Lesson 28: Proverbs

Question 1

Pole pole ndio mwendo.

Answer 1

Slow, slow is the way to go.

Question 2

Haraka haraka haina baraka.

Answer 2

Hurry,hurry has no blessings.

Question 3

Mtu ni watu.

Answer 3

A person is people. (help & community)

Question 4

Tisa karibu na kumi.

Answer 4

Nine is near ten. (Don’t give up)

Question 5

Baba wa kambo si baba.

Answer 5

A step-father is not the father.

Question 6

Akili ni mali.

Answer 6

Intelligence is wealth.

Question 7

Haba na haba hujaza kibaba.

Answer 7

Little by little fills the container.

Question 8

Hasira hasara.

Answer 8

Anger is loss.

Question 9

Mtoto wa nyoka ni nyoka.

Answer 9

The child of a snake is a snake.

Question 10

Adui mpende.

Answer 10

Love your enemy.

Question 11

Dawa ya moto ni moto.

Answer 11

The cure for fire is fire. / Fight fire with fire.

Question 12

Nyumba nzuri si mlango.

Answer 12

A good house is not determined by its door.

Question 13

Kuuliza si ujinga.

Answer 13

Asking is not ignorance.

Question 14

Asiyesikia la Mkuu huvunjika guu.

Answer 14

One who does not listen to the elders breaks his leg.

Question 15

Bidii haiondoi amri ya Mungu.

Answer 15

Effort does not remove God’s directive.

Question 16

Chovya chovya humaliza buyu la asali.

Answer 16

Dipping a finger to taste repeatedly depletes a jar full of honey.

Question 17

Furaha/ujanja wa nyani huishia jangwani.

Answer 17

The happiness/tricks of a monkey end in the desert.

Question 18

Mchovya hachovyi mara moja.

Answer 18

The dipper does not dip once.

Question 19

Mgema akisifiwa tembo hulitia maji.

Answer 19

If the winetapper is praised, he puts water in the wine.

Question 20

Mtaka cha mvunguni sharti ainame.

Answer 20

One who wants something under (the bed) must bend over.

Question 21

Mungwana ni kitendo.

Answer 21

A good person is (so viewed) by their actions.

Question 22

Polepole za kombe zilimfikisha mbali.

Answer 22

Slow slow of the tortoise made him reach far.

Question 23

Subira huvuta heri.

Answer 23

Patience begets blessedness.

Question 24

Ukiona vyaelea jua vimeundwa.

Answer 24

When you see them afloat, know they have been made.

Question 25

Ukistaajabu vya Musa utaona vya Firauni.

Answer 25

When you are astonished by the story of Moses, you will learn about pharaoh.

Question 26

Damu ni nzito kuliko maji.

Answer 26

Blood is thicker than water.

Question 27

Mungu si Athumani.

Answer 27

God is not Athumani. / God does not choose favorites.

Question 28

Uislamu si kilemba cheupe.

Answer 28

Islam is not a white turban.

Question 29

Kaa nao ujuwe tafsiri zao.

Answer 29

Stay with them to know their translations/interpretations.

Question 30

Vyote ving’aavyo usifikiri ni dhahabu.

Answer 30

All that glitters is not gold.

Question 31

Kuishi kwingi ni kuona mengi.

Answer 31

The longer a person lives on earth, the more he sees; The older the person, the more the experience; There is wisdom in age.

Question 32

Akili ni nywele kila mtu ana zake

Answer 32

Brains are like hair: each person has his/her own.

Question 33

Mtegemea cha ndugu hufa yungali maskini.

Answer 33

He who relies on his brother’s property dies poor.

Question 34

Mstahimilivu hula mbivu.

Answer 34

The patient person eats that which is ripe.

Question 35

Maskini akipata matako hulia bwata.

Answer 35

When a poor man becomes rich his buttocks jiggle.

Question 36

Kilicho na mwanzo kina mwisho; Hakuna yasiyokuwa na mwisho.

Answer 36

Everything that has a beginning must have an end.

Question 37

Ukitaka kula nguruwe chagua aliyenona.

Answer 37

If you want to eat pork, slaughter a fat one.

Question 38

Ukitaja nyoka shika fimbo mkononi.

Answer 38

If you mention a snake, hold a club in your hand.