XITSONGA.ORGA list of Xitsonga proverbs translated to English.
- A proverb is xivuriso in Xitsonga.
- A proverb is a short pithy saying in general use, stating a general truth or piece of advice.
- The translation in english are directed and some are interpretations.
- The community is correcting the information on this page.
Save as PDF 
Save as CSV 
Save as TXT | Xitsonga | English |
|---|---|
| A ndzi ku hi laha ku nga na mpfula ku sala ndzhongo | Direct - I thought it is where the rain has poured and left fertile soil ground Meaning - I thought it was good things |
| Baji ri talele hi moya | Direct - The jacket is full of air Meaning - Someone has passed away |
| Dyondzo i xitlhangu xa vutomi | Direct - Education is the key to a good life |
| Emahlweni ka nghala ku fambiwa na xisana | Direct - When you go in front of a lion you must take a fire Meaning - You must be prepared when you approach a difficult target |
| Fuwa hlolwa u tsema ndleve | Direct - When you domesticate a wild dog you must cut its ear Meaning - When you help someone and he or she later turns against you |
| Hambi wo famba enkoveni lundza ri ta vonaka | Direct - Even if you walk in a valley your head will be visible Meaning - There are no secrets |
| Hi ta ku i timangwa loko hi vona mavala | Direct - We will say it's zebras when we see the stripes Meaning - I will believe something when I see it |
| Homu yo famba hi ndlela a yi heti nsimu | Direct - A cattle which eats as it moves by the roadside does not finish a field Meaning - A visitor will not finish your food |
| Huma mhiri se ku nghena mamba | Direct - A python should leave for the black mamba to go in Meaning - When you beat someone at something very important |
| Humba yi olele nkuma | Direct - The snail has collected ashes Meaning - Someone passed away |
| I kwakwa ra sekwa ma vonela e kule | Direct - The blessings of a duck is that it can see things which are far |
| I malebvu ya nghala | Direct - It is a lion's beard Meaning - Something that is not as scary as it looks |
| I matutu vana va tavasi | Direct - It is plenty |
| I tihomu ta ka Sono ti gomolana exivaleni | Direct - Cattle fighting in a kraal Meaning - A family discussing family matters |
| Ku ba mati tingwenya ti tlela | Direct - To beat the water and the crocodiles sleep Meaning - To give a bribe |
| Ku dya ngopfu a hi ku hlula ndlala | Direct - Eating too is not to defeat hunger Meaning - Eating too much doesn't defeat hunger |
| Ku pfuxiwa leyi ti pfuxaka | Direct - People only wake those who wake themselves Meaning - People only help those who help themselves |
| Ku tlula ka mhala swi letela n'wana wa le ndzeni | Direct - The way an impala jumps influences its unborn child Meaning - A child often takes after their mother |
| Ku tshama hi mavoko swi chela vusiwana | Direct - Lazy hands make a man poor |
| Kuwa ra le tshyakeni u dyisa hi n'wana | Direct - Only your child can feed you a dirty fig fruit |
| Kuwa ro tshwuka ri na xivungu endzeni | Direct - A fig fruit which is pink has a worm inside Meaning - A beautiful woman tends to have bad deeds |
| Kwembe ro hiwa a ri na murhu | Direct - A pumpkin which is given to you or you didn't prepare yourself is usually dry |
| Laha ku nga ni tinhongani ku borile xilo | Direct - Where there are flies there's something rotten |
| Laha ndlati yi nga ba kona yi tlhela yi vuya | Direct - Lighting will struck when it has struck in the past |
| Lexi xi nga heriku xa hlola | Direct - What doesn't end is taboo Meaning - Everything has an end |
| Loko u nga fambi u ta teka makwavo | Direct - If you don't travel you'll marry your sibling |
| Loko u tsundzuka mhelembe khandziya nsinya | Direct - When you think of a rhino immediately climb a tree Meaning - When you remember something do it immediately |
| Mahlo ya kwahle ya tiva hi muyevuri | Direct - The eyes of lizard are only seen by the hunter who kills it Meaning - You don't know something until you experience it |
| Makondlo ma mbirhi a ya celi mbovo wun'we | Direct - Two rats cannot dig the same hole |
| Mangwa yi pfumale timondzo hi ku rhumisa | Direct - A zebra doesn't have horn because of sending others to do its work |