Proverbs, meaning included

Tsumo dzevaShona.

Shona proverbs with their meaning, not just the saying. Seven hundred and sixteen tsumo, grouped by what each one is for.

Madingindira.

UchenjeriWisdom and good judgement · 259 tsumo UnhuCharacter and how a person carries themselves · 174 tsumo MhuriFamily and the home · 67 tsumo KushandaWork, effort and its reward · 57 tsumo UpfumiWealth, want and provision · 49 tsumo UshamwariFriendship and company · 40 tsumo RufuDeath and grief · 10 tsumo

Zvose.

Uchenjeri259

Kupedza nyota kuenda padziva.Settle a dispute or question by consulting someone who truly knows...Charovedzera-charovedzera gudo rakakwira mawere kwasviba.Someone used to doing a thing can manage it even when there are...Kuziva mbuya huudzwa.To gain knowledge of something you must be told by those who already...Dzvinyu kuzambe zuva huona bako.Someone who does something they know could get them into trouble has...Nzou haikarari ina makaka.Someone who has something they know they could lose does not talk...Tsvaga zano iwe une rakowo.Help yourself first before asking others for assistance, so that you...Kuchenjera kuruka nhava.A clever person is one who plans ahead where to keep what they are...Ziriwo rechembere ziramba waravira.Do not refuse something outright before you have seen or tried it...Kuramba nyama yechidembo hunger nine yetsuro.Refusing something you were given, saying it is bad or unsuitable...Kureva ndokunei kutarisa kurevawo.Seeing with your own eyes is generally understood better than...Kurova mbira kurova bako.Know the ways to get what benefits you; you find what you want by...Matukirwo ababa kunema mwana.When someone wants to say something to an elder but fears it will...Zino irema rinosekerera anorivenga.Out of ignorance, a person might grow fond of someone who actually...Wazarira bako mvura ichada kunaya.Do not dismiss or reject something that could help you, thinking a...Usapedza mapfumo mukubaya nhema idzo nzou dzichauya.People often waste their energy and time on small matters, then find...Kushaya mano kwendiro kupakurirwa isingadyi.It shows foolishness when someone is given a blessing but fails to...Kushaya mano kwomusikana kukungira sadza chibhakira.A young person may boast about something helpful without realising...Mwana muduku kudziva musendo noruoko iwo uchazomudziva womene.Many people will not heed a warning about danger until they have...Kurava mbudzi nedzisipo kurava nedzava matoo.It is better to rely on what you can currently verify than on...Maunga marema kudya muti waagere.It shows a lack of foresight to damage or destroy the very thing...Kusaziva mumvuri worufu.Someone who does not know something is like someone who is dead...Usatsvaga nhava muuswa iro sora ratsva.It rarely helps to search for something when you already know for...(Deno) Ndakaziva haitungamiri.Listen to others' advice so you do not later regret saying 'if only...Nherera inozviudza yoga.A person must learn to look out for themselves; especially if they...Pamanyore hapasimudzwi hapwa dzinozosimudzwa chapo chamuka.To get what you want from a place or from other people, you must...Kutanda imbwa ikandire hona.If you find that someone constantly asking you for things is wearing...Chisi chako kuita musoko-musoko unodya wakatarisa kumusuo.If you are using something that is not yours, or something borrowed...Kutaura kwowadye ganda kunokunda wadya mushuna.Often, a person who knows little is the one who boasts loudly...Chidokodoko chirera muviri chikuru chinozouya wakora.For something to become great and significant, it must first have...Kupfuura nomuchinanga hugonda neshangu.If you see someone doing something they know is dangerous and...Imbwa kuminya hona inodada nechivhuno.Seeing someone confidently taking on something they know could put...Zimutsa bope kudyidzana nembwa.Keep company with someone who is unstable or reckless for long...Chiripo chariuraya zizi harifi roga nemhepo.Everything that happens does so because someone caused it; nothing...Kuroora mukadzi roora muroyi unofuma wowana chinokurwisira daka.Sometimes something that most people despise is actually the very...Chikuriri chine chimwe.What is great now will be surpassed by another.Chitsva chiri murutsoka.You gain new experiences by moving to different places.Chiri mumusakasaka chinozvinzwira.People take from group advice only what applies to their own...Chitaurirwa hunyimwa mbare dzekumusana.You never get the full information and appreciation from being told...Guyu kutsvuka kutsvuka zvaro asi mukati rine masvosve.Some things look attractive from outside but are not so good inside.Igaroziva kuti mhanza yembudzi iri mumabvi.Things are not what they seem.Imbwa nyoro ndidzo tsengi dzamatovo.The innocent-looking are often the guilty.Kamoto kamberevere kakapisa matanda mberi.Small issues can grow large enough to cause big problems.Kure kwegava ndiko kusina mutsubvu.People will do anything to get what they desire, avoiding what's...Kure kwemeso nzeve dzinodya.You don't have to be present somewhere to know what happened there.Kuziva ambuya huudzwa.Everything you know, you were taught by someone.Mviromviro yemhanza mapfeka.Big events are predicted by early signs.Mombe yekurunzirwa ndeyekukama wakarinde nzira.You can never use borrowed things as freely as if they were your own.Nzenza mumvuri, asvika anovanda zuva.A cautious person keeps out of sight and avoids drawing attention to...Rinamanyanga hariputirwi mushushunje.Nothing can be hidden forever.Ramba kuudzwa akaonekwa nembonje pahuma.Those who forsake warnings and advice often fall into calamity.Rega zvipore akabva mukutsva.A burnt child dreads the fire.Regai dzive shiri, mazai haana muto.Wait for events to fully mature instead of harvesting or celebrating...Yadeuka yadeuka mvura yemuguchu haidyorerwi.What has happened cannot be undone.Zano ndega akasiya jira mumasese.Those who forsake warnings and advice often fall into calamity.Zizi harina nyanga.Things are not what they seem.Zviro zviyedzwa chembere yekwaChivi yakabika mabwe ikanwa muto.You never know what is rewarding unless you try.Zvikoni zvikoni mimba haibvi negosoro.Some things cannot be dealt with by simplistic solutions.Afamba apota.Someone who has travelled widely has gained broad experience and...Aiva madziva ave mazambuko.Things that were once great and mighty can, with time, dwindle into...Akabata sando anongoona chese-chese sechipikiri.A person who only knows one way of doing things applies that same...Akoromoka awa.Misfortune or downfall can strike suddenly and without warning, just...Akumhina afamba hazvienzani naTigere.Things that merely look alike are not truly equal; a minor...Akwewa sanzu akwewa namashizha aro.When you take on something, you take all that comes with it, the...Ane bedzi ndeane rake kudzana anopururudza.The one actually facing the task or hardship is the one who truly...Ane mombe yake anoziva makumire ayo.An owner best understands the nature and habits of what belongs to...Ashamba haanokorerwi.Help should be given at the right time; there is no sense in...Ateya mariva murutsva haachatyi kusviba magaro.Once you commit to doing something, you must be ready to accept...Atswinya arwa.A conflict does not need a big blow to begin; even a small act like...Benzi bvunza rakanaka.No one should be dismissed entirely; even someone thought foolish...Benzi raramba mbanda harirapiki.A person who refuses good counsel or help cannot be helped...Benzi rikasaimba manjemanje richamhanya bani.Someone who fails to keep up with the changing times gets left...Bere zvarakatya mapapata aro mangani.Someone who has been hurt before learns to be wary of situations...Chada mwoyo hachikoni, mwoyo chiremba.What you truly and wholeheartedly desire cannot be denied you...Chafamba chasvava.Something that has travelled a long way tends to lose its original...Chafamba kamwe hachiteivi.What is done cannot be undone; an event that has already happened...Chakabaya chikachokera.Once something hurtful strikes, its impact goes deep; it is not...Chakadya chakaoneka, mutanda wakasiya mbare.What has happened reveals itself through the traces it leaves...Chakanaka chakanaka mukaka haurungwi (munyu).Something that is genuinely good needs no further enhancement; true...Chakatanga ndochakachenjedza.The first experience of something is what teaches caution for what...Chapinda munzeve chavaridza bonde.Something heard can be enough to keep a person awake at night...Chati homu chareva.A decisive act or blunt sound can settle a matter on its own; once...Chauya masikati charamba ndima, chauya usiku charamba hope.A serious trouble disrupts everything, work by day and rest by night...Chava chigondora chava chimombe kutadza kutunga hurema hwacho.With age, even something once formidable loses the strength that...Chavavana batisisa, mudzimu haupi kaviri.Hold on firmly to what you have been given, because such an...Chawira pasi mudzimu wembwa.Once something is dropped or abandoned, it is fair game for whoever...Chimene chezizi, parafamba hanzi muroyi.Even a small, ordinary sign from something already associated with...Chibage chinovandira kune vasina meno.A good thing is of no use to someone without the means or capacity...Chibwe chiremera chavari kure, vari pedyo vanotamba nacho.A task looks difficult to those unfamiliar with it or watching from...Chidokodoko chirere muviri, chikuru chinozouya wakora.Not overstraining yourself while still young and small allows you to...Chidyamatoo akadzipwa neganda remhuru.Unchecked greed, taking on anything without discernment, can end up...Chidziva chakadzikama ndicho chinogara ngwena.Still waters run deep; a calm exterior can conceal something...Chigere ibwe, muti unowa.What is steady and grounded, like a stone, endures, while what...Chikakarara nganda reshumba/nzou.Even something mighty, once it falls, still shows its former...Chimwe nachimwe chine nguva yacho.Everything has its proper time; nothing should be rushed or unduly...Chinobhururuka chinomhara.Nothing stays elevated forever; everything that rises eventually...Chinokura chinokotama, musoro wegudo chave chinokoro.Age and time reshape the body, just as an old baboon's head comes to...Chinono chine'ngwe, bere rakadya richifamba.Patience and careful, deliberate effort bring better results than...Chinorwadza chinogutsa auya nacho.Worthwhile things often come at the cost of hardship, but once...Chinotanga mberi mashura.Before anything significant happens, warning signs usually appear...Chinotaura ndechiri mumusungo, chiri muriva chinoti denga rava.Someone in trouble who can still cry out for help still has hope...Chinotanga kukambaira, kufamba kunouya kwega.Everything begins with small first steps; greater achievement...Chinozipa chinoregwa.Sometimes a person must give up even something pleasant, if it is...Chinya chegurwe kudashura gumbo neshungu.Excessive, reckless eagerness can end up causing harm to yourself...Chipitipiti chakazvara chimwandamwanda.Disorder tends to breed further disorder; chaos gives rise to more...Chirega kutya kununa, iwe wakasasikwa.Losing your sense of caution can lead to a false sense of safety...Chiripo chariuraya zizi, harifi nemhepo.Things happen for real, identifiable reasons; nothing occurs...Chirungurira chirwere, ukanyara unofa nacho.Speak up about what troubles you so that you can get help; staying...Chisi chako hachibatsiri, unodya wakaringa kumusuwo.Even on your own day of rest, you should not let your guard down...Chisi chako, masimba mashoma.Even on your own terms, on your own day, your strength and resources...Chisi chako, rembedza maoko, rega kukungira hata.A real day of rest should mean truly relaxing, not simply switching...Chura kugara mumvura handi kunwa.Being close to something is not the same as benefiting from it; a...Dai ndakaziva haitungamire.Regretful hindsight always comes after the fact; no one has the...Dindingwe rinonaka richakweva rimwe, kana iro rokwehwa roti mavara angu azare'vhu.Being beautiful or standing out draws attention and envy, so much...Dzakatamba nepwete dzikareswa kudzorerwa.Careless meddling can leave you with hard work trying to set things...Dzvinyu kuzamba zuva huona bako.Be cautious in whatever you do, always keeping an escape route...Fodya haina manenji semhamba.Some things look identical to one another and have no distinguishing...Fodya haina shura sedoro.Beer tends to bring trouble and conflict in a way that snuff does...Fungira mumoyo rwedo rwembwa.A nagging suspicion in the heart is often an early warning sign...Gangaidzwa mukwenyi mhezi yawavira mumoyo.Stirring up a matter that already stings deep in the heart only adds...Gona ana gona vakewo.No one is the ultimate expert; even a highly skilled person has...Gondo kuengerera raona zumbu.A person's interest becomes visible once they have spotted an...Gonzo mhini gara mumwena chakaipa chikuwaniremo.Even someone hiding away out of caution can still be found by...Gore jena chiregopenya ungazotorerwa ushe nedema.During times of success, do not become boastful or complacent, since...Gore haribvi pakabva rimwe.Each period of time is different from the last; do not assume things...Gunguo rakaramba kumirira museve rikapona nehwakumukwaku.Acting quickly at the first sign of danger, rather than waiting to...Gunguo rinodya mbamba, rino muchero waro.Everyone finds what suits their own station in life; what fits one...Hakuna bura rinoswatanukira panze rabva muvhu rakakombama.Something that begins on a crooked path rarely comes out straight in...Hakuna dziva risina chura.Every place or group has its share of trouble or its own difficult...Hanya nani chidoma chekwaChivi.A dismissive expression for something trivial, not worth worrying...Hapana angagone chisingagoneke naGona.If even the most skilled person cannot accomplish something, then...Hapana mukuyu unovinga shiri.A person of real worth does not need to chase after others; people...Hauzivi tsanga inokodza tsambakodzi.You never know in advance which small effort or opportunity will be...Hope hadzina ndima.Sleep can overtake a person anywhere, without regard for time or...Hove dzinokwira dzine muronga.Even a difficult undertaking still needs to follow a proper method...Hove huru dzinodyira kwodoka.Great rewards often come only in their own proper time, after...Idambudziko rehope kurota kwawakarambwa.Painful past experiences can resurface even in dreams, beyond a...Ikamwe pagore hembe yenherera.Something that happens only rarely, like the one new piece of...Imbwa yakwavarara yatya.A sudden change from boldness to quiet stillness is itself a sign...Kamoto kamberewere kanopisa matanda mberi.A small problem left unaddressed can grow to consume something much...Kamupungurunje kahove kanyama kasina muto.Something meager and insubstantial leaves you unsatisfied, like meat...Kana shumba ikashaya nyama inodya uswa.In times of real need, even the proud and mighty must accept lesser...Kana wadya imbwa idya iri hono.If you are going to commit to something, commit fully rather than...Kangoma kana koririsa kawa pedyo nekuda kubvaruka.Something at its loudest, most intense peak is often closest to...Kuchenjedza nyamukuta kuzvara uchada.Taking guidance from those with real experience makes even a hard...Kudyirwa munda nembwa sendakarima nyama.Entrust your work to the wrong keeper and they will ruin it, because...Kuera dziva igumbo ribodzi, makumbo ese unoerera.Caution only goes so far; once you commit yourself fully, you bear...Kufira mafufu segonzo.To die chasing something of little worth, the way a mouse perishes...Kugocha kunoda kwaamai kwemwana kunodzima moto.Some tasks require real skill and experience; someone without it...Kugona mbavha kuironzera.Catching a thief takes careful watching and vigilance, not simply...Kungotya nyanga dzezizi nyamba manhenga.Fearing only the small, visible danger while overlooking the greater...Kunzi pakata handi kunzi ridza.Holding something is not the same as knowing how to use it; you can...Kuramba dzvuku kuona jena.Once you have known something of real quality, you stop settling for...Kuravidza chembere muto wegwaya mangwana inofira mudziva.Giving someone a small taste of something good can stir up a craving...Kure kwegava ndokusina mutsubvu.A long journey feels short when there is something worthwhile...Kurembera kwedamba handiko kuwa.Showing signs of weakness or decline does not mean something is...Kurera imbwa rera inoruma igokudzivirira mupfumvu.Someone or something with an irritating flaw may still be worth...Kuriona guyu kutsvukira, mukati rizere masvosve.Something that looks appealing on the outside is not always as good...Kurova imbwa wakaviga mupini.Handle a difficult task or opponent with careful strategy, without...Kurova tsuro negwenzi rayo.Defeating someone by turning their own ground or their own methods...Kurumwa netsikidzi rambira mumba, kubuda panze unorumwa mhuno nebere.When forced to choose between two evils, put up with the smaller one...Kusaziva kufa.A person without knowledge is nearly as helpless as one who is dead...Kuyewedza semhiripiri mukati izere uturu.Something can look tempting on the surface while carrying real...Makata anoshura materu.A great commotion often burns itself out quickly, leaving quiet in...Makunguo zvaakatya akafa mangani.Being cautious does not fully protect anyone from harm; even the...Manakira kure mvura yemubvumbi.Something can look pleasant from a distance, the way a light drizzle...Manatsa mukanwa ndonda kurota ichiyamwa.Fine talk alone accomplishes nothing without real action behind it...Manenji kuona kamba ichitamba nembudzi.When something highly unusual happens, people take notice and start...Manomano emuroyi kunyepera kutya dzvinyu akasungirira nyoka muchiuno.Someone may put on a show of fearing something small and harmless...Manyengedza pfungwa efodya kuzadza dama nehutsi husingasviki kuguru.Something can offer a fleeting sense of satisfaction that never...Mapudzi anovira kusina hari.Things can still get done even without the resources or setup people...Matende mashava anovazva doro.Good results come from having the right tools or the right...Mucheri wegurwe mutevedzeri, mudimbidziri anorasa mwena.Following the proper, established way through a task leads to...Mudzimu waro bonga kuwana huku dzichirwa.Some people have a knack for benefiting whenever others around them...Muramba kukombwa muramba hweni.Avoiding being cornered by a problem means keeping away from it from...Muromo hauzarirwi nerwizi.Speech cannot truly be held back; words find their way out no matter...Muromo kapako kekuhwanda nako.A person can use words as a place to hide their true feelings or...Muroyi ndishe.Someone wielding hidden, feared power can command obedience just as...Musanyengerera makudo neanokamhina.Do not take on a sharp opponent with a weak plan; they will see...Mushonga haubati pasina ronda.A remedy only makes sense where there is an actual problem for it to...Muswe wekutumira haurebi.Someone sent to carry out a task should get on with it, not drag it...Muto wetsenza ndiwo mumwe.Some things stay exactly the same no matter where you encounter them.Muzivi wenzira yeparuware ndiye mufambi wayo.True knowledge of something comes from having actually done it, not...Mviromviro yemhanza inotanga shosha.A big problem often starts out small and unnoticed before it grows...Mvura haitori warema.Someone with real substance and standing is not easily swept away by...Mvura inonaya yatanga hore.Nothing significant happens without warning signs showing up first.Mvura yembambara tiza ichabva kure.Some dangers need to be guarded against well ahead of time, even...Mwana wenyoka inyoka haina muduku.Something dangerous by nature stays dangerous, however small or...N’anga haizvirapi.Someone skilled at helping others with a certain problem often...Ndambakuudzwa akaonekwa nembonje pahuma.Someone who refuses good advice usually ends up learning the hard...Ndezvemeso muromo zvinyarare.Some things are meant to be quietly observed, not spoken about...Ndisvike-ndisvike inoradza vazhinji panzira.Putting things off with the thought that you'll get there eventually...Nerimwe zuva gava richadimbura musungo.Given enough persistence, even someone caught in a difficult...Ngoma tamba vamwe vachatamba.Take the first step yourself, and others will often follow your lead.Ngwena haidyi chabamba charo chinoza neronga.Some things come to you in their own time and their own way, rather...Nhasi chineni mangwana chinewe.Whatever misfortune strikes someone today could just as easily...Nhumbu ibakwa rehuni inochengeta nyoka nemakonzo.A person's inner self can conceal all sorts of hidden things that...Nhunzi haimhari pasina ronda.Trouble and gossip rarely gather around something unless there is a...Nyakuravira ndiye anoziva kuti nyama yaibva.Real, firsthand knowledge comes only from having experienced...Nyoka huru haizvirumi.Someone powerful knows how to protect themselves and does not act...Nzanga inokura yerema, yomuchenjeri inoparara.Life does not always reward wisdom the way it should; sometimes the...Nzira ine minzwa ndiyo ine ushe.Real greatness is usually reached by way of a hard road, not an easy...Nzira masanga.There is more than one way to reach the same goal in life.Pabva zino rave vende.Once something is lost or taken away, its absence tends to stay...Pachapwa madziva miramba tichanyurura.Persistent, resourceful people can still find something worthwhile...Pane machikichori miromo inovanda.Boastful talk tends to fall silent the moment real danger actually...Pasina nyimo makunguo aizodyei.Remove the thing that draws in trouble, and there is nothing left...Pfimbi yegudo, gare-gare yapfukunurwa.No secret stays hidden forever; sooner or later it comes to light.Pfini yenyoka kuruma chaisingadyi.Harm can strike indiscriminately, even reaching those who pose no...Pfupa jena rakabva munyama.Something good and pure can still emerge out of circumstances that...Rega kutsindira mwena unobuda ishwa.Do not stir up something already in delicate motion; interfering...Rima rinoshura chiedza.Hard times are often a sign that brighter days are still to come.Rina manyanga hariputirwi mumushunje.Something truly significant cannot be concealed for long; its...Rwomuranda rwakoneswa norwashe, rwashe rwakoneswa nemvura kunaya.There is always something greater that can override even the most...Soko harivhikwi.An important matter cannot be hidden away forever; the truth tends...Tambe tambe vanoda varivo.No one should be forced into something they do not want; real...Tichaona kunowira tswimbo nedohwe.How things will really turn out is something only time will show...Tsuro haipunyuki rutsva kaviri.You cannot count on the same stroke of luck saving you every single...Tswanda inorema yasvika.The true weight of an effort is often only fully felt once the task...Ubatebate hunourayisa.Handling something dangerous too casually, without proper care, can...Uchenjere kudya nzungu zvese nemhutwa.Care and attention are needed even in the simplest, most routine...Ugaro mwena kutevedza hunoguma.Relying on shelter or support that belongs to someone else does not...Ukadzinga tsuro mbiri imwe inopunyuka.Chasing two goals at the same time usually means losing at least one...Ukangosekerera hwiza mangwana dzinokudyira muriwo.Being too lenient with a small problem now lets it grow into...Ukuru hurema hahuvanzwi.True greatness or importance makes itself known; it cannot stay...Upenyu imhindupindu.Life is never a straight line; it constantly shifts between good...Ura mapako hunozvara mbava nemuroyi.A secretive nature tends to give rise to hidden wrongdoing that...Urombo hwematede kunaiwa nemvura makurwe ari mumhatso.Foolishness can lead to needless suffering, even when help is close...Usachenjedza n’anga kurapwa uchada.Do not try to be cleverer than the very expert whose help you...Usadzinganisa tsuro nemunyu muchanza.Do not presume success before you have actually achieved the thing...Usakangira nyimo vane meno avo havo.Do not do for someone what they are perfectly capable of doing for...Usakurumidza kumedza kutsenga uchada.Do not rush a process that still needs careful, unhurried attention...Usakusha mbeu mvura yaenda.Certain things need to be done at the right time, not after the...Usaona imbwa kunyenama ukati unokusekerera.Do not mistake a clear warning sign for friendliness; recognise real...Usapinza munwe mumwena unobuda wareba.Think through the consequences before getting involved in something...Usaruka nhava sora ratsva.Prepare while the means to do so are still available, not after they...Usashore nyemba nedzinozvimbira.Do not criticise something for going through a process it naturally...Usatamba nematope pasina mvura.Do not attempt something without having the proper means available...Usavaka danga pasina mombe.Do not put in elaborate preparation for something that does not...Usaverenga mbeva nemudune.Do not judge the true size or nature of something by indirect signs...Usiku humwe hauodzi nyemba.Significant things take real time to come together properly; they...Usiku igore.A single night of danger or waiting can feel as long as an entire...Utsi hwenyama hautosvori.Something genuinely good is welcome even when it arrives in an...Uzivi wenzira huri mugumbo.Real knowledge of a path comes from having actually walked it...Vakachenjera havatsvairani mbeva.Sensible people do not waste effort doing pointless favours for each...Vakakavira mhepo vachacheka chamupupuri.Someone who recklessly courts trouble often ends up facing...Waniwa haichatyi kufamba mudova.Once someone has already been caught out, smaller risks after that...Wenhamo haachatyi kufamba murima.Someone who has already suffered greatly is no longer frightened by...Wenhamo haaneti.Necessity keeps someone in hardship pushing on without giving up...Yadeuka yadeuka, mvura yemuguchu haiorerwi.There is no use lamenting something already lost; better to move on.Zano marairanwa.Good counsel usually comes through consulting one another, not from...Zano pangwa, une rako.Listen to the advice others give you, but do not forget to also...Zano vaviri.A decision made with more than one mind behind it tends to be a...Zino irema rinosekerera varisingadi.An outward sign, like a smile, does not always answer to what a...Zvakona n’anga murapwa achida.Sometimes even expert help fails, no matter how much the sufferer...Zizi kurungwa munyu roti ndava hukuwo.Dressing something up on the surface does not actually change what...Zuva igore, rinodoka rava namarevo mavi namavuya.A single day can hold as much happening, both good and bad, as an...Zvaitika zvaitika, bhurugwa rebenzi risingazivi mberi kana shure.There is little point dwelling on something already done that cannot...Zvinhu zviedzwa, chembere yekwaChivi yakabika mabwe ikanwa muto.Under real pressure, people will attempt even the most unlikely...Zviroto zviroto.Dreams should not be taken as certainty; they are not the same as...

Unhu174

Chirema ndechina mazano chinotamba chakazendama kumadziro.Everyone knows they have some flaw, in body or mind, in how they...Tenda muchero wadya zvinotenza mwoyo.One should give thanks for something's success only once they have...Nhava yebenzi haitani kusakara.Someone who does not look after their belongings properly finds they...Chivendekete anoseka chimedure.A person doing wrong often likes pointing at others' faults without...Chafamba kamwe hachiteyiwi.When someone commits an offence for the first time, they are usually...Kuzengurira izwi romukuru kuramba mhangwa.When an elder gives you a warning, accept it, because you might...Rega kubvunza nyama kuti ndeyokugocha ive muto uchiuona.It is thoughtless to ask how something happened when you can clearly...Rega kuvera nyoka negavi iyo iripo.A snake is a frightening thing, whether alive or dead, and no one...Mazvokuda kufa namaronda enyora.People do not feel sympathy for someone who brings danger or death...Ndomene haichemedzi.Harming yourself through your own fault does not upset or sadden...Munhu - munhu hazvienzani nembwa.A person, however disabled or blind, is still a person and deserves...(Chinhu) chinodyiwa chino murandu.It is Shona custom that food, such as beer, must first be formally...Chomukuru hachikumbirwi.Elders are rarely asked for things; rather, they are the ones who...Chirozva mauya ndicho chiumza mavi.A person who enjoys destroying good things is often the same one who...Imbwa yavata yatya.Someone who kneels and begs for forgiveness should be forgiven...Chitende chinorema ndechine mhodzi.A person is given respect when they have good character or something...Mukadzi womumwe ndimbuya.Another man's wife should be respected like a mother-in-law, because...Apotanechuru avanda.When a wrongdoer flees and hides, even behind someone who cannot...Kurebesa muromo unodya chedemo chebanga hauchiwani.An axe chopping wood makes noise that draws people to it, but a...Dai pasina nyimo makunguo aizodyei?If there were no poor people, who would the generous have to help?...Kureva chikwereti kumurombo kunema Mwari.To demand repayment of a debt from someone who has nothing is like...Aguta haaoneki.When someone has been treated well enough to feel fully satisfied...Chitsva-chitsva munamba wejenachena.Whenever a person gets something new, they think everything else has...Ane jira ndeane rukunara (rusakara) ane idzva akariwana meso atsvuka.Someone who gets something new today should not look down on someone...Usiku humwe chete hahupedzi ushe.Struggling with hardship for a short time does not change who you...Ushe ukokwa kuna vamwe.Good manners, good character, and humility earn a person the respect...Anonyumwa bere kurira ndouya akazora manda.Just as someone guilty of an offence flinches with fear when it is...Iringa nameso muchero wenhundurwa.However much someone desires something, they must not take it if it...Chinonzi rega ndechiri mumaoko chiri mumwoyo hachikandwe pasi.When someone grows up with a bad habit, such as drinking or smoking...Tendai muchero ugowisa.When someone gives you something, show your gratitude, so that in...Hapana mvura isina chura.There is no homestead or country without wrongdoers; wherever people...Akura arehwa.Whoever a person is, once grown and made a leader or head of the...Utsva hworurimi hahuna marapiro.However badly someone has wronged you, it is better to hold back...Muroyi munhu kubayiwa anochemawo.A person who habitually wrongs and angers others also feels pain...Zongororo kugonya haro asi shungu rinadzo.You might see someone being quiet, but they carry deep feelings...Rutsva runovira nokuona rumwe.Trading insults back and forth stirs up more anger; if someone...Uranda ndohwepfuma (zvipfuwo) hwomunhu hunozvirwira.A person can think for themselves, and so should not be treated like...Muromo haupi chinopa maoko.It is easy to make promises with words, but words alone do not give...Tenda nyakusvitsa mupi haalpotsera.Thank the one who delivers a gift to you as much as the one who sent...Shungu dzembwa dziri mumwoyo kuhukura ndiko kududza.Everyone carries things in their heart that trouble them, even while...Igonyodzo kudya chegadzingani.People show kindness to a stubborn or stingy person while secretly...Muromo unodavidza nomuroyi.A mouth holds no grudge against anyone; it speaks to everyone, even...Imbwa inohukura haina ngozi.A person who talks a lot tends to let out their anger right away and...Chayambuka chaoneka tsiga rakasiya mbare pagumbo.Wronging someone, even if they lack the power to retaliate...Tsvaru anodana tivhu.It is better not to wrong someone even slightly, because it can...Chinokanganwa idemo chitsiga hachikanganwe.The one who wronged someone quickly forgets their offence, but the...Samwoyochena ndiye nyamutsvirwa nemba.It is rare for a person to be liked by absolutely everyone; such a...Kutsenga muriwo hudzidzisana.For someone to treat others well or badly, it is usually because...Potsi haarwiwi tinorwira piri.Someone who errs for the first time should be forgiven, but if they...Chomungazva chinodyiwa nowabata mwana.Someone who shows love and follows proper custom when they arrive is...Chinoziva ivhu kuti mwana wembeva anorwara.No one can know what is in another person's heart except that person...Chirungurira ndechowadya maradzwa chowerinopisa isvoto.When someone has been only slightly wronged, they get moderately...Maronda asiri ako anonhuhwa.A person cannot see their own faults, only those of others.Chikomo shata divi rimwe ritambire pwere.Even a person who does bad things should also have some good...Wavengwa anhuhwa.A person who is hated by others comes to be regarded as something...Muromo itsvimbo unozvidzivirira.The mouth can defend a person against an accusation through speech...Ane benzi ndeane rake, kudzana unopururudza.When you know someone's faults, you are not offended when they act...Chisi hachiyeri musi wacharimwa.The consequences of bad behaviour are not immediate, but they will...Chidamoyo hamba yakada makwati.People have the freedom to choose what they want.Chiri mumoyo chiri muninga.What's in the heart is hidden.Gudo guru peta muswe kuti vaduku vakutye.Elders should carry themselves with dignity so as to be respected by...Kuipa kuipa zvaro bveni, asi haridyi chakafa choga.However fierce someone's reputation is, there are still lines even...Kuzeza chati kwati hunge uine katurike.When you overreact to small things, you probably have something to...Mazvokuda mavanga enyora.Self-inflicted anguish.Makadzi munaku kusaba anoroya.A woman should conduct herself well, so that she is not wrongly...Mwana asingachemi anofira mumbereko.If you don't cry out for help, no one will know, and you may perish...Takabva neko kumhunga hakuna ipwa.One should remember one's humble origins rather than growing arrogant.Nzou hairemerwi nenyanga dzayo.A person has the strength to carry their own burdens.Seka urema wafa.Do not mock others' misfortunes, because they may come upon you too.Vasikana kudada kudada zvenyu, tichaonana magaro pakuyambuka.You may reject people when things are easy, but you will need them...Aita chake ndihombarume.True manliness is shown by carrying out one's duty fully, not by...Avengwa anhuhwa.Once a person is disliked, even innocent things they do are viewed...Chako ndechako kuseva unosiya muto.Even when enjoying what belongs to you, show restraint and leave...Chekuba hachigari.Ill-gotten gains never last; what is stolen brings no lasting benefit.Chembere masikati, usiku imvana.Said of someone with two faces, appearing harmless and ordinary by...Chembere ndeyembwa yomurume, ndibaba wavanhu.Elders deserve care and respect: an old woman is cared for devotedly...Chidembo hachinzwi kunhuhwa kwacho.A person often cannot perceive their own faults the way others...China manenji hachifambisi, chinomirira kuti mavara acho aonekwe.Someone of genuine good character or quality does not rush to hide...Chinogova ruoko, muromo haugovi.Real generosity comes from action, not from mere talk or promises.Chinokanganwa idemo, asi chitsiga hachikanganwe.The one who causes harm may forget doing it, but the one who was...Chinonzi regedza ndechiri mumaoko, chiri mumoyo unofa nacho.What you hold in your hands can easily be let go, but what is held...Chomukuru anopa omene.What belongs to an elder is theirs to give out personally; no one...Dare harizondi munhu, rinozonda mhosva.Justice is directed at the wrongdoing, not at the person as an...Gudo guru peta muswe, vapwere vagokuremekedza.An elder should carry themselves with dignity and restraint so that...Gudo kuipa kuipa zvaro asi haridyi chakafa choga.Even someone with a bad reputation still has certain limits they...Hurudza inofa ichinzi inodya.A bad reputation tends to stick to a person for good, following them...Imbwa nyoro ndidzo tsengi dzematowo.Those who seem gentle and harmless on the surface can be the very...Inotanda yomunyepi, younyerere haitandi.Lying and loose talk are what drive people apart; staying quiet does...Isimba kaviri kurwa nemukadzi weasipo.There is no courage in confronting or wronging the family of someone...Kuba ngoma kuri nyore, pokuiridzira ndipo panonetsa kuvanda.Doing something wrong can be easy; it is getting away with it...Kudada kwavari mugomo kukumbira vari pasi mapfiwa.Even someone proud and elevated eventually reaches a point where...Kudya chevapfupi nekureba.Someone uses an advantage they have over others to take more than...Kufa kwemurume kubuda ura.A real man does not give up at the first setback; he keeps fighting...Kukonwa kwedare kukonwa kwamambo.When those below fail to resolve a matter, responsibility ultimately...Kukurukura hunge vapotsva.A matter that concerns someone should be discussed with them...Kupotsera dope, rimwe rinosara mumaoko.Slinging insults or dirt at others leaves some of it on you as well.Kurayira kunoda pwere mukuru ndimambo.Elders should be consulted and shown respect, not given orders the...Kurumwa nechekuchera.Bringing trouble on yourself by going after something you did not...Kuseka nhamo kunga rugare.Mocking someone else's misfortune can invite the very same...Kusekana kwaanakamba.People who share the very same flaw have no business mocking each...Kusimbirira kurapa mhopo kumusana iwe une ziso rine mbonje.Before rushing to fix someone else's smaller problem, first deal...Kutaura kudzikisira kuita makata.Someone can speak gently while their actions contradict their words...Kutenda kwakitsi kuri mumwoyo.Some show their gratitude only inwardly, without ever displaying it...Kuvhunduka chati kwata hunge une katurike.Someone with a guilty conscience tends to be startled by the...Kwadzinorohwa matumbu ndiko kwadzinomhanyira.People are often driven by their own basic needs, going wherever...Kwave kusakara kwedowo serisakadyiwa nyama.Once a person or thing has outlived its usefulness, people quickly...Machongwe maviri haakukuridze pamutanda mumwe.Two people of equal standing rarely coexist peacefully in the same...Mangachena inoparira parere nhema.Blame often lands on someone innocent simply because they were near...Manzwi induru inouraya.Being loudly and publicly accused often wounds a person more deeply...Matanda makuru mazunguniswa.Whoever or whatever holds real importance tends to attract far more...Matsotsi haagerani.There is no real trust among wrongdoers; they do not look out for...Mbavha imbatwa, mbavha-rutsoka ishamwari.Only whoever gets caught actually bears the blame; those who slip...Mboko chena yakaparira parere mhema.Blame often lands on someone innocent simply because they were near...Mbudzi yazvarira pavanhu yati nditandirwe’mbwa.Someone in a vulnerable position is right to ask those around them...Mhosva haiori.A wrongdoing never simply fades away; it eventually catches up with...Mhosva inorondwa hakuna mhosva yakaita honye.Every wrongdoing can be traced to its cause and its culprit if it is...Mhuno hainwi mvura muromo usina kunwa.Things should be done in their proper order; the lesser should not...Minwe misiyanwa.People naturally differ from one another in ability and fortune, and...Miromo yavakuru haiviri pasi.What elders say tends to come true; their words carry weight and...Moyo chena unobayisa.Being too kind and trusting can leave a person open to being taken...Mudzimu vakupa ronda vati nhunzi dzikudye.When the very source of your trouble also fails to protect you from...Mugoti unopiwa anyerere.Positions of responsibility tend to go to those who are calm and...Munhu akatsiga anozviganhura pakunwa hwahwa.Alcohol has a way of revealing someone's true nature, even in a...Munongedzo hauzvinongedzi.It is easy to be quick to criticise others' faults while overlooking...Murombo haarovi chine nguo.Someone of low standing is careful not to confront those with...Murombo munhu.Poverty does not strip a person of their worth; they deserve the...Muroyi royera kure ugowana anokuviga.A warning against wronging your own people close to home: keep their...Mutsa worutsoka kuperekedza ziso.Good intentions need to be followed through with action, not left as...Muzvimbirwi ndiye nyakurwa nesasa.Someone puffed up with pride tends to bring obstacles on themselves...Mwana washe muranda kumwe.Status held in one place does not automatically carry over anywhere...Mwana washe ndishewo, womuranda anochemberera muuranda.A person's social standing often follows directly from the family...Mwoyochena weyi bere kugarira munhu akafa.Someone can put on a show of sympathy while really just waiting to...N’ai kwadzo ndedzomucheche dzomukuru dzinoreva kudya.When a grown adult complains, there is usually a real, basic need...N’anga hadzifarirani.People in the same trade often struggle to get along, rivalry taking...Natsa kwavabva kwaunoenda husiku.Maintain good relationships with your elders and your roots, because...Ndakazvida haichemedzi.You cannot fairly complain about the consequences of a choice you...Ndezvehuru, doko dzinonyika miswe.Certain privileges belong to those with seniority or power; the...Nhamo yemombe kunyima mashanga iriyo yakarima gombo.It is real ingratitude when the one who did the hard work is the...Nhamo yomumwe hairambirwi sadza.Even while sympathising with someone else's misfortune, you should...Nyadzi dzinokunda rufu.Public humiliation can feel like a heavier burden to carry than...Nyamunatsi ndiye nyamutsigwa nebonda.Someone who does good by others tends to find support of their own...Nzanga seka dumba, dumba seka nzanga.Things that share the very same nature or flaw have no real grounds...Nzou mutupo pana vanhu paseri ava machikichori.A person's grandeur often only shows itself in company; alone, that...Pane danga pane mombe, pane hundi pagara hurudza.Wherever a group gathers, there is naturally someone among them who...Rombe pakata hana mukaka ndowavaridzi.A poor labourer may do the work, but the reward for it often goes to...Shanje dzinodya muridzi.Jealousy tends to harm the person who carries it more than the one...Tenda muchero ugowisa.Showing gratitude for what you have received tends to open the way...Tenda muchero wadya zvinogadza mwoyo.Expressing gratitude for what you have received brings a sense of...Tenda wakohwa zvemunda wezunde.A good harvest calls for gratitude in return for the blessing...Totenda dzanwa mombe dzaswera nebenzi.Even when things were left in imperfect hands, a good outcome is...Totenda maruva tadya chakata.A good season's harvest deserves to be met with gratitude.Totenda nyemba tanwira mvura.Even a simple meal is worth being genuinely thankful for.Totenda yabikwa imba yepwere.Food prepared and set aside for the children is something the family...Totenda yavira tsambakodzi yedemhe.Something that has finally come to its proper, finished state after...Umambo hutambidzwana.Positions of leadership are not held by one person forever; they...Umba hwehosi husina marevere.Someone of real seniority does not need to explain themselves; their...Usarume muromo wenzombe inopura zviyo.Do not withhold reward from someone who is doing productive work for...Ushe hauzvitongi.Leadership cannot function alone; it needs the counsel and...Ushe hukokwa, hunotokokwa kune vamwe.A position of leadership does not stay with one person forever; it...Ushe hunonyangira rema.A true leader looks after all of their people, including the weak...Ushe husiirwana.Leadership is handed down from one person to the next as part of an...Ushe idova hunoparara.Power and position do not last forever; they fade away much like...Ushe imhute hunoparara zuva rabuda.Authority can disappear as quickly as morning mist once conditions...Ushe madzoro hunoravanwa.In some traditions, leadership rotates between different families or...Ushe vuranda.True leadership is really a form of service to one's people, not...Vagere pachavo vangonyinda.Someone who stays isolated from others is left with no real power to...Vakadyara tsvina vachakohwa hundi muchamupupuri.Wrongdoing eventually catches up with the one who did it, often...Vataitururira matohwe nhasi ndivo votiseka maparapadzwa.Sometimes the very people we once helped are the ones who mock us...Waita womutorwa kuti kumwe kwakaoma kumwe kunyoro.Someone acting like they have no stake in a matter often ends up...Warara warara nemuromo wake.Trouble often comes about because of what a person themselves said...Watungamira haatori nzira.A true leader makes room for others to follow, rather than claiming...Ziso haribi chomunhu.Merely looking at or admiring what someone else has does not...Zongororo kugonya zvaro asi shungu rinadzo.Someone's quiet or passive appearance does not mean they lack...Zhundu kugara mudanga zvanzi ndava mombe.Staying long enough among a group can lead to being treated as one...

Mhuri67

Waita mbereko ada kusuka machira.Once someone becomes a parent, they know they must give up childish...Mupanje wekunze unodzivirira iri mukati.Do not speak ill of your own people to outsiders, because it shows...Kubaya tange hama vatorwa vakutye.To give orders that people will obey, you must first discipline your...Ndiro yechirema hairove.A disabled person has a designated plate known to the whole...Rukova rwizi kuyambuka unokwinya nguo.A child from a great household earns respect from others, however...Benzi kunge riri rako kudzana kwaro unopururudza. (M)When your relative does something people criticise, you do not...Chirango chehuku chiri mumusongora.Since ancient times it was known that the neck of a chicken is the...Zuva rimwe haripedzi dura.Giving someone a single day's worth of food does not finish all the...Aramba ukama apa huku yangu kurarama.If you see someone, even a relative, who does not want to visit or...Akupa dhamba (rengavi) ndowako.Be grateful to someone who gives you something you can use right...Mharadzano dzakabva munzira.In conversations that build a household, people must learn to choose...Akweva sanzu akweva namarara aro.If you take in and care for someone who has dependents relying on...Chawawana idya nehama mutorwa ane hanganwa.Always remember to help and support your relatives, because they are...Mhandakadzi ihonza varanda.Women's quarrels should not be imitated; anyone who tries to copy...Chakafukidza dzimba matenga.There are private matters that take place inside the house.Chirere chigokurerawo.Take care of the young so that they may take care of you in your old...Kuudza mwana hupedzisira.Telling a child something is not enough on its own; teaching must be...Kuwanda kwakanaka, kwakaipira kupedza muto.It's good to have numbers, but they also demand more resources.Kuwanda huuya.The more, the merrier.Mbeva zhinji hadzina mashe.Where there are many people, no one takes responsibility and things...Mhembwe rudzi inozvara mwana ane kazhumu.People produce children with traits similar to themselves; the apple...Muroyi royera kure vekwako vagokureverera.Don't be cruel to the people close to you.Nzombe huru yakabva mukurerwa.Great people are raised up by other people.Zviuya hazviwanani.Perfect people rarely find each other in marriage.Zingizi gonyera pamwe maruva enyika haaperi.Settle with one partner; there are many beautiful people in the world.Abereka otochena moyo.Real peace of mind comes only once an ordeal is fully over, just as...Ane mhuri kwayo ndeane ndume ane mhurikadzi vaeni.In Shona kinship, sons remain within the family and carry its name...Baba muredzi mwana kuchema anodaidza mai.Even though a father also plays a part in raising a child, a crying...Chembere ndeyembwa yomunhu, inofa ichigurukuta.An elderly woman keeps faithfully serving her family right up until...Chikomba chinovirima kwacho.A secret lover does their own thing discreetly, out of everyone...Chirere, mangwana chigozokurerawo.What you nurture and care for well, such as raising a child, will in...Hapana mhou inokumira mhuru isiri yayo.No one gives the same devoted care to what is not truly their own as...Mai musuva usingasevi muto.A mother often gives the best to everyone else while going without...Mbudzi kudya mufenje kufananyina.Children tend to inherit and follow the habits of their parents, for...Mhembwe rudzi kuzvara mwana ane kazhumu.Offspring naturally carry the traits of their parents, marked out by...Mugoni wepwere ndeasinayo.Those without direct experience of a hardship are often the quickest...Mukadzi oda kuramba murume anoshereketa.Someone about to make a major decision often shows visible unease...Mukwasha mukuyu haapere kudyiwa.A son-in-law is expected to keep contributing gifts to his in-laws...Munhu haarerwi nebonde.Raising a child well takes far more than simply providing food and...Munyai mutumwa, muridzi wesoko ndiwe.A mediator only carries the message; the real responsibility and...Muramu inzungu yakateya gonzo.A playful in-law relationship can be tempting, but it carries its...Murume akanaka asiri wako.It often seems that the most admirable man is never the one...Musha mukadzi.The wellbeing of a home rests above all on the woman who runs it.Musikana isango rehuni rinotsvagwa naani nani.An unmarried young woman tends to draw many suitors, all hoping to...Musikana ishavhi, anoteverwa neshiri.A striking young woman draws admirers the way a fruit tree draws in...Mwana mudiki in’anga.Children often blurt out the plain truth without meaning to, the way...Mwana muduku kubvuma rwendo rwake ruri mberi.The young need to accept that they still have a great deal of...Mwana wengwe mwana wengwe kuona chikara haatizi.The children of the brave tend to inherit that same courage...Ndumudzani hadzidyi mundiro imwe chete.Rivals struggle to share and cooperate closely, even over the...Nhamo inhamo zvayo amai havaroodzwi.However severe hardship gets, there are lines that must never be...Nherera inoguta musi wafa mai.A mother's death marks the end of the care and provision her child...Nherera panorayirwa vana vevapenyu iwe inzwawo.An orphan must pick up guidance indirectly, listening in on lessons...Nhumbu mukadzi mukuru hairevi chayadya.A visible sign does not always reveal what really happened behind...Rinonyenga rinohwarara, rinozosimudza musoro rawana.Someone pursuing a goal tends to stay humble and quiet about it...Tsvimborume kutandara nemvana mwoyo uri kumhandara.Someone can appear engaged with one thing while their real interest...Ukama hahusukwi nemvura hukabva.Family ties cannot be erased by outside circumstances; they endure...Ukama hunonhuhwa.Family connections have a way of making themselves known, even...Ukama igasva hunozadziswa nokudya.Family bonds are strengthened through the simple act of sharing...Ukama urimbo kudambura haubvi.Family ties, once formed, cannot truly be severed, even when there...Umhandara idambakamwe.Certain stages in life pass only once and cannot be recovered, so...Unaki hwemukadzi huri pamwana.A woman's true worth is measured not just by appearance but by how...Urombo hune nherera kudya ikarutsa.Poverty pushes an orphan into real hardship, going without the...Vana vembwa havasvinure musi mumwe chete.Children of the same family do not all reach their milestones at the...Vana vengwena havakuriri mudziva rimwe chete.Siblings from the same family often end up scattered as they grow...Wabereka sekera muchitende.Joy over good fortune should be shown with restraint, not paraded...Wanzi baba wada kamusha kake.A person naturally puts their own household first, before anyone...Wekwemurume ndewe kwemurume.Property tied to a particular family or household stays associated...

Kushanda57

Kunzi musikana kana kuti mukomana Ari apa kudya.Everyone should know that eating is what sustains life, so they...Ateyera mariva murutsva haachatyi mhapa kusviba.Someone who has committed to doing hard work should not fear being...Chikweya ndechembwa chomunhu chinotevera.Even a lazy or slow person tries to find ways to help themselves.Chinono chine ingwe bere rinodya richifamba.If you are going to do something, do it quickly, because delay can...Ishavi kurova munda neshamhu.It would be foolish to expect to gain something without working for...Zvamangwana zvinozivikanwa nebenzi.A wise person finishes their work on the day it is due, knowing...Kutumira bete kumukaka haridzoki.Often, when someone is sent to work in a place full of temptation...Usaverenga mbeva nemiswe (yadzo).When it is time to work or get something done, it does not help to...Moto mushoma (ndiwo) unonyautsa muto.Work done gently, without force or excess effort, is usually the one...Utsi hwenyama hahutosvori.A person does not worry about being troubled while pursuing...Mhavarira inoda vane nharo.Someone who cannot do a certain thing eventually manages it out of...Chomujiri ndechemhanza chomudzimu ndechawadanirwa.When you receive something as a gift or a blessing, you thank your...Ronda rinosunda ndorine muchichi.Someone who urges others on with real passion is the one whose ideas...Ropa uya nderina vatsungi.A person gains things through hard effort; nothing simply comes...Apunyaira haashayi misodzi.Someone who does something wholeheartedly can also be rewarded for...Zuva rimwe hariodzi nyama.If you have something you need to do today, it does not mean you can...Mutoro unorema wasvika.A task usually feels heaviest right when it is about to be finished...Madanha etsvimborume kudya yawarira.A person with no one else to rely on keeps all their tasks prepared...Ateya mariva murutsva haatyi kusviba magaro.A person will do whatever it takes to accomplish their goals.Chinono chinengwe, bere rakadya richifamba.Do what you do with speed.Chenga ose manhanga hapana risina mhodzi.There's a reward in trying all things.Mandikurumidze akazvara mandinonoke.Rushing through things can make you do them wrong and take even...Pfavira ngoma, husiku hurefu.Be calm and take your time.Simbi inorohwa ichapisa.Strike while the iron is hot.Wakurumidza kumedza, kutsenga uchada.You have moved ahead of things before finishing what came before.Akanga nyimo awangarara.Stay attentive to the task at hand, since neglect or carelessness...Akuti rima ati ugute.Whoever urges you to farm is really telling you how to have enough...Ane marengenya haacharike moto.A person hardened by hard work no longer needs to sit idly warming...Anokutukira badza unokupa upfumi.Someone who scolds you for not working hard enough is not your...Badza guru ipa murimi, kuripa simbe inovata naro.Give valuable resources to those who will actually work with them; a...Basa mangwanani.Work should be started early in the morning; delaying it causes...Bhuru rasarira shure rasarira shamhu.Whoever lags behind or is slow to act ends up facing punishment or...Chakatairi pasi ndechevanhu vose asi chiri mumuti ndechowagona kukwira.What is easy to reach belongs to everyone, but what requires effort...Chidhiidhii kutsvara hundi, moyo uri kumakoto.Going through the motions of a task while one's mind and real...Chigare chenda kudya, akaitakura.The one who did the carrying, who put in the labour, is the one...Chikuni chinoda mukuchidziri.Even good material needs someone to actively work at it before it...Chinokura choga isango, munda kukura huona tewe.Anything left untended without effort yields nothing worthwhile...Chinokura usipo imombe, munda unokura nokuvandurirwa.Different kinds of prosperity grow differently; some, like...Chisi chako, pembera wadya.Enjoy your leisure only after your essential responsibilities are...Chisi hachieri musi vacharimwa.Even a respected custom, like a day of rest, can be set aside when...Dzavira mutswanda hadzichanetsi kunhonga.Once something has already been gathered into place, the remaining...Gapakapa ndere fodya remhudzi rinokura nokusakurirwa.Neglect allows unwanted things to take root and flourish unchecked.Gangaidzwa vavigi kunhuhwa kwaakafa.Those responsible for dealing with an unpleasant problem are the...Hari haiviri isina mukuchidziri.Nothing succeeds without someone actively working to keep it going.Jongosi kunyimwa mashanga, iro ndiro rakarima gombo.It is a bitter injustice when the one who did the hard work to make...Kunokanganwa mudyi wenyemba muoreri wamateko haakanganwi.Whoever simply enjoys the result forgets the effort behind it, but...Kuwanda kwakanaka, kwakaipira mukupedza muto.Many hands are welcome for work, but too many mouths finish a small...Kuwanda kwemaoko kunotsonza ndima.When many hands work together, the task gets finished quickly.Murimi anodya amire.A hard worker rarely gets to rest fully, snatching a meal between...Mushambadzi haagari pasi.Someone in business must keep working and searching for opportunity...Ndima yabatwa yasundika.Once a task has actually been started, it is already well on its way...Ndima yasakurwa haidzoki.Work that has been properly done stays done; genuine effort is never...Ngoma ndedzemiti kutsemuka tinoveza dzedu.When something we relied on breaks or fails, we are still capable of...Pagara murimi pagara mupopoti.Wherever real effort and hard work happen, a grumbler always seems...Rwizi rukuru madirano.Great achievements are usually made up of many smaller contributions...Sango rinopa waneta.Reward tends to come to those who put in real, persistent effort...Zuva rimwe hariradzi munda.A big task cannot be completed in a single day; it takes sustained...

Upfumi49

Zundu kugara mundove hunzi neni ndava mombewo.Someone who stays close to a person of high status wants to be seen...Kupa huvigisa.If you lend money or goods to others when they are in need, you will...Kudada kwavari mugomo kukumbira vari pasi mapfihwa.It would be arrogant for the wealthy, who live comfortably, to beg...Panoramba machinda nherera sinyungwe.A person should act according to their own means; they should not...Ngwena haidyi chebamba chayo chinoza neronga.A wealthy person of good character rarely eats greedily; they only...Tsvimborume chenga urarami hama dzife ugogara nhaka.Someone who lacks things should not lose heart; they should know...Chipa muchena kupfuma mudzinu wake. (K)A person who stays poor tends to remain poor even after being helped...Musachema muzvere afirwa nomwana muchisiya uyo afa nomwana wake.People often feel more sympathy for someone with a smaller...Chaitemura chava kuseva.The once-great are now impoverished.Chiri pamuchena chiri pamutenure.The poor man's victories do not last.Murombo haarovi chinenguwo.The poor man rarely achieves great success.Ane ganda ane nyama hazvienzane nowakabata hohwa.Someone who possesses real substance and wealth is not to be...Chakaenzanwa ibvudzi upfumi hahuna kuenzanwa.Some things, like hair, can be trimmed to be equal, but wealth...Chinokokwa upfumi, urombo hunozvikoka.Prosperity has to be actively pursued through effort, but poverty...Gona rehupfumi iziya.Prosperity comes through hard work and sweat, not through easy...Hakuna mombe inokorera pamarekete.You cannot thrive on poor or inadequate resources; good outcomes...Kubvongodza muto kuseva kweaguta.Someone who already has plenty tends to grow careless and wasteful...Kugara nhaka kuona dzevamwe.To manage what you inherit well, learn from watching how others have...Kugarika tange nhamo.Most people face hardship before they find stability; prosperity...Kunaka kwemurume imombe dzake.Traditionally, a man's standing comes not from his appearance but...Kunaka kwemurume kuri muhomwe.What makes a man appealing often has more to do with what he has...Kupfuma kwemuchana mudzimu wake.Even someone of humble standing has their own path to prosperity...Kuramba nyama yechidembo hunge une yetsuro.You can afford to turn down a lesser option when you already have...Kushaya hakunenerwi munhu denga ratarama.Poverty is not always someone's own fault; sometimes it comes from...Mari ine chitema.Wealth often carries some hidden cost or wrongdoing behind how it...Mazvake-mazvake kudya kwembada.Everyone must fend for themselves, the way a leopard eats alone...Mombe yekukumbira ndeyekukama wakaringe nzira.Something borrowed should be used with care and caution, always...Mombe yenjeni kutokama wakasungira.What belongs to someone else needs to be handled with even more care...Muchero wegudo unodyirwa kupedza.Something gained through real effort or risk is valued fully, with...Muromo chipfukuto unopedza matura.Excess, whether in eating or in idle talk, can quietly drain away...Mvura inoera usinayo.Good fortune often seems to pass by those who already have the least...Mwanasikana ndimapfumise.Traditionally, a daughter brings wealth to her family through the...Ndingarega sei kununa ini ndiri parumano.Someone whose circumstances are already set up well can hardly fail...Njera yomusaririra ndiyo yeshiri.Whatever is left over after everyone else has taken their share goes...Nyika mukanza, haina mukwambo.A land or an opportunity belongs to everyone alike, not to any one...Panodya ishe varanda vanodyawo.A leader's good fortune tends to trickle down and benefit those who...Pfuma yenhaka inoparadza ukama.Disputes over inheritance often damage family relationships that...Raramo idivakamwe.Making a living is a shared undertaking; people draw on the same...Rombe ngerichaenda rodzoka ndimambo.Someone who leaves with nothing can return transformed and honoured...Rombe rinosekwa richaenda, kana rodzoka hedzo nhureture.Those who mock the poor traveller on the way out are often left...Rugare tange nhamo.Lasting comfort and peace usually come only after first passing...Tsapata rukukwe hazvienzani nokurara pasi.Even something worn and imperfect is still far better than having...Upfumi idova hautani kupera.Material wealth can vanish just as quickly as morning dew evaporates...Urombo hwayo mhembwe kufa iri pamusungo.Poverty can trap someone as helplessly as an animal caught in a...Urombo uroyi hauudzwi munhu.People tend to hide their poverty rather than speak of it openly...Vimba nechako, chemwango chekukumbira hachina ndima.Borrowed things are never as reliable as what genuinely belongs to...Waguta zvekupisa dura.Overindulgence can lead someone to act recklessly, destroying the...Wegudza ndowegudza kufuga gumbeze rinotsva.It is best to make do with and value what is truly your own, even...Zviri kumwene wegira kufuka kana kuwarira.The owner of something has the final say over how it gets used.

Ushamwari40

Varume ndivamwe kutsva kwendebvu vanodzimurana.When people live closely together, seeing one of them in danger...Kuchengeta imbwa yomweni kuda mwene wayo.If you love someone, you must love everything about them; you cannot...(Mombe) Inonanzva inoinanzvavo.A person loves those who love them back; if you want others to love...Kandiro kanoenda kunobva kamwe.When you do good to someone, they will do good back to you, because...Kurera nherera kupakira mavhu muchitende.It can happen that once you have helped someone who was struggling...Kurera nherera mangwana anofuma okupindukira.It can happen that once you have helped someone who was struggling...Usaguta ukasunda dura.When you have been helped in a way that pleases you, do not neglect...Panoda mwoyo nzira haisviki.Often, the person you want to be your friend is the very one who...Nharo imhanjire.Arguing tends to sow hatred between people, as it can lead to...Gonzo nachin'ai zvatosvorana.It is unusual for people who normally get along well to suddenly...Kutamba ngoma matsive.For anything to succeed, including celebrations, it must be done...Vayanani ndivo varwi.In life it happens that people who are the closest of friends...Kuroorera mukarabwe muchema waisa udyi mumba.Befriending a poor person can leave you regretting it later, as you...Mhembwe urombo ndohwayo haisweri musyo rimwe nembudzi.Even someone who has no one to play or associate with will still...Imbwa payadyira haipakanganwi.When someone is in trouble, they return to the place where they were...Vari pachavo vanokwenyana.A person should keep close friends, so that when hardship comes they...Ashunya arwa.When someone helps you get something you want, they have assisted...Vaviri-vaviri wechitatu muzvinaguhwa.It is always the case that when two people talk and understand each...Kuvengana hakupi chiro nyama inodyiwa yaswera pachoto.Hatred between people brings no benefit at all; people should hold...Shungu neganyu zvinodzimba wotandadza asi chido chinomusimbisa.When someone close to you is upset, it is better to respond with...Ushamwari hwechikweyakweya mangwana tichanzwa zvipini zvorira.Friendship that begins too intensely often falls apart, leaving...Akuruma nzeve ndewako.Those who advise or warn you are on your side.Chara chimwe hachitswanyi inda.One person cannot do everything alone.Kakara kununa hudya kamwe.Success comes through the help of others.Mwana kuberekwa vaviri, mugota hamuchemi kacheche.Some things cannot be done by one person alone, like conceiving a...Rudo ibofu.Love is blind.Rume rimwe harikombi churu.One person cannot do all things alone.Varume kutsva kwendebvu vanodzimurana.Men help each other in times of trouble.Chaikanya chototsa, chaitotsa chokanyawo.Helping one another should go both ways; whoever assists you...Chigarisano ndicho chine mhosva.Conflict between people often stems not from one person alone but...Chiri pamumwe chiri padanda.People bound together in a shared task share in whatever befalls any...Chiripo chiripo, ndarira imwe hairiri.A single thing alone often is not enough to do the job; things work...Chitaurirwa mbare dzekumusana.Gossip about a person tends to follow them everywhere, like tattered...Kandiro enda, kandiro dzoka.Generosity tends to come back to you in kind; what you give out...Kupa kuturika.What you give to others is never truly lost; it often comes back to...Kurera imbwa nomukaka mangwana inofuma yokuruma.Even after treating someone with nothing but kindness, there is no...Miti inomera pamwepo hairegi kukwizana kana kune mhepo.People who live and work closely together will inevitably have some...Moyo muti unomera paunoda.Love and desire cannot be forced or controlled; they take root...Muenzi haapedzi dura.Being generous to guests will never truly ruin you, no matter how...Vakamboonana havashayane.Once people have truly gotten to know each other, that connection...

Rufu10

Afa anaka.When someone dies, no one holds a grudge against them any longer...Pachapwa madziwa miramba tichanyurura.People tend to eat their fill at the funeral of a wealthy person.Kufa izuva rimwe, kuora igore.An event itself may pass in a moment, but its consequences can...Kufa kweane hari anosiya mazonde.When someone with possessions dies, what they owned scatters among...Munhu akanaka haararame.It is often said that the kindest people are the ones who do not get...Ngozi nehama hazvisiyani.An avenging spirit's grievance usually traces back to a wrong done...Pafa munhu hapashaikwi muroyi.Whenever a death occurs, there is nearly always someone who ends up...Vakafa havana chavakaona.There is a kind of mercy in death: the dead are spared from...Vakafa vakazorora.Death brings an end to life's struggles, offering the dead a final...Wafa wanaka.People tend to speak only well of someone once they have died...

Other60

Mombe yenzuma kufuma ivete kufunga chakadya nyanga dzayo.Seeing someone who is quiet but visibly troubled shows they are...Kufira guyu kuuya hazvienzani nokufira shamba.It is better to die for something real than to die for something...N'ai kwadzo ndedzonucheche dzonukuru dzinoreva kudya.A young child's crying may mean little, but when an adult 'cries'...Mabasa kuchonya uri murima.It is pointless to trouble yourself doing something good or bad for...Mamvura mazhinji akatunza kuba.Thieves often go out to steal when they see rain clouds gathering...Chiri mubwe chiri mugonera.When something has happened that people do not understand, there is...Ishe kukura nokuwandirwa.It is the people who follow a chief that create his greatness; for a...Kubikira mweni kumudzinga.Once a guest has been fed, it becomes clear they should leave...Kukokwa kwasamusha kukokwa kwavagere naye.When the head of a place is invited, their people are invited along...Doro romunyimi rinovava.Beer should never be denied to people; but a stingy brewer's beer...Masuka mukanwa bere harirariri chipashupashu.A person always wants to eat enough to satisfy them, not a small...Ishe-ndishe muranda-muranda.A person of lower status cannot act as they please towards someone...Mwana kuchenera nyere yepfuta achairega yaputa.Something new is eagerly pursued by people, but once it has been...Indemo hadzo dzeane nyota asi mvura haikokotwi.When someone reaches real desperation, they become willing to do...Yatsika dope yanwa.If someone arrives just as the feast or beer at a ceremony is...Kure ndokuna amai kune mukadzi unofa wasvika.When something you long for is far from you, your heart burns for it...Ageza haanokorerwi.Once a person has grown up and matured, they are expected to also...Mwoyo chipanda chaunoda unoturika.A person keeps all their intentions and thoughts, both good and bad...Hwahwa (doro) hune umambo.When someone drinks beer to the point of intoxication, they forget...Hwahwa hahuna mbuva.When a person is thoroughly drunk, they lose their manners and end...Hwahwa hahuna ndashanya.When a visitor drinks too much beer, they become so intoxicated they...Muvhimi haatyi mumwe.A person is not afraid to do something just because they see someone...Webondo haadyi chiropa.Among the Shona, a person going to war has certain taboos they must...Mwoyochena ndowei bere kugarira mhuru yakafa zvayo?Whenever people see someone giving help without expecting payment...Tsvimborume kutenga duri kuona mashoko kunaka.Seeing someone quietly preparing something they were not expected to...Muzvimbirwi ndiye muzaruri wesuo.A person who is upset knows best what caused their own distress...Zviururwi zvinofara kana kondo afa ziso.People who are constantly harassed by someone feel relief and...Kufa ndikamwe kuora mazuva matatu.Something can happen quickly, but the full resolution of the matter...Meso asangana hwava ukama.People who have met before, even if they later meet again somewhere...Hukwana inodya ndeiri pana mai.When people ask an elder for things, the one who is best known to...Manenji kuona mukadzi ane mhanza.When a person sees something that has never happened before in...Musi mavi ndiwo muuya.A day of disaster or grief can also bring about some good; for...Afirwa haaringwi kumeso.The behaviour of someone who has suffered a wrong or a loss is often...Chirume kufumira pachimwe kunuromo chakatakura.It is obvious that when a man shows up early at another man's house...Mutumwa haana mbonje.A messenger carrying a message bears no blame; a messenger should...Ngoma muridzi wayo.Anything is best understood and properly used by its own owner.Kutanda imbwa yomukuwasha kudzinga muridzi wayo.When a person sees their belongings being resented, they know that...Kureva donga rimwe riripo rinonyumwa.Speaking about someone's fault while they are absent, in front of...Aive madziva ava mazambuko.What used to be hard is now simple; people who used to be great have...Chinobhururka chinomhara.Whatever rises must eventually come back down; nothing stays at its...Chisingaperi chinoshura.All things come to an end.Charova sei chando chakwidza hamba mumuti.Extreme situations can cause people to behave in unusual or...Chembere mukadzi hazvienzani nekurara mugota.Poor quality is better than nothing.Kukurukura hunge wapotswa.You can only tell the story once you've survived it.Manga chena yakaparira parere nhema.The good can make the bad stand out.Matakadya kare haanyaradzi mwana.You can't always be satisfied by yesterday's achievements.Mbudzi kuzvarira pavanhu kuda kutandirwa imbwa.People do embarrassing things in front of others in order to get help.Mudzimu wakupa chironda wati nhunzi dzikudye.Everything that happens has a reason.Mwana wamambo muranda kumwe.Authority and status only work within their own territory.Mukuru mukuru hanga haigari pfunde.However powerful someone is, they cannot linger forever where they...Atandavara aguta, apfunya ndiye avata nayo.A person's condition shows in how they carry themselves; the...Chapadare chakakandwa parurimi rwavapfuuri, chomumba chiri mumhepo.Matters spoken about in public quickly spread as gossip on people's...Ndezvowabaya kuti chiropa hachiseveswi sadza.No matter who is in charge of a matter, certain customs and taboos...Nhamo hadziiti mbiri.When real misfortune strikes, it tends to strike with its full...Nhamo haizivi pakagara imwe.Hardship can strike regardless of whether someone is already...Nhamo inenge yefodya inoti uku yakarumwa uku inotsva.Suffering tends to affect a person completely, not staying confined...Nhamo ndimuuyandega semhanza kumhara mumusoro.Misfortune tends to arrive without invitation, just as baldness...Nhamo neman’a hazvisiyani.Suffering and the grief that goes with it are bound together; you...Nhamo urimbo inonamira.Once real trouble takes hold, it tends to cling on stubbornly and is...Nzara ishuramweni.Hunger is often a warning sign of greater misfortune still to come.

Everything here, offline, in your pocket.

The full dictionary, every proverb, all sixty totems and the riddles. No data, no ads, no account.