Home > Proverbs > Xitsonga proverbs

A 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.
XitsongaEnglish
Nghala yi etlele na khwiri ra yonaDirect - A lion sleeps with its stomach
Nghala yi vomba exihlahleniDirect - A lion roars in the bush
Meaning - Munhu u tiya loko a ri na ka va vona
Ngoma a yi tichayiDirect - 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 mindzekoDirect - A crocodile which is troubling people going to get water at the river for fun
Meaning - I munhu wo karhata ngopfu.
Nhenha yi vonaka enyimpiniDirect - 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 nyokaDirect - A stick which is far cannot kill a snake
Njiya a yi fani na murhohoDirect - 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 malahlaDirect - Help a stranger who bewilds into your home, tomorrow you may bewild into their home
Nomu a wu taleriwi hi nambuDirect - A mouth can cross any river
Nsinya wa le ndzelekanini a wu na n'winyiDirect - A tree grown in the boundaries have no owner
Nyoka yo yi vona a yi lumiDirect - A snake which you can see can't bite you
Nyuku wa mbyana wu helela evoyeniDirect - The sweat of a dog finishes in it's fur.
Meaning - To work for no reward
Rihlampfu rintswa ri tiyisiwa hi le ra khaleDirect - A new branch is supported by the old one
Rintiho rin'we a ri nusi hoveDirect - One finger cannot pick a grain
Risokoti ri dlele ndlopfuDirect - An ant killed an elephant
Sasela vanunguDirect - Helping others
Siku ra ngati a ri tshwukiDirect - 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 nyongaDirect - 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 namarheliDirect - Borrowed horns do not stick
Timpfuvu timbirhi a ti tshami xidziveni xinweDirect - Two hippos cannot stay in the place
Tinghala timbirhi ta chavanaDirect - Two lions fear each other
Tinhlanga ta le ndzhaku ti tiviwa hi mutlhaveri wa tonaDirect - The tattooing marks made on the back are known by the tattooer, not by the tattooed
Tolo a nga ha vuyiDirect - Yesterday will not come back
U lumiwile hi mpfundlaDirect - 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 vonaDirect - 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 mhangeleDirect - 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 ximumuDirect - Do not cut the tree in winter, you will burn by sun in summer
U nga teki mali u bohela enengeni wa mpfuvuDirect - Do not tie money in the leg of hippopotamus
U nga teki sava u ba ngwenyaDirect - Don't take sand and hit a crocodile.
Meaning - Don't take the small you have and give to someone who has more

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