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Arabic proverbs

Almost every culture has examples of its own unique proverbs. Here are some translated examples from Arabic:


From 88 Arabic Proverbs:

  • Avoid the company of liars, but if you can’t, don’t believe them.

  • The smarter you are, the less you speak.

  • If you’re unable to reward, then make sure to thank.

  • You can’t clap with one hand.

  • Arrogance is a weed that grows mostly on a dunghill.

From Egyptian Arabic proverbs:

  • Repetition teaches (even) a donkey.

  • In his mother’s eye, the monkey is (as beautiful as) a gazelle.

  • The carpenter’s door is falling apart.

  • Trusting men is like trusting water in a sieve.

  • Under the sheikh’s hat is a monkey.

Proverbs from the Saudi embassy in Tokyo:

  • The rope man got mixed with the archer.

  • If you were saved from the lion, do not be greedy and hunt it.

  • If you know, it's a disaster. If you don't know, it's a greater disaster.

  • The neighbour comes before the home.

  • Dawn does not come twice to awaken a man.

From Some Yemeni proverbs:

  • From a pound of talk, an ounce of understanding.

  • Who dies today is safe from tomorrow's sin.

  • If speech is of silver, silence is golden.

  • You play with a snake and call it a worm.

  • If you have honey, don’t lick the pot clean.

From Modern Lebanese proverbs:

  • The son of a son is dear, the son of a daughter a stranger. 

  • When your son is young, discipline him; when he grows older, be a brother to him.

  • When the wolf comes for the sheep, the dog goes to defecate.

  • An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak. 

     

In the Arabic language section

Introduction 

Is Arabic difficult? 

How to learn Arabic

Where to learn Arabic 

Arabic words in English 

Arabic words and the Roman alphabet 

Arabic proverbs 

Related pages: 

Arabic literature

 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 


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Last revised on 03 March, 2016