Language - proverbs a - f

Find in Kenya used proverbs and learn about the mentality of the Kenyans. Some of the proverbs are in Swahili others in the tribal languages e.g. of the Kalenjin or the Kikuyu

A

Adui mpende

Love your enemy

Agot ndarobonjin ropta ne tia, komabitei sosuriet eng metingung

However much it rains on you no wild banana tree will grow on your head

Ahadi ni deni

Promise is a debt

Ajidhaniye amesimama , aangalie asianguke

Who thinks to stay should take care not to fall

Akili ni mali

Knowledge is power

Akili ni nywele, kila mtu ana zake

Intelligence is like hair, everyone has its own

Asiyefunzwa na mamaye, hufunzwa na ulimwengu

What the mother doesn't teach will be taught by the world

Asiyesikia la mkuu huvunjika guu

Who does not hear must feel

B

Biashara haigombi

The retailer doesn't argue

C

Chema chajiuza, kibaya chajitembeza

Good things sell, bad things advertise

Chombo cha kuzama hakina rubani

A sinking ship doesn't need a captain

Chovya chovya humaliza buyu la asali

Dip after dip depletes a jar of honey

Chururu si ndo ndo ndo

Streaming is not drip, drip, drip (Little by little fills the pot)

D

Dalili ya mvua ni mawingu

The sign for rain are the clouds

Damu ni nzito kuliko maji

Blood is thicker than water

Dawa ya moto ni moto

A tool to fight fire is fire

Debe tupu haliachi kuvuma

An empty pot makes the loudest noise

Dua la kuku halimpati mwewe

The curse of the fowl does not bother the eagle

F

Faida yako ni hasara yangu

Your profit is my loss

Fimbo iliyo mkononi, ndiyo iuayo nyoka

The stick in the hand kills the snake

Fuata nyuki ule asali

Follow bees and get honey

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