Arabic Proverbs
@arabicproverbs.bsky.social
Mostly translations of al-Maydānī's (d. 1124) Proverbs (مجمع الأمثال)
by Nathaniel Miller (PhD Arabic Literature), author of The Emergence of Arabic Poetry (Penn Press, 2024).
All screenshots are from the ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd edition.
by Nathaniel Miller (PhD Arabic Literature), author of The Emergence of Arabic Poetry (Penn Press, 2024).
All screenshots are from the ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd edition.
A few lines above this proverb is one that illustrates the smallness of a greedy person, so I’d like to think that it describes someone who neither overvalues nor undervalues money:
February 5, 2026 at 5:03 AM
Reposted by Arabic Proverbs
i'm sure you've checked them out, but the excerpts from al-Zaǧǧālī and Alonso del Castillo's collections of proverbs in Corriente's 2013 Andalusi Arabic grammar are really fun
yaʕṭí Alláh alfúl liman ma ʕíndu iḍrasáyn
'God gives beans to those who have no teeth'
yaʕṭí Alláh alfúl liman ma ʕíndu iḍrasáyn
'God gives beans to those who have no teeth'
February 2, 2026 at 9:32 PM
i'm sure you've checked them out, but the excerpts from al-Zaǧǧālī and Alonso del Castillo's collections of proverbs in Corriente's 2013 Andalusi Arabic grammar are really fun
yaʕṭí Alláh alfúl liman ma ʕíndu iḍrasáyn
'God gives beans to those who have no teeth'
yaʕṭí Alláh alfúl liman ma ʕíndu iḍrasáyn
'God gives beans to those who have no teeth'
No. 33
"Sometimes a liar tells the truth "
inna al-kadhūba qad yaṣduq
"Sometimes a liar tells the truth "
inna al-kadhūba qad yaṣduq
February 2, 2026 at 6:49 PM
No. 33
"Sometimes a liar tells the truth "
inna al-kadhūba qad yaṣduq
"Sometimes a liar tells the truth "
inna al-kadhūba qad yaṣduq
Reposted by Arabic Proverbs
Those who seek to comprehend great truths
will learn a lesson watching shadows move:
shades and shapes that pass and fade —
they all cease to be but their mover remains.
will learn a lesson watching shadows move:
shades and shapes that pass and fade —
they all cease to be but their mover remains.
February 1, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Those who seek to comprehend great truths
will learn a lesson watching shadows move:
shades and shapes that pass and fade —
they all cease to be but their mover remains.
will learn a lesson watching shadows move:
shades and shapes that pass and fade —
they all cease to be but their mover remains.
No. 32
"The staff comes from the little stick."
inna l-ʿaṣā min al-ʿuṣayya
Great things come from small ones.
"The staff comes from the little stick."
inna l-ʿaṣā min al-ʿuṣayya
Great things come from small ones.
January 30, 2026 at 5:47 PM
No. 32
"The staff comes from the little stick."
inna l-ʿaṣā min al-ʿuṣayya
Great things come from small ones.
"The staff comes from the little stick."
inna l-ʿaṣā min al-ʿuṣayya
Great things come from small ones.
No. 31
"My sons were born in my life's summer —
while the man whose sons were born
in his spring thrives."
inna baniyya ṣayfiyyūn
aflaḥa man kāna lahū ribʿiyyūn
Said when regretting things that have passed one by.
"My sons were born in my life's summer —
while the man whose sons were born
in his spring thrives."
inna baniyya ṣayfiyyūn
aflaḥa man kāna lahū ribʿiyyūn
Said when regretting things that have passed one by.
January 30, 2026 at 4:32 AM
No. 31
"My sons were born in my life's summer —
while the man whose sons were born
in his spring thrives."
inna baniyya ṣayfiyyūn
aflaḥa man kāna lahū ribʿiyyūn
Said when regretting things that have passed one by.
"My sons were born in my life's summer —
while the man whose sons were born
in his spring thrives."
inna baniyya ṣayfiyyūn
aflaḥa man kāna lahū ribʿiyyūn
Said when regretting things that have passed one by.
Reposted by Arabic Proverbs
English proverb: "More haste, less speed"
Algerian proverb: اغضب تعطل ʊγṣeb taʕṭəl
ambiguous between:
= hurry and you get delayed
= force it and you'll break it
(The list is about 40% good, 40% indifferent - but 9-9-6 is such bad advice that it makes the rest irrelevant. Esp if you marry early!)
Algerian proverb: اغضب تعطل ʊγṣeb taʕṭəl
ambiguous between:
= hurry and you get delayed
= force it and you'll break it
(The list is about 40% good, 40% indifferent - but 9-9-6 is such bad advice that it makes the rest irrelevant. Esp if you marry early!)
January 29, 2026 at 7:41 PM
English proverb: "More haste, less speed"
Algerian proverb: اغضب تعطل ʊγṣeb taʕṭəl
ambiguous between:
= hurry and you get delayed
= force it and you'll break it
(The list is about 40% good, 40% indifferent - but 9-9-6 is such bad advice that it makes the rest irrelevant. Esp if you marry early!)
Algerian proverb: اغضب تعطل ʊγṣeb taʕṭəl
ambiguous between:
= hurry and you get delayed
= force it and you'll break it
(The list is about 40% good, 40% indifferent - but 9-9-6 is such bad advice that it makes the rest irrelevant. Esp if you marry early!)
No. 30
"Despising an ignoble man is a kindness."
inna l-hawāna lil-laʾīmi marʾamah
The idea is basically don't cast pearls before swine.
"Despising an ignoble man is a kindness."
inna l-hawāna lil-laʾīmi marʾamah
The idea is basically don't cast pearls before swine.
January 28, 2026 at 4:05 AM
No. 30
"Despising an ignoble man is a kindness."
inna l-hawāna lil-laʾīmi marʾamah
The idea is basically don't cast pearls before swine.
"Despising an ignoble man is a kindness."
inna l-hawāna lil-laʾīmi marʾamah
The idea is basically don't cast pearls before swine.
Reposted by Arabic Proverbs
Arabic proverb of the day with pretty exact parallels in Irish and Latin:
"Silence is the sign of consent"
الصمت علامة الرضى
al-ṣamt ʿalāmat al-riḍāʾ
Irish:
Con·éitet nád fúacair.
"Whoever does not denounce accepts"
Latin:
Qui tacet consentit.
"He who is silent consents"
"Silence is the sign of consent"
الصمت علامة الرضى
al-ṣamt ʿalāmat al-riḍāʾ
Irish:
Con·éitet nád fúacair.
"Whoever does not denounce accepts"
Latin:
Qui tacet consentit.
"He who is silent consents"
January 27, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Arabic proverb of the day with pretty exact parallels in Irish and Latin:
"Silence is the sign of consent"
الصمت علامة الرضى
al-ṣamt ʿalāmat al-riḍāʾ
Irish:
Con·éitet nád fúacair.
"Whoever does not denounce accepts"
Latin:
Qui tacet consentit.
"He who is silent consents"
"Silence is the sign of consent"
الصمت علامة الرضى
al-ṣamt ʿalāmat al-riḍāʾ
Irish:
Con·éitet nád fúacair.
"Whoever does not denounce accepts"
Latin:
Qui tacet consentit.
"He who is silent consents"
Reposted by Arabic Proverbs
Three dog proverbs:
🐕🦺🐕
Egyptian:
"When the dogs bark no one replies to them."
لما الكلاب بتهوهو ما حدش يرد عليهم
Lamma el-kilāb bi-thawhaw ma-ḥaddish yirudd ʿalayhum
Don't demean yourself by responding to low insults.
~"Don't wrestle with a pig; you both get dirty, but the pig likes it."
🐕🦺🐕
Egyptian:
"When the dogs bark no one replies to them."
لما الكلاب بتهوهو ما حدش يرد عليهم
Lamma el-kilāb bi-thawhaw ma-ḥaddish yirudd ʿalayhum
Don't demean yourself by responding to low insults.
~"Don't wrestle with a pig; you both get dirty, but the pig likes it."
January 26, 2026 at 11:55 PM
Three dog proverbs:
🐕🦺🐕
Egyptian:
"When the dogs bark no one replies to them."
لما الكلاب بتهوهو ما حدش يرد عليهم
Lamma el-kilāb bi-thawhaw ma-ḥaddish yirudd ʿalayhum
Don't demean yourself by responding to low insults.
~"Don't wrestle with a pig; you both get dirty, but the pig likes it."
🐕🦺🐕
Egyptian:
"When the dogs bark no one replies to them."
لما الكلاب بتهوهو ما حدش يرد عليهم
Lamma el-kilāb bi-thawhaw ma-ḥaddish yirudd ʿalayhum
Don't demean yourself by responding to low insults.
~"Don't wrestle with a pig; you both get dirty, but the pig likes it."
No. 28
"To stay on the safe side it's best left alone."
There are two readings al-Maydānī offers.
1. It refers to finding lost property.
2. It refers to the things of this world as in the verse:
The soul loves this world knowing full well
to be on the safe side it's best left alone.
"To stay on the safe side it's best left alone."
There are two readings al-Maydānī offers.
1. It refers to finding lost property.
2. It refers to the things of this world as in the verse:
The soul loves this world knowing full well
to be on the safe side it's best left alone.
January 26, 2026 at 3:19 PM
No. 28
"To stay on the safe side it's best left alone."
There are two readings al-Maydānī offers.
1. It refers to finding lost property.
2. It refers to the things of this world as in the verse:
The soul loves this world knowing full well
to be on the safe side it's best left alone.
"To stay on the safe side it's best left alone."
There are two readings al-Maydānī offers.
1. It refers to finding lost property.
2. It refers to the things of this world as in the verse:
The soul loves this world knowing full well
to be on the safe side it's best left alone.
Reposted by Arabic Proverbs
"Fart in the mosque and you will be famous."
This is said of one who is eager to gain a reputation even if it is a bad one.
This is said of one who is eager to gain a reputation even if it is a bad one.
![47 اطقَع بالمسجد يشيع ذكرك
'eṭga' bal-masyad yešī' ḏetsrek
"Break wind in the mosque and you will be famous [since many
people will hear about it]."
This is said of one who is eager to gain a reputation
even if it is a bad one.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:oroezzrbilxzmt3bz7mu2ctc/bafkreihp6mf3ez5z5xsppscqhie37zdsaotiu4e2d7ahox4ttu5mefup5e@jpeg)
January 26, 2026 at 2:48 AM
"Fart in the mosque and you will be famous."
This is said of one who is eager to gain a reputation even if it is a bad one.
This is said of one who is eager to gain a reputation even if it is a bad one.
No. 27
"Power [over another] dispels the desire for vengeance."
inna al-maqdirata tudhhibu l-ḥafīẓa
Once upon a time a prominent man of Quraysh sought revenge against another man but once he had him in his power he quoted this proverb and released him.
"Power [over another] dispels the desire for vengeance."
inna al-maqdirata tudhhibu l-ḥafīẓa
Once upon a time a prominent man of Quraysh sought revenge against another man but once he had him in his power he quoted this proverb and released him.
January 26, 2026 at 1:30 AM
No. 27
"Power [over another] dispels the desire for vengeance."
inna al-maqdirata tudhhibu l-ḥafīẓa
Once upon a time a prominent man of Quraysh sought revenge against another man but once he had him in his power he quoted this proverb and released him.
"Power [over another] dispels the desire for vengeance."
inna al-maqdirata tudhhibu l-ḥafīẓa
Once upon a time a prominent man of Quraysh sought revenge against another man but once he had him in his power he quoted this proverb and released him.
No. 26
"In the course of speaking there are opportunities to avoid lying."
inna fī l-maʿārīḍi la-mandūḥatan ʿani l-kadhib
This contradicts those who claim it is sometimes necessary to lie.
"In the course of speaking there are opportunities to avoid lying."
inna fī l-maʿārīḍi la-mandūḥatan ʿani l-kadhib
This contradicts those who claim it is sometimes necessary to lie.
January 25, 2026 at 5:03 PM
No. 26
"In the course of speaking there are opportunities to avoid lying."
inna fī l-maʿārīḍi la-mandūḥatan ʿani l-kadhib
This contradicts those who claim it is sometimes necessary to lie.
"In the course of speaking there are opportunities to avoid lying."
inna fī l-maʿārīḍi la-mandūḥatan ʿani l-kadhib
This contradicts those who claim it is sometimes necessary to lie.
Reposted by Arabic Proverbs
Egyptian Arabic proverb of the day:
"Idle hands are ritually impure."
~ Idle hands are the devil's plaything.
الايد البطلانة نجسة
el-ʾīd el-baṭlāna nigsa
"Idle hands are ritually impure."
~ Idle hands are the devil's plaything.
الايد البطلانة نجسة
el-ʾīd el-baṭlāna nigsa
January 22, 2026 at 5:36 AM
Egyptian Arabic proverb of the day:
"Idle hands are ritually impure."
~ Idle hands are the devil's plaything.
الايد البطلانة نجسة
el-ʾīd el-baṭlāna nigsa
"Idle hands are ritually impure."
~ Idle hands are the devil's plaything.
الايد البطلانة نجسة
el-ʾīd el-baṭlāna nigsa
Reposted by Arabic Proverbs
We all know that one person (or camel, as the case may be…).
January 22, 2026 at 3:04 AM
We all know that one person (or camel, as the case may be…).
Reposted by Arabic Proverbs
A variation in Moroccan Darija:
lli ma kay yǝfhǝm b-lɣǝmzaʰ yǝfhǝm b ḍḍǝṛbaʰ
اللي ما كاي يفهم ب الغمزة يفهم ب الضربة
(he who does not get the wink gets the stick)
lli ma kay yǝfhǝm b-lɣǝmzaʰ yǝfhǝm b ḍḍǝṛbaʰ
اللي ما كاي يفهم ب الغمزة يفهم ب الضربة
(he who does not get the wink gets the stick)
January 21, 2026 at 5:00 AM
A variation in Moroccan Darija:
lli ma kay yǝfhǝm b-lɣǝmzaʰ yǝfhǝm b ḍḍǝṛbaʰ
اللي ما كاي يفهم ب الغمزة يفهم ب الضربة
(he who does not get the wink gets the stick)
lli ma kay yǝfhǝm b-lɣǝmzaʰ yǝfhǝm b ḍḍǝṛbaʰ
اللي ما كاي يفهم ب الغمزة يفهم ب الضربة
(he who does not get the wink gets the stick)
No. 25
"The one who cannot take a hint is a fool."
inna man lā yaʿrifu al-waḥya aḥmaq
"The one who cannot take a hint is a fool."
inna man lā yaʿrifu al-waḥya aḥmaq
January 21, 2026 at 2:25 AM
No. 25
"The one who cannot take a hint is a fool."
inna man lā yaʿrifu al-waḥya aḥmaq
"The one who cannot take a hint is a fool."
inna man lā yaʿrifu al-waḥya aḥmaq
No. 24
"When lying is the best of two options, those are both bad options."
inna khaṣlatayni khayruhumā al-kadhibu la-khaṣlatā sūʾ
Said when someone makes an excuse for something they've done by lying.
"When lying is the best of two options, those are both bad options."
inna khaṣlatayni khayruhumā al-kadhibu la-khaṣlatā sūʾ
Said when someone makes an excuse for something they've done by lying.
January 20, 2026 at 2:28 PM
No. 24
"When lying is the best of two options, those are both bad options."
inna khaṣlatayni khayruhumā al-kadhibu la-khaṣlatā sūʾ
Said when someone makes an excuse for something they've done by lying.
"When lying is the best of two options, those are both bad options."
inna khaṣlatayni khayruhumā al-kadhibu la-khaṣlatā sūʾ
Said when someone makes an excuse for something they've done by lying.
No. 23
"There's something beyond the hill."
inna warāʾa al-akamati mā warāʾahā
The story is a servant wanted to meet her lover beyond a local hill but the people she worked for gave her too much work and she couldn't go and said this.
Said when one reveals something they had kept secret.
"There's something beyond the hill."
inna warāʾa al-akamati mā warāʾahā
The story is a servant wanted to meet her lover beyond a local hill but the people she worked for gave her too much work and she couldn't go and said this.
Said when one reveals something they had kept secret.
January 19, 2026 at 6:41 PM
No. 23
"There's something beyond the hill."
inna warāʾa al-akamati mā warāʾahā
The story is a servant wanted to meet her lover beyond a local hill but the people she worked for gave her too much work and she couldn't go and said this.
Said when one reveals something they had kept secret.
"There's something beyond the hill."
inna warāʾa al-akamati mā warāʾahā
The story is a servant wanted to meet her lover beyond a local hill but the people she worked for gave her too much work and she couldn't go and said this.
Said when one reveals something they had kept secret.
No. 22
"You still have the night, so eat dinner."
inna ʿalayka ǧuršan fataʿaššah
This is said to encourage someone with a task to do to take it easy and not push themselves too hard.
"You still have the night, so eat dinner."
inna ʿalayka ǧuršan fataʿaššah
This is said to encourage someone with a task to do to take it easy and not push themselves too hard.
January 19, 2026 at 6:05 AM
No. 22
"You still have the night, so eat dinner."
inna ʿalayka ǧuršan fataʿaššah
This is said to encourage someone with a task to do to take it easy and not push themselves too hard.
"You still have the night, so eat dinner."
inna ʿalayka ǧuršan fataʿaššah
This is said to encourage someone with a task to do to take it easy and not push themselves too hard.
Reposted by Arabic Proverbs
Egyptian Arabic proverb of the day:
"Cowardice is the master of all virtues."
الجبن سيد الأخلاق
el-gubn sayyid el-akhlāʾ
"Cowardice is the master of all virtues."
الجبن سيد الأخلاق
el-gubn sayyid el-akhlāʾ
January 18, 2026 at 2:58 AM
Egyptian Arabic proverb of the day:
"Cowardice is the master of all virtues."
الجبن سيد الأخلاق
el-gubn sayyid el-akhlāʾ
"Cowardice is the master of all virtues."
الجبن سيد الأخلاق
el-gubn sayyid el-akhlāʾ
Reposted by Arabic Proverbs
Egyptian Arabic idiom of the day:
"A bean doesn't get wet in his mouth"
I.e., he can't keep a secret
ما بتتبلش في بقه فولة
mā btitballish fī buʾʾuh fūla
"A bean doesn't get wet in his mouth"
I.e., he can't keep a secret
ما بتتبلش في بقه فولة
mā btitballish fī buʾʾuh fūla
January 16, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Egyptian Arabic idiom of the day:
"A bean doesn't get wet in his mouth"
I.e., he can't keep a secret
ما بتتبلش في بقه فولة
mā btitballish fī buʾʾuh fūla
"A bean doesn't get wet in his mouth"
I.e., he can't keep a secret
ما بتتبلش في بقه فولة
mā btitballish fī buʾʾuh fūla
No. 21
"When there is already disaster, calamity strikes."
inna al-dawāhiya fī l-āfāti tahtarisu
This means when one bad thing happens, other misfortunes tend to follow all at once; ~ when it rains, it pours.
"When there is already disaster, calamity strikes."
inna al-dawāhiya fī l-āfāti tahtarisu
This means when one bad thing happens, other misfortunes tend to follow all at once; ~ when it rains, it pours.
January 17, 2026 at 1:43 AM
No. 21
"When there is already disaster, calamity strikes."
inna al-dawāhiya fī l-āfāti tahtarisu
This means when one bad thing happens, other misfortunes tend to follow all at once; ~ when it rains, it pours.
"When there is already disaster, calamity strikes."
inna al-dawāhiya fī l-āfāti tahtarisu
This means when one bad thing happens, other misfortunes tend to follow all at once; ~ when it rains, it pours.
Reposted by Arabic Proverbs
"When a liar enters the city gate,
at his back is a finger,
at his front is a finger."
- Sumerian proverb
The fingers, presumably, are pointing at the liar, who has lied to those behind him and will lie to those in front of him.
Source: cdli.earth/artifacts/34...
at his back is a finger,
at his front is a finger."
- Sumerian proverb
The fingers, presumably, are pointing at the liar, who has lied to those behind him and will lie to those in front of him.
Source: cdli.earth/artifacts/34...
January 16, 2026 at 2:09 PM
"When a liar enters the city gate,
at his back is a finger,
at his front is a finger."
- Sumerian proverb
The fingers, presumably, are pointing at the liar, who has lied to those behind him and will lie to those in front of him.
Source: cdli.earth/artifacts/34...
at his back is a finger,
at his front is a finger."
- Sumerian proverb
The fingers, presumably, are pointing at the liar, who has lied to those behind him and will lie to those in front of him.
Source: cdli.earth/artifacts/34...