Filipino proverbs

Proverbs from all Filipino speaking parts of the world.

• Habang may buhay, may pag-asa.
  • Meaning: As long as there is still life, there still lies hope.
  • نجم (2005). كلامجرايد. كتبعربية. p. 178. 

• Kapag may usok, may apoy.
  • Translation and English equivalent: When there's smoke, there's fire.
  • Meaning: "There is no effect without some cause. or It is supposed that if there is a rumour, there must be some truth behind it."
  • Source for meaning of English equivalent: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). "X". European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese. Veszprémi Nyomda. p. 33. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
  • Tica, Nimrod Ebenezer; Tica, Vivian Balaris (2006). Mga bugtong at salawikain para sa bagong henerasyon. Anvil Pub.. p. 72. ISBN 978-971-27-1230-2. 

• Ang lumalakad nang mabagal, kung matinik ay mababaw; Ang lumalakad nang matulin, kung matinik ay malalim.
  • English equivalent: More haste, less speed.
  • Meaning: "Progress with discretion. Acting hastily one is likely to forget/overlook something important, leading to grave errors or failure."
  • Source for meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). "X". European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese. Veszprémi Nyomda. p. 241. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
  • "Christianity taught submission to the will of God, and even for those who cannot accept this phraseology there should be something of the same kind pervading all their activities."
  • Bertrand Russell, The Conquest of Happiness (1930)
  • Mithi. The Union. p. 29. 

• Ti bassít a káyo nalaká a lintegén, ngem no dakkél narigáten.
  • A young tree is easy to straighten, but when it's big it is difficult.
  • "PHILIPPINE PROVERBS", Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Northern Illinois University.

• Ti táo nga mannaríta, awán ti ania nga magapuánanna.
  • A man that talks too much accomplishes little.
  • Ibid.

• Mabiág ti kalkalsáda, matáy ti koskosína.
  • Captivating in the street, dead in the kitchen (lady who dresses beyond her means)
  • Ibid.

• Ti napudpudno a gayyémmo, am-ammontó no addáka ití pelígro.
  • A true friend is known in time of need.
  • Ibid.

• Tay áso nga taol nga taol saán a makakagát ken makadunor.
  • Barking dogs seldom bite.
  • Ibid.

• Awán kas iti sursúro a sanikuá, ta daytá awán makatákaw kenká.
  • Knowledge is wealth that can't be stolen.
  • Ibid.

• No trabáho, gulpién, no kanén, in-inúten.
  • If it's work, do it fast. If it's food, eat it little by little.
  • Ibid.

• Ti táo a manákem, dína makíta ti panagdissó ti sakána ití dagá. Kitáenna ketdi ti sumarunó a baddekánna.
  • A wise man doesn't see his foot on the ground, he watches his next step.
  • Ibid.

• Ti nalaká ti pannakasápulna, nalaká met ti pannakapúkawna.
  • What is easily acquired is easily lost.
  • Ibid

• Ti kukuá masapúlan ngem ti pintas saán.
  • Wealth can be acquired but beauty cannot.
  • Ibid

• Ti agkuták, isú't nagitlóg.
  • He who cackles laid the egg (he who talks first is the guilty party).
  • Ibid

• Uray kukuá a tawíden, no addá la ket naimbág a nákem.
  • One need not inherit wealth if he inherits good manners.
  • Ibid.

• No addá sabsábong, agaarák dagití kulibangbáng.
  • Where there are flowers there are butterflies (young women attract young men)
  • Ibid.

• Kugtár ni kabaián, ilot ni kalantangan.
  • The kick of a female carabao, the massage of the male. (women can't hurt men physically)
  • Ibid.

• Puráwto ti wáken, nangísittó diay kannawyen.
  • The crow will turn white and the heron black (said to express impossibility)
  • Ibid.

• Aniánto pay serbí diay rúot no natáyto met diay kabálion?
  • Of what use is grass when the horse is dead? (said to misers)
  • Ibid.

• Ti kamátis, di agbúnga ti manggá.
  • The tomato plant doesn't grow mangos. (A good person doesn't come from a bad family)
  • Ibid.

• Ti útang mabayádan, ngem ti naimbág a nákem saán.
  • A debt can be paid, but a kind act cannot.
  • Ibid.

• Ti napíli makapíli ti kuggangí.
  • He who is choosy often picks the worst.
  • Ibid.

• Nalpás ti áni, awán ti garámi.
  • After the harvest, there's no hay. (Deeds cannot be undone)
  • Ibid.

• Uray naáta tay tungo, no maisungród, sumgedtó.
  • Even if the firewood is green, it will burn when lit (man and women together will eventually be attracted to each other)
  • Ibid.

• Naim-imbág ti matáy ta malipátanen ngem ti agbiág a maibabaín.
  • It's better to be dead and forgotten than to live in shame.
  • Ibid.

• Sasáor banbannóg no sabáli ti aglamlámot.
  • Useless labor if someone else eats from it (said if another reaps benefits of your work)
  • Ibid.

• Ti madí a pagbagbagaán agturóng ití pagrigátan.
  • He who refuses advice will end up in hardship.
  • Ibid.

• Ti agmúla, agápit.
  • He who sows, reaps.
  • Ibid.

• Awan libég a di aglitnáw.
  • There is no muddy water that doesn't clear (One can always change one's ways)
  • Ibid.

• Di pay nalúto ti pariá simmagpáw ti karabása.
  • The bittermelon is not yet cooked and the squash jumped in (who asked you to join in?)
  • Ibid.

• Aluádam no matupraan met la ta rúpam.
  • Be careful that you don't spit on your own face.
  • Ibid.

• Uray isubsúbomon, mateppáyto láeng.
  • Even if you put it in your mouth, it can fall out (it is not unconditionally yours)
  • Ibid.

• No agtúdo, matuduán ámin a táo.
  • When it rains, everyone gets wet (gifts must be given to all)
  • Ibid.

• Ti kabálio no bulbuloden, ti ngípenna di kitkitáen.
  • When a horse is borrowed, don't look at its teeth (don't criticize what you borrow)
  • Ibid.

• Ti agsíli magasángan, ket ti agiggém ti bánga maugingan.
  • He who eats chili gets burned and he who touches the pot gets charcoal on his hands.
  • Ibid.

• Awán ti ngumáto a dínto bumabá.
  • What goes up must come down.
  • Ibid.

• Saánmo a mapadára ti awán dárana.
  • You cannot squeeze blood out if there's none left. (said by a debtor)
  • Ibid.

• No awán ti ánus, awán ti lámot.
• If there is no patience, there will be no food.
  • Ibid.

• Matáy ti agur-úray, mabiág ti paur-úray.
  • He who waits dies, he who makes others wait lives.
  • Ibid.

• No sáan nga makaammó nga nangtaliáw ti naggapuánna, saán a makadánon ti papanánna.
  • He who does not look back to his origins will not reach his destination.
  • Ibid.

• Yánud ti danúm ti matmatúrog nga udáng.
  • A sleeping lobster is carried away by the current.
  • Ibid.

• Perdisión bagás, agráman tuyo.
  • Rice is wasted, even the bran. (said when everything ventured is lost)
  • Ibid.

• No aniá ti imúlam, isú ti apítem.
  • Whatever you sow, you reap.
  • Ibid.

• Ti ubing nga matungpal amin a kayatna, awan ti nasayaat a banagna.
  • A child that is given everything will rarely succeed in life.
  • Ibid.

• Awan lalaki nga natured wenno nabaneg no ti babai ti sanguanan agsainnek.
  • No man is brave in the presence of a crying woman.
  • Ibid.

• Sabali nga ili, sabali nga ugali.
  • Different towns have different customs.
  • Ibid.