1. Aive madziva ava mazambuko (What were pools / have become fords).
– Circumstances have
changed. (Shiri yabvuta rhekeni)
2. Aguta / haaoneki (One who has had Ms fill / does not bid farewell) – He leaves because he has
nothing further to ask.
3. Afirwa / haaringwi kumeso (One who is bereaved / is not looked in the face) – Actions or words made
under stress of sorrow are not to be taken seriously.
4. Akuruma nzeve ndewako. – Those that advise you are on your side.
“It is only when mosquitoes land on your testicles that you realize there is always a way to solve
problems without using violence”
1. Akweva sanzu akweva namashizha aro (One who has pulled a branch along / has pulled along its
leaves) – Inherit a wife and you inherit her children as well.
2. Apunyaira / haashayi misodzi (One who has become emotionally upset / does not lack tears) –
Exertion brings some reward.
3. Ane benzi ndeane rake, kudzana unopururudza. – When you know the bad traits of someone you will
not be offended when they do bad things.
4. Ashamba haanokorerwi (One who has washed / does not have stiff porridge broken off for him, is not
helped to food) – A cultured person is entitled to proper respect.
5. Ateya mariva murutsva haatyi kusviba magaro (One who has set traps in burnt grass / no longer fears
his apron getting dirty) – A man must take the consequences of his actions.
6. Atswinya arwa (One who has pinched / has fought) – Every little contribution counts
7. Avengwa anhuhwa (one who is hated stinks) – call a dog a bad name and hang him
8. Chafamba chasvava (One who has travelled has faded) – Away from home one loses importance.
9. Chafamba kamwe / hachiteyewi (Something that has passed only once / is not trapped) – A single
transgression is not taken serious account of.
10. Chakafukidza dzimba matenga. – There are private issues that take place inside the house.
11. Chaitemura chava kuseva. (One who used to eat stiff porridge / is now eating it with relish) – His luck
has changed.
12. Chikuriri chine chimwe. – What is great now will be smaller than another. Chikomo, shata divi
/rimwe ritambire pwere (Small hill, be difficult on one side / and on the other children will play) – A bad
man will have some redeeming features.
13. Chinobhururka chinomhara.
14. Chinonyenga chinokotama / Chinosimudza musoro chawana – He who is courting bows down / He
raises his head when married.
15. Chipitipiti / chakazvara / Chimwandamwanda (Congregation / bred / Separation) – Familiarity breeds
contempt.
16. Chirere / mangwana chigozokurerawo (Care for it and it will care for you tomorrow) – Care for your
child that he may care for you.
17. Chisi hachiyeri musi wacharimwa. – The consequences of bad behavior are not immediate, but they
will come.
18. Chisingaperi chinoshura. – All things come to an end.
19. Chitsva chiri murutsoka. – You can get new experiences by moving to different locations.
20. Chiri mumusakasaka chinozvinzwira. – People take advice that pertains to their individual needs in
group settings.
21. Chivendekete / anoseka / Chimedure (Cracked / laughs at / Broken) – The pot calls the kettle black.
22. Chara chimwe hachitswanyi inda. – One person cannot do all things alone
23. Charova sei chando chakwidza hamba mumuti. – Extreme situations can cause people to behave in
unusual or unexpected ways.
24. Charovedzera charovedzera, gudo rakakwira mawere kwasviba. – When you get used to doing things
you can even do them under difficult circumstances with ease.
25. Chembere mukadzi hazvienzani nekurara mugota. – Poor quality is better than nothing.
26. Chidamoyo hamba yakada makwati. – People have the freedom to choose what they want.
27. Chidembo hachinzwi / kunhuhwa kwacho (The polecat does not smell / its own stink) – People are
blind to their own faults.
28. Chinokanganwa iDemo / Chitsiga hachikanganwe – What forgets is the Axe / The faggot does not
forget
29. Chomukuru / hachikumbirwi (The property of an elder / is not asked for) – Elders use their own
discretion.
30. Chomungozva chinodyiwa / nowabata mwana (Food from a nursing mother is eaten / by one who
holds her
child) – One good turn deserves another.
31. Chomukuru / anopa omene – The property of an elder / he gives away himself.
32. Chinono chinengwe, bere rakadya richifamba. – Do what you do with speed.
33. Chinoziva ivhu kuti mwana wembeva anorwara. – It’s the people close to someone that know his/her
affairs
34. Chiri mumoyo chiri muninga. – What’s in the heart is hidden
35. Chiri pamuchena / chiri pamutenure (What is on a poor man / is on a slope and not secure) –
Because of his bad luck, a poor man is ever in want.
36. Chitaurirwa hunyimwa mbare dzekumusana. – You never get the full information and appreciation
from being told.
37. Chenga ose manhanga hapana risina mhodzi. – There’s a reward in trying all things.
38. Dzafura churu chimwe / dzava nzivani (Those that have grazed at one anthill /have become
acquainted) – Experience once shared unites people ever after.
39. Gudo guru peta muswe kuti vaduku vakutye. – The older people should be dignified for them to be
respected by the younger ones.
40. Guyu kutsvuka kutsvuka zvaro asi mukati rine masvosve. – Some things look attractive from afar or
from outside but they are not so good inside.
41. Hapana mhou inokumira / mhuru Isirl yayo (No cow lows / for a calf not hers) – Everyone knows his
own kin.
42. Hapana angagone / chisingagoneke naGone – There is no one who can manage / what can’t be
managed
by Mr. Manage; viz. No one can improve on an expert.
43. Hurudza inofa / ichinzi inodya (The rich farmer dies / being said to eat) – A person once rich will not
be credited with being poor.
44. Hwahwa / hahuna mbuva – Beer is no food for a journey.
45. Hove dzinokwira / dzine muronga – (Fish go upstream / having a channel) – Progress depends on
tried paths.
46. Igaroziva kuti mhanza yembudzi iri mumabvi. – Things are not what they seem.
47. Imbwa nyoro ndidzo tsengi dzamatovo. – The innocent looking people are often the guilty.
48. Imbwa payadyira / haipakanganwi (The place where a dog has fed / it does not forget) – Help given
in time of need is remembered.
49. Kakara kununa hudya kamwe. – Success comes by the help of others.
50. Kamoto kamberevere kakapisa matanda mberi. – Small issues can become large enough to cause big
problems.
51. Kandiro kanoenda kunobva kamwe (A small dish goes / whence comes another small one). – One
good turn deserves another.
52. Kana shumba ikashaya nyama / inodya uswa (If a lion lacks meat / it eats grass) – Beggars can’t be
choosers
53. Kuipa kuipa zvaro bveni, asi haridyi chakafa choga.
54. Kukurukura hunge wapotswa. – You can only tell the tale when you have survived it.
55. Kure kwegava ndiko kusina mutsubvu. – People will do anything to get what they desire.
56. Kure kwemeso nzeve dzinodya. – You don’t have to be at a place to know what happened.
57. Kuudza mwana hupedzisira.
58. Kuziva ambuya huudzwa. – All you know you were taught.
59. Kuwanda kwakanaka, kwakaipira kupedza muto. – It’s good to have numbers but they also demand
more resources.
60. Kuwanda huuya. – The more (people) the merrier
61. Kuzeza chati kwati hunge uine katurike. – When you over react to things you probably have
something to hide.
62. Mandikurumidze akazvara mandinonoke. – If you rush through things you may end up doing them
wrong and thus take even longer than if you had taken your time.
63. Manga chena yakaparira parere nhema. – The good can make the bad visible.
64. Mapudzi anowira / kusina hari (Squashes fall / where there are no pots – Fortune favours fools.
65. Matakadya kare haanyaradzi mwana. (Former meals / do not satisfy a child) – Boasting of past
successes will not solve present problems.
66. Matende mashava / anovazva doro (Pretty calabashes / sour the beer). – Attractive appearances
conceal inner flaws. All is not gold that glitters.
67. Mbeva zhinji hadzina mashe. – Where there are many people no one takes responsibility and
therefore many things can remain undone.
68. Mbudzi kuzvarira pavanhu kuda kutandirwa imbwa. – People do embarrassing things in front of
others in order to find help.
69. Mazvokuda mavanga enyora. – Self inflicted anguish.
70. Mhembwe rudzi inozvara mwana ane kazhumu. – People produce children with traits similar to
them. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
71. Mhuno hainwi mvura / muromo usina kunwa (The nose does not drink / if the mouth has not drunk)
– Elders take precedence over juniors.
72. Mudzimu wakupa chironda wati nhunzi dzikudye. – For everything that happens, there is a reason.
73. Munhu / haarerwi / nebonde (A person is not nursed by means of a sleeping mat) – Lying up is not
enough to cure a sick person. Treatment is needed as well.
74. Munongedzo / hauzvinongedzi (The index finger / does not indicate itself) – People are blind to their
own faults.
75. Murombo haarovi chinenguwo. – (A poor man never kills anything with a skin to it) – A man
condemned by fate to be poor cannot rise above his condition.
76. Muroyi, royera kure / ugowana anokuviga (Witch, bewitch far away / that you may find someone to
bury you) – Live in peace with your neighbours.
77. Muroyi royera kure vekwako vagokureverera. – You shouldn’t be mean to people close to you.
78. Mwana washe muranda kumwe – The son of a chief is a subject elsewhere.
79. Mwana kuberekwa vaviri, mugota hamuchemi kacheche. – Some things cannot be done by one
person alone, like conceiving a child.
80. Mviromviro yemhanza mapfeka (The onset of baldness / begins- at the temples) – Small faults may
result in serious crimes seemingly unrelated.
81. Mviromviro yemhanza / inotanga shosha – The onset of baldness / begins- at the temples; lit. Small
faults may result in serious crimes seemingly unrelated.
82. Mombe yekurunzirwa ndeyekukama wakarinde nzira. – You can never use borrowed things with the
freedom you would have if it was yours.
83. Mukadzi munaku kusaba anoroya.
84. Mukuru mukuru hanga haigari pfunde.
85. Muromo haupi / Chinopa maoko – The mouth does not give / What gives are the hands
86. Mwana asingachemi anofira mumbereko. – (A child who does not cry / dies in the cradle) – One
should give voice to one’s complaints.
87. Mwovochena / unobayisa (A kind heart / gets one killed) – Kind hearts are soonest wronged.
88. Takabva neko kumhunga hakuna ipwa.
89. Nhenha isibi / inoroya (A beautiful girl who does not steal / will be a witch) – An attractive
appearance hides an inner flaw.
90. Nhamo yomumwe / hairambirwi sadza – Another’s trouble / is no reason to deny oneself food.
91. Nherera inoguta / musi wafa amai (An orphan eats his fill / on the day his mother has died) – His
future outlook is bleak
92. Nzenza mumvuri, asvika anovanda zuva.
93. Nzombe huru yakabva mukurerwa (A big bull / resulted from being nurtured). – Big results have
small but indispensable beginnings.
94. Nzou hairemerwi nenyanga dzayo. (An elephant is not burdened / by its own tusks) – One should be
equal to one’s responsibilities.
95. Pabva zino / rave vende (Where a tooth has come out / there is now a gap) – Death destroys
symmetry and leaves empty places.
96. Pachapwa madziva / miramba tichanyurura (When pools dry up / we fish out the barbels) – The
death of one man brings benefits to others.
97. Pasina nyimo / makunguo aizodyei? (If there were no ground-peas / what would the crows eat?) – A
proverb addressed to a rejected suitor, ‘If I were not here / you would have found another girl to woo.
98. Pagara murimi pagara mupopoti (Where there lives a farmer / there lives a grumbler) – a farmer is
never satisfied with the work done for him.
99. akukutu / hapaurayi (A hard bed / does not kill) – Discomfort need not rob a man of his own dignity.
100. Pfavira ngoma, husiku hurefu. – Be calm and take your time to do things.
101. Panoda mwoyo / nzira haisviki (Where the heart longs to be / the path never reaches) – A watched
pot never boils.
102. Rega kuyera nyoka ncgavi / iyo iripo (Do not measure a snake with string / while it is present itself)
– Do not substitute false imitations for the real thing.
103. Rinamanyanga / hariputirwi mumushunje – That which has horns / is not concealed in a bundle of
grass.
104. Ramba kuudzwa akazoonekwa nembonje pahuma. – Headstrong / was found / with a head wound.
105. Rega zvipore akabva mukutsva. – A burnt child dreads fire.
106. Regai dzive shiri, mazai haana muto. – Wait for the full maturation of events instead of prematurely
harvesting or celebrating.
107. Rudo ibofu. – Love is blind.
108. Rume rimwe harikombi churu. – One person cannot do all things alone.
109. Seka urema wafa. – Do not make fun of other people’s misfortunes because they may come upon
you too.
110. Simbi inorohwa ichapisa. – Hit the iron while it’s still hot.
111. Tend a muchero / wadya zvinogadza mwoyo (Be grateful for the fruit / having eaten to satisfaction)
– Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.
112. Totenda maruva / tadya chakata (We believe in the blossoms / when we have eaten the fruit) –
Promises are not to be relied on until they are performed.
113. Tsvaga zano / iwe une rakowo – Seek a plan / when you have one of your own.
114. Twemudenhe / tune ushorwi – Too little flour in the bin / brings contempt; People despise an
owner’s improvidence or stinginess.
115. Ukama hahusukwi nemvura hukabva (Kinship is not washed with water and disappears) – Even
quarrels do not destroy kinship and its obligations.
116. Unaki hwemukadzi / huri pamwana (The beauty of a wife / lies in the child) – A good wife is one
who bears children.
117. Usaguta / ukasunda dura (Do not get so full / as to overturn the barn) – Do not be improvident.
118. Usapedzera tsvimbo kuna vanamakuwe / idzo hanga dzichauya (Do not use up sticks on go-away
birds / while the guinea-fowl have yet to come) – Do not waste your time or substance on trifles.
119. Utsva hworurimi / hahuna marapiro (A burn on the tongue / cannot be treated) – Some problems
have no solution.
120. Varume kutsva kwendebvu vanodzimurana. – Men help each other in times of trouble.
121. Vasikana kudada kudada zvenyu, tichaonana magaro pakuyambuka. – You may reject people when
all things are well but you will need them when things get hard.
122. Vaviri vaviri / Wechitatu muzvinaguhwa – Two are a pair / A third is a gossip
123. Wakurumidza kumedza, kutsenga uchada. – You have gone to things ahead before completing the
things behind.
124. Yadeuka yadeuka mvura yemuguchu haidyorerwi. – When things have happened they cannot be
undone.
125. Yatsika dope yanwa. – One who was present participated.
126. Zano ndega akasiya jira mumasese. – People who forsake warnings and advice often fall into
calamity.
127. Zizi harina nyanga. – Things are not what they seem.
128. Zviuya hazviwanani. – Good people / do not marry each other.
129. Zviro zviyedzwa chembere yekwaChivi yakabika mabwe ikanwa muto. – You never know what is
rewarding unless you try.
130. Zingizi gonyera pamwe maruva enyika haaperi. – Settle down with one woman, there are many
beautiful. women in the world
131. Zvikoni zvikoni mimba haibvi negosoro. – Some things cannot be dealt with by simplistic solutions.
132. Zviururwi zvinofara / kana kondo afa ziso (The frogs rejoice / when the hammer-head has lost its
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