Afadhali kuanza kuwa maskini kidogo kuliko kuwa tajiri mara

Afadhali kuanza kuwa maskini kidogo kuliko kuwa tajiri mara. 

Instead of being rich at once it is better to be poor first.

Afadhali asaidiaye kuliko afunguaye mdomo kucheka

Afadhali asaidiaye kuliko afunguaye mdomo kucheka.

 The one who helps is better than the one who laughs.

Afadhali achimbaye jiwe kuliko azuruaye

Afadhali achimbaye jiwe kuliko azuruaye (m.y. afadhali anayefanya kazi yo yote kuliko mvivu) .

 Setter the one who digs a stone than the one who loaves. (i.e. a worker is better than a lazy person).

Adabu ni ngao

Adabu ni ngao.

 Politeness is a shield.

Adabu ni johari ya moyo

Adabu ni johari ya moyo. 

Politeness is a jewel of the heart.

Adabu ni dhahabu

Adabu ni dhahabu. 

Politeness is gold.

Aangukaye kwao fuvu huwa safi

Aangukaye kwao fuvu huwa safi (Kihaya: Agwa owabo akaanga kera) . 

One who falls at his home or where there are his relatives, his skull shines.

Aambiwaye akasikia takuwa mhekima

Aambiwaye akasikia takuwa mhekima.

 One who receives instructions will be wise.

Usiyavuke maji usiyoweza kuyaoga

Usiyavuke maji usiyoweza kuyaoga. 

Do not cross water that is too deep for wading.

Mfukuzwa kwao hana pakwenda

Mfukuzwa kwao hana pakwenda.

He who is expled from home has no where to go

Mavi ya kale hayanuki

Mavi ya kale hayanuki.

Old droppings do not stink.

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.

Painamapo ndipo painukapo

Painamapo ndipo
painukapo.

Where it
slopes down is where it
slopes up.

Kingiacho mjini si haramu

Kingiacho mjini si haramu.

That is fashionable in town is never prohibited