MUZEZURUDzidza ChiShona

Tsumo

Proverbs

Shona proverbs passed down through generations. Each carries a lesson about life, relationships, and community.

64 proverbs

Shona	Translation	Meaning
Rina manyanga hariputirwi mumushunje	That which has horns cannot be concealed in a bundle of grass.	Truth will always come to light.
Mwana washe muranda kumwe	The son of a chief is a subject elsewhere.	No one's status follows them everywhere.
Chinokanganwa idemo, chitsiga hachikanganwe	What forgets is the axe. The faggot does not forget.	Those who cause harm may forget. The wounded do not.
Chinonyenga chinokotama, chinosimudza musoro chawana	He who is courting bows down. He raises his head when married.	Humility serves us when we need something. Pride returns when we have it.
Vaviri vaviri, wechitatu muzvinaguhwa	Two are a pair. A third is a gossip.	Three is a crowd. Secrets do not keep with three.
Muromo haupi, chinopa maoko	The mouth does not give. What gives are the hands.	Deeds speak louder than words.
Atswinya arwa	One who has pinched has fought.	Every little contribution counts.
Avengwa anhuhwa	One who is hated stinks.	Call a dog a bad name and hang him. Perception shapes reality.
Chafamba chasvava	One who has travelled has faded.	Away from home one loses importance.
Pagara murimi pagara mupopoti	Where there lives a farmer there lives a grumbler.	A farmer is never satisfied with the work done for him.
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.
Nzombe huru yakabva mukurerwa	A big bull resulted from being nurtured.	Big results have small but indispensable beginnings.
Mwoyochena unobayisa	A kind heart gets one killed.	Kind hearts are soonest wronged.
Chomukuru anopa omene	The property of an elder he gives away himself.	Elders use their own discretion. Do not ask for what has not been offered.
Matende mashava anovazva doro	Pretty calabashes sour the beer.	Attractive appearances can conceal inner flaws. All is not gold that glitters.
Mviromviro yemhanza inotanga shosha	The onset of baldness begins at the temples.	Small faults may result in serious problems seemingly unrelated.
Nherera inoguta musi wafa amai	An orphan eats his fill on the day his mother has died.	Present comfort can mask coming hardship.
Kandiro kanoenda kunobva kamwe	A small dish goes whence comes another small one.	One good turn deserves another.
Mapudzi anowira kusina hari	Squashes fall where there are no pots.	Fortune favours fools.
Rambakuudzwa akazoonekwa nembonje pahuma	Headstrong was found with a head wound.	Those who refuse advice suffer for it.
Chivendekete anoseka chimedure	Cracked laughs at Broken.	The pot calls the kettle black.
Chipitipiti chakazvara chimwandamwanda	Congregation bred Separation.	Familiarity breeds contempt.
Unaki hwemukadzi huri pamwana	The beauty of a wife lies in the child.	A good wife is one who bears children.
Nhamo yomumwe hairambirwi sadza	Another's trouble is no reason to deny oneself food.	Do not let others' problems consume your own wellbeing.
Matakadya kare haanyaradzi mwana	Former meals do not satisfy a child.	Boasting of past successes will not solve present problems.
Munongedzo hauzvinongedzi	The index finger does not indicate itself.	People are blind to their own faults.
Pakukutu hapaurayi	A hard bed does not kill.	Discomfort need not rob a man of his dignity.
Nzou hairemerwi nenyanga dzayo	An elephant is not burdened by its own tusks.	One should be equal to one's responsibilities.
Chidembo hachinzwi kunhuhwa kwacho	The skunk does not smell its own stink.	People are blind to their own faults.
Mwana asingachemi anofira mumbereko	A child who does not cry dies in the cradle.	One should give voice to one's complaints.
Nhenha isibi inoroya	A beautiful girl who does not steal will be a witch.	An attractive appearance hides an inner flaw.
Totendamaruva tadya chakata	We believe in the blossoms when we have eaten the fruit.	Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.
Kurera imbwa nomukaka mangwana inofuma yokuruma	Bring up a dog on milk and it will bite you first thing the next day.	One may spoil others by over-indulgence.
Kwadzinorohwa matumbu ndiko kwadzinomhanyira	Where they are kicked in the belly is the place to which they run.	Harshness can attract more than kindness.
Vataitururira matohwe nhasi ndivo votiseka maparapadzwa	Those for whom we got down snot apples are the ones who laugh at our bruises today.	Kindness is not always repaid with respect.
Kangoma kanoririsa ndiko kanotsemuka	The little drum which sounds the loudest is the one which splits.	When a fashion or someone's popularity is at its height, it is about to fade.
Chidziva chakadzikama ndicho chinogara ngwenya	The quiet pool is the one in which the crocodile lives.	Do not underestimate an enemy. It is the thing you despise that kills you.
Mugoni wepwere ndiye asinayo	The one who can manage a child is the one who has none.	It is easy to advise on what you have not experienced.
Hukwana inodya ndeiri pana mai	The chick that feeds is the one that is close to its mother.	Humility is more profitable than pride.
Kure kwegava ndokusina mutsubvu	Far for a jackal is where there is no mutsubvu fruit tree.	The attractiveness of any work depends on one's interest.
Chakafukidza dzimba matenga	What covers houses are the roofs.	A peaceful exterior may hide trouble inside.
Nzira masanga	Paths mean meetings.	One learns different ways by meeting others. A common goal may be reached by different paths.
Gore harizi pakaza rimwe	No year comes from where another came.	Opportunities do not come twice.
Ukama hahusukwi nemvura hukabva	Kinship is not washed away with water.	Blood is thicker than water.
Kana shumba ikashaya nyama inodya uswa	If a lion lacks meat it eats grass.	Beggars cannot be choosers.
Chirere mangwana chigozokurerawo	Care for it and it will care for you tomorrow.	Care for your child that he may care for you.
Usaguta ukasunda dura	Do not get so full as to overturn the barn.	Do not be improvident.
Kuziva mbuya huudzwa	To know one's in-laws means being told who they are.	Wisdom comes from others. Learning never ends.
Kufa izuva rimwe, kuora igore	Death is one day. Corruption is a year.	Beware of what may harm you slowly. Its consequences last far longer.
Nhasi chineni, mangwana chinewe	Today it is my turn. Tomorrow it is yours.	Do not mock anyone in trouble. You may be in their shoes tomorrow.
Chigere ibwe muti unowa	What abides is the stone. The tree falls.	No man should boast about his strength or his life.
Kupa kuturika	To give is to hang up.	Giving to help others is a good investment. It will come back to you.
Chirema ndechina mazano, chinotamba chakazendama kumadziro	A cripple is one who has sense. He dances while leaning against the walls.	A person must come to terms with his limitations and work within them.
Mbiri matende inoputsika	Fame is a fragile gourd. It breaks.	One's reputation will be destroyed if one does not take care of it.
Ugaro mwena kutevedza, hunoguma	Life is a hole in the ground. Follow it and it comes to an end.	Everyone is mortal.
Mwana wengwe mwana wengwe, kuona chikara haatizi	A leopard's cub is a leopard's cub. If it sees a wild beast it does not flee.	A chip of the old block.
Tsvaga zano iwe une rakowo	Seek a plan when you have one of your own.	Do not come to others empty-handed.
Charovedzera charovedzera, gudo rakakwira mawere kwasviba	One who is used to something masters it. The baboon climbed the precipice in the dark.	We do easily that to which we are accustomed.
Rombe ngerichaenda rodzoka ndimambo	The beggar is the one who goes away. On his return he is a chief.	One who shows initiative is often ridiculed. But if he succeeds he will be praised.
Chakatairi pasi ndeyavanhuvose, asi iri mumuti ndeyo wagona kukwira	The fruit on the ground belongs to everyone. That on the tree is for him who can climb.	Do not take anything for granted unless it is in your possession.
Mukwasha mukuyu, haaperi kudyiwa	The son-in-law is a fig tree. He never stops being consumed.	Payment of the bride price and obligations to the in-laws may go on over a long time.
Kusatenda uroyi	To not give thanks is witchcraft.	Generosity must always be met with sincere appreciation.
Dare harizondi munhu, rinozonda mhosva	A court does not hate the man. It hates the crime.	Justice should be impartial.
Ishe ndishe, muranda muranda	A chief is a chief. A subject is a subject.	One's manner of acting should accord with one's position in society.