Methali za Kiswahili-Swahili Proverbs Part 1

1. Adhabu ya kaburi aijua maiti, The  torture of the grave is only known by the corpse
2. Akiba haiozi, A reserve will not decay
3. Asifuye mvuwa imemnyea. He who praises rain has been rained on.
4. Akili nyingi huondowa maarifa. Great wit drives away wisdom
5. Asiye kubali kushindwa si mshindani.He who does not admit defeat is not a sportsman
6. Atangaye na jua hujuwa. He who wonders around in the day a lot, learns a lot
7. Asiye kuwapo na lake halipo.If you are absent you lose your share
8. Avumaye baharini papa kumbe wengi wapo.Shark is the famous one in sea the but there are many others
9. Baada ya dhiki faraja.After hardship comes relief.
10. Baniani mbaya kiatu chake dawa. An evil Indian but his business is good.
11. Bendera hufuata upepo. A flag follows the direction of the wind.
12. Bilisi wa mtu ni mtu.The evil spirit of a man is a man.
13. Chamlevi huliwa na mgema.The drunkard’s money is being consumed by palm-wine trapper.
14. Chanda chema huvikwa pete.A handsome finger gets the ring.
15. Chombo cha kuzama hakina usukani. A sinking vessel needs no navigation.
16. Chovya – chovya yamaliza buyu la asali. Constant dipping will empty gourd of honey
17. Dalili ya mvua mawingu. Clouds are the sign of rain
18. Damu nzito kuliko maji. Blood is thicker than water
19. Dawa ya moto ni moto. The remedy of fire is fire
20. Dua la kuku halimpati mwewe. The curse of the fowl does not bother the kite.
21. Fadhila ya punda ni mateke. Gratitude of a donkey is a kick.
22. Fimbo ya mbali hayiuwi nyoka. A weapon which you don’t have in hand wont kill a snake.
23. Fuata nyuki ule asali.Follow bees and you will get honey
24. Fumbo mfumbe mjinga mwerevu huligangua.Put a riddle to a fool a clever person will solve it
25. Ganda la mua la jana chungu kaona kivuno.The skin of yesterday’s sugarcane is a harvest to an ant.
26. Haba na haba hujaza kibaba.Little by little fills up the measure.
27. Hapana marefu yasio na mwisho.They is no distance that has no end.
28. Hakuna siri ya watu wawili.They is no secret between two people.
29. Haraka haraka haina baraka.Hurry hurry has no blessings
30. Hasira, hasara.Anger brings loss(Damage)
31. Heri kufa macho kuliko kufa moyo.It is better to lose your eyes than to lose your heart.
32. Heri kujikwa kidole kuliko ulimi.Better to stumble with toe than tongue.
33. Hiari ya shinda utumwa.Voluntary is better than force.
34. Hucheka kovu asiye kuwa na jeraha.He laughs at scar who has received no wound.
35. Ihsani (hisani)haiozi.Kindness does not go rotten.
36. Ikiwa hujui kufa,tazama kaburi.If you don’t know death look at the grave.
37. Jina jema hungara gizani.A good name shines in the dark.
38. Jino la pembe si dawa ya pengo.An ivory tooth is not cure for the lost tooth.
39. Jitihadi haiondoi kudura. Effort will not counter faith.
40. Jogoo la shamba haliwiki mjini. The village cock does not crow in town.
41. Kafiri akufaye si Isilamu asiyekufa.An infidel who does you good turn is not like a Muslim who does not
42. Kamba hukatika pabovu. A rope parts where it is thinnest.
43. Kanga hazai ugenini.A guine- fowl not lay eggs on strange places
44. Kawaida ni kama sheria.Usage is like law
45. Kawia ufike.Better delay and get there.
46. Kazi mbaya siyo mchezo mwema.A bad job is not as worthless as a good game
47. Kelele za mlango haziniwasi usingizi.The creaking of the door deprives me of no sleep.
48. Kenda karibu na kumi.Nine is near ten.
49. Kiburi si maungwana.Arrogance is not gentlemanly.
50. Kichango kuchangizana.Everyone should contribute when collection is made.
51. Kidole kimoja hakivunji chawa.One finger cannot kill a louse.
52. Kingiacho mjini si haramu.That is fashionable in town is never prohibited.
53. Kikulacho ki nguoni mwako.That which eats you up is in your clothing.
54. Kila chombo kwa wimblile.Every vessel has its own waves
55. Kila mlango na ufunguwo wake.Every door with its own key
56. Kila mtoto na koja lake.To every child his own neck ornament
57. Kila mwamba ngoma ,ngozi huivuta kwake.Every who stretches a skin on a drum,pulls the skin own his own side.
58. Kila ndege huruka na mbawa zake.Every bird flies with its own wings.
59. Kilio huanza mfiwa ndipo wa mbali wakaingia.The bereaved begins the wailing latter others join.
60. Kimya kingi kina mshindo mkubwa.Along silence followed by mighty noise.
61. Kinga na kinga ndipo moto uwakapo.One fire brand after another keeps fire burning.
62. Kinyozi hajinyoi.A barber does not shave himself.
63. Kinywa ni jumba la maneno.Mouth is the home of words.
64. Kipendacho moyo ni dawa.What the heart desires is medicine to it.
65. Kipya kinyemi ingawa kidonda. A new thing is a sauce of joy even if is sore.
66. Kisebusebu na roho kipapo.Refusing and wanting at the same time.
67. Kisokula mlimwengu,sera nale.what is not eaten by a man,let the devil eat it.
68. Kitanda usicho kilala hujui kunguni wake.You cannot know the bugs of a bed that you have not lain on.
69. Kivuli cha fimbo hakimfichi mtu jua.Shadow of a stick cannot protect one from the sun.
70. Kiwi cha yule ni chema cha;hata ulimwengu uwishe. The blindness of that one is his good fortune
71. Kizuri chajiuza kibaya chajitembeza.A good thing sells it self a bad one advertises it self
72. Konzo ya maji haifumbatiki. A handfull of water can not be grasped.
73. Kosa moja haliachi mke.One fault does not warrant divorce of a wife
74. Kozi mwandada ,kulala na njaa kupenda.A goshawk is an egg child,if sleeps hungry its his own fault.
75. Kuagiza kufyekeza. ie One eye of a master sees more than four of a servant.
76. Kuambizana kuko kusikilizana hapana.Giving advice but no one listens.
77. Kucha M’ngu si kilemba cheupe.The fear of God is not wearing a white turban.
78. Kuchamba kwingi,kuondoka na mavi.Leave well alone! You wont improve matters by going on tinkering
79. Kufa kufaana.Death has its advantages too i.e. it benefits those who inherit.
80. Kufa kwa jamaa, harusi.The death of not a relative is a wedding.Compared to a death of a relative
81. Kufa kwa mdomo,mate hutawanyika.When the head of the family dies,that family breaks up.
82. Kuishi kwingi ni kuona mengi. To live long is to see much.
83. Kujikwa si kuanguka,bali ni kwenda mbele.To stumble is not falling down but it is to go forward.
84. Kukopa harusi kulipa matanga.Borrowing is like a wedding ,repaying is like mourning.
85. Kuku havunji yai lake.A hen does not break her own eggs.
86. Kuku mgeni hakosi kamba mguuni.A new fowl always has string around its legs.
87. Kula kutamu ,kulima mavune.Eating is sweet ,digging is weariness.
88. Kulea mimba si kazi kazi kulea mwana.It is not hard to nurse a pregnancy,but it is hard to bring up a child.
89. Kunako matanga kume kufa mtu.Where they is mourning someone has died.
90. Kunguru mwoga hukimbiza mbawa zake.The timid crow withdraws his wings from harm.
91. Kupanda mchongoma ,kushuka ngoma.You may climb a thorn tree,and be unable to come down.
92. Kupoteya njia ndiyo kujua njia.To get lost is to learn the way.
93. Kutoa ni moyo usambe ni utajiri.Charity is the matter of the heart not of the pocket.
94. Kutu kuu ni la mgeni.Old rust is for the stranger.
95. Kuzima koleo si mwisho wa uhunzi.Cooling the tongs is not end of forging.
96. Kwa mwoga huenda kicheko na kwa shujaa huenda kilio.i.e.timidity often ends in a laugh, bravado in a lament.
97. Kwenda mbio siyo kufika.To run is not necessarily to arrive.
98. Kwenye miti hakuna wajenzi.Where there trees,there are no builders.
99. La kuvunda(kuvunja) halina rubani. A vessel running guard has no captain.
100. La kuvunda (kuvunja)halina ubani.There is no incense for something rotting.

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