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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|---|---|
| Nghala yi etlele na khwiri ra yona | Direct - A lion sleeps with its stomach |
| Nghala yi vomba exihlahleni | Direct - A lion roars in the bush Meaning - Munhu u tiya loko a ri na ka va vona |
| Ngoma a yi tichayi | Direct - A drum doesn't beat itself Meaning - An expert does not boast or talk about her skills, the skills talk for her |
| Ngwenya kelenge xivutla ni mindzeko | Direct - A crocodile which is troubling people going to get water at the river for fun
Meaning - I munhu wo karhata ngopfu. |
| Nhenha yi vonaka enyimpini | Direct - A brave person is seen during war Meaning - A person should display their strength and skills against their counterparts instead of boasting about them |
| Nhonga ya le kule a yi dlayi nyoka | Direct - A stick which is far cannot kill a snake |
| Njiya a yi fani na murhoho | Direct - A locust is not the same as a vegetable Meaning - Little is better than nothing |
| Nkoka wo ya kule a wu na nyama | Direct - A long trail doesn't have meat |
| Nkondzo i malahla | Direct - Help a stranger who bewilds into your home, tomorrow you may bewild into their home |
| Nomu a wu taleriwi hi nambu | Direct - A mouth can cross any river |
| Nsinya wa le ndzelekanini a wu na n'winyi | Direct - A tree grown in the boundaries have no owner |
| Nyoka yo yi vona a yi lumi | Direct - A snake which you can see can't bite you |
| Nyuku wa mbyana wu helela evoyeni | Direct - The sweat of a dog finishes in it's fur. Meaning - To work for no reward |
| Rihlampfu rintswa ri tiyisiwa hi le ra khale | Direct - A new branch is supported by the old one |
| Rintiho rin'we a ri nusi hove | Direct - One finger cannot pick a grain |
| Risokoti ri dlele ndlopfu | Direct - An ant killed an elephant |
| Sasela vanungu | Direct - Helping others |
| Siku ra ngati a ri tshwuki | Direct - A day of blood is never red Meaning - There's no warning before a tragic day |
| Timhisi ta mikoka yi mbirhi yin'we yi phatluka nyonga | Direct - When a pack hyenas have 2 trails one hyena will break its leg Meaning - If you try to do too many things at the same time you will fail |
| Timondzo to lombiwiwa a ti namarheli | Direct - Borrowed horns do not stick |
| Timpfuvu timbirhi a ti tshami xidziveni xinwe | Direct - Two hippos cannot stay in the place |
| Tinghala timbirhi ta chavana | Direct - Two lions fear each other |
| Tinhlanga ta le ndzhaku ti tiviwa hi mutlhaveri wa tona | Direct - The tattooing marks made on the back are known by the tattooer, not by the tattooed |
| Tolo a nga ha vuyi | Direct - Yesterday will not come back |
| U lumiwile hi mpfundla | Direct - He was bitten by a rabbit Meaning - A man who is afraid to approach women or a man how is struggling to find a woman to love him |
| U nga dlayi nyoka u yi ndzuluta, ta micele ta ku vona | Direct - Do not kill a snake and swing it, the ones inside the holes are watching you Meaning - U nga endli swilo swo homboloka u famba u ti bumabuma |
| U nga hlawuli nkuku wa mhangele | Direct - One must not choose the male of the guinea-fowl. Meaning - This proverb is said to a young husband who might be tempted to prepare something for their babies before their birth, since you do not know if the baby is a male or female |
| U nga sahi nsinya hi vuxika, u ta tshwa hi mumu hi ximumu | Direct - Do not cut the tree in winter, you will burn by sun in summer |
| U nga teki mali u bohela enengeni wa mpfuvu | Direct - Do not tie money in the leg of hippopotamus |
| U nga teki sava u ba ngwenya | Direct - Don't take sand and hit a crocodile. Meaning - Don't take the small you have and give to someone who has more |