Shona - Zimbabwe
Proverb
Mwana washe muranda kumwe
Meaning
The son of a chief is a subject elsewhere
Proverb
Matakadya kare haanyaradzi
Meaning
Boasting of past successes will not solve present problems
Proverb
Rina manyanga hariputirwi mumushunje
Meaning
That which has horns is not concealed in a bundle of grass
Proverb
Chinokanganwa idemo chitsiga hachikanganwe
Meaning
What forgets is the axe The faggot does not forget
Proverb
Chinonyenga chinokotama chinosimudza musoro chawana
Meaning
He who is courting bows down He raises his head when married
Proverb
Vaviri vaviri wechitatu muzvinaguhwa
Meaning
Two are a pair A third is a gossip
Proverb
Muromo haupi chinopa maoko
Meaning
The mouth does not give What gives are the hands
Proverb
Atswinya arwa
Meaning
One who has pinched has fought; Every little contribution counts
Proverb
Avengwa anhuhwa
Meaning
One who is hated stinks; Call a dog a bad name and hang him
Proverb
Chafamba chasvava
Meaning
One who has travelled has faded; Away from home one loses importance
Proverb
Pagara murimi pagara mupopoti
Meaning
Where there lives a farmer there lives a grumbler; A farmer is never satisfied with the work done for him
Proverb
Akweva sanzu akweva namashizha aro
Meaning
One who has pulled a branch along has pulled along its leaves; Inherit a wife and you inherit her children as well
Proverb
Chiri pamuchena chiri pamutenure
Meaning
What is on a poor man is on a slope and not secure; because of his bad luck, a poor man is ever in want
Proverb
Munhu kufamba kunenge kukavira nyimo, kutizira kuchinge kudyara nzungu, kucheuka kukange kutsindire’shwa.
Meaning
You have a walk like the planting of ground-peas, a run like the sowing of ground- nuts, a turning as in the capture of termites
Proverb
Chaitemura chava kuseva
Meaning
One who used to eat sadza dry is now eating it with relish; His luck has changed
Proverb
Aiva madziva ava mazambuko
Meaning
What were pools have become fords; Circumstances have changed
Proverb
Ashamba haanokorerwi
Meaning
One who has washed does not have sadza broken off for him, and is not helped to food; A cultured person is entitled to proper respect
Proverb
Chawawana idya nehama mutorwa ane hanganwa
Meaning
Eat what you have with a kinsman A stranger forgets; Blood is thicker than water
Proverb
China manenji hachifambisi chinomirira kuti mavara aonekwe
Meaning
A wonderful thing does not hurry away It waits for its marks to be seen; A criminal will always be caught because he will repeat his crime. A startling or terrible event will normally give previous warning of its likely occurrence
Proverb
Chaikanya chototsa chaitotsa chokanyawo
Meaning
The one who used to eat sadza dry now dips it into relish The one who used to dip it into relish now eats it dry; The wheel of Fortune goes round and roles are reversed
Proverb
Nzanga seka dumba, dumba seka nzanga
Meaning
Village laugh at shack Shack laugh at village; The wheel of Fortune goes round and roles are reversed
Proverb
Aive madziva ave mazambuko. Aive mazambuko ava madziva
Meaning
What were pools have become fords What were fords have become pools
Proverb
Chakatairi pasi ndeyavanhuvose asi iri mumuti ndeyo wagona kukwira
Meaning
The fruit on the ground belongs to everyone That on the tree is for him who can climb; Do not take anything for granted unless it is in Your possession