Mo muñaani cuurki, ndañata ƴulɓe
He who has no patience for smoke will have no charcoal
Ko nanndudi ndiwdata
That which looks alike can fly together (birds of a feather)
So bahe cumɗi gooto fof ñifata ko waare mum
If the beards are all on fire, each person must put out his/her own beard
A nangat jorngal haa nji’a keccal
You must take the dry wood until you see the damp wood
Hade maa mantude jamma ndaccu haa weeta
Before you can appreciate the night, you must wait until morning
Baasal warataa kono na tampina
Poverty does not kill but makes one tired
Jom hunuko majjataa
Master of the mouth/speech cannot get lost
Bojje ɗiɗi nagodotaako
Two rabbits cannot be caught together
Findine fiya, bonnuno hade mum ɗanaade
When waken by beating, something bad was done before going to bed.
Unɗooɓe ɗiɗo suudondirta les nafki
Two people who are pounding (millet) hide together under one armpit (if you hide things from each other, you cannot work together)
Luuti jibinte ko cagal baaba mum
An orphan who is born after his dad dies is called Luuti (say bad things only when the person they are about is not there anymore)
So tawi wuro ngo fof ko humde, muɓɓu gite haa koota
If you go to a village where all are blind, keep close your eyes until you go home
Deɓɓo rendu waawa wongaade
A pregnant woman cannot dance the wonga
Kala ko njih ɗaa ɓenni kala ko soynaa yawti
Everything that you see passes, everything that is seen passes.
Sa anndi fof, haali fof, a toñi. Sa anndi fof, deƴi fof, bonni
If you know everything and say everything, you’re at fault. If you know everything and say nothing, everything is ruined.
Yarude seesa haɗtaa yettaade
Going slowly does not prevent you from arriving
Jamma jamma accaani ceedu
The nights of hot season are numbered
Laawol jam woɗdaani
The peaceful way is not far
Ko wosti ñalel e ñalel
It’s exchanging a calf for a calf
Ko gujo yidi fof ko jom jawɗi ɓuri yiɗe
Whatever the thief wants the owner wants it more
Batane muñal fof ko alhumdelilahi
The future of every patience is thanks to God
So goo boni limoore ayiima
If one is ruined the numbers are reused
Demoowo so awi mudo soñi mudo hay so tikanaani Allah weltaaki
A farmer who reaps what he sows might not be angry at God but he will not be happy
ɓe nengasa ɓe ne nguuba yaajat kono luggidtaa
If some are digging and some are burying it will be wide but never deep
Ngaari ina haande waare kono Allah totti ko ɗamɗi
The bull deserves the beard but Allah gave it to the goat
Sa ɓoyi e woyndu, baggal taw maa toon
If you last at the well the bucket will find you there
Cellal ko afo ngaalu
Health is the greatest treasure
Ko legal ɓoyee e mayo/ndiyam fof wontataa noro
A stick that sits in the river/water won’t become a crocodile
Ko muñal waawi fof
Patience can do everything
Ina ŋata walla ŋatataa woɗinde jungo mum ɓuri
Whether it bites or doesn’t bite, it’s best to keep your hand far away
Mawɗo ina jooɗoo yih cukalel ɗaroo roŋku yihde
A seated elder sees what a standing child misses
Ko saaɗi weeli fof, ko yaawuur ɓuri
It’s painful to leave something dangling, and better to respond
Teddungal dasetaake roondete
Hospitality is not dragged, it is carried on the head
Sikke juulata
If you’re not sure, you can’t pray
ɗoo e Senegal ko ngabu saloto taccude maayo
Here in Senegal the hippopotamus refuses to cross the river
Saa yii faaburu dow lekki les lekki waɗaani jam
If you see a frog on top of a tree, below the tree there is no peace
Koɗɗe njidaa wowru ceera arsugaaji
Things that share the same origin have different fortunes
Weli maayɗo, weli maayraaɗo, ko mettiri jahɗo janayse
It’s good for the dead, good for the griever, but sad for the people who attend the funeral
Wonaa ɓoyde lamba woni waawde sipire
The veteran fighter isn’t necessarily the best
Wonaa heñaare haɓɓat ɓoccoɗe
It’s not haste that packs the eggs
Yitere woyi mere sakanu duba leggel
An eye can cry even when not sad
So goo bonii limmore aayiima
One cannot build upon a bad foundation
Dañal e baasal ngondi
One may be wealthy today and poor tomorrow
Mo ekkaaki waawataa
A person who does not try will not learn
Mo ɓamti gada faaburu ne ko leydi fayi
You can help only those who want to be helped
Ko kaaldigal addi paamondiral
It is through dialogue that we come to a mutual understanding
Kongol ko ndiyam so rufii ɓoftotaako
What comes out of the mouth cannot be drawn back in
Kutal ngal woorataa teɗɗinde becce mum ɓuri
One must face what one cannot avoid
Mallol so firtii jubbol so joomum hulaani yo o jaabo
One should respond to accusations about oneself
Yitere waɗanaaka omboode
Eyes do not have lids (Nothing is hidden to the eye)
Salaade ko waawaa jeyaaka e mbaaɗdaagu
Limiting oneself to what one can do is not a sign of weakness
Yiɗde haɗii yiide
One is blinded by love
Thank you to Jonno, Sakhir, and others for these proverbs.
Paul
Maddy
