(Deno) Ndakaziva haitungamiri English Direct Translation Had I known I would not have done it. Variants Ndakaziva haana zano. Dai ndakaziva haabatsiri. Usayeuka bako waniwa.(Do not think of the cave after getting wet) Usapepuka dete gobvu rapinda. (Do not try to resolve small matters when big issues have come up.) Usayeuka bindu vamwe vakohwa. (Do not think […]
Usaverenga mbeva nemiswe (yadzo). English Direct Translation Do not count mice (together) with their tails. Variants Usaverenga mbeva nemidune. (midune: shrews) Shona Explanation Kana pasvika panguva yebasa kana nguva yokuita chimwe chinhu hazvibatsiri kuverenga navaya vasingagoni kuchiita nokuti vanongova zviwanzahuruva. English Explanation In a difficult undertaking, do not reckon on those whose help would […]
Ndomene haichemedzi. English Direct Translation What you do on your own does not make you cry. Variants Zvamina hazvina mafi. (My own affairs cause no grudge) Shona Explanation Kuzvikanganisira hakutsamwisi kana kuchemedza. Munhu anozviitira zvinhu zvake kana zvikazomukuvadza haana waanonenera mhosva. English Explanation If anything goes wrong because you alone have planned and done it, […]
Mazvokuda kufa namaronda enyora. English Direct Translation Death is wilful (if) it is (caused) by tattoo marks. Variants Mazvokuda kurumwa nechokudongorera. (It is one’s own wish to be bitten if one is (inquisitively) peeping.) Mazvokuda kurumwa nechokuchera. (-chera: dig) Mazvokuda kukangira nyimo muruoko. (kanga: fry; nyimo: bambara groundnuts) Afa namaronda enyora haachemwi. (One who dies of tattoo […]
Rega kuyera nyoka negavi iyo iripo. English Direct Translation Do not use a fibre string to measure a snake while it is present itself. Shona Explanation Nyoka chinhu chinotyisa; kwete kuti ichiri mhenyu chete asi kuti kunyangwe yakafa zvayo. Hapana munhu anoda kusvika pedyo nayo kana kuibata kunyangwe pachidiwa kuonekwa urefu hwayo. Vakuru vaiti kana […]
Usatsvaga nhava muuswa iro sora ratsva. English Direct Translation Do not look for a string bag in the grass when the grass has been burnt. Variants Usaruka nhava rutsva rwatsva. (Never weave a string bag after a veld fire.) Usakusha mbeu mvura yaenda. (Do not broadcast seeds when the rainy season has gone.) Shona Explanation […]
Rega kubvunza nyama kuti ndeyokugocha iwe muto uchiuona. English Direct Translation Do not ask whether the meat is roasted when you see it is in the gravy. Shona Explanation Kunenge kuri kusafunga zvakanaka kana munhu achibvunza kuti chinhu chaitika sei iye achinyatsoona chinenge chakonzera kuitika kwacho. Zvinganyadza kana munhu akabvunza kuti, ‘Pane rufu here pano?’ iye […]
Mamvura mazhinji akatunza kuba. English Direct Translation Heavy rains encourage stealing. Variants Zimvura guru rakatunza kuba Shona Explanation Kazhinji mbavha dzinobuda kuenda kundoba kana dzoona kuti kunze kune hore yemvura iyo ingazopfudza tsoka dzavo. Vanhu vanowanzopara mhosva nokuda kwezviedzo zvinovapa pfungwa dzokuti zvavari kuita hazvizozivikanwi kana kuonekwa. English Explanation Usually, thieves go out to steal […]
Kuzengurira izwi romukuru kuramba mhangwa English Direct Translation To shun an elder’s word is to refuse advice. Shona Explanation Kana munhu ukapiwa nyevero nomukuru, ibvume, pamwe ungangoramba mazano angazokubatsira. English Explanation It is unwise not to reflect, at least, on the advice given by elders. Especially in traditional Shona society, age is bound up with wisdom. […]
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