(means, if you can get something out better than nothing).
Al-barra al-bahr awwaam: Who's out of the sea is a good swimmer
(means, those who talk much about something do not actually know much of its requirements and tasks).
Darb al-salamma lil al-howl gareeb: A safely road deserves a whole year for a journey (means, better take a safely road for your trip even if that costs you a whole year. In other words, don't try your best to avoid tough situations).
Al-maktuba ma bi-titfat.. wal al-magsuuma yaha al-jat That which is fated can not be avoided, and it is only what was written (fated) for you is what you get (means, be satisfied with what you get in life).
Al-khail bit-gallib wa al-shukur lae hammad: Horses do the hard work and thanks go to Hammad
(means, while some people do the efforts others get credits for what has been achieved).
Al-hassana fi al-man'ool zai al-shara fi al-gandool: Charity to a wicked person is like chaff in a wheet stalk (means, whatever you do for a wicked person you won't get any good in return).
Al-atra tisallih al-darib: A sudden fall (stumbling) corrects the road
Al-atra bitsalih al-mashi: Stumbling corrects walking
(means a fault or an error in a work will make workers aware of the problem).
Ain al-hasood fiha ood: May The eye of envy be pierced with a stick
(means a greedy person deserves to be rejected by others).
Al-fahal ma awwaf (loll): A bull won't reject any chance
(means, for a person who doesn't care about beauty or facial characteristics but concentrates on satisfying his desire).
(means, what's belongs to you is beautiful).
Zai al-rakooba fi al-khareef: Like a strawy shed in the rains
(means, a grassy shed will not stop rain from leaking in).
Al-bitakraho bit-hammiro fi al-dalam: That whom you hate, you stare angrily against even in the dark
(means, you terribly dislike those whom you hate).
Al-bitaa'mala crate talga'ha fi jilid'ha: What crate (a goat) does, will find it in her skin
(means, those who do bad things will fireback against them).
Al-mara kan bigat fas ma bitaksir alras (loll):
A woman, even if she becomes an axe, will not break a head (i personally dislike. This proverb which is commonly used in rural Sudan since women now are educated and enjoy high ranked jobs everywhere).
Sha'wirha wa khalif'ha: Consult her and do otherwise (i dislike this too. It is very demoting to women).
Sahib balain kadab: A man of two viewes is a liar
(means, a hesitant person is untrustworthy).
Eid le eid tajda'a ba'eid: Hand on hand will throw far
(means, cooperation will push work more further).
Mid lihafak ala gadr rejlaik: Stretch your mat in accordance to your legs
(means, try to do things that you are capable of, or suit you).
Samha al-affiya: Nice is the good health (it's said when a person is seen in a good shape, or when you see a recovered person after sickness).
Togool tour yugool ah'libu: You say it's a bull (male cow), he says milk it
(indicates the impossibility of doing something while others insist to go for it).
Samil al-goul fi khashim sido: Nice the talk from the toung of a person
(means, better to hear the talk directly from a person than hear it from others).
Al-arja lae mara'ha: A lame (goat) will eventually return to its flock
(means, separatists, or defectors, will eventually join the group). loll
(i hope this will be the case of those southern separatists so we can built a new united Sudan)
Al-jayat aktar min al-ray'hat: Those coming in the future are better than those passed away
(means, the best has yet to come, or more chances are there).
Al-rujuu ila al-haggi fadeela: Going back to the just is a virtue
(means, it's morally good to return to the right path after adopting the wrong).
Jinan bit'arifu akhair min jinnan ma bit'arifu: Better a devil you know than a devil you don't know
(means, it's better doing, or dealing with, something, or someone, you know than jeopardizing
your chances).
Kalib banbah wa jamal mashi: A barking dog and a passing camel
(means, when one makes a lot of noise, or protest, while others don't care much of it, or him).
Jarada fi al yad wala alfi tayer: A locust in the hand better that thousands in the air
(means, what you have at hand is much valuable than what you don't have).
Al jou kafir: Hunger is impiety
(means, when a man is hungrey he could be susceptible to commit a sin).
Al-gissa'yir ya hikma ya fitna: A short person either he's a wiser or a problematic
(meaning, any person with some kind of disability is psychologically tries to proove himself. This
resembles another arab proverb: kul tha a'ahatin jabbar: Who's having permanent disability is a tyrant).
Ainak fi al-feel wa tata'an fi dulu: Your eyes on the elephant and you stab in his shadow
(said when someone deliberately misses the point, or avoids the target, and changes attentions away to
trivial and unimportant issues).
Al-wilif kattal: Association (or companionship) is a killer
(said for a longtime association among couples, lovers, or friends).
Ghab ab-shanab wa-la'ib ab-danab: When ab-shanab (the cat) disappears, the ab-danab (the mouse) appears and plays around, "typically Tom and Jerry"
(said when the master is absent so his followers, dependents, or enemies play and mess the place).
Al-bahr bi-sheel awwamu: The sea drowns its best swimmers
(said when an experienced person fails in his own field of specialization, or litrally means best swimmers could also be drowned).
Alwad khaal?? i didnt understand it, but the closest is: al-khal aha'nna min al-am: A maternal uncle is pitiful, or compassionate, (to his sister's kids) than their parental uncle.
Jilid ma jildag jur fi'hu al-showk: A skin which's not yours scratch it with thorns
(means, what's not belongs to you, treated anyway you like).
Alfadi ya'mal gadhi: The idle acts like a judge
(means, a person without a job, due to his idleness, states his viewes and judges anything, everything, even if it's out of his knowledge).
Algandool al shankal al rayka: meaning one of many things that may have effected something. why only this one?
Shokat hoot- la btinbalie la bitfoot: something
(or someone that stands like a needle in your throat, it wont be swallowed or come out).
Ya dakhil bayn al basala wu gishrata, ma talga illa afanata: he who interferes in a close-knit relationship will suffer in the end.
Alhajjaaz layhu ukkaaz: (s)he who tries to end a fight will get hit eventually.
Alsawway ma addath: (s)he who truly achieves need not brag about it.
Baleelat mibaashir wala dhabeehat mikaashir: a small meal from a smiling face is better than a big feast from a frowning one.
Alzaad in ma kaffa nas al bayt, hirim ala al-jayraan
Alguhha wala sammat al khashum:
: indicating priority of the closer people to you.
Ayb alzaad wala ayb seedu: better something than nothing.
Alnas fi shnu wal hassaniya fi shnu: indicating someone who is TOTALLY off-point, and it goes after a real story about the hassaniya tribe, who were partying till da break of dawn while a war was comin'down on da town.
Ra'eessayn bigharrigul murkab: (as our Prez recently said lol), and its equivalent to "too many cooks spoil the broth".
Al shakkaro fi washu nabbazo, ie. dont praise someone in his face too much (anti-kiss-a*ss statement).
Shakkar rouhu Iblees, ie praising yourslef is evil.
Al'yad al'wahda ma bit'safig: A single hand will not clap, (it needs the other for that purpose).
Al-jatak fi maalak sama'hatak: Which inflicted your wealth would pardon you, (said when bad things happened to, or damaged, some of your properties but produced no casualties or human losses
since wealth could be compensated or made up again).
Tullo tool al'nakhla wa aglu agl al-sakhla: His hieght is like a palm tree but his brain (i.e., understanding) is like a baby goat's (kid's) brain (said when a tall person acts like a child).
Siha min nomo wa liga kumo: He woke from his sleep to find his portion
(said when a person gets an unexpected thing, or benefit, which was never dreamt of).
Al-samih samih wa lou sahho min noumo wa al-shane shane wa lou laba'soho hidoomu: The beautiful is beautiful even if he/she was awakened from a sleep, and the ugly is ugly even if he/she was dressed handsomely
(literally means beautifuls need no makeups while ugly looking remain ugly even if they tried to hide behind good dresses and extensive makeups).
Al-tayeb umro gaseer: Good people live short (said when alovable good person die young).
Al-shaggi umro taweel: Wickeds live long and this one are actually come together, separated by wa).
Al-ain ma tamla'ha illa al-turab: The eye could only be filled with sand
(said for greedy people who want to have everything leaving nothing for others).
Kallam al-tair fi al-bagair: Birds' talks are nonsense
(said for those who talk meaningless, or their talks were useless).
Al-ma bit'alhago jaddi'o: That you can't catsh throw him/it with stones
(meaning, if you can't achieve something just give it a try).
Al-rajil bimsiku min lisanu: A man is his word
(meaning, a trustworthy person is the one who people believe him).
H'aleema raja'at lae gadeema: Haleema got back to her old habbits
(said when a person couldn't resist a bad habbit and returned to do it after abandoned it for sometime).
Al-botoon bat'ranna: The bellies (i.e., wombs) are rich in diversity
(said for a group of brothers and sisters from same father and mother but with different natures, colors, heights, or characteristics).
Al-ain baseera wa al-yad gaseera: The eye is discern but the hand is short
(said when you know exactly what is/are needed to accomplish something but there's lack of funds, or means, for it).
Al bargos ma baghatti digno: He who dances doesn't cover his beard
(meaning if you want to do something terrible don’t try to cover yourself as people will eventually know).
Ta'jree jarry al-wu'hoosh ghair rizgag ma tu'hoosh: You run like wild beasts but you only get what was portined for you, i.e., by God).
Al-jamal jamal al-tab'ie: The beauty is the beauty of nature
(meaning, the real beauty of a person is his/her beautiful conducts, cool temper, and nice disposition).
Al-ilim fil-raas ma fil-karras (i believe this is an egyptian mathal): The knowledge is in the head not in the notebook
(said for students in order to understand and comprehend their studies instead of going back everytime to check their books searching for answers). "this is for you ya talmeethy"..
La tagta'e al-akhbar.. wa la taa'mil al-darib sasaaga (i'm not sure of the first part of this mathal, but its ok): Don't manufacture (i.e., makeup) the news.. and don't make the road zigzag
(meaning, please be straight in your life, trustworthy, and with good conducts).
Kalam al-gissa'yir mab-yetsamie: the talk of a short person won't be heared
(generally said when poor, young, influential, degraded, less-classed, and humble people talk, protest, demand, or express themselves for something but get no resonse).
Al-kiddib h'ablu gissay'ir: The thread of lies is short
(means, lies and deceptions won't live long and the truth will be discovered someday).
Typical example is Turabi, Bashir and the NIFers!!. Stay out of this ya student, these are my own political viewes, focus on your studies and one day you will have your own.
Al-liga ah'babu nisa as'habu: Who finds his lovers forgets his friends
(This resembles #45 of Sudanyia, meaning, lovers have priority over friends).
Ma indo gasha murra: He doesn't have a bitter straw
(said for a person who likes everythings, of the same type, and has no rejection to any of them, or it doesn't make any difference to him, such as foods, drinks, etc..).
Al-hub a'ama: Love is blind
(said when a person fell in love with someone who's ugly, or has unacceptale features).
Rakkab sarjain waga'a: Rider of two saddles is a faller,
(said when a person dosen't content with one idea or view).
Ba'eid ani al-ain ba'eid ani al-galb: Out of sight, out of heart,
(means if a loved one is away his/her partner seldom think of him/her). Also comes as: Out of sight, out of mind (i.e., al-bal).
Al-bo'ud harraq: Absence is vehement (i.e., fire), (meaning absence makes the heart more fonder).
Al-ras ma bit'sheel jarain: The head can't carry two pots, (said for a person tries to do more than he can).
Al-su'koot ridha: Silence is consent,
(meaning, silence is acceptance. Said especially when a girl was consulted about a marriage proposal and she kept silent).
Al-wiqaya khayron min al-illaj: Prevention is better than cure,
(said for precaution against the unknowns).
Katrat al-aydi bit'ktul al-janna: Many hands kill the infant i.e., during birth,
(said when there are many conflicting ideas on accomplishing something).
Al-masa'ib la ta'tti forada: Troubles, or misfortunes, don't come singly,
(said when troubles come together or after one another).
Al-abdu lil-tadbeer wa allahu lil-tagdeer: Man proposes and God disposes,
(meaning lean on God).
Dug al-hadeed wa hwa sakhn, or har: Strike the iron while it is hot
(means hurry for something before it's too late).
Ad'hak yad'hak al-aalam maak, wabki tabki wahdak: Laugh, and the whole world laughs with you, weep, and you weep alone, (means, always be optimistic).
Min yad'hak katheeran, yad'hak akheeran: Whe laughs best is who laughs last,
(meaning, conclusions are the best measures).
Jarih silah wala jarih mulah: Attack by a weapon and not attack on hospitality,
(Indication generousity, that better injure me with a weapon than to insult me in my generousity).
K'ma tazra'a tah'sid: As you sow, so will you reap, (said when a person fails to achieve something while all opportunities were available for success).
Khay'r al-umoori awsata'ha: Best decisions are the moderate ones, (meaning, no need for extremisim).
Al-ghareeq yat'aalaq bi gasha: A drowning man will clutch at a straw (said in case of desperation).
Lad'ghat al-dabbi bit-khawif min jarrat al-habil: Who was bitten by a snake fears the trace of a robe, (means, you get cautious against any previous harm or incident).
Bab al-najar mu'khalla: The door of a carpenter is disjointed, (said when a professional person fails in his field, or to be perfect in his production).
Al-bab al-bijeeb al-reeh siddo wa istareeh: A door that winds blown through close it and get comfortable, (means, avoid troubles).
Al-byoot asrar: Homes are secrets, (meaning things that happen inside homes and not disclosed outside).
Na'gool ya allah ta'gool istaghfar allah: We beg the God and you say otherwise,
(means while some are busy in doing something others discouraged them).
Al-ain ma bita'ala ala al-hajib: The eye cannot get above the eyebrow,
(said as respect and courtecy for others).
Al-noum sultan: Sleep is a king, (means the feeling and desire to sleep is stronger than anything).
Dhullu ma'yit: He has no shadow, (said for a humble, helpless, and hopeless person).
Dammu tageel: His blood is thick, (said for a person who people don't like his presence).
Al-ta'ies wa khayib al-raja: The wicked and the hopeless,
(generally said in discribing two hopeless and wicked people).
Dogg al-guraf.. khalli al-jamal yakhaf: Hit the leather cases so the camel get scared,
(means strike somewhere to frighten others in another place).
Al raheefa al-tingad: meaning if its already thin, let ER RIP.
Kalaam algisayir ma bitsamie: when someone's opinion is ignored.
Alfii galbu hurgus.. barahu birgus: meaning if you know your guilty, yourself will fumble yourself and fall!
Tamr al faki.. shaylu wu mushtahi: when you possess sthg you can’t use.
Galbi ala janaay , wu galib janaay alal hajar: indicating a insensitive son.
Alnaar talidi alramad: meaning a fire (which is useful) begets ashes (not useful), naar is to ramaad as father is to son. get it?
Jaarak algareeb wala wad ummak al baeed: indicating priority of your close neighbor over your distant brother.
Hashaash bey dignu, literally its as if a farmer is talking about how he WILL harvest and how he WILL do this and that, while doing nothing in acuality.
Tashoof algubba tagool tahita faki: also indicating deceptive appearances.
Sawwil khair wu armil bahar: do good, and forgeeet about it.
Jidaaadt al waadi al 6aradat jidaatd al bayt: when an outsider comes and takes over.
Kan ma feehu shag ma bigoool "tag": meaning it's already bad, dont blame it on me!
Aloog al shadda ma binfaa: okay this was explained to me. listen up: literally, al aloog is the feed they give to donkeys.
And when they're gonna have a long trip, they feed him early.
Alshadda is when you're mounting the donkey. Therefore, if you fed him immediatly before mounting, it aint gonna work. (a lesson for procrastinators).
Al galam ma b'zeel balam: meaning education itself won;t help those who are ... um.... characteristically-challenged?
Al fi eedu al galam, ma biktib rouhu shagi: meaning he who has the power will not ever use it against him.
Akl alsoosa wal aafya madsooosa: an over-eater who is under-weight.
Seed al hag raadi , shin dakkhal al gadi?: when you are done wrong , and someone else (shamshaar) wants to stand up for you,
and you are fine with it...who licked the icing off HIS cupcake?
Shagi alhal bilgal aadum fil marara: im sorry these are just so funny and TRUE!!. meaning, when you're hit with bad luck, you'll find a bone in marara.
Dafn allail ab kurain barra: indicating an unfinished job due to carelessness. Literally, it means they left his leg outside of the coffin cause they buried him at night...poor guy.
Seed alraayha alfatah khashm al bagara: when you're so desparate to find sthg, you look in the most irrelevant places!
Al arda jarrabat alhajar: try EVERYTHING, maybe you will get there!
Aaddaal algusas ab gussatan awja: equal to "bab alnajaar makhalla3".
Ala’awano fi qabr abu , dassal mahafeer: they wanna help him bury HIS father, and he hides the shovels. Meaning, i wanna help you, and you dont wanna help yourself!!
Jabo fazaa, biga layhum wajaa: we bring u to help, and ur nothing but more pain!
seeda wu mulaaha fil reef: sthg that's incomplete.
Almufaarig aynu gaweeya: if you’re leaving anyway, hell, u dont give a damn! example: telling ur boss he's a pig when you have found another job.
Altama waddar, ma jamaa: don’t be selfish.
Daar abook kan khirbat, sheel layk minnah shaleeya: if its kharabana kharbaana, u might as well get sthg out of it!
Mout al jamaa iris: widespread bad becomes good. example, if the whole class doesnt pass, thats a sigh of relief!
Albilga al bagar ma biadam hibaalin: if you got the cow (the major item), finding its reigns wont be a problem.
Al eed alwaahda ma bitsaffig: one hand can’t clap.
Al aarif izzu mustareeh: self satisfaction is the way to go.
Al aari wala al mutasshi: meaning anticipation is sometimes more exciting than getting it over with. literally: he
who is awaiting dinner is better off than he who already ate. ie. hes got sthg to look fwd to.
Al tor in waga, taktar sakakeeenu: once the big guy falls, everyone wants a piece of him!
Kharbaana um binaayan gash wu hash: indicating "manool abul dunya".
Al daayig garsat dabeeb, bikhaaf min majar al habil: if youre bit my a snake once, youll be forever afraid of so much as the trace of a rope (on the ground).
Saraarat alla3ot, ma yitlaagu illa yome almote: (ya kafil BALA), indicating family that’s so far apart, they only see each other at funerals.
Al tashaash fi balad al 3imi shof: if you are eyesight is baad, you are considered one of the fortunate ones in a city of blind ppl.
Laymoona fi balad garfaana: a lemon amidst a nauseated city. (everone will want the lemon to sniff on.), it indicates a very rare, very much needed commodity. (or person, of course.)
Hilu lisaan wu galeel ihsaan: his talk is sweet, but his actions are not up to it.
Kulu inda al-arab saboon: All for arabs are soap,
(meaning, all things are similar for somebody even if there are clear differences).
Katrat al-ta'lla al-masakhat khalg'alla: More appearances make a person more boring, (means, the more you show your face the more you become boring).
Al-sawa'y mo hadda'th: A hard worker is not talkative,
(means, those who do the real job don't talk much).
Farfarat mathbooh: Kickings of a slaughtered
(said when someone fell in a trap, or a charge, and tries desperately to find way out, or simply jirsa).
Hilm aljaan aysh: a hungry man's dream is bread.
Addi alaysh le khabbaazu: let the baker make the bread
(leave it to the pros!).
Dhul al dalayaba: generosity.
Dhul al dhahia: dhul gisayyir, doesnt last, comes and goes so
fast.
Fateesa wu gillat shaba: you got nothing out of nothing;
akalta fateesa wu kaman ma shibieta!
Yinfukh fi girba magdooda: filling air in a punctured leather case.
Arrahool izz al arab: praising nomadic life.
ALkidib ablu gisayyir: lies are discovered sooner or later.
Shabhayna wu itlagayna: birds of a feather flock together.
Yihillana al halla Balla min algayd wal zilla: said when you are
sick of something and you want out .
Asmaa kalaam al bibakeek , ma kalaaam albidhahikak: listen to advice that makes you cry, not that which makes u laugh (indicating the truth hurts).
Samaahat jamal al6een: strong and lovely outside, but once you touch, shows the weakness or ugliness.
Alsutra wal fadeeha mitbaaryaat: you might as well "tinsatir"min albidaya.
Ab Sineina yidhak ale ab sineintayn: you laughin at me and you got my same problem!
Jari wu tayaraan ma bitlagu lilniaam: an ostrich cant fly and run at the same time. indicating you cant have everything at once.
Alnifoos kaan itaayabat, alangarayb bisheeel miyya: if ppl feel good about each other, a couch (hey if i said bed ppl would get the wrong impression!!!).
Al-jamra bitahrig alwa6eeha: a burning coal only hurts he who steps on it (nobody else).
Aldhihik bala ajab, gillat adab: laughing with no reason is unclassy.
Toolu tool al nakhala, wu aglu agl alsakhala: as tall as a palm, yet as stupid as a goat.
Al ma bitalhagu, jadiu: if u cant beat them, stone them!
Adam al arood jafa: this shows hospitality. If you dont offer ur guest sthg to eat/drink, you're a bad boy/girl!
La bijaddi la bijeeb al hujjaar: he's GOOD FOR NOTHING
Al-bitbalbal yioom: if you’re already wet, hell, swim !
Tajri jaril wuhoosh, ghayr rizgak mat hoosh: meaning no matter what you do, ur destiny is all you'll get .
Khadim al-fakki majboora ala al-sala: The servant of a cleric is compelled to perform prayers,
(meaning you're obliged not just to serve your boss but also to follow his actions).
Al-gahha wala samat al-khashom: Coughing up is better than keeping silent,
(meaning, even a slight reaction is better than doing nothing).
Min digno wa-afttillo: From his beard and twist into threads,
(meaning, give'm from his own wealth or property).
Al-miskeen sikkeen: Poor person is a sharp knife,
(means don't underestimate poor person, he might be dangerous).
Katrat al-jaljal, al-bitgassir al-aajaal: Moving here and there aimlessly make life short,
(said when someone moves around without specific objectives)
Al Musa kullu yatlaa Firown: He who you see as Moses, turns out to be Pharoah
(meaning deceptive appearances, wu yikafeena Allah shar al deceptive appearances).
In saragta asrig jamal, wa in aarasta arris gamar: If wanna steal, steal a camel, and if wanna get married, marry a moon
(means, if you have to steal then steal something biiiig, and if you want to get married then marry a beauuuutiful one)...
Al-aarif izzo mustareeh: He who knows his dignity is comfortable
(said when a person is confident of his honor despite some allegations around).
Al-ni'aal umm gidaid, walal mara ummal-welaid: An old torn shoe and not a woman with children
(meaning, to walk around with a torn shoe and stay single is better than marrying a woman with
kids from another man). It's funny. I think the fear here is that the man will find himself raising kids not of his own.
Haita ma'yla: Slanting (or inclined) wall (said for unreliable person).
Allah ma yajeeb youm shukru: May God not bring the day of his appreciation (meaning the day of his death).
La lamma fi al-tais wala fi al-nijais: He didn't get to this or to that (tais and nijais are the names of two he-goats. So, when they lost they way home, no body could find them back).
Kan ma mutna, shaggaynal maqaabir: if we aint been there, weve done the next closest thing!
Albitla min baytu hazeen, yilgal farah ind meen: if ur not satisfied with urself, looking for it elsewhere will get u nowhere.
Seed daynak seedak: He who loans you, owns you. (hey, that's catchy even in English!)
Al shagi ma bisaad: indicating bad luck.
Almabdi matmoom: if it starts, it must be finished.
Albishooful galib mat shooful ayn: when you have bad feelings about something or someone (a bad dream about someone dear, for instance), its like "may these bad dreams never been seen in real life".
Uklu akhwaaan, ithaasabu tujjaar: eat as brothers, but when it comes to money matters, act as merchants.
Deeek al hilla ma biy’ooi: the neighborhood rooster doesn't wake anybody up, meaning when ur so used to sthg, it loses its edge.
Alshayna mankoora: wrongdoings are usually denied.
Talaa shamar fi maraga: equal to the Egyptian “talie min al moolid bala hummus", meaning he got NOTHINNNN out of it.
Saam wu fatar ala basala: he fasted and then broke his fast with an onion, ie. when you wait a long time for sthg, and even then you get the worst (or minimum).
Akful al-bala bel baleeela: Deter calamity by giving charity (charity in form of cooked grain, baleela).
Guwwat alayn al bit'akkil lahm alsadaga: said to someone with alot of NERVE. (he ate the meat meant for charity).
Hag al-aariya ma biddom lil-ashiya: What you borrow won't last to the evening
(means whatever you borrow won't last long, someday you need to send it back).
Al lail satar al jubal: Night darkness covers the hills
(litrally means the darkness of the night covers everything, even large hills).
Sahar al jidad wa la nomo: Awake of chickens better than their sleep
(meaning, to pass the night awake better than half asleep half awake, i.e., intermittent sleep is the a chicken
nature).
Zay al-Baseera umm hamad: Like al-Baseera, mother of Hamad
(said for describing a wise, but tricky influential old woman).
Tasaweeha bi eidak taghlib ajaweedak: You do it with your own hands but challenges your guradians to solve it, (means, you committed something wrong which even your guardians wouldn't solve it).
Al-balad alma baladak amshi fiho aryan: The country you're not belonged to, walk in it undressed (means, do whatever you want to do in a place since there's no one notices you).
Al bi ummo ma bihimmo: Who he with his mother nothing bothers him
(means, there's someone always caring for you).
Al ruhool izza al-arab: Peregrination is the nature of herd nomads (discribing a famous characteristic of nomads which is alawys traveling around searching for water and graze for their cattles; but also said at time departure or travel).
Baamal min al-habba gobba: Making from a small particle a big tomb (said for exaggration).
Sawwi al-khair wa arheeho fi al-ba'hr: Do the good and thow it in the sea
(means always do the right thing and forget about the reward, you will get it back someday).
Batnoo ghareega: His belly (i.e., inside) is deep (said for one who doesn't release his secrets, or plans, easily).
Al junoon funoon: Insanity is dexterity (said for a mad person who does funny things).
Al junoon hikma: Insanity is wisdom (like the previous one, said for a mad person who does surprising things).
Al jamra bitahrig al wateeha: Ember burns who stood on it
(means those who suffer know the feeling of pain).
Noum al affiya: Happy sleep (said for one in a deep sleep).
Ragid zay al-habil: Lying like a robe
(said for a lazy one who wants to sleep all the time).
Homarro al gissayer: His short donkey
(said for one who was always dominated by another).
Asabi al-yad ma wahda: Fingers of a hand are not same
(said for brothers or sisters from a same family but with different tempers and conducts).
(215) alme' har wala li'ib ga'ounj: Hot water and not frgo's plays
(this mathal is from Darfur and said to people who are not capable
of withstanding tight situations. It means this is hot water, if
you want to play with frogs go somewhere else, i.e., cold water).
(216) al-tassawi kirate fi al-garadh talgaha fi jilida (was
reported earlier in another form, however, it means what you sow,
so shall you reap).
(217) aryan wa fattish lelniswan: Nake*d and searching for women
(said to show one's disability to prioritize one's sets of
duties). (strange brother Aldudu, never heared bout it).
(218) al-hadoha min al-howama, bigat tabeet barra al-bait: Though
she was advised not to wander away, she started taking nights out
of home (said to show one who turns out to behave worse than
before, despite the perpetual advices given to her).
(219) al indal seed agrab min alfil eid: What's the master has is
closer than what's present at hand (meaning that what God has for
us is closer than what we have, even in our hands).
(220) min khashmu ma simi'ena wa min fadlu ma ghineena: Neither we
heared from his mouth, nor we dispensed from his wealth (meaning,
that we never give up on God's help as he never mentioned that he
will not help us).
(221) al sutra wa al fadeeha mitbaryat: Concealments and scandals
are changeable (meaning whatever brings you scandal and whatever
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brings you good reputation go together).
(222) yahillanni al halla Balla min al-gaid wa al-zilla: May who
freed Balla may free me too from chains and humiliation (meaning
that whoever helped Mr. Balla and set him free will help me too,
with reference to God).
(223) nakoor lakin laboon: Untamed but terribly milky (loll) (used
to describe a terribly beautiful girl who is very difficult to
come to terms with). This is funny brother Gharrabi, i like it, i
mean your mathal!. But why not meaning a cow or a goat.
(224) fi al-beer wa waga'a feeha feel: In the well and an elephant
on him fell (said to describe a situation getting worse than
before).
(226) yillagita al-namil wa yataha al-feel: Picked by ants and
trampled by the elephant (said to describe the ceaseless toil the
fruits of which are enjoyed by others who don't really participate
in attaining it).
(227) jaraad yatb'a auwal'u: Locusts follow their first (said for
a person, or a group of people who imitate conducts of their
elders and follow them whether they're right of wrong).
(228) marmi allah ma bit-raffie: He who downed by God won't be
raised up again (said for a hopeless person).
(229) hulum al-jaan aish: The dream of a hungry person is a loaf
(means you always dream of something you really need).
(230) al-jaan yakul bi-aino: A hungry will eat by his eyes (means
if you don't have means to get it, then you can just look at it).
(231) jat takahila aamata: She tried to paint one's eyes with
antimony but she turned her blind (meaning, when one tries to
improve things or make a situation better but somehow gets totally
undesirable results).
(232) alma indo kabeer yishtari laiho kabeer: He who has no
guradian better buy one (means if you don't have an elderly
relative to advice you, better find someone to do so).
(233) aa'yra wa adoha sout: Neglected (animal) and get flogged
(said when a neglected animal, or a person, get beaten and started
running loosely to every direction).
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(235) eeido lah'ga: His arm is reaching (said for influential one
who has many means and aid to help him doing whatever he wants).
(236) eeido taweela: His arm is long (said for a powerful person
who can reach his enemies wherever they escape, especially kings
and shyookh).
(237) eeido khafeefa (said for a thief, specifically nashal).
(238) aino harra: His eye is hot (said for a black-eyed-magical
person).
(239) al sighay'ir minak doosu: A smaller, or younger, than you,
crush him (said for unequal competition).
(240) al donya farandagas wa al-zaman difais, alma indo baggara
yahlib tais: Life is changeable, and time is full of struggle, so
he who has no cow will try to milk a he-goat (loll, this mathal is
from Darfur and means when life gets tougher people try to do
anything for survival, even if its impossible). I like it.
another one from Darfur, but its ugly..
(241) al-har lazza al-barid, wa al-barid gam yitarid: The hot
pushed the cold, and the cold started running out, lolll (hey this
is realllllly weird, and means when you eat fresh and hot food it
will enter you stomach and pushes the already digested cold stuff
out, i.e., shit, yaghi).
(242) bukra alfulla bitimali wa albagara biyajo: Tomorrow ponds
will be filled and the cattle herds will arrive (said for revenge,
or for threatening somebody for an action he committed).
(243) hilla fi aajooz bimoot: Since we're living here an elderly
one would die (also said for revenge, or for threatening, that:
one day we will meet).
(244) al-fugara gassamo al-nabaga: Hollymen shared a tiny fruit
(meaning generousity).
(245) gaddim al-sabit talga al-ahad: Give the Saturday to get the
Sunday (meaning, do the right thing now and you will get the
reward later).
(246) al-jawab yakfeek inwanoo: Enough the address to tell you the
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kind of a letter (means facial expression, or apparition, of a
person, or anything, is enough to tell what about him/it).
(247) minshar aajeeb, talie yakul, nazil yakul: The saw of Mr.
Ajeeb cuts ups and downs (literally describes the saw, but
sometimes it said for greedy people who try to get benefit from
every action of theirs).
(248) gattar aajeeb, al-yuwadi ma yajeeb: The train of Mr. Ajeeb,
which carry things off and won't bring them back (said for sending
a person away without needing him back again).
(249) la yuwadi wala yajeeb: He neither does this nor does that
(said for a selfish hopeless person).
(250) da hilim wala ilim: Is this a dream or for real (said in a
surprising tone when unbelievable things happen for which one has
no explanation).
(251) talatin, fi alkhumra waddilka mikhalitin: In his thirty and
mixes himself with women's makeups (said to describe a man who
behaves exactly like women).
(252) ala shanata, gamat laiha sin fi lahata: Although very ugly,
she got a tooth on her palate (said to describe a situation that
is getting worse than before).
(253) baheema aayra wa mara bayra: A wandering animal and an
unwanted woman (said to resemble a spoiled woman with a spoiled
animal).
(254) al madeeda haragatni: The hot stuff burned me (said for
teasing someone or instigating him to do something).
(255) al-hisab walad: A just counting (said to describe an
operation for perfect counting, or for resolving dispute over
money between different parties).
(256) shamlat bit kinaiz, hi tlateeya wa gaddaha ruba'iya: The
cloak of Bit Kinaiz is triplex but its hole is quadruple (said to
describe a state of permanent lack of sufficiency).
(257) sa'yim siyam al-dhub, albilgaho kullu yigool laihu chubb:
He's fasting like the fasting of a lizard, he eats whatever he
finds chubb chubb (said to describe one who hides bad behaviours).
It resembles the egyptian mathal: bil-nihar yisabbih wa bil-lail
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yidabbih. loll..
(258) sawwahu afrash wa takheen: He made it wide and thick (said
to describe one who spoils something).
(259) al-hashash yamla shabaktu: Only the skillful Mower will fill
his net (means, only people who know how things could be done will
be the winners). Thanx Navi
(260) khayran taamal sharan talga: You do the good but you get the
bad in return.. (means, don't exepect appreciations from those who
don't recognize the value of your good deeds to them). Lolll...
(261) la tadkhul fi ma la yaaneek, tajid mala yurdeek: Don't push
your nose in whats not concerns you, otherwise you will get whats
you don't like (means, just take care of yourself and leave
others' matters to them). Thanx brother Peace for the above two
mathals.
(261) la ya'jibbu al-ajab wa la al-siyam fi rajab: He's hard to
please or likes fasting in the month of Rajab (means, he dosn't
like this or that). Thanx Aldudu..
(262) jarrih sinan wala jarrih lisan: Better injure with a weapon
than insulting (means, verbal abuse is hard to accept).
(263) al-nay yarja li narru: The uncooked goes back to fire
(means, better be efficient in whatever you do).
(264) galbi ala jana'y wa galib jana'y ala al-hajar: My heart is
for my child, but his heart is for nothing (said for a child who
disobays his/her mother all the time).
(265) dirham wigayya khayron min gintar illaj: An ounce of
protection is better than a ton of cure (means, always stay
alert).
(266) as'al mujarib wama tas'al tabeeb: Ask an experience one, not
a doctor (meaning, those who already suffered from a harm know
better about it than experts).
(267) dakhal al-aish bela kishkaish: Entered the crop straws
without notice (said when one sneaks his way through).
(268) dakahl al-gash wama gal cush: same as above.
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(269) al-zoul ma bifoot al-laihu maktoob: A man will never escape
his fate (meaning, what shall be written, is what shall be done).
(270) ya mughtarib ya wad gharrib: Either an expatriate or a son
of the west (said by girls in Sudan in preference to their future
dreams of marriage, that the man either be someone who works
abroad or a one from western Sudan. Hey, this is true, men of
western Sudan are known to keep their wives and homes intact, as
divorse is uncommon among them).. lolll,, ya Gharrabi ma bigeet
ghalli yakhi.
(271) al-kalib bidoor khannago: The dog likes its suffocator
(means a dog will not leave its master even if it gets abused by
him. Also said for one who submits to another despite the bad
treatment he gets). Thanks Merfi.
(272) al-kalib batbaa seedo: The dog follows its master (meaning
same as above)
(273) salaam ummi lai marat aboui: The greeting of my mother to my
step mother (meaning that something is so far fetched as my
mother's warm salutation to my fathers's other wife).
(274) ara'a bai gaidak: Graze with your shackle (means stay with
your limits).
(275) bagarat batool yiwadooha lil-bagar tarjaa lil-ijool: The Cow
of Mr. Batool, they take her to the cattle herd but it always
returns to the calvs (said to refer to someone who cannot fit
within his age group and always seek the company of younger
people).
(276) umm slambouyti wala kidikay zoul: Mine is better than what
others have (means better be satisfied with what you have)
(277) k-ann'ana la ruhna wa la jeena: As if we did't go or return
(meaning we accomplished nothing for an effort).
(278) jurab al-ra'y: A case of ideas (said for a man/woman known
of his/her wisdom and thoughtful ideas).
(279) ma bareedak wa ma bagdar belak: I don't like you but i can't
do it without you (meaning whatever the hard feeling we need to
stick together).
(280) seek seek muaalag feek: Whatever it, it sticks on your neck
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(meaning same as above).
(281) nigga fargha: Nonsense talks (said for meaningless talk or
protest).
(282) allah yikaddib al-shaina: May God unfulfill the bad news
(said when one hears bad news about close relatives or friends).
(283) samha(m) jamal al-teen: What a beauty fabricated woman (said
for a beautiful woman, or even for an ugly woman who puts alot of
makeups).
(284) don'ya mudawarra: Life is round (means life is full of
sweets and bitters).
(285) don'ya da'haloub: Life is a large water-jar (this mathal is
from Darfur and means same as above).
(286) allah ghalib: God is the conqueror (said in submittance to
God when one fails to achieve something).
(287) hannati al-zallabya: What cheap are pancakes!! (said to
reflect discontent with the achievement of somebody who wasn't
even considered to be within the least; an example like Sudan
beats Brazil in soccer).
(288) hiwar al-turshan: Dabate of the deafs (said for off-point
discussions).
(289) al-turki wa la al-mutaw'rik: A turkish, not a turkished one
(said for those who exceed the limits of harshness and civility in
dealing with others like the conducts of Turkish in Sudan before
the Mahadiya; meaning it's better to deal with a turkish than with
those sudanese who behave like them).
(290) ba'eeda aktafa min asma'aa: Far her shoulders from her ears
(said for a beautiful girl who has a long neck)
(291) ba'eeda mah'wa al-qurt: Far is where the ear-rings land
(meaning same as above; how far between her ears and her
shoulders). These two mathals are from the Butana area.
(292) gid ain al-shaytan: Pierce the eye of Satan (means be
forgiving, or reject hatred, and mend ties to those who abused
you).
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(293) al-shajar al-kubar fiho al-samugh: Big trees are loaded with
gums (this is ugly and also from Darfur,,, means mid-aged women
are hot).
(294) sah'sooha wa takhdim lai roha: Playful and concerns only
with herself (said for a young girl who likes to play with the
hearts of her lovers but she's also greedy and selfish).
(295) zay deek al-butana, wadooho mudaldal wa jaboho mudaldal:
It's like the Cock of al-Butana, taken hanged, on a stick to the
market, and brought back hanged (said for an idiot and stupid
person who has no viewes of his own and always follow the others).
(296) zay khoufat al-deek: Coward like a Cock (said for a cowardly
person).
(297) zay baidat al-deek: An egg of a Cock (said for a unique and
seldom occurred thing).
(298) zay deek al-idda: Like the Cock of the kitchin stuff (said
for a cock which jumps on already cleaned kitchin furniture, i.e.,
plates, cups, etc, so that if it was left there it will mess up
them, but if chased away then it will kick them everywhere around
and damage them. It's said for a person who causes problems in any
event he participated in).
(299) zay deek al-room: Like a Turkey (said for a person who likes
himself very much and always try to show that to others).
(300) kulu deekan fi balado oo'aay: Every Cock cries in its place
(means local people know their place better than outsiders. also
siad for an expert who knows his job better than the others).
(301) dammo maseekh: His blood is tasteless (said for one who
lacks passion and amusement so people avoid dealing with him/her).
(302) dammo khafeef: His blood is light (it's the opposite of the
above and said for someone who people like to be with).
(303) al-donya farandagas, abul hosain rakba al-faras: Life is
miserable to the extent that a fox is riding a horse (meaning when
life is getting tough strange things might happen). Thanks Nagi.
(304) deefa wa gara'a nadeefa: A hospitality and a clean bowl
(said to describe a stinky people who don't respect themselves).
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(305) al-sandal fi baladu hatab: Sandal wood is regarded as
ordinary tibmer in its homeland (said to show people who don't
give enough attention to their precious things).
(306) al-bihadir at'tagga bit'aasha: He who attends the cropping
season will dine (at'tagga is the hitting of crops out of their
cobs during the gathering seasons of crops; said to show one's
right to take a share when he attends a certain event). Thanx
brother Aldudu for the above 3 mathals.
(307) jidata al-khala, or al-wadi, alli taradat jidata al-bait:
The Hen of the bush which scared away the Hen of the house (said
for the stranger who forcefully displaced, or replaced, the
original).
(308) adrab osforain bi hajar: Hit two birds with one stone
(meaning, achieve two goals with a single move). Thanx Merfi.
(309) kalli laiho hag al-shummara wa al-khummara: Leave'm
something for his eating and drinking (means don't deprive him
clean).
(310) al-ramad katal hammad: The ash which killed Hammad (said for
trivial thing which causes death)
(311) sajammi al-dalakto wa adanni angartu: Oh my misery for whom
i massaged but fell asleep, loll (said by a wife who prepared her
husband to perform his duty but instead, he went into deep
sleep).. Ugly, isn't it??
(312) al-shitail rao'wah: The pretty young girl was just left
(remembering a beautiful girl; sometimes it also said for a new
beautiful car or vehicle which departed away).
(313) aryan wa ja lai bardan: A nake*d who came to a shivering one
(said when you seek help from somebody but instead you find him
more needy than you).
(314) aryan sana, yashki al-khayat al-youm: He was nake*d during
the whole year, and now he blames the tailor (said for someone who
dosen't do anything but blame others for his own failure).
(315) bai tareektak tissaffi mareestak: You brew your beer your
own way (meaning do what you want to do in your own way, or
style).
26
(316) al-dow ma bigool laiho sa'w: The light doesn't need
permission to shine anywhere (meaning ought to do your duty).
(317) yag'dil al-a'awar fi balad al-ama'ya: A one-eyed person
feels proud in the homeland of blinds (meaning, to have something
better than to have nothing)
(318) al-jaan yagrush al-aish: The hungry chews the uncooked grain
(meaning when someone in a bad need for something he might do
anything to have it).
(319) al-ttaji min al-sama yitlagaha al-wata: What comes from the
sky earth will receive it (meaning what comes from God, or a boss,
is welcomed).
(320) al-zar'u allah fi al-millih yagoom: What God has planted
will grow even if it is in a salt (said with reference to people
who are capable of doing abnormal things).
(321) mihinna fi rajil um hinna, can shalo birid wa kam khatto
wirid: We got puzzled by the husband of Um Hinna, he feels cold
when picked up, and feels feverish when put down (said to show a
persons is very moody and unpredictable).
(322) baladan ma feeha timsah, yagdil feeha al-waral: A place that
doesn't have crocodiles, monitor lizards will roam in it (meaning
when there are no threats one can do anything he wants to). Thanks
brother Aldudu.
(323) gillat al-shaghalla bitaalim al-rajil al-mushat: Lack of a
job will prompt man to learn hair braiding (said for an idle man
who does trivial things).
(324) al-ma'indo shaghala bi-hanin dhanab hummaro: He who has no
job will dye the tail of his donky with henna (meaning same as
above). Thanks brother Gharrabi.
(325) gabul ma alfas yagga fi al-ras: Before the Axe falls on the
head (said as a warning from a potential disaster).
(325) al-gadam laiho raffie: A foot has a lifter (meaning God
decides when someone takes off for a travel).
(326) seedi bai sido: My master has his own master (meaning for
every boss there's a boss; or since my boss humiliates me he gets
the same from his boss).
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(327) al-bargus ma ba-ghatti digno: He who dances will not cover
his beard (meaning when someone does disgraced things need him not
to hide himself).
(328) zayir wala ghayir: Are you visitor or invador (said as a
joke for welcoming a guest after long time since last meeting).
(329) li-kulli aafatin aafa: For every blight there is a counter
blight (means for every disease, or bane, there's cure, or
counter).
(330) al-dhaif baba al-dhaif, wa seed al-bait babahum al-itnain: A
guest hates the other guest, and their host hates both of them
(this is really funny; and said for a host who has no choice but
to welcoming his guests whatever their personal relationship be).
(331) ala ainak ya tajir: In your eye yo merchant (said when
someone does something crazy, or intentionally, infront of all
people).
(332) a'ama wa massakohu ukkaz: A blind and given a stick (said
for a person who follows others, or orders, without questioning
why he's doing that).
(333) um al-kalib bashoum: A fox is the mother of a dog (meaning
there's no difference between this and that).
(334) al-ushar gam laiho shoke: al-ushar (i.e., unthorny wild
plant) got thorns on its branches (said when a calm person turns
violent or uneasy to deal with; sometimes said to describe
attitudes of young girls against their mothers).
(335) heen malak wala taheen balak: Abuse your money and do not
abuse your mind (means, always stay in good moods).
(336) assagur kan wagga, kutr al-batabit aib: If a Hawk falls,
it's shame for crying and wailing (means if a powerful person
suddenly lost his power, or somebody got convicted, it's disgrace
for him to start wailing and pointing fingers).
(337) jabal al-kuhul tafnaahul marraweed: A hill of kuhl (eye
powder) will be eradicated by eye rods (means even if you have a
hill of money, or other thing, and you take out of it little by
little it will eventually finish).
(338) al ma daarak, ma lamaak: If s/he hadn't like you, s/he
28
wouldn't have taken care of you (means no one will do a favor for
another if there's no concerns and respects between them).
(339) al-jar gabla al-dar, wa al-rafeeg gabl al-tareeg: A neighbor
before the house, and a companion before taking on a journey
(means before renting/buying a house checkout the quality of its
neighbors, and before starting a journey checkout the quality of
those traveling with you). It's really wise.
(340) kan wajeeba ma maragat min al-zareeba: If it's lawful (i.e.,
a sheep or a cow) it would't exit the pen (meaning it's unlawful
to eat a lost animal).
(341) altikrar biyaalim alhumar: Repetition will make the donky
learn (said for stupid people, especially students who find it
difficult to come along quickly with their other classmates).
(342) ya fasseh, kan ibtalait ma taseeh: Oh you eloquent, if you
get in trouble don't shout (means try to control yourself in case
of any trouble).
(343) barakat jat minak ya bait allah: Blessed what has come from
you oh the house of God (said as thanks to God).
(344) hagg allah kam ma ja, ma tutogga alkorak: If you didn't get
what you have asked God for, don't start crying (means be patient
and that God will eventually answer your prayers).
(345) kan ma mutna ma shagaina alturab: If we don't die we
wouldn't dig graves (meaning you do things for purposes).
(346) tidgadda mahal raheefa: It pierced where its thin (meaning
harm strikes through weakest spots).
(347) kan mara'gatta baton ummi, al-tinsadda: If it came out of my
mother's womb, i hope it would shut off (said as expression for
for real hate against someone).
(348) mamnou al-dain wa daffie baadain: No borrowing now and
payback later(means no borrowing is prohibited).
(349) al-dain mamnou wal zaal marffoo: Borrowing is prohibited and
annoyance is execused (meaning, same as above).
(350) al-heela galeela wa al-khashum baleela: Expedients are few
and the tongue is not fluent (said to express lack of means to
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achieve something).
(351) albait mahroos wa situ takoos: The home is guarded and it's
lady is wandering about (said for wealthy people who don't worry
much about life pressure).
(352) lama taba, taba fi al-gorare: If it refused, it will refuse
even in al-gorare (said for the imposibility of having acceptance,
or unsuccessfully waiting for something to happen). This is a
Shaygiyya mathal from northern Sudan.
(353) al-indo dahar ma bi-ndarib min giddam: Who has a backup
(i.e., support) will not be hit on his face (meaning if you have a
powerful support you wouldn't fall down ot get defeated).
(354) al-khawaf rabba iyallo: The timid raises his kids (meaning
those who avoid confrontations in life will stay safe and get
concerned only with their families).
(355) al-jaddeed hello: The new is sweet (said for happiness with
new things).
(356) al-jinnal gadeem wa la jinnal jadeed: The old djin and not
the new one (means keep yourself with something that you know
better than dealing with another which you're not sure of).
(357) gadeemak nadeemak: Your old friend is your favorite
companion (especially said for those who drink together; shulla).
(358) adaitto al-khala wa al-haboob shala: I gave him a dead ear
and left it to be taken by wind (meaning i didn't listen to him,
or i just ignored his talk).
(359) dharab sad: He ignored (meaning, same as above).
(360) al-tool eiz: Tallness, for a man, is an honor (meaning tall
people are well respected than short ones).
(361) eaib al-zad wala eaib seedo: Is it the food that's blemished
or its server? (said on hospitality, to offer your guest the
little you have is better than nothing).
(362) alghalaba rajilla, jat ta'adib hamata: Who couldn't confront
her husband took it all on her sister-in-law (said to someone who
dieplaces their anger on the wrong target).. loll.
(363) nas al-bika ghafarou wa al-jeeran kafarou: The family of the
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dead are foregiving but the neighbors are staggering (said for
outsider who reacts to an issue way more than those involved in
it).
(364) asmaa kalam al bibakeek, wa ma tasmaa kalam al bidahikak:
Listen to the one who makes you cry than to the one who makes you
laugh (Better listen to seious, potentially depressing advices,
rather than to listen to nonesense, even if sound amusing).
(365) al-girsh al-abyadh lilyoum al-aswad: The sweet money for the
black day (meaning, save your money you may dearly need it
someday).
(366) tashoof shofat al-gidad lelbeer: You may see the same way
chickens see the bottom of a well (said to describe the
impossibility of something. In rural Sudan they believe that a hen
can never see the bottom of the well).
(367) yabga laik bae soof waral: May it become like a wool of a
lizard to you (it also refers to impossibility. The waral, a huge
kind of lizards, has no wool, of ocurse. It said when somebody is
asking for something that's quite impossible to get).
(368) tashoof al-goba tagool tahita faki: You see the tumb and you
think there a hollyman beneath it (meaning appearance can be
deceiving or misleading).
(369) mn taghada tamadda wa mn taasha tammasha: Lay down after
dinner, and walk little after supper (its equivalent english
proverb: after dinner sit a while, after supper walk a mile. I
wonder if there,s any medical benefit behind this mathal).
(370) kulli ya kummi gabl fammi: Eat oh my dress before does it my
mouth (of course Navi, this famous phrase of shaikh farah wad
taktouk could be considered as a mathal. It means appearances
could be deceiving, especially when you see rich people and think
of them as good ones, but they treat you according to your
apperance. If you dressed good they will treat you accordingly,
but if you dressed ugly they will kick you out). This could lead
us the a similar following mathal:
(371) kuli al-ba'ajbak wal bas al-ba'ajba al-nas: Eat whatever you
like but dress the way people might like it (meaning sam as
above).
(372) al-galam mabzeel balam: Getting good education doesn't take
31
care of everything (said to someone who's still inappropriate or
awkward despite getting decent education).
(373) a'allim fil mitaballim yisbah nasi: Teach someone who is
closed-minded, next morning he won't remember a thing (said to
those who won't retain/benefit from new information).
(374) al-huari al-ghalab sheikhu: The student who became more
knowledgable than his sheikh teacher (said to a learner who
excells over his mentor).
(375) yaktul al-may'it wa yamshi fi janaztu: To kill a person and
then particpate in his funeral (meaning hypocricy).
(376) al-terido tabla laiho al-zalat, wa al-tabahu talagit laihu
al-ghalat: Whom you like will swallow rocks for him, and whom you
dislike will pick his mistakes (said to describe affection or
hatred).
(377) nadhafat marat al-faki, al-ghasalat hijab rajila: The
cleanness of the holyman's wife, she even cleaned the amulet of
her husband (said for exaggeration).
(378) um-etaifa, al-fi baita taifa: Ms. Um-etaifa who's unaware of
what she has in her own house (said for plain, simple-hearted and
guileless people).
(379) al-mab tasheelo al-khamsa, yasbih wa yamsa: He who dosn't
content with something will make a fuss out of it (means
greediness or sordiness).
(380) al-gofa um idnain yishealoha itnain: A basket of two handles
would be carried by two (means cooperation).
(381) kulu foolan wa laiha kayal: Every commodity has its own
trader (means for every job in life, there are people who are
experts on it). This is similar to the following:
(382) addi al-khubz lai khbazzu: Give the bread to the baker
(means let the baker do the baking; in reference to the one who
knows how to do the job).
(383) sebran yabil al-abray: Patience that prepares the drink
(said to describe people patient with little patience. Abray is
the most famoud Ramadanic stuff in Sudan. It is dry flakes and it
takes about 20 minutes to become wet and hence releases its
32
distinct flavor and taste. So, in essence, the mathal says: could
you please wait a few minutes to finish this stuff?).
(384) al-feek badir baihu wa al-alaik itnasahu: What a fault you
possess throw it onto others, and what you don't possess don't
worry about it (meaning be defensive to cover your own defects and
forget what others say about you).
(385) alma bidoor aibak mababga rafeegag: That who dislikes your
faults will never be your friend (meaning true friendship is based
on sincerity, toleration and endurance).
(386) alhabil yingatie mahal rigayeg: A robe cut where it's thin
(means damage would come from the weakest palces).
(387) dharabni wa baka wa sabagni wa ishtaka: Hit me and wept and
preceded me to complain (said for people who don't acknowledge
their mistakes but to blame on others).
(388) habl al-kiddib gissayir: The thread of lie is short (meaning
lying has a short lif, the truth will eventually be discovered).
(389) dy'tain kesarna ragabta al-jenna: Two midwives will break
the neck of the infant (meaning many conflicting ideas will spoil
the plan).
(390) alma shifto fi bait abook, yakhlaak wa yigool laik ook: That
you didn't see in your father's house will scare you and drive you
away (said for a stranger who behaves like one of the originals).
(391) al-nissa gadimo tah: Who forgets his past will get lost
(meaning be proud of your past and thankful to your fathers).
(392) ma aarif kummu min bou'o: He don't differentiate his shirt
sleeve from its upper opening (this is for jalabbiya, and said for
one who is ignorant about everything).
(393) beae al-basal bima hasal: Sell the onion with any price you
get (meaning try to salvage whatever you can before it's too
late).
(394) al-tabea'a jabal: Human nature is a moulding temperament
(means personal behavior is part of what was learned through
life).
(395) katarat al-bika bitaalim al-nowah: Too much weeping will
33
teach wailing (meaning little bad habits may lead to tremendous
ugly results).
(396) idan al-hamil tarsha: The ear of a pregnant woman is deaf
(means a pregnant woman will care of nothing but her unborn baby).
(397) attiyat mozayin: A fee of a barber (said when giving very
little money as a reward for something done, but not equivalent to
the real cost).
(398) abu sinaina yadhak fi abu sinaintain: A one-tooth laughs for
the double-teeth (said for somebody who's faultly thinks he's
better than another but the fact says the opposite).
(399) wgoo al-bala wala intizaro: The fall of affliction is better
than awaiting for it to happen (means waiting for something bad to
happen is psychologicall more destructive).
(400) sameen wa aryan: Fat and nak*ed (said for one whose concern
only to fill his stomach).
(401) shahran ma laik feehu nafaga, ma taid ayamu: A month that
you don't have to pay a childcare for, don't count its days
(meaning if it's not important don't pay attention for it).
(402) gubla al-jadeed yitfasha, gam al-sagheer it'tasha: Before
the new cloth get its first cleaning, the little kid burned it
(means short-lived enjoyment with the new thing).
(403) zay um al-aroos, akalat al-kibda wa khallat al-koroosh: Like
the mother of the bride, she ate the liver and left the other
stomach stuff (said to honor the mother of the bride).
(404) joo bit um kitiku, al-shawat rahatta wa akalatu: The
daughter of Ms. um Kitiku, due to her severe hunger she roasted
her leather underwear and ate it (rahatt is a leather underwear
made of leather threads connected to and suspended from a leather
belt which then wrapped around a woman's waist like skirt. It has
been used by women in Sudan in the past, especially for rural
young girls. The word "gat'i al-rahatt" came from that and means
the bride's dance in front of the groom usually performed in the
night as part of marriage rituals. The mathal used to exaggrate
the degree of one's hunger).
(405) kan dharabu fi koou ma yidafig dommoou: Even if you hit'em
on his elbo, he wouldn't shed a single tear (said to describe
34
untouchy and cold people).
(406) al-zait kan ma kaffa al-bait, yahram ala al-jeeran: If it
not enough for the house, it's unlawful for the neighbors (means
priority for those who're around).
(407) alfateel ma besheal kateer: Wick, or a small bottle, would
not carry alot (means be with good judgement, or choose the
suitable approach).
(408) al-ghurbal al-jadeed laiho shadda: The new cribble is always
tight (meaning new tools always perform better).
(409) ga'id fi izzo lamin abu al-juraan yallizo: Feeling big for
nothing until a small Scarab push him aside (said for one who
thinks s/he's something big until a small incidence disclose
his/her real weight).
(410) aslo rigayig wa zadoho moya: It's originally thin (drink,
food, or a liquid) and then water added to it (said to describe
something bad and then become further worse).
(411) aryan wa labis sidairi: Nake*d and dressed in waist vest
(said to describe a person who thinks he ok but people see
otherwise).
(412) alteen fi teeno wa al-ajami fi rateeno: A hopeless will
always remain in his hopelessness as foreigners will always speak
their native languages (said for a person who people don't expect
him for any good).
(413) jamal al-dharat sar, wa jamal al-hamawat barak: The camel of
fellow-wives (polygyny) is moving, and the camel of mothers-in-law
is stucking (means it's easier for a man to deal with severl wives
than to deal with their mothers).
(414) al-tareedo wa al-tabahu, youm yifargak ma talgahu: Those
whom you like and dislike, when they leave you wouldn't meet them
again (meaning try to treat everyone with respect and good
manner).
(415) yakhlig min al-shbah arbaeen: Will clone forty from a single
shape (said for people with similar features).
(416) al-fuloos taghayir al-nufoos: Money change the sprits
(meaning money changes people attitudes toward each other).
35
(417) al-shi kan fat haddu yangalib lai dhiddu: If exceeds its
limits it will turn negative (said for excessive behavior).
(418) masakku min eidu al-tojauu: He griped him from his pained
hand (said when one squeezed, or pressed hard in an allegation).
(419) kalam al-tair fi al-bagair: The talks of birds in the no
where (means nonsense talk).
(420) al-khair yakhayir wa al-shar yaghayir: The good will make
you good (generous) and the bad will make you bad (frustrated)
(means your temper depends on what you get in life).
(421) al-sakran fi zimmat al-waie: The drunken is in the
responsibility of the concious (means concious people should take
care of those unconcious, such as drunken, insane, sleeping,
youngsters.. etc.)
(422) la be tatra wala bitlaa barra: It can't be said or getton
out (meaning highly secret information).
(423) al-maktoob fi al-jabeen labud tarahu al-ein: What's written
on the forehead will not be missed by eye (meaning very clear)
(424) al-samih samih kan zaruu yatlaa gamih: The good person is
good to the extent that if he could be cropped he would produce
wheat (said for good and generous people).
(425) al-yatlaa min daru yegil migdaru: Who gets out of his house,
seeking comforte in other's houses, will loose his dignity (said
for people who visit others for no purpose).
(426) samahat al-nabag fi al-tabag: The beauty of Nabk in a plate
(nabk is a cherry-like fruit of the lote tree with a scientific
name lotus jujube. The mathal said for something looks beautiful
but with little good).
(427) al-donya dabanga, dardiggi bishaish: Life is like a round
pot, move it with care (meaning life is changeable, good and bad).
(428) takula al-aafiya: You eat good health (said for a sick
person when having a meal, usually preceeded with inshallah).
(429) takul akla al-soosa wa al-aafiya madsoosa: Eats like a moth
with no effect on his health (said for one who eats alot but
36
nevertheless s/he appears thin and weak).
(430) al-mahmoom ma binoom: The grieved will not sleep (means it's
difficult for an anxious person to sleep).
(431) fageer min al-dain ghanni: Who's free of debt is a wealthy
person (said not just for money but for any other obligation
toward others).
(432) tarooh al-fuloos wa tabga al-nufoos: Wealth might gone but
most importantly is the preservation of friendly and brotherly
feelings (means relations based on friendship lasts longer than
that based on material benefits).
(433) ma shagga hanakan daya'u: God did not create a person and
left him without provision (means provision and supply is written
to every creature throughout its life).
(434) al-dihik bidoon sabab gillat adab: Laughing without reason
is impolite (used extensively with kids)
(435) al-yishofo al-gallib mab yishofo al-ain: What's seen by
heart cannot be seen with eyes (means inside feeling may explain
more than mere looking)
(436) ama kabasa alma bitwasa: May you/s/he suffer from a complete
blindness which cannot be cured (used to curse a person).
(437) alma yamsika jilaida ma yamsika wilaida: If you can't keep
it, your kid won't (means you're more interested in keeping your
own things).
(438) al-nar ma fiha um-shiraira wa bital rajil ma fiha
um-sighaira: Fire has no minute sparks and the daughter of the man
is not that too young (means the girl is eligible to be married).
(439) al-lail be idainato wa al-nahar be owainato: The night with
its ears and the day with its eyes (means what happens during
nights can only be heared because of the darkness, and what
happens during the day can be seen because of the light).
(440) dol al-dalaib yajdaa baeid: The shadow of a high tree falls
for a distance (said to describe holy men).
(441) taklo al-ras wa takhafo min al-iyoon: You eat the head and
leave the eyes (said to describe sordidness people who don't care
37
with their deeds).
(442) al-fi waladak yigalidag: What appears on your child is part
of you (said to describe resemblance between son and father).
(443) zaitna fi baitna: Our cooking oil is for our house (means
priority for those who around).
(444) dol rajil wa la dol haita: A shadow of a man instead of a
shadow of a wall (means better rely on a trustworthy man than a
hopeless one).
(445) dollu mayit: His shadow is dead (means a unreliable lazy
person).
(446) ma indu dol: He has no shadow (meaning same as above).
(447) al-nas le baadheeha: People are for each other (means
cooperation)
(448) al-laik laik kan laban ushar fi ainaik: What's for you is
what's for you even if its ushar juice in your eyes (ushar juice
is irritating to the eyes. The mathal means anything belongs to
you is yours even if its a bad thing).
(449) al-be'id wala al-bilad um se'id: Far distance is better than
a thorny land (means to farm far awy is better than to farm in
uncultivable land).
(450) grooshak tatali'a aagil, talimmaha majnoon: You spend your
money wisely but you gain it crazy (means you work hard for your
money so you spend it wisely).
(451) seed al-hag radi, shin nakhas al-gadhi: The one who get
harmed has pardoning, so who instigates the judge to get involved
(meaning since the one who suffered was foregiving and satisfied,
there's no need for the judge to intervene. Said when someone
tries to get involved in a dispute between two persons in order to
get benefit but they were already satisfied with their case).
(452) al-khail al-hurra tajri fi al-laffa: The noble horses run on
the curve (means talent and skillful people always finish with
wins).
(453) al-hum hum al-iris, waal wajja waja al-dirris: The worriment
is the worry of marriage and the pain is the pain of a tooth
38
(means the real worry is that concerning marriage while the real
pain is that of inflaming tooth, especially during nights).
(454) al-ghalabata raikata, jat tishayil naseebata: She who's
unable to carry her basket, tried to carry it on her sister-in-law
(raika is a big hard basket used for carrying sorghum and other
stuff to markets. The mathal said for a lady who tends to use
others for doing her own tasks).
(455) al-kalam laik ya mutayir ainaik: The talk is for you, the
unconcerned (said for a perplexed person).
(456) khalli nussak aagil wala nussak majnoon: Make half of you
wise better than making it crazy (meaning do your best to be
rational).
(457) al-fitama gassiya: Weaning is horrible (said for a baby;
meaning it hard to get free of a habit).
(458) taklu khairna wa tadu ghairna: You eat our best and you
reward others (said for ungrateful people).
(459) ma shufta aktar min seedi illa sitti: I haven't seen more
than my master except that from my lady master (said when you
think you get humiliated by a person only to get more humiliation
from another one).
(460) kan kitrat al-humoom ghatti wa noom: If the worriments
become overwhelemed, cover yourself and sleep (means at least you
escape them for a while).
(461) al-nas be alnas wa alkul be rab al-sama: People for each
other and all belong to God (said for mutual cooperation and
submission to God).
(462) kabeer al-bait yamoot be waja al-ras: The elder of a house
will die from the headache (means he will suffer in his health and
temper due to mounting responsibilities).
(463) la bitfoot al-lisan wala be talhag al-musran: It neither
fill the mouth nor reach the stomach (means very little food; or
said for something that won't be enough to satisfy a need).
(464) sirrak fi beer: Your secret is in a well (means it will be
kept safe from any disclosure).
39
(465) iryana wa taxi fi jeerana: She's nake*d but dresses her
neighbors (said for inadvertent person).
(466) al-tama wadar ma jamaa: Greediness causes loss to all what
have been collected (said as warning from becoming greedy).
(467) al-rujal matto fi karari: Men died at Karari (said for brave
men. Karary is the famous battle between the Mahadiya State
against the British forces which resulted in the destruction of
the former).
(468) al-maoon al-layin ghaseelo hayin: The wet dish is easy for
cleaning (meaning since it's already wet then it's easy to be
cleaned. Sometimes comes without the word al-maoon).
(469) baarak allah fi mn zara wa khaffa: God bless who makes his
visit quick and short (said for inconvenient people).
(470) kaajir kaajir bain al-mara wa al-rajil: The antipathatic who
imposed himself between the woman and her husband (also said for
inconvenient people).
(471) kajaroha wa ma ligooha: They resticted her move to the
extent that nobody sees her (said for girls who were banned by
their families to be out of their homes. This habit was common in
Sudan for girls who're about to get married).
(472) al-sabah rabah: The morning is profitable (means by getting
early you may make good profit; or early birds have it all).
(473) al-sama gareeb: The sky is near (said when you don't want to
give something out; it says: the sky is closer to you than having
this, and often said by mothers against their young troubled
kids).
(474) al-shiga liga: Who pursued a hard goal will be have it
(means as far as you're in the right track, you will reach it
someday).
(475) gareeb lil-hai: It's closer to who's alive (said for
something that's expected to happen).
(476) ya rait tajeeb mareesat tamzain: May it come like Mrs.
Tamzain's beer (said for wishing bad luck; meaning may it get
spoiled).
40
(477) aflas min far al-maseek: Bankrupted more than the mice of a
quranic school (said for a severely poor one).
(478) tashofo shofat al-shareef lel al-reef: You may see the rural
areas the sameway the nobles do (means rarely and seldom).
(479) tafhama hawa: You will understand it instantly (said as
compliment). Also comes as tafhama tayra.
(480) al-jadeed hillo wa low kan karru: The new is sweet even if
it's a tumor (said because an unhealed tumor causes funny itching
during the process of healing).
(481) al-majaneen fi naeem: Insanes are in happiness (meaning they
deal with life the way they want because they don't understand it
and there are no liability on them).
(482) rezig al-hubol ala al-majaneen: The fortune of idiots and
insanes (means retarded and insanes are always lucky).
(483) al-hijil bi al-rijil: The anklet with the leg (meaning
walking together step by step to acomplish something. Said by a
person to make sure the job is done).
(484) azaab shahar wala azaab dahar: A torture of a month and not
a torture for life (meaning quick pain is better than life-long
suffering).
(485) al-khala wala al-rafeek al-fassil: Wilderness and not a vile
companion (meaning better travel alone in the wilderness than to
accompany a morally dispicable and dishonest person).
(486) safeeh yakoos ahal min al-makhalag, wa safeeh yintazir marat
al-rajil titallag: Foolish who seeks relatives other than his own
and foolish who waits for a man to divorce his wife (means be
satisfied with whom you belonged to and don't be arrogant).
(487) min naru le daru: From its fire to its final rest (means
food; and said when people rush to eat a hot food instead of
waiting for it to cool a little bit).
(488) al-rujal danagir wala kubur anagir: Real men are those who
are brave and generous and not those who are of bulky bodies
(meaning don't be mislead by appearances).
(489) mahalak sir: Walk on the spot where you stand (means going
41
no where; and said when nothing was accomplished in a task).
(490) al-dofor ma bitlaa min al-laham: A nail cannot get out of
the flesh (meaning a person cannot abandon his own family or be
abandoned by his relatives and people).
(491) al-far wala abu farrar: A rat and not a Sunstroke (meaning
you can tolerate a rat in your place but cannot accept to get a
Sunstroke).
(492) al-ood al-awaj ma binaadil: A bend dry stick cannot be
straightened (meaning it's difficult to get free from a long time
habit). This is similar to an Egyptian mathal which says: wa dail
al-kalib ma yinaadil wa low rakabolu galib, means the tail of a
dog cannot be straightened even if it casted in a frame.
(493) mughafal naffi: Stupid but useful (meaning you can use him
for doing something but not let him plan for it. This mathal is
typically applicable to attitudes of most political parties in
which some members are reserved only to conduct unpopular
activities like leading protests and mass domenstrations).
(494) min miyya yarja le tiyya: From one hundred strong, it
reduced to a nut (said when a leader deserted by his strong
followers except the stupids; or when somebody loses most of his
wealth or possessions).
(495) lazamna al-jabra: We sat on the ground (said when one
prefers to sit on the ground instead of a chair or a seat).
(496) jamala al-shail: A camel of carrying (said for a person
who's kind in serving and supporting all those around him and they
always dependent on him for their needs).
(497) al-falhama bil hail, batariya bil nihar wa shamsiya bil
lail: What a flamboyant, he carries a light in the day and an
umbrella in the night (said for a flamboyant person).
(498) hosano jaraay, or sabig: His horse is fast (said for
somebody who catches others during, or just before, eating a
meal).
(499) sabara um-baitain: A squirrel of two homes (said for a
person who doesn't stay in one resident but uses several places
intemittently and exchangeably).
42
(500) al-janb al-hajj ma bihijj: He who near the hajj place
wouldn't suffer much in performing the hajj (said for a person
who's closer to his working place, or to where he intends to do
something).
(501) ma daggi feeho hajar doghosh: He didn't hit the rock of the
dawn to do it (meaning he didn't work hard for it but he got it
anyway).
(502) al-ajala tamrug jana al-kalib amyan: Precipitancy produces a
blind baby dog at birth (meaning be patient and careful when doing
things).
(503) al-aafiya darajat: Good health is gradual (said for something
which needs time to take achieve its full shape, examples: health,
wealth, learning, etc.).
(504) al-dayir taghreehu askut khaleehu: He who you want to
incite, ignore him (meaning when you don't respond to someone who
likes to make troubles he will more likely attempts of making more
troubles which will eventually hunt him).
(505) haanati al-zalabiya: What cheap are the pancakes (said for
an achievement which wasn't expected to happen by all measures).
(506) al-ma indo gadeem ma indo jadeed: He who lacks a past has no
present (means genuineness; and said for a person who lacks family
wisdom and maturity).
(507) al-izz al-gadeem ma birfaa al-taw'yan: The old nobality will
not raise the hopeless person (meaning a man is who he is not who
his past or his family history).
(508) al-muharrish ma bikatil: The inciter doesn't fight (means
those who push people to make troubles for others usually don't
show up because of their cowardliness).
(509) al-badi azlam: The starter is the oppressor (said for the
one who seeks troubles).
(510) al-shay bi al-shay yothkar: A thing is remembered through
another (meaning while you're talking about something other things
also come up).
(511) al-hal kullo min baadhu: The situation is just one of many
(said for an issue which is just a part of a big one).
43
(512) lil al-ghashi wa al-mashi: For the passer by and the walker
through (said for something private but became open and known by
everyone).
(513) mahal ma tarsa tarsa: Where it settles it settles (said for
uncontrolled event which's moving with no clear direction).
(514) droub al-bagar jayyabba: Tracks of cows steps are bringers
(means different events may attract those who are trying to hide
from, or avoid, you, so you may catch them then).
(515) al-ikhtasho matu: The humbles are ashamed (said for unpolite
ones who don't get ashamed of their deeds).
(516) al-wadi ma bansa darbu: The dry river won't forget its
running way when it's flooded (meanign it's difficult to get rid
of an old habbit).
(517) daheen al-tay'bas: Wait until gets dry (means let's wait and
be patient until things get ready for action. This mathal is from
al-Shaygiyya).
(518) al ma bifham bi al-talweeh, la yareeh wa la yastareeh: Who
doesn't understand by signals won't rest or make others get rest
(said for trouble seekers/makers).
(519) la yamilk wa la usbaa dhawa: He doesn't own even a finger of
Ms. Dhawa (means he's bankrupt).
(520) khayar wa fagoos: Snake-Cucumbers and Round-cucumbers (said
when there is deliberate differentiation between some with same
merits and qualifications).
(521) giraya um dag: A Study with a harshness (means learning
under tough situation and treatment).
(522) girayti rahat: My lost study (said for a one who doesn't
make use of his eduaction).
(523) saif izz buhoomu baihu wa ma badrabu baihu: The Sword of
honor, it's not for fighting but for cheering (said for something
not used for the purpose as intended).
(524) tasawat al-kutoof wa gala al-maaroof: Shoulders levelled up
and so the respect disappeared (said for young kids who grow up
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and don't respect those who are older than them).
(525) anihna gebail shin gulna, gulna al-tair biyakulna: What have
we been saying earlier, we said birds will eat us (said as regret
for not listneing to the early advices against possible troubles
ahead).
(526) asham iblees fi al-janna: Covetousness, or hope, of the
Devil to enter paradise (said for the impossibility).
(527) ma kulu barka walad: Not every birth produce a boy (means
not every attempt provides the wished results).
(528) mazloom zulm al-hassan wa al-hussein: He got the unjustly
treatment of al-Hassan and al-Hussein (said when someone suffered
unjustly when he supposed to be treated otherwise. al-Hassan and
al-Hussein are the grandsons of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) who were
treated unjustly by Moaawiya bin Abi Sufyan).
(529) addahu fi al-tanki: He dumbfound him (means he confronted
him with courage, logic, and astonishment)
(530) mursal al-niam, al-rasalu wa nam: The courier of an Ostrich,
who was dispatches but get a sleep (said for those who don't
fulfill the tasks tackled to them).
(531) safaran be al-eid ma baeed: Travelling by description is not
difficult (means to describe a journey is not difficult, the
difficulty is to do the journey itself. Said for those who talk
but actually do nothing).
(532) hub al-nas mathahib: Love of people is in different ways
(means love comes in different ways and forms; it depends on
personal perceptions).
(533) jana al-far yatlaa hafar: the baby Mice is a good digger
(means the son, or employee, of a talent person will eventually
become like him).
(534) takbar wa tansa: You will grow up and forget (means you will
surpass the current pain. Usually said for youngsters and kids).
(535) arayto al-hal halli: I wish i like him/her (said when
admiring the status of someone and wishing to become in that
situation).
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(536) touba ya habouba: Repentance oh grandmother (said to show
sorrowful from following the wrong direction or loosing something
from own or other mistakes and the promise not to repeat it
again).
(537) alma indaha dhanab, allah bitrud laiha al-dhubban: He who
has no tail, God will give'm one to fan flies away (means you need
the help of God in order to lead your life).
(538) alma indo dhanab, yahahi laihu rabbu: He who has no tail,
God will fan for him (meaning same as above).
(539) laina allah wa aishta al-soug: God is for us and the market
activity (meaning we depend on God and our own effort for survival
in life).
(540) ag'od lil-houl, ma talga khatir zoul: You stay to the end of
the whole year but you won't get sympathy of any one (said when
you're dealing with wicked people).
(541) daga al-kalib gidam seedu hagara: To hit a Dog in front of
its master is insult (means treating anything badly in front of
its master is as if insulting him).
(542) al-dain fi al-kutoof wa al-asil maaroof: Debt is on the
shoulders and its value is known (means any debt or a good deed
for a person must be paid back in its original form, if it's money
it's money, and if it's a favor will be paid back in a form of a
favor).
(543) malu al-fagri min jorabu yajri: Why the wicked runs away
from his own deeds (said when a bad person tries to hide from his
own doings or crimes).
(544) waggi le allah fi al-laffa: I'm falling to Allah in this
moment of distress (meaning begging for the help of God).
(545) al-bigool um al-malik azaba, tagtaa ragaba: Who says the
mother of the King is not virgin, his head will be cut (lolll,
this is funny, how come a mother be virgin, except the holly Mary.
Said to show hypocracy from one side, and tyranny of rulers of
masters from the other).
(546) al-gallib law abak, al-wash yadeek khabar: If a heart
diklikes you, the face will tell it you (this is similar to this
mathal: al-jawab yakfeek inwanu).
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(547) al-ood law ma fiho shag, ma bigool tag: If there's no
fracture in the stick, it won't sound cracks (and this also
similar to: ma fi dukhan bidoon nar).
(548) lai gharadak afrosh khalagak: For your desire you may lay
down your own dress (meaning you may do everything in order to get
what you want even if that requires laying down your clothes to be
walked on).
(549) alma biyakul be eidu ma biyshbaa: He who doesn't eat with
his own hand won't be satisfied (means depend on your own efforts
and avoid depending on others).
(550) dhul rajil wala dhul haita: The shadow of a man, not the
shadow of a wall (meand depend on real men who can deliver for
you).
(551) al-mal dhul dhaha: Wealth is like the shaddow of forenoon
(means wealth could be gone, or lost, quickly and fast).
(552) al-mal al-sa'yib ya'alim al-sarga: Unprotected money teaches
theft (said to describe such a case. Example is the NIFers and the
wealth of poor Sudanese people).
(553) jibnak faza begeat wajaa: We brought you for rescue but you
turned headache (meaning disappointment).
(554) al-bala yakfooha be al-baleela: Calamity is diverted by
giving charity (charity in form of baleela or cooked grains).
(555) la inkasarat al-gazaza, wala indafaga al-zait: No bottle has
been damaged and no oil has been spilled (means no harm has been
done).
(556) indafag al-shar: The curse was spilled off (said when a
useful liquid, like milk, wate, oil, has accidently spilled off
and lost).
(557) al-khathran yindafig min al-mosran: Bad stuff emerged
through the intestine (means bad people, or things, pass away, or
released off, in natural way).
(558) al-feena makfeena: What we have is enough for us (said to
show frustration when bad things strike successively. In other
words: enough is enough).
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(559) wad al-um, albaton minu ma butom: A brother from my mother,
who's my belly won't upset from him (meaning love; and often said
as courtesy towards a dear friend).
(560) gadrak, wala mali batnak: At your age? or you fed up with
him? (said to discourage confrontation between unequal ones; one
big and strong and the other young and weak).
(561) gadrak wala laham sadrak: At your age? or you possess him
(meaning same as above).
(562) fi dhulo wa mayteen be ghillo: Living under his shaddow but
we're dead from his oppression (meaning there's no way out of the
situation).
(563) al be yareedu, yazeedu: Who's loved, will get it all (said
to reflect preference; also means God's preference).
(564) itmaskan lamin titmakan: Act humbly until you become firm
(means patient will prevail. Sometimes it comes as: la haddi
instead of lamin)
(565) ragabtu saddada, wa eedo shaddada: He's capable of paying
his debt, or keep his word, and his personality is too powerful
(said to describe a wealthy powerful person).
(566) talaab ma al-jiraywat ya kherbeshanak, wa talaab ma
al-hurriyat yateeran ya khelanak: You play with puppies and you
get scratches, and you play with nymphs but they will depart and
leave you alone (meaning every act in life has its positives and
negatives).
(567) shoukat hoot, la binbalie wa bitfoot: A bone of a fish stuck
in the thoat, you can't swollow it or reject it out (said to
describe unpleasant person, or thing, which you cannot get rid
of).
(568) jana al-dabeeb ma bitytraba: A baby snake cannot be tamed;
or a baby snake will always be a snake (meaning when things start
bad they always stay and act bad).
(569) shoof rasak taarif khalasak: Look at your head, you will
know how to save yourself (meaning to solve a personal problem
start by looking at yourself, don't believe in conspiracy theory).
(570) al-kha'yin min washo bayin: The traitor is known rom his
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face (said to describe a wicked person).
(571) suk al-kadhab, lay khasm al-bab: Chase the liar to the
street door (meaning don't trust a liar).
(572) al-mashfoog madfoog: Too much care for a liquid will cause
it to spill off (meaning too much care spoils; especially for
kids).
(573) al-shafaga tateer: To hell with your patience (said for
unpatient person who hurries the results).
(574) al-marfaeen ma be yaharishooho lil-ghanam: A Hyena needs not
provoked against goats (means common sense).
(575) al-yateem ma biyosooho lil-bika: An Orphan won't need advice
to cry (meaning same as above).
(576) shamlat wad kinaish: The mat of Mr. Wad Kinaish (said for
something short of satisfying a needed task; and means that the
mat of Wad Kinaish is too short, if it's extended this way it
leaves the other side uncovered and vice versa).
(577) shal hallo: To disgrace, or vilify, him among others (said
when one spreads, ot attacks, another's faults among people).
(578) al-ghanamaya ma bitabga ghazala: a goat can never evolute to
a deer (means impossibility, or not likely).
(579) ra'wig al-manga: Cool down (means be patient and don't push
the matter).
(580) kulu wahid yakul naro: Everyone eats his fire (means
everyone should deal with his own problems, or suffer from his own
mistakes).
(581) la turra wala kitaba: It's neither head nor tail (means it's
not this or that).
(582) ahlam zaloot: The dreams of Zaloot (means wishful dreams.
Zaloot is an old Cock who lost all his feathers and so he became
Zaloot, or featherless. One night, while he was sleeping on the
robe, he dreamt that he became young with rich and beautiful
feathers and that he was defending his mates from taken away by
another Cock, but suddenly he fell down from the robe and broke
his neck).
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(583) da har wa da ma binkawi beh: This is hot and i don't want to
be treated with that (said for one who refuses to accept all kind
of solutions for a problem).
(584) washu yalaan gafahu: His face is cursing his bu*tt (means he
appears very angry).
(585) al-biyabaha mumallaha al-laila, bukra yifatsh laiha jafa: He
who refuses it tender today, will seek for it dry tomorrow (means
regret. It also come as this: tabaha mumallaha takoosha nashfa).
(586) alga tafoot wa al-fat yamoot: The punishment passes away and
will become part of a dead past (means forget about your current
suffering and let it pass away, tomorrow is promising).
(587) al-ajwa ghair al-balah: Compressed dates is not like common
dates (indicates difference).
(588) al-nar ma bighatooha be al-gash: Fire won't be covered with
dry straws (means avoid creating problems).
(589) shouf al-ain ma bi yidhawo laiho nar: The sight of an eye
won't need help of fire light (indicates clearness, or
obviousness).
(590) shouf al-ain ma be yaktul al-ghazal: Sight of the eyes won't
kill a dear (means do the work properly).
(591) al-batun hashaba, taldi al-samgha wa al-kattaba: A womb is
like a tree which could produce gums or chaff (means diversity.
Hashab is the tree which produces gum arabic and it inhabits wide
areas of western Sudan).
(592) griba magdooda: A punctured water bag (said for a hopeless
person; Girba is a leather sack used for carrying water in rural
Sudan).
(593) al-sagya midawirra: The water-wheel still revolving (means
it's not over yet).
(594) al-dayir al-ghina yahsib lay fegro: Who wants richness shall
think about poverty (means plan well for anything).
(595) al-jins lil al-jins rahma: People of same identity
understand themselves better (this could be explained through this
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english proverb: Birds with same feathers flow together).
Wala al-jinn al-ahmar: Not even with the red devil
(said to indicate many things: total refusal, impossibility, hopeless case, etc.).
Min kulu balad ghona: From each country a song (means diversity).
Argus fi kulu meddi: Dance in every court
(means be flexible to fit all cases. This mathal is from Darfur and meddi means a place where tribal people dance collectively during evenings).
Kalam kharim barim: Nonsense talks (means talks with no
substance).
Aum sheaifa, al-katalat al-daifa: Mrs. aum Sheaifa who killed her lady guest (said to describe strange incidences from
unexpected people).
