Kurdish proverbs

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Pendên Kurdî


E Ç Ş Z R T

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Contents

[edit] A

  • "Agir xweşe, lê xwelî jî jê çê dibe"
    • Idiomatic Translation: Some perceived good things may have unintended bad consequences
    • Literal Translation: Fire is good, but ashes are also produced from it.

[edit] D

  • "Dengî dehol le dûr xoşe"
    • Idiomatic Translation: Some things seem better from far but are far from better
    • Literal Translation: The sound of the drum is better from far
  • "Destê betal ser zikê birçî"
    • Idiomatic Translation: You have to work for what you want in life or else you get nothing.
    • Literal Translation: A hand that does not work will rest on a stomach that is hungry.
  • "Dest yê li kiftikê, û çav yê li afikê"
    • Idiomatic Translation: The greedy may do good work but for their own wrong intentions
    • Literal Translation: A person is doing something but his/her eyes are on something else.

[edit] E

  • "Eger bar neçite ber kerî, ker diçite ber barî."
    • Idiomatic Translation: If one is not fitted for a certain role, he/she should not try to assume it
    • Literal Translation: If the load doesn't go on the donkey, the donkey will go under the load.
  • "Eger gul nît, dirrigîş mebe."
    • Idiomatic Translation: If you cannot contribute positivity, least do not contribute adversity.
    • Literal Translation: If you are not a rose, do not be a thorn either.

[edit] Ç

  • "Çi dil hizir deket, dev xeber dedet."
    • Idiomatic Translation: One can never hide his/her true feelings indefinitely.
    • Literal Translation: Whatever the heart thinks, the mouth will speak.

[edit] H

  • ""Her berek cihê xwe heye."
    • Idiomatic Translation: Everyone and everything has a meaning and position to fill in life
    • Literal Translation: Every rock has its place

[edit] M

  • "Mirina ser piyan baştire li jiyana ser çukan."
    • Idiomatic Translation: To die free is better than to live as a slave.
    • Literal Translation: Death on your feet is better than life on your knees.
  • "Mist destek na hên lêdan."
    • Idiomatic Translation: It takes two to achieve a task.
    • Literal Translation: You cannot clap with one hand.

[edit] R

  • "Rêgey hezar mil bi hengawêk dest pêk dekat."
    • Translation: The distance of 1000 miles begins with one step.
  • "Rûvî negihişt tirî, got tirş e."
    • Idiomatic Translation: One will suppress their desire for something they perceive impossible to attain
    • Literal Translation: The fox did not reach the grape, said it's unripe. (w:Sour grapes)

[edit] Ş

  • "Şam şekire, lê Kurdistan şêrîn tire"
    • Idiomatic Translation: Foreign lands may be beautiful and sweet but one's homeland will always hold a more special place in one's heart
    • Literal Translation: The capital is like sugar but Kurdistan is still sweeter.
  • "Şêva reş, ji êvarê kifşe"
    • Idiomatic Translation: Bad things are always foreshadowed / You can identify a bad person by observing his/her behaviors
    • Literal Translation: A dark night is evident from the evening.
  • "Şêr şêre; çi jine çi mêre"
    • Idiomatic Translation: A hero could be a woman or a man / Gender is irrelevant to what can be achieved.
    • Literal Translation: A lion is a lion, whether male or female.
  • "Şola demî paşayê ser textî"
    • Translation: Task done on time, and you are a king on your bed
  • "Şolkerê xo be, xoşteviyê xelkî be"
    • Translation: Help yourself, and be loved by others.

[edit] T

  • "Tenha çiyakan dostmanin" / "Heval tune, ji xeyni çîyan"
    • Idiomatic Translation: Kurds should never expect foreign support for only their true friends, the mountains, have protected them from the invaders' atrocities.
    • Literal Translation: No friends but the mountains.
  • "Tîrek mehawe ke le xot bigerêtewe
    • Idiomatic Translation: Do not do something that may only harm you in the future
    • Literal Translation: Don't throw the arrow that will return against you

[edit] Z

  • "Zanetîyê sivik, barê giran"
    • Idiomatic Translation: The less educated will have greater burdens.
    • Literal Translation: Light wisdom, heavy burden.
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