Yemeni proverbs for all occasions [Archives:2002/19/Culture]

Ekht il shaqi bil shiga
Meaning: A miserable mans fortune is working hard all his life.
Comment: Poor, miserable people have to suffer all their lives.
Situation: Describing miserable people.

Ilgird bein umuh ghezal
Meaning: A monkeys mother sees its son as if it were a gazelle.
Comment: Mothers always see their children beautiful and fine even if they are ugly or behave badly. They are blind to the faults of their kids.
Situation: Mocking at mothers who praise their ugly kids, or making fun of those who praise their bad deeds.

Itnil sarig tittin
Meaning: Thiefs ear echo.
Comment: When a thief realizes that people talk about thefts, he may tremble or show gestures that disgrace him.
Situation: Describing thieves.

Sadha men bekker
Meaning: He who gets up early always wins.
Comment: The earlier, the winner. The English proverb is the early bird catches the worm is similar to this proverb.
Situation: Encouraging others to be early and active.

Ithnein silaat tedharebu ala mshatt
Meaning: Two bald headed people quarreled over a comb!
Comment: Foolish people quarrel with each other about what they dont possess without realizing their defects.
Situation: Mocking stupid people.

Thei beituh min zijaj ma yrajim il nas
Meaning: He who has a house made of glass shouldnt throw stones at others!
Comments: People of defects shouldnt talk about others because it will be something like throwing stones from inside a glass house. Surely, they will have stones thrown at them. Finally, they pay for it.
Situation: Advising people not to gossip at the absents.

Men higi sheiril nas saafu bireh
Meaning: He eats others barely but they eat his wheat.
Comment: One who steals others cheap belongings will lose his expensive ones.
Situation: Warning others not to pass over others possessions.

Ya iyali ma bish owna, galu ya abah kilin gursa
Meaning: Sons, we dont have flour
Give each of us a ring of bread.
Comment: This is an old proverb when people suffered from poverty. Here, a father complains that there is no flour to make bread, but his sons dont care and demand a ring of bread to each of them. that means they dont pay attention to their parents suffering.
Situation: When kids insist on what they want while the father lacks money.

Bead ma shab iktenoh
Meaning: After he had become an old man, they circumcised him.
Comment: Moslems used to circumcise their boys during their early life lest they should suffer pain. Circumcision is a religious duty and it is following Sarah, Prophet Ishmaels mother when she cut off the loose skin covering the end of Ishmaels sex organ as a sacrifice, as getting water under his feet in Mecca (zem zem). She couldnt find sheep to slay, she used a knife in cutting that part to shed blood which is a divine order to show grace.
Situation: Mocking a deed done after the appropriate time.

La tebki ala men mat illa ala man khef agleh
Meaning: Dont weep over the dead, but weep over one who gets mad.
Comment: Weeping over the dead never gets him/her back. Death is the law of life while getting mad is really abnormal about which one can feel sorry.
Situation: When one gets crazy.

Itha kuthur il debakheen hirig il riz
Meaning: Many cooks spoil the rice.
Comment: Many ideas and suggestions spoil the matter.
Situation: When many people suggest different ideas on one matter. It is similar to the English proverb Too many cooks spoil the broth.

Alkalb bebab beiteh asad
Meaning: A dog beside his door behaves as a lion.
Comment: A coward shows bravery at home like shouting and blowing but he is a coward outside.
Situation: When cowards behave as brave men against their kids and wives.

Ildein saa il irs wil gedha saa il wilaeh
Meaning: To get money by borrowing is like time of wedding while giving it back is like a time of giving birth.
Comment: When borrowing money people feel happy as a groom and a bride but when they give it back they feel difficult and sad.
Situation: Commenting about the repayment of debts which is not prompt.

Il khemireh tishti wil wham ma yghbi
Meaning: The mixture of flour and water increases in size, and so pregnancy couldnt be hidden.
Comment: Truth or fact cant be hidden.
Situation: Describing the nature of truth.

Akh min kelbeh wela adem il rijal
Meaning: It is better to have a brother from a she-dog than remaining brotherless or a she-brother dog is better than a bad brother.
Comment: Good brothers help each other during hard times and bad ones do not.
Situation: Showing the importance of brotherhood.

Ifteh beituk wiftikir willa ighlig beituk wistitir
Meaning: If you are rich and generous enough, open the door of your house to receive foreign guests, passengers and the poor. Declare your boast in that. And if you are poor, shut your door to hide yourself.
Comment: Some people try to show that they are generous which costs them much.
Situation: When disgracing falsely generous people.


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