
Kufa kwa mdomo,mate hutawanyika.
When the head of the family dies,that family breaks up.
Kufa kwa jamaa, harusi
Kufa kwa jamaa, harusi.
The death of not a relative is a wedding.Compared to a death of a relative
Kuchamba kwingi,kuondoka na mavi
Kuchamba kwingi,kuondoka na mavi.
Leave well alone! You wont improve matters by going on tinkering
Kuambizana kuko kusikilizana hapana
Kuambizana kuko kusikilizana hapana.
Giving advice but no one listens.
Kozi mwandada ,kulala na njaa kupenda
Kozi mwandada ,kulala na njaa kupenda.
A goshawk is an egg child,if sleeps hungry its his own fault.
Monday 17 March 2014
Kizuri chajiuza kibaya chajitembeza
Kizuri chajiuza kibaya chajitembeza.
A good thing sells it self a bad one advertises it self
Kiwi cha yule ni chema cha;hata ulimwengu uwishe
Kiwi cha yule ni chema cha;hata ulimwengu uwishe.
The blindnes of that one is his good fortune
Kivuli cha fimbo hakimfichi mtu jua
Kivuli cha fimbo hakimfichi mtu jua.
Shadow of a stick canot protect one from the sun.
Kitanda usicho kilala hujui kunguni wake
Kitanda usicho kilala hujui kunguni wake.
You canot know the bugs of a bed that you have not lain on.
Kisokula mlimwengu,sera nale
Kisokula mlimwengu,sera nale.
what is not eaten by a man,let the devil eat it.
Kipya kinyemi ingawa kidonda
Kipya kinyemi ingawa kidonda.
A new thing is a souce of joy even if is sore
Monday 10 March 2014
Kinga na kinga ndipo moto uwakapo
Kinga na kinga ndipo moto uwakapo.
One fire brand after another keeps fire burning
Kimya kingi kina mshindo mkubwa
Kimya kingi kina mshindo mkubwa.
Along silence followed by mighty noise
Kilio huanza mfiwa ndipo wa mbali wakaingia
Kilio huanza mfiwa ndipo wa mbali wakaingia.
The beareved begins the wailing latter others join
Kila ndege huruka na mbawa zake
Kila ndege huruka na mbawa zake.
Every bird flies with its own wings
Kila mwamba ngoma ,ngozi huivuta kwake
Kila mwamba ngoma ,ngozi huivuta kwake.
Every who streches a skin on a drum,pulls the skin own his own side.
Wednesday 5 March 2014
Kingiacho mjini si haramu
Kingiacho mjini si haramu.
That is fashionable in town is never prohibited
Kelele za mlango haziniwasi usingizi
Kelele za mlango haziniwasi usingizi.
The creaking of the door deprives me of no sleep.
Kazi mbaya siyo mchezo mwema
Kazi mbaya siyo mchezo mwema.
A bad job is not as wothless as a good game
Tuesday 25 February 2014
Kafiri akufaye si Isilamu asiyekufa
Kafiri akufaye si Isilamu asiyekufa.
An infidel who does you good turn is not like a Muslim who does not
Jogoo la shamba haliwiki mjini
Jogoo la shamba haliwiki mjini.
The village cock does not crow in town.
Jino la pembe si dawa ya pengo
Jino la pembe si dawa ya pengo.
An ivory tooth is not cure for the lost tooth
Ikiwa hujui kufa,tazama kaburi
Ikiwa hujui kufa,tazama kaburi.
If you don't know death look at the grave
Hucheka kovu asiye kuwa na jeraha
Hucheka kovu asiye kuwa na jeraha.
He laughs at scar who has received no wound
Heri kujikwa kidole kuliko ulimi
Heri kujikwa kidole kuliko ulimi.
Better to stumble with toe than toungue
Heri kufa macho kuliko kufa moyo
Heri kufa macho kuliko kufa moyo.
It is better to lose your eyes than to lose your heart.
Ganda la mua la jana chungu kaona kivuno
Ganda la mua la jana chungu kaona kivuno.
The skin of yesteday's sugarcane is a havest to an ant.
Fumbo mfumbe mjinga mwerevu huligangua
Fumbo mfumbe mjinga mwerevu huligangua.
Put a riddle to a fool a clever person will solve it
Monday 24 February 2014
Sunday 23 February 2014
Fimbo ya mbali hayiuwi nyoka
Fimbo ya mbali hayiuwi nyoka.
A wepon which you don't have in hand wont kill a snake.
Fadhila ya punda ni mateke
Methali za kiswahili
Fadhila ya punda ni mateke.
Gratitude of a donkey is a kick
Dua la kuku halimpati mwewe
Dua la kuku halimpati mwewe.
the curse of the fowl does not bother the kite
Chovya - chovya yamaliza buyu la asali
Chovya - chovya yamaliza buyu la asali.
Constant dipping will empty goud of honey
Friday 21 February 2014
Chombo cha kuzama hakina usukani
Chombo cha kuzama hakina usukani.
A sinking vessel needs no navigation
Chamlevi huliwa na mgema
Chamlevi huliwa na mgema.
The drunkard's money is being consumed by palm-wine trapper.
Tuesday 18 February 2014
Wallah Bin Wallah Kiswahili Mufti
 |
| Wallah Bin Wallah kiswahili mufti |
 |
| Wallah Bin Wallah kiswahili mufti |
Baniani mbaya kiatu chake dawa
Baniani mbaya kiatu chake dawa.
An evil Indian but his bussiness is good.
Avumaye baharini papa kumbe wengi wapo
Avumaye baharini papa kumbe wengi wapo.
Shark is the famous one in sea the but they many others
Asiye kubali kushindwa si mshindani
Asiye kubali kushindwa si mshindani.
He who does not admit defeat is not a sportsman
Adhabu ya kaburi aijua maiti, The touture of the grave is only known by the corpse
Adhabu ya kaburi aijua maiti,
The touture of the grave is only known by the corpse
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)