Malayalam proverbs

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This page is for proverbs from Malayalam language, one of the 21 official languages in India.

See also: Tamil proverbs, Telugu proverbs, Kannada proverbs, Sanskrit proverbs, Hindi proverbs, Bengali proverbs, Kashmiri proverbs, Indian proverbs

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] A

• Aana Vayil Ambazhanga.
  • Literal:a small fruit in an elephant's mouth.
  • Translation: Too small an amount for a very large need.
    • English equivalent :
• Ariyethra? Payar anjaazhi.
  • Literal :How much rice you have? I have enough beans.
  • Translation:
    • English equivalent:
• Ariyaatha pillakku choriyumbol ariyum.
  • Literal:The ignorant child learns when it itches.
  • Translation: If people don't realise the magnitude of a problem, they shall do so the hard way; as it hits them. (gist)
    • English equivalent:
• Aanakaaryam Pareyumbol Aano Chenakkaryam?
  • Literal: When you are discussing about elephant don't talk about yam matters.
  • Translation: Do not bring up small issues during major problems.
    • English equivalent:
• Araante ammakku pranthu pitichaal kaanaan nalla chellu.
  • Literal: If somebody's mother goes mad, it is a good scene to watch.
  • Translation: It is always enjoyable to make fun of others tragedy till it actually hits you.
    • English equivalent:

[edit] B

[edit] C

• Chakkinu Vechatu Kokkinu Kondu.
  • Trap made for some one, but got trapped someone else
  • Bengali equivalent: কাগটা দেখে মারলে তীর, বকটা গেলো মরে।
    • English equivalent :

• Chakkikotha Chankaran.
  • Made for each other.
  • Bengali equivalent: ১)রাজযোটক;২)যেমন দ্যাবা তেমনি দেবী ।
    • English equivalent :

[edit] D

[edit] E

• Eliye pedichu illam chudaruthu.
  • • English equivalent :

[edit] F

Do not set fire to a house to kill a rat in it.

[edit] G

[edit] H

[edit] I

• Ikkare nilkumbol akkare pacha
  • The other side of the river is greener.
  • For example:- When you are doing a work you feel it is very hard and the other works are very easy.
    • English equivalent :

• Ikyamathyam mahabalam.
  • Literal: Unity is strength.
    • English equivalent :

[edit] J

[edit] K

• Kaakka kulichaal kokku aakummo?
  • If crow baths, will it become a crane (trans)
    • English equivalent :

• kupayil kalanjalum, alannu kalayanam.

കുപ്പയില്‍ കളഞ്ഞാലും, അളന്നു കളയണം.

• • Even waste should be measured and discarded. (translation)
    • English equivalent :

• Kurangande kayil poomala.
  • (It is like giving a garland to a monkey).
• Kurangu kaiyile poo malai (Tamil
  • • English equivalent :

• Kakkakkum than kunju pon kunju.
  • Literal: Even for a crow, its own baby is a treasure
  • Translation: Own creations will be invaluable, even though it may not be so for others.
    • English equivalent :
• Kurakkunna Patti Kadikkilla.
  • Barking Dog Seldome Bite.
    • English equivalent :

[edit] L

[edit] M

• Muttethe Mullakku Manamilla.
• മുറ്റത്തെ മുല്ലക്കു മണമില്ല.

Literal meaning: The jasmine shrub in your front yard has no fragrance.

• • We seldom recognise the value of people near to you**
    • English equivalent :
• Moothavarude vaakum muthu nellikayum aadhyam kaykum, pinne madhurikkum.
  • Obey what the elders tell you, at first they may sound sour, later it will be sweet. (trans)

The original proverb in old Malayalam is thus: *Moothavar chollum muthu nellikka; aadhyam kaykkum pinne madhurikkum.

• • An elders advice is like gooseberries; at first sour then sweet. (trans)
    • English equivalent :

• Mookilla Rajyathu Murimookkan Rajavu.
  • (In the land of people with no nose, the half-nosed man is King)
  • Similar to "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king". Or "Among illiterate people, a half-literate is a scholar."
    • English equivalent :

• Minnunnathellaam ponnalla.
  • All that glitters is not gold.
    • English equivalent :

• Maththa kuthiya kumbalam mulakimo.
  • You cant reap a cucumber if you sow a pumpkin.
    • English equivalent :

• Mulla poompodi eetu kidakkum kallinum undaam saurabhyam.
  • Our behaviour also depends on the company that we have
    • English equivalent :

[edit] N

• Nadukadalil chennalum naaya nakkiye kudikku.
  • Even in you take a dog to the middle of the ocean, a dog will only lap water, not drink it.
    • You do what you are, hence you are what you do. (English equivalent).
    • English equivalent :
• Nallathe ariyo nayike.
  • Literal: What does a dog know about the good things.
  • Translation: Someone who can't understand can't appreciate.
  • English equivalent: Laying pearls before swine.
    • English equivalent :

[edit] O

• Onam vannaalum Unni pirannaalum korante kanji kumbilil thanne.
  • Be it Onam, be it the birth of a child, the layman gets served his gruel in a tiny container. (trans)
    • Whatever be the occasion, there is no advantage for poor people. Poor people remain poor. (Gist)
• Onnukil Aashante nenjath, allenkil Kallarikku purath. (Malayalam)
  • (During the traditional Kerala Martial arts practice, the trainee is either flinging himself at the chest of the instructor or landing outside the arena
  • Dabbling in extremes is not helpful
• Othu pidichal malayum porum, Othillenkil Malannu Veezhum.

Literal meaning: With combined effort, even a mountain can be moved. With differences, you would fall flat.

• • United we stand. Divided we fall. (English equivalent)

[edit] P

• Paashaanatthil krimi.
  • Worm of the poison (so used to address someone inimically, saying this person can survive in poison so is very poisonous himself)
• Palam Kadakkuvolam "Narayana Narayana" Palam Kadannal "Korayana Korayana".
  • Praise the somebody upto gain, then afterdisregard him.
• Pinnem Chankaran Thengel.
  • Still repeating the same type of mistakes.
• Pattikku muzhuvan thenga kittiyathu pole.
  • (Like a dog that gets a whole coconut.)
  • Used in the event of someone getting something that they cannot use.

• Papi chellunnidam paathaalam.
  • (It's a hell wherever a sinner goes)
  • Said of those who seem to have all the bad luck.

• Pen chollu kettavanu peruvazhi aadhaaram.
  • (He who listens to a woman will end up on the street--that is, he will be reduced to begging in the street.)
  • Said to any man who is so enamoured of a woman that he does not bother to use his own judgement, but blindly agrees to her wishes.

• Payyethinnal panayum thinnam.
  • Eat slowly, you can eat even a palm. (trans)
    • take your time, you can complete anything.
• Pala thulli peru vellam.
  • Many drops of water make an ocean
• Poathinoadu vedham oadheettu karyam illa.

[edit] Q

[edit] R

• Rogi ichichathum palu, vaidyan kalpichathum palu.
  • (The patient wanted milk and the doctor prescribed milk).
  • This is what you say when things turn out fine under circumstances expected to be harsh.

[edit] S

sampathu kalathu ti pathu vechal apathu kalathu ka pathu thinam

[edit] T

• Thanikku thaanum, purakku thoonum.
  • In need you will have help from your side only as if a pillar is helpful for a shaking home.
  • Similar to the saying that while you cries nobody will accompany but while you laugh thousands will be there with you.
• Thala Irikkumbol, Valu-attaruthu.
  • When Head (elders) are present, tail should not wag (let them decide).
• Thala marannu enna thekaruthu.
  • (Don't forget the head when applying oil to your body)
  • Should always remember the things (favour done to us) in priority
    • Don't forget the past

[edit] U

• Undaal Ksheenam thendikkum.
  • The tiredness will destoy us. Similar to the saying that "Madiyan mala chumakkum"

[edit] V

• velukkaan thechathu paandaayi.
  • Literal: Excessive washing to get fair, may result in white splotches on the skin (i.e. leucodermia)
    • Overdoing something will result in an unwanted consequence.
• Vinasha kale viparetha budhi.
  • When your destruction is near, your thoughts and actions will also fail you (i.e. lead you to your destruction)
• Vaadi Prati Aayi.
  • Literal: plaintif became the culprit
• Vadi Koduthe Adi Madikkuka.
  • Literal: Get hit by the stick you provided
• Vaidyan kalpichathum roogi itchichedum paal.
  • Literal: What doctor prescribed and what patient wanted were same
  • Kannada equivalent: rOgi bayasiddu haalUanna, vaidya hEliddU haalUanna.
• Vaidyan Oothi Oothi Pilla Keninju Keniju.
  • Literal: Doctor tried all the medicine, still no result on the kid.

[edit] W

[edit] X

[edit] Y

[edit] Z

• വിത്തു ഗുണം പത്തു ഗുണം-- വിത്തില്‍ പിഴച്ചാല്‍ വിളവില്‍ പിഴക്കും!!
  • As you sow, so you reap. (trans) – If it faultered in seed, so will it in yield

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

contribution by Marshal:

കണ്ടതു പറഞ്ഞാല്‍ കഞ്ഞികിട്ടില്ല;കോങ്കണ്ണിയമ്മേ പിച്ചകൊടു. അത്തിപ്പഴത്തോളം അഹങ്കാരമുണ്ടെങ്കില്‍ അദ്ദിക്കിലൊന്നും വിളങ്ങാ ഗുരുത്വം. മൂത്തവര്‍ ചൊല്ലും മുതു നെല്ലിക്കായും ആദ്യം കയ്ക്കും, പിന്നെ മധുരിക്കും. ഒരുത്തനെ തന്നെ നിനച്ചിരുന്നാല്‍, വരുന്നതെല്ലാം അവനെന്നു തോന്നും. കാണം വിറ്റും ഓണം ഉണ്ണണം.[പിന്നീട് കാണവും ഉണ്ടാകില്ല, ഓണവും ഉണ്ടാകില്ല!; പോരേ പൂരം?] ചക്കിനു വെച്ചതു കൊക്കിനു കൊണ്ടു! ശീലിച്ചതേ, പാലിക്കൂ!

For viewing Malaylam Proverbs in Malayalam

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