December 5, 2024

Somali proverbs starting with B

This is a list of popular Somali proverbs starting with B:
Baadiyi nin aan lahayn bay ag joogtaa. Lost cattle (i.e. which are looked for by their owner) find themselves at the disposal of the man who does not need it (i.e. sometimes a thing belongs not to the man who cannot do without it, but to a man who does not need them).

Baahi badan, baryo badan, iyo bukaan badanba waa laysku nacaa~Both excessive needliness, too much begging and chronic ill-health can create undo resentment in others

Ballandarro waa diindarro: Not to fulfil a promise is just the same as not believing in God.

Bakayle intuu bur ku jiruu bur kale daydaydaa: The hare sits under one bush but looks out for another ( to which it might run if endangered).

Bannaankiisa-mare maradiisa geed ma qabsato: The cloth of the man who skirts about a clearing will not be torn by a tree ( i.e. a cautious person will avoid troubles).

Baqal fardo la daaqday faras bay is mooddaa. If a mule grazes with horses it thinks that it is also a horse.

Baqtiga ma cunee fuudkiisan cabbaa. I do not eat carrion. I drink soup made of carrion. Said about a bigot

Barasho horteed hay nicin. Do no reject me until you know me well (i.e. one should not be judged by appearances). This goes back to a tale about an ugly but brave young man who was unsuccessfully wooing a girl. She preferred a handsome but as it turned out cowardly man.

Baroorta ceesaanta ka weyn: One does not mourn so bitterly over a (lost) she-goat ( there is obviously a more serious hidden reason).

Baruur keliya ayaa baruuryo qudhmisa: One fat piece of meat spoils many other pieces.

Barti-yaqaan bari uma kororto: The herd of a man who knows only one place (i.e. pasture) does not grow. Another interpretation. The herd of a man who takes care only of his own animals does not grow ( because in any disater no one would help him.

Baryo badan iyo bukaan badanba waa laysku nacaa. Beggars and ailing people are disliked equally.

Beenaale markhaatigiisuu fogeeyaa: A liar settles his witness in a faraway place (i.e. he calls as witness someone who is not able to come.

Been fakatay runi ma gaaarto: The truth will not catch up with a runaway lie.

Beeni raad ma leh. A lie leaves no trace (i.e. it has no weight).

Beenlow nin dhintay iyo nin dheer ayuu marqaati u qabsadaa. A liar calls as witness one who is either dead ord far away.

Beentaada hore runtaada danbay u baas baxdaa. Your previous lie damages your present truth.

Been sheeg, laakin been run u eg sheeg. Tell lies, but let your lies resemble the truth.

Belaayo intay kaa maqan tahay, qayrkaa bay ku maqan tahay: If misfortune does not come to you it comes to somebody else ( somebody of your age).

Belaayo ka-hor-tag moyee ka-dabo-tag ma leh: Misfortune can be caught only from the front, it cannot be caught from behind (i.e. one can avert misfortune, but cannot control it if it has already happened).

Belaayo kaa sii jeedda layskuma soo jeediyo. If a trouble shows its back, do not force it to show its face.

Belo ama il la’ayd, ama lug la’ayd: A wicked man is lacking either one eye or one leg ( which means he cannot damage the people round him in full measure).

Bidaari sibiq bay kugu gashaa. A bald spot reveals itself unexpectedly. Said about an unexpected trouble.

Bilsaddex gurigaagana way kaa kexeysaa, guri kalana kuma gaarsiiso: A young moon (a moon which was born three days ago) will take you out of your own house but it will not take you to somebody else’s ( because it does not shine long). This means, no good will come of a hasty decisions.

Biyo fadhiya biyo socdaa kiciya: Dead-water is moved by running water.

Biyo intaysan ku soo gaarin ayaa layska moosaa. Make a dam before the flows.

Biyo meel godan bay isugu tagaan. Water flows to a low place.

Biyo sacabbadaada ayaa looga dhergaa. One drinks enough water only from one’s own palms.

Booraan hadimo ha qodin, ku dhici doontaana mooye: If you dig a (deadly) hole for somebody, be careful not to fail into it yourself.