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.
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Save as TXT | Xitsonga | English |
|---|---|
| Masasani u fele nhoveni | Direct - A person who helps people died in the bushes Meaning - Those who help others in need normally do not get help when they themselves are in need |
| Masiku i tinguluve | Direct - Days are pigs Meaning - It means days are plenty |
| Mavala ya mangwa i man'we | Direct - Stripes of a zebra are the same Meaning - Women are the same |
| Mavoko ya munhu a ya mili nhova | Direct - Grass cannot grow on a human beings hands Meaning - You must work hard to succeed |
| Maxinjani a xi khani ka mbirhi | Direct - A squirrel cannot cross your path twice Meaning - Present luck makes it more unlikely to obtain a similar luck in future |
| Mbita ya vovo yi dlele tingengendza | Direct - A person who is always sick tends to live longer than those who are more often in good health |
| Mbuti ya xihaha a yi tswaleli entlhambhini | Direct - A secretive goat does not give birth in a midst Meaning - Timhaka to lava xihundla a ti vulavuleriwa evanhwini |
| Mbuti yi dya laha yi nga bohiwa kona | Direct - A goat eats where it is tied |
| Mbyana leyi hanyaka yi tlula nghala leyi feke | Direct - A living dog is better than a dead lion |
| Mbyana loko yi lava ku ku luma ya n'wayitela | Direct - A dog smiles when it intends to bite you |
| Mbyana yo vukula a yi lumi | Direct - A barking dog does not bite |
| Mfenhe a yi tivoni makovo | Direct - A baboon can't see if he's ugly |
| Mfenhe loko yi khome vulombe yi famba hi milenge yinharhu | Direct - A baboon with honey walks on three legs |
| Mhisi yi tlakule tshurhi | Direct - A hyena stole the food basket Meaning - Hunger has just attacked a family |
| Mhuti yi biwa ya ha ri na mahika | Direct - An Antelope is killed while is sighing Meaning - Mhaka yi tengiwa/endliwa ya ha hisa |
| Mhuti yo tlulatlula Mangulwe u ta yi khoma | Direct - An antelope which is jumping next to a dog named Mangulwe will be caught. Meaning - A girl who becomes too close or playful to a boy who wants to propose marriage will eventually accept the proposal |
| Mintirho ya vulavula | Direct - Deeds speak |
| Mpfundla wa rivala cucululu | Direct - A rabbit which forgot to run away from hunters |
| Muhloti wa tinyarhi ti vuya hi yena | Direct - Buffalos are chasing their hunter |
| Mundzuku i siku | Direct - Tomorrow is a day |
| N'hwari mbirhi yin'we yi ta tshwa nkanga | Direct - If one tries to do more than one thing at the same time, one might not prosper |
| N'wana loko a nga rili u ta fela a dzobyeni | Direct - A child who does not cry will die unnoticed at the back of his mother |
| N'wana u tseme mubya | Direct - A disobedient child |
| N'wana wa mfenhe a nga tsandziwi hi rhavi | Direct - The child of baboon does not fail a branch |
| N'wana wa nyoka i nyoka | Direct - An offspring of snake is a snake |
| Nchindzu makukulela ekule | Direct - Munhu wo tirhela ehandle a tshika ekaya |
| Ndlela ya khale yi hava muntwa | Direct - An old path doesn't have thorns |
| Ndlopfu a yi fi hi rimbambu rin'we | Direct - An elephant does not die of one broken rib Meaning - A man shouldn't give up because of one adversity |
| Ndzi nge dyeriwi hi ti mpfuvu ndzi nga rimangi enhlalukweni | Direct - I will not allow hippos to eat my produce when I didn't even plough by the marshes Meaning - Said to defend one's property or rights |
| Ndzi ta ku komba xancila wa bulubulu | Direct - I will show you a mythical creature |