Dhaqanka Soomaalida

Far keliyi fool ma dhaqdo.

"One finger does not wash a face."

Ceel nin too-xsaday isna ku caddiban, cuudna ma cokana.

"He who draws water out of the well alone exhausts himself, but does not water his flock well."

Hubkaa kaa war dheer.

"Your clothes speak louder than you."

Badi waa isku wada dhanaan.

"The sea is everywhere salty."

Nin salaan badani waa sabool ama waa wadaad, ama waa ciidan, ama waa beenaale.

"He who is too friendly is either a beggar, a mullah, a servant, or a liar."

Nin aad waxar ka dooneysid weyl baa la weydiistaa.

"If you want to receive a kid, ask for a calf."

Nin kaa xoog badani hortaa buu xanaaqaa.

"Who is stronger than you will get angry before you."

Kor waayeel waa wada indho.

"An old man sees even with his skin."

Shimbiri laba geed kama wada berdeysato.

"A bird cannot peck the fruits of two trees at the same time."

Cadowgaana kol ka digtoonow, saaxiibkaana kun jeer.

"Fear your enemy, but fear your friend a thousand times more."

Is-qariye ma qufaco.

"He who hides does not cough."

Hadal nin badiyey ma wada odhan, nin yareeyeyna kama wada tegin.

"He who talked much did not tell all he wanted, and he who talked a little told almost all he wanted."

Gacan gacan bay dhaqdaa, wadajirna wejigay dhaqaan.

"The hand washes the hand, and together they wash the face."

Hubsiimo hal baa la siistaa.

"To know something for certain, one would even part with a she-camel."

Doqon wixii casarkii lagu caayo ayay cishihii kugu caaysaa.

"How you curse a fool in the afternoon, so will he curse you in the evening."

Shabeelka ilmihiisu waa giiran yihiin.

"A leopard’s cubs are also spotted."

Wiilkana waa u geeraar, mulacana waa u geeri.

"What is play for a boy is death for a lizard."

Hangaraarac lug uma dhutiyo.

"A millipede will not limp because of one leg."

Mukulaal mininkeeda joogtaa miciyo libaax bay leedahay.

"A cat in its own house has lion’s fangs."

Qur go’day iyo roob galbeed midna ma soo noqdaan.

"A lost life and rain from the west—neither returns."

Ama leg hay, ama lug hay

"Catch hold of a brisket or at least of a leg."

Quraanyo aruurtay mulac bay jiidaa

"Together ants can carry even a lizard."

Wax-laawe wax looma dhiibto, wax-ma-kase wax looma sheegto

"He who has no things is not trusted with property, and he who has no brains is not trusted with secrets."

Rag waa shaah, dumarna waa sheeko.

"Men like tea, women like conversation."

Bahal ceeriin ma daayo, ninna caadadii ma baajo.

"The beast will not pass by raw meat, and the person will not give up his habit."

Boqorba wax baa la sii baraa.

"Even a chieftain is to be taught."

Timir laf baa ku jirta.

"There is a pit in every date."

Xarig keliya geel ma wada xiro.

"You can’t tie the whole herd of camels with one rope."

Hadal daan la qabtuu leeyahay, dabo la qabto ma leh.

"The word can be caught by the head; you cannot catch it by the tail."

Maan dad waa mudacyo afkood.

"A person’s mind is like the tip of an awl."

Adhi been waa didaa, beense ma dhutiyo.

"Sheep and goats stampede for a false reason, but they do not limp for a false reason."

Meeshaad nin ka qaadanaysaba nin baad kaga tegaysaa.

"Wherever you win someone for yourself, you also lose someone."

Erayba eray buu kugu dhaliyaa.

"A word gives birth to a word."

Geel laba jir soo wada mar.

"All the camels were once two years old."

Markaad kaliil aragtid roob filo.

"When the heat comes, wait for rain."

Abeeso dhul-u-ekaan bay kugu dishaa.

"The abeeso snake kills you by its resemblance to the ground."

Geel waa geel, in goysana waa geel.

"A camel is a camel that can be exchanged only for another camel."

Atoor sagaaro intiisa waa ku duq.

"Even though a male dik-dik is small, he may be old."

Geedba mirihiisuu dhalaa.

"Each tree bears its own fruits."

Sida loo kala xaar weyn yahay looma kala xoog weyna.

"If someone has a lot of shit, it doesn’t mean that he has much strength."

Meeshaad ku qoydaa lagu qalalsadaa.

"You should dry where you got wet."

Ninkaad beri ku baran weydid bil kuma baratid.

"The man whom you failed to know within a day, you will not know within a month."

Wax aad jeceshahay walaalkaana la jeclow.

"What you wish for yourself, wish for your brother."

Qof dhibkiis waa qof kale dheeftiis.

"What is a loss for one is a gain for another."

Maroodigu takarta saaran ma arkee kan kale tan saaran ayuu arkaa.

"An elephant does not see the gadfly sitting on it, but sees the one sitting on another elephant."

Nin gu’ kaa weyni garaadna kaa weyn.

"He who is a year older than you is wiser than you."

Geel nin aan lahayn geeridii war ma leh.

"The death of a man who does not own camels is no news."

Inta jiilaal loo adkaysto jir looma adkaysto.

"A prolonged drought is easier to withstand than a prolonged rain."

Ha noqon malab la leefi karo, hana noqon dacar la tufi karo.

"Do not become honey—you will be eaten; do not become aloe—you will be spit out."

Nin wixii dhibaa labo ma dhibto.

"What is hard for one is not hard for two."

Dameer iyo doc-ka-yeer daankaa lagu dhuftaa.

"A donkey and a busybody both deserve to be slapped in the face."

Gari Ilaah bay taqaan.

"Justice knows only Allah."

Xaq-ku-dhashe xaq ma diido.

"Born in the law does not reject the law."

Run iyo ilkaba waa la caddeeyaa.

"Truth and teeth should both be polished."

Beenlow nin dhintay iyo nin dheer ayuu markhaati u qabsadaa.

"A liar calls as a witness either he who is dead or he who is far away."

Beenaale marqaatigiisuu fogeeyaa.

"A liar chooses his witness from a faraway place."

Beeni marka hore waa malab, marka dambana waa malmal.

"At first, a lie appears as honey, but it soon turns to aloe."

Xaajo toosan lama wadwado, waa intaas oo ay meel xun tagtaa

"If you do not stop the discussion about a fairly resolved case, it can only be spoiled."

Nin rag ah raadkiisu toosan

"A straight man’s footprints are also straight."

Ul qalloocan hoos toosan ma yeelato.

"A curved stick casts no straight shadow."

Nin been badan mar bay runi ku baaqataa.

"Sometimes the truth remains with a liar."

Beenlow runtiisuna waa been, runlowna beentiisu waa run

"A liar’s truth is false; a truthful person’s lie is true."

Lillaahi iyo laqdabo meel ma wada galaan.

"Straightforwardness and slyness cannot enter one and the same place."

Runtaada hore beentaada dambay u roon tahay.

"Your previous truth helps your present lie."

Beentaada hore runtaada danbay u baas baxdaa.

"Your previous lie damages your present truth."

Hal xaaraan ahi nirig xalaal ah ma dhasho.

"A stolen she-camel does not give birth to a legitimate calf."

Gartaada inta aanad geedka tegin baa la naqsadaa.

"Before you go to the tree, consider if you can win the case."

Nin aan run sheegin been baa u qarsan.

"He who doesn’t tell the truth hides a lie."

Hadal been ah dheg been ah baa lagu dhegeystaa.

"A false speech is listened to by a false ear."

Dab munaafaq shiday mu’min baa ku gubta.

"A fire lit by a sinful man burns a sinless man."

Nin qaldan qabashadii iyo nin qumman quwayntii iyo nin qolman wax-siintii baa tol ku dhaqmaa.

"It is in restraining those who are at fault, supporting those who are upright, and helping those who are in need that clanship is profitably exercised."

Nin aan gardarro qaadani gar ma qaato.

"He who does not accept unfair treatment of himself does not accept fair treatment of other people."

Labadii xaqdarro ku heshiisaa xaqay ku diriraan

"Two friends in injustice will quarrel over justice."

Wax qof la toosan baa qof kale tuur la leh.

"What is straight for one is a hunchback for another."

Gari laba nin kama wada qosliso.

"A fair court decision cannot please both parties."

Gar waa loo wada Islaan.

"As regards justice, everyone is a Muslim."

Gar iyo geeriba loo siman.

"All people are equal before justice and death."

Wiilkaaga iyo wiilka gaalka garta u sin

"Be as fair to the son of an infidel as you are to your own son."

Hadal run baa lagu caddeeyaa, ilkana rummay.

"Rummay brightens teeth, but truth brightens speech."

Run Ilaah baa kugu jecel.

"Allah loves you for the truth."

Runta sheeg, beentaa ha la moodee.

"Tell the truth, even if it is taken for a lie."

Run sheeg, wax kuu marqaati fura ma weydide.

"Speak the truth and you won’t be left without witnesses."

Muslinow run sheeg, Muslinowna run uga qaado.

"You, Muslim, tell the truth, and you, Muslim, do not doubt it."

Runi rag kama nixiso

"Truth does not frighten men."

Runi rag waa ka nixisaa, waxse ma yeesho.

"Truth can frighten men, but it does not harm them."

Sir-ma-qabe Allaa u sahan ah.

"Allah himself helps an honest man to find a good pasture."

Sir-ma-qabe saab baa biyo u celiya.

"For an honest man, even a saab holds water."

Tol xeer lihi caydh ma leh.

"In a law-abiding tribe, there are no poor people."

Gaal dil, gartiisana sii.

"You may kill an infidel, but be just to him."

Xaajo qalloocan xoolahaagaa lagu bixiyaa.

"For an erroneous decision, you will have to pay with your property."

Sirrow ma hodmo.

"The swindler never thrives."

Dadka ayaa u itaal daran nin gardaran.

"Of people, the one who is wrong is the weakest."

Dhagarqabe dhulkaa u dhaqdhaqaaqa.

"The ground quakes under a rascal."

Dhagarrow ma liibaano.

"The rascal never succeeds."

Gar-diid waa Alle-diid.

"He who renounces justice renounces God."

Nin been badani isagaa u dhinta.

"He who lies a lot dies of lies."

Ilaahow, gar eexana ha nagaga tegin, garasho-yarina ha nagu cadaabin.

"O Allah, do not forgive us for a biased judgment, but do not punish us for a mistake."

Wax-is-weyddiini ma xuma ee wax-is-weydaarsi baa xun.

"It is not wrong to ask each other for something; it is bad to dodge each other."

Gari iyadoo aan gacan lahayn bay geed kugu xirtaa

"Although justice has no hands, it will tie you to a tree."

Xaqa haddii afka laga awdo, feeruhuu ka dillaacaa.

"If you don’t let the truth come out through your mouth, it will break your ribs and still come out."

Beenu baal la qabtay leedahay.

"A lie has a wing by which it can be caught."

Beeni raad ma leh.

"A lie leaves no trace."

Soomaalidu been waa sheegtaa, beense kuma maahmaahdo.

"Somalis can lie, but they do not lie in proverbs."

Carrab dalab leh lug dalab leh laga garan og.

"It is easier to recognize the crookedness of one’s tongue than the crookedness of one’s leg."

Qofkii isha daba dadkaa arka, kii uurkana Eebbe.

"If you twist your eye, people see, and if you twist your soul, God sees."

Nin gar eexo galay Rabbina ku og, kii uu ka galayna ku og, kii uu u galayna ku og.

"The biased verdict is known to God, the plaintiff, and the defendant."

Run sheeg waa ceeb sheeg

"Telling the truth also means telling shameful things."

Beenlow waa falalow.

"A liar is like a sorcerer."

Awr xamil waa qaadaa, xarig qalloocanse ma qaado.

"A camel can carry a heavy load, but not a crooked one."

Run iyo beeni kala raad leh.

"Truth and lies have different footprints."

Dhul jid baa ka toosan, dadna kii qaada.

"The road is straighter than the ground, and the one who walks along it is ahead of others."

Been waa ku qadeysiisaa, kumase cashaysiiso.

"A lie may provide you with dinner, but it will not give you supper."

Beeni mar bay ku waraabisaa, kumase rakaadiso.

"A lie can give you a drink once, but not a second time."

Been fakatay runi ma gaarto.

"The truth will not catch up with a runaway lie."

Intii la cayriyo been baa u gaabisa.

"Of what you chase away, the slowest is a lie."

Hadal run kama maarmo

"Speech cannot do without truth."

Hadal waa run-kama-rayste.

"Speech without truth gets sick."

Marqaati waa waa gar waa

"He who has no witness does not win the case."

Been sheeg, laakiin been run u eg sheeg

"Tell lies, but let your lies resemble the truth."

Runta sheeg, beentaa ha la moodee

"Tell the truth even if one may think you are lying."

Runta sheeg, dacarna ha ka qadhaadhaatee

"Tell the truth even if it tastes more bitter than aloe."

Gar jilicsan geeri baa hoos taalla.

"Doubtful justice is fraught with death."

Geed intuu yar yahay baa la toosiyaa

"The tree should be straightened while it is young."

Usha intay qoyan tahay baa la toosiyaa.

"The stick should be straightened while it is wet."

Wixii malab lagu toosin waayo mindi baa lagu toosiyaa

"What cannot be straightened with honey can be straightened with a knife."

Nin iyo qabkiis

"Each person has their own pride."

Ma-gefe waa Ilaah

"Allah alone is sinless."

Nin madaxuu ka cirroobaa, ninna maanka

"One person’s head becomes gray, another person’s mind becomes gray."