Arabic Proverbs

Originally Posted by Oriee

Oh mashallah 3leki...

Khajaltini ya Orieecim

Thanks for having opened this thread I like proverbs and sayings a lot

loving the 5ajaltini flex no more egyptian for you!!

LOL Viva!! in that case, you'll have to teach me more Shami, as up to now my Shami vocabulary consists of about 5 words only

Anyway, here are other nice proverbs I just found on my book They are all in foss7a:

حكم
7ikam (proverbs):




من زرع حصد
man zara3a 7a9ada
He who sows, harvests
Used to say one gets what one deserves as consequence of his/her own actions.

حبل الكذب قصير
7ablu l kazhibi qa9ir
Lies don't travel far (free translation!)

القرد في عين أُمه غزال
al qirdu fi 3aini ummihi ghazal
A monkey is a gazelle in his mother's eyes
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

لكل داء دواء
li kulli da2in dawa2
Every disease has a remedy
It means all problems have a solution.

الوقت من ذهب
al waqtu men zhahab
Time is money (gold)

الحب أعمى
al 7obb a3ma
Love is blind



Hope you liked them

I liked them

The first wisdom has remainder...

من زرع حصد، ومن سار على الدرب وصل

And I believe may be the second too...
لكل داء دواء، إلا السام
والسام هو الموت

Saba7 el kheyr kollokom

And here are the last proverbs -for now:

العلم نور
al 3ilmu nur
Knowledge is light

للحيطان آذان
lil 7i6an aazhan
The walls have ears

ضرب عصفورين بحجر واحد
dharaba 3u9furaini bi 7ajarin wa7id
He killed two birds with one stone

العجلة من الشيطان
al 3ajala min ash-shay6an
Hurry is devil's work

الحياة كفاح
al 7ayatu kifa7
Life is a struggle



What I like most about this is that most of them exist in other languages too!

Originally Posted by Oriee

I liked them

The first wisdom has remainder...

من زرع حصد، ومن سار على الدرب وصل

And I believe may be the second too...
لكل داء دواء، إلا السام
والسام هو الموت

Ahhhh... very nice thank you Orieecim

Let me see if I got them right:

من زرع حصد، ومن سار على الدرب وصل
Man zara3a 7a9ada, wa man saara 3ala d-darbi wa9ala
He who sows, harvests; and he who perseveres, achieves (second half is a free translation based on the Spanish equivalent of this )


لكل داء دواء، إلا السام والسام هو الموت
li kulli da2in dawa2, illa s-saami wa s-saamu howwa al maut
There's a remedy for any disease except poison, and poison is death! (I like this second half we also say in Spanish that "everything has a solution, except death" )

I never knew the ila ilsam bit of the proverb

Sam has no remedy?

In fact cici'cim "السام هو الموت" I wrote this part to explain the meaning of sam, but it's not in the proverb.

Oooohhhh... I see thanks

Originally Posted by citlalli

Ahhhh... very nice thank you Orieecim

Let me see if I got them right:

من زرع حصد، ومن سار على الدرب وصل
Man zara3a 7a9ada, wa man saara 3ala d-darbi wa9ala
He who sows, harvests; and he who perseveres, achieves (second half is a free translation based on the Spanish equivalent of this )

Cici'cim I remebered that this proverb has another part
من جد وجد، ومن زرع حصد، ومن سار على الدرب وصل
The one who works hard will achieve his goals,...

إرضاء الناس غاية لا تدرك.
Irda2 ennas 3'ayah la todrak (F)
Satisfying people is unreachable thing.
Used for everything one tries to do to satisfy people, either by wearing, speaking, anything that might come to your mind

First what I'm sending now is not a proverb rather than a line from a poet, but it has a wisdom in it, and I found it very expressing...

تواضع تكن كالنجم لاح لناظر *** على صفحات الماء وهو رفيع
ولا تك كالدخان يعلو بنفسه *** إلى طبقات الجو وهو وضيع
Twada3 takon kannajmi la7 li-nathirin *** 3la safa7at el ma2i wa howa rafee3o
Wala tako kaddo5an ya3lo binafsihi*** ila tbaqat el jaww-i wa howa wadee3o.... (F)

Moderate so you'll be as the star, appeared on water surface while it's superior/ noble
And don't be as the smoke, lifts itself over the skies while it's ignoble

really like this thread
here (fus7a):

لا تفكر في المفقود حتى لا تفقد الموجود
la tufakkir fi al mafqood 7atta la tufqid al mawjood
don't stressed out about your lost things, so you won't lose what you've got still

الكلمة الطيبة جواز مرور إلى كل القلوب
al kalima al 6ayyiba jawaz muroor ila kulli al quloob
a nice word's obliging a pass to everyone's heart

ليست السعادة في أن تعمل دائما ماتريد بل في أن تريد ما تعمله
laisat al sa3ada fi 2an ta3mal da2iman ma tureed bal fi 2an tureed ma ta3maloh
the happiness is not when you're working on what you want but instead what you're needed

I like this Egyptian Proverb

المكتوب على الجبين لازم تشوفه العين
el maktub 3ala el gibeen laazim tishufu el 3eyn.
what is written on the forehead must be seen by the eye.

what is written is written

ابعد هبة تزيد محبة (not sure whether the arabic script is correct or not)
eb3ed Habba tezeid maHabba
Go far you will be love more

The far-away friend is loved more

There's a saying I know was used in Egypt 40 years ago. I don't know if it's used nowadays. It's supposed to mean something like "tomorrow when the apricots blossom" but I don't think I have the complete saying. It seems something is missing. Maybe someone else knows more.

بكرة في المشمش (D)

Originally Posted by Popiloll

There's a saying I know was used in Egypt 40 years ago. I don't know if it's used nowadays. It's supposed to mean something like "tomorrow when the apricots blossom" but I don't think I have the complete saying. It seems something is missing. Maybe someone else knows more.

بكرة في المشمش (D)

بكرة في المشمش
“Bokra fi al mishmish”
Tomorrow in the apricot

“never gonna happen”

found it here: http://beyondthenear.net/blog/2007/06/22/the-shuk/

فالج لا تعالج
Falej la t3alej. (Lev./ Dialect)
(Incurable disease (Literally paralysis) don't trouble yourself trying to cure)

It's said when someone is not listening to advices or respond to things useful to him... In short there's no hope from that person to get better.

great topic

here is what i found ..enjoy


التكرار يعلّم الحمار.
(it-tikraar yi3allim il-Humaar.)
Repetition teaches (even) a donkey. (Practice makes perfect.)

في الامتحان يكرم المرء أو يحان.
(fil-imteHaan yokram il-mar' aw yohaan.)
At the time of a test, a person rises or falls.
(People's real worth is known only through trial.)

يا واخد القرد على ماله يروح المال ويقعد القرد على حاله.
(ya waaxod il-'ird 3ala maalu yiruuH il-maal wa yi'3od il-'ird 3ala Haalu)
If you marry a monkey (i.e. someone ugly) for his money, the money will go away and the monkey will stay the same (as ugly as ever). (Don't marry for money.)

الوحدة خير من جليس السوء
(il-waHda xeir min giliis is-suu'.)
Being alone is better than being with someone bad. (Warning about keeping bad company.)

امشي في جنازة ولا تمشي في جوازة.
(imši fi ganaaza walla timši fi gawaaza.)
Being involved in a funeral is better than trying to arrange marriages. (Warning about matchmaking.)

القرد في عين أمه غزال.
(il-'ird fi 3ein ummu ġazaal.)
In his mother’s eye, the monkey is (as beautiful as) a gazelle. (Comment about mothers' bias or partiality to their children.)

لا يلدغ المؤمن من جحر مرتين.
(la yuldaġ il-mo'men min goHr marratein.)
The believer is not bitten from the same hole twice. (Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.)

قليل البخت يلاقي العظم في الكرشة.
('aliil il-baxt yilaa'i l-3aDm fil-kirša.)
The unlucky person finds bones in his tripe dinner. (You can't escape bad luck.) See also the variation
قليل البخت يتكعبل في السديري
('aliil il-baxt yitka3bil fis-sideiri), "The unlucky person trips over [his own] waistcoat/vest."


الطيور على اشكالها تقع.
(iT-Tuyuur 3ala aškaaliha taqa3u.)
Birds of a feather flock together.

اليد في الميّة مش زي اليد في النار.
(il-iid fil-mayya miš zayy il-iid fin-naar.)
The hand in water isn’t like the hand in fire.
(Easier said than done; used to criticize someone removed from the situation at hand who is telling those involved how to deal with it.)

اللى على البرّ عوّام.
(illi 3ala l-barr 3awwaam.)
The one on shore is a master swimmer. (See above.)

اللى على راسه بطحة بيحصص عليها.
(illi 3ala raasu baTHa biHaSSiS 3aleiha.)
Those who have an injury on their head keep checking it. (People who have a weakness show it.)

لبس البوصة، تبقى عروسة.
(labbis il-buuSa, tib'a 3aruusa.)
Dressing up a stick turns it into a bride. (Clothes make the man.)

ابن الوزّ عوّام.
(ibn il-wazz 3awwam.)
The son of a goose is a swimmer.
(Like father, like son.)

دوام الحال من المحال.
(dawaam il-Haal min il-muHaal.)
Continuing the same state is impossible.
(Nothing stays the same.)

اللى يشوف بلوة غيره تهون عليه بلوته.
(illi yišuuf belwit ġeiru tihuun 3aleih belwitu.)
Seeing someone else’s problems makes your own problems seem smaller. (Considering others' problems will give you perspective.)

باب النجّار مخلع.
(baab in-naggaar maxalla3.)
The carpenter’s door is falling apart.
(Used to criticize someone who tells other people how to do things but doesn’t apply his advice to himself.)

الشاطرة تغذل برجل الحمار.
(iš-šaTra tiġzil bi-rigl il-Homar.)
The clever one spins with a donkey’s leg (i.e. can make something out of nothing). (Used to criticize someone who blames their tools for their bad work.)

اللى ماعندوهوش مايلزمهوش.
(illi ma3anduhuuš mayilzimhuuš.)
He who doesn't have (the money to pay for something) does not need it. (If you can't afford something, think twice about whether you really need it or not.)

بعد ما شاب ودوه الكتّاب.
(ba3d ma šaab wadduuh ik-kuttaab)
After his hair went white, he went to school. (You can't teach an old dog new tricks. Used to criticize someone old trying to do things more suited to young people.)


الفاضي يعمل قاضي.
(el-faaDi yi3mel 'aaDi)
Someone free plays the judge.
(Used to criticize someone with too much free time interfering in other people’s business.)

احنا في الهوا سوا.
(eHna fil hawa sawa.)
We are in the same boat (lit. same air).

العروسة للعريس والجري للمتاعيس.
(il-3aruusa lil-3ariis wel gari lil-mata3iis.)
The bride gets a bridegroom and the rest get miserable.
(The bride and bridegroom are happy at a wedding, but the guests go home unhappily.)

اللى مكتوب عالجبين لازم تشوفه العين.
(illi maktuub 3al-gibiin laazim tšuufu l-3ein.)
What is written on the brow will inevitably be seen by the eye.
(One will inevitably meet one’s destiny.)

يا مآمن للرجال يا مآمن الميّة في الغربال.
(ya me'aammin lir-ragaal ya me'aammin il-mayya fil-ġurbaal.)
Trusting men is like trusting water in a sieve.

الحلو حلو لو قام من النوم، والوحش وحش لو غسل وشّه كل يوم.
(il-Helw Helw law 'aam min in-noom, wal-weHš weHš law ġasal wiššu kull yoom.)
The beautiful is beautiful (even right after) rising from sleep, and the ugly is ugly (even) if they wash their face every day.
(You can't hide beauty or make the ugly beautiful.)

يد واحدة ماتسقفش.
(iid waHda matsa''afš.)
One hand doesn’t clap.
(Cooperation from all sides is necessary to accomplish anything.)


يا ما تحت السواهي دواهي.
(yaama taHt is-sawaahi dawaahi.)
Underneath the nice exterior is a bunch of problems.
(Used to criticize someone who tries to put up a good appearance to cover up their faults.)

على قد لحافك مد رجليك.
(ala 'add liHaafak midd regleik.)
Stretch your legs as far as your blanket extends.
(Don’t live beyond your means.)

اللي يتلسع من الشوربة ينفخ في الزبادي.
(illi yetlesse3 min iš-šorba yinfox fiz-zabaadi.)
He who burns his tongue from soup will blow in yogurt (to cool it).
(Once burned, twice shy.)

انت تريد وهو يريد والله يفعل ما يريد.
(anta turiid wa-howa yuriid wallaah yaf3al ma yuriid.)
You want what you want and he wants what he wants, but God does what He wants. (Man proposes, God disposes.)

أقول تور، يقول احلبوه.
(a'uul toor, yi'uul iHlibuuh.)
I say it's a bull, he says milk it.
(Used when you're talking at cross-purposes with someone who won't see reason.)

العين ماتعلاش عالحاجب.
(il-3ein mate3laaš 3al-Haagib.)
The eye doesn't go higher than the brow. (No one can go above their status in life.)

المتعوس متعوس ولو ركبه على راسه فانوس.
(il-mat3uus mat3uus walaw rakibu 3ala raasu fanuus.)
The miserable person will be miserable even if you hang a lantern on his head. (You can't escape your luck.)

لقّيني ولا اتغدّيني.
(la''iini wallitġaddini)
Better a warm welcome than being invited to lunch.
(Welcoming people warmly is important.)


طبّاخ السمّ بيدوقه.
(Tabbaax is-simm biyduu'u.)
One who cooks poison tastes it. (You have to share, so other people benefit from something you do or get.)


اتغدّى بيه قبل ما يتعشّى بيك.
(itġadda biih 'abl ma yit3ašša biik.)
Eat him for lunch before he eats you for dinner.
(Kill him before he kills you; get your blow in first.)


الحركة بركة.
(il-Haraka baraka.)
Movement is a blessing. (Exercise is good.)

دبّور زنّ على خراب عشّه.
(dabbuur zann 3ala xraab 3eššu.)
A wasp that brought about the destruction of its own nest through its buzzing. (He asked for it, it was his own fault.)

تضرب القدرة على فمها تطلع البنت لأمها.
(tiDrab il-'idra 3ala fummaha, tiTla3 il-bint li-ummaha.)
Like mother, like daughter.

هاك الشبل من ذاك الأسد.
(haak iš-šiblu min zaak il-asad.)
Similar to the above, used to desribe someone's similarity to one of their parents. Lit. "this cub (is) from that lion."

خسارة قريبة أحسن من مكسب بعيد.
(xosaara qariiba aHsan min maksab ba3iid.)
A loss soon is better than a victory much later.
(It's better to cut your losses and admit defeat quickly rather than stick it out and eventually win a victory that cost you a lot.)


شحات وعايز رغيف.
(šaHHaat we-3aayiz riġiif.)
A beggar, and he wants a (whole) loaf.
(If you're relying on other people's generosity, you should just be grateful for whatever you can get instead of complaining you didn't get more.)


مصائب قوم عند قوم فوائد
(maSaa'ib qawmin 3and qawmin fawaa'ido.)
Some people's disasters provide benefits for other people.
(What is disastrous for some people can prove to be advantageous for other people.)

الجيات أحسن من الرايحات.
(ig-gayyaat aHsan min ir-rayHHaat.)
What is coming is better than what is gone.
(The future is better than what's past; used to cheer people up.)


عمر الشقي بقي.
(omr iš-ša'i ba'i.)
The wicked or naughty live longer.
(Can be used to hint that if you take risks, it'll pay off.
Can also be used in a joking way; for example, if a friend was in a minor car accident and was uninjured, you could tell them, "3omr iš-ša'i ba'i.")


اسعى يا عبد وأنا أسعى معاك.
(is3a ya 3abd wana as3a ma3aak.)
Make an effort, and I'll make an effort [to help] you.
(God helps those who help themselves.)


المية تكدّب الغطاس.
(il-mayya tikeddib il-ġaTTaas.)
The water gives the lie to the diver.
(The proof's in the pudding.)


كله عند العرب صابون.
(kullu 3and il-3arab Sabuun.)
It's all the same thing to those who know nothing.
Used if someone views different things as if they're all the same.
(Lit. It's all soap to the Bedouins.)

العين بصيرة واليد قصيرة
(il-3ein baSiira wal-yad 'aSiira)
The eye sees, but the arm is short (cannot reach).
Said when someone wishes for something beyond his means.


تأتي الرياح بما لا تشتهي السفن
(ta'ti r-riyaaH bi-ma la taštahi s-sufun)
Winds do not blow as the ships wish.
(You can't always get what you want.)

المال السايب يعلم السرقة
(il-maal is-saayib yi3allim is-sir'a)
Unattended money teaches thievery.
(If you don't keep a close eye on your property, people will steal from you.)

ديل الكلب عمره مايتعدل
(deil ik-kalb 3omru mayet3edel)
The dog's tail will never straighten out.
(A leopard doesn't change its spots.)

اذا كان حبيبك عسل، ماتلحسوش كله
(iza kaan Habiibak 3asal, matilHasuuš kullu)
If your friend is honey, don't lick it all.
(Don't take advantage of your friends.)

العجل لما يقع تكثر سكاكينه
(il-3egl lamma yu'a3, tiktar sakakiinu)
When the calf falls, the knives come out.
(When people sense that someone's vulnerable, they'll attack.)
There's also a non-Egyptian variant, لما يطيح الجمل تكثر سكاكينه
(lamma yTiiH il-jamal, tiktar sakakiinu), referring to a camel instead of a calf.


مافيش حلاوة من غير نار
(mafiiš Halaawa min ġeir naar)
There's no dessert without fire (i.e. in the baking process).
(You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.)