Proverbs

Kurdish folkloric proverbs

About partridge

Some Kurdish folkloric proverbs mentioning the partridge by its name, others by its sound (song ), its action or symbolism related to the bird itself:

As a symbol of Kurdish nation, this proverb on partridge represents the situation that they in from the past till now, we do hope it will change to the best.

In our Kurdish folklore there is a proverb saying that," donya xer nayare kewyne, kewji neyare xone." By translating this into English loses its poetic rhythm nature of its original language, but the sentiment remains the same, addressing the problem of disunity and division among the Kurds themselves: " the whole world is the enemy of the partridge, but partridges themselves are their own worst enemy." to overcome this obstacle that stands in the way of Kurdish nationhood, the Kurd should themselves seek unity and cohesion, lest they should become their own worst enemy.

1- It is calling for a challenge.

Qeb or Qeba is the sound, the voice or the call of the partridge or Kew in Kurdish, defying anyone to approach , and this song is repeated continuously until it gets tired and finds no one to come close to his neighboring area. Therefore; this connotation is directed to any one who do so and asks others to face him for a challenge.

2- You imagine him or her as if he is a tied partridge.

Kurdish hunters" kewgervan" use the tamed partridge as a bait to trap other wild ones. Hence, they put it in a box named in Kurdish " rek" in those places where the partridges come for rest. He sings his familiar repeated song " Qebeen " calling for a challenge, when they come near for a defy they are caught by threads of plastic in a way it seizes its leg which is called " Dav ".

3- It is or he is the partridge of hunting.

Either the bird or the person named so, becomes as a symbol of performing any task put on his shoulders. He acts well and do the mission in a very proper way.

4- Don't think I am that partridge which falls in your threads.

Here in this proverb we find another way of challenging others from the part of the bird or any person who utters and shows such an attitude. It is a type or a way of boasting or praising oneself indirectly.

5- The partridge hits or strikes his thrown stick.

When some outcomes and results come vice versa and it is not expected to happen so. This proverb is said to show that this person is not so capable of doing such deed, but it is done by chance.

6- They erect a bier on water for the partridge to cross.

No need for that, it is in vein to do so, the partridge has wings to go over the river. It teaches us that it is useless to act and spend time and effort for nothing.

7- Somebody was on fire, the other was broiling his partridge.

Indeed it a is a dilemma and a catastrophe to be in such a situation, when you are facing a problem or a mistress and others await and look or remain standstill and show no help or any kind of assistance to you. Overall they mock at you to increase your outrage in such hard states.

8- All the world are enemies of the partridge.

As a conception deep-rooted in the mind and mentality of Kurdish people that all humanity are against them. They have no friends but the mountains. This has settled as a fact that can not be ignored by anyone who understands the past history till now, Kurdish people had become a prey and had been scarified by all around and later the furthest. A divided Kurdistan, submitted by all and pitied by none. But we hope and do hope now from all to show justice and denote our legible rights.

9- All are enemies to the partridge, and the partridges themselves are enemies to each other.

The first part of the proverb is similar to that mentioned before, but the second part is the core of the matter, it means: despite all of that Kurdish people are themselves as the partridges fighting each other and hide hostility towards each other, they are always as the great Kurdish poet Ahmede Khane had said before that they were always at division without harmony and agreement among them. but they need a true leader to guide.

10- A partridge with its wings got into his mouth.

When someone is unaware of getting something valuable and precious and somebody tells him unexpectedly about it, then he opens his mouth showing delight, at the moment one can say this proverb to him, that a partridge with its wings got into your mouth.

11- Look how he selects the partridge.

In Kurdish society when you want to honor somebody most highly, you say I'll prepare for you a dried partridge, because it is very rare to find. For this reason, when you like to select the best foods among the others you choose the partridge as an example to give the situation a very important and high level.

12- He is as that thief who hides a partridge under his armpit.

We all know that the thief does the act of stealing very cautiously and secretly, in the contrary, when he puts a partridge in his armpit, he makes everyone feel him because the partridge shows loud voices that draws others attention. It means that the thief is not such an experienced thief.

13- They asked the partridge which place do you prefer best? It said: "The place where I was born as a chicken."

It is really true the first place that you lived there strikes the mind continuously and makes anyone remember it. One always likes to visit and stay there to remind past memories.

14- The partridge does not forget his spot.

This Kurdish proverb shows us that this bird is fond enough of his first place that it always remembers and often pays common visits to those spots which is familiar throughout its life.

15- The partridges of the hills sent signs to farmers.

This means that these kinds of birds possess an attitude and an instinct which show the farmers while they appear that it is time for them to prepare themselves for the season.

16 - By saying that," it is a red cock.' He replied at once and said," No, it is a partridge!"

This Kurdish proverb shows the contradicting points of views between two opposite sides or parties. The difference and the disagreement among people reach a wide level that they did not compromise at the end and leave behind them a great gap of misunderstanding which brings about catastrophes for all without exceptions.

19-12-2016 dohok ahmed ali

Comparative proverbs between English / Kurdish

Beware of a silent dog and still water

هشیاربە ژسەیێ نڤستی ئو نەدە ئاڤا راوستی

Wishes won't wash dishes

بداخازا ئامان نا هێنە شوشتن

Add fuel to the fire

بزوتا دەتە بن ئاگری

No gains without pains

حەتا دەست رەش نەبیت تاما دەڤی خوش نابیت

New brooms sweep clean

نوی هاتن کەڤن خەلاتن

The net of the sleeper catches fish

تورا نڤستی ، ماسی پێڤە ڤەبستی

The silent dog is the first to bite

سەیێ نڤستی بەرا خرا مروڤێ گەستی

Birds of a feather flock together

هەر تەیرو رەڤا خو

Actions speak louder than words

کریارەک چێترە ژهزار گوتنا

A picture is worth a thousand words

هەر وێنه ك ، جهگرێ هزار گوتنا یە

No one says, “My pasture is not sweet.”

کەس نابێژيت ماستێ من يێ ترشه

Dogs bark, but the caravan goes on

سه دره ويت ئو كاروان برێكا خو د چيت

Two raindrops do not make a pool

ب دو چبكێت بارانێ برك پڕنابيت

Hope is a good breakfast, but a poor supper

هیڤی خوش تێشتە ، بەس شیڤەکا کێم تشتە

A lion is a lion, no matter if it is female or male

شێر شێره‌ چ ژنه‌ چ مێره‌

Have your bread with water , throw away others favor

نانێ خو بخو بئاڤێ منه تا خه لكى پهاڤێ

The sound of the drum is better from the far

دەنگێ دەهولێ ژدویرڤە یێ خوشە

Road may be short, but enemies won't be friends.

رێ دبنه بهوست , دوژمن نا بنه دوست

The enemy of the father will never be the friend of his son.

دو ژ منێ بابێ نا بيته دوستێ كورى

Don't die donkey till the grass grow

کەرو نەمرە هەتا قیڤار شین دبیت

The jug is new, its water is fresh

کوزکێ نوى یە ئاڤا تەزى یە

The fox has nothing except the skin

یا رویڤى ژى کەڤلە

Me mount, you mount, the calf remains without grass

ئەز چیا و تۆ چیا ، گولک ما بێ گیا

You reap what you sow

چ بچینى دێ وى هەلینى

Task done on time, and you are a king on your bed

شولێ ل بەر وەختی وەکی میرێ سەر تەختی

Death on your feet is better than life on your knees

مرنا سەر پێت کوک چێترە ژ ژیانا سەر چوک

easy come, easy go

چەوا با دهینیت، وەسا باران دشوت

A penny saved, a penny earned

دراڤێ سپی بو روژا رەشە

Collected and adapted

By AHMED ALI

World's proverbs translated into Kurdish

Beasts

It is easy to threaten a bull from the window. (Italian).

ژکولەکا بای، گەڤ دهێتە کرن ل گای

In small woods may be caught large hares. (Dutch, Danish).

ناڤ رێل وبیشێت بچیک ، دهێنە گرتن مەزن کێڤریشک

The leopard is absent so they play with the cubs. (African).

پلنگ نە ل مالە ، دگەل تێشکا ئەوهەڤالە

It is a bold mouse that makes her nest in the cat’s ear. (Danish).

ئەوە مشکێ خورت، کون چێکر ناڤ گوهێ کتکا پیرت

He who goes with wolves learns to howl. (Spanish

ئەوێ دگەل گورگا دگەریت، دێ وەک وان لوریت

When the tree falls the kid can climb it ( Louisianan Creole )

دەما دار کەت، زاروک سەر کەت

Birds

There's winter enough for a snipe and woodcock too. ( English )

زڤستانا هەی بو نێچیرڤانی ئو دیکلێ ناڤ بیشانی

It is not every man that can carry a falcon on his hand. (Danish).

خر نەشێن راگرن تەیرێ باز، ب دەستەکێ لاواز

If wishes were thrushes, beggars would eat birds. (English).

هەکە خوزی ببن پور، خازوک دێ بنە تەیر خور

Foster a raven and it will pluck out your eyes. (Spanish).

کەهی نەکە قرا، دێ چاڤا دەرهینیت ژسەرا

He who makes himself a dove is eaten by hawks. (Italian).

خو نەکە کوترا ژار، دێ تە خوت بازێ دم خار

He that had bitten by a serpent fears a rope.

( Hebrew, Kurdish )

مار گەستی ژوەریسی دترسیت

Like seeking feathers from a turtle. ( Congolese )

وەک ئەوێ دگەریێت ل پەرا سەر پشتا کویسەلا

Insects including spiders

What could the ant do if it had the head of a bull. ( German )

دا چێ کەت گەر مێریێ سەرێ گای هەبیت

From the same flower the bee extracts honey and the wasp gall. ( Italian )

ژگولێ مێش دکێشیت هنگڤینێ خومال، ئوستێنگ ژەهرا تال

Anger is a stone cast at a wasp's nest.

( Malabar)

پیرکا هەڤال گرێدەن، ب بەندکێت تەڤنە تویرکا

Friends tie their purses with spider's thread. ( Italian )

Kurdish proverbs translated into English

ئەگەر گول نەبی، نەبە ستری

If you are not a flower, don't be a thorn

ژنا شەرمین ب شارەکی، مێرێ شەرمێن ب کارەکێ

A shy woman is worth a city, a shy man is worth a goat

شەر چێترە ژ بەتالیێ

Fighting is better than idleness

ژهەمی عەوران باران ژێ ناهێت

Not every cloud brings rain

ئاخڤتنێت نەرم دەرگەهێت ئاسنی ڤەدکەت

Kind words will unlock an iron door

دوژمنێ بابێ نا بیتە دوستێ کوری

The enemy of a father will never be a friend of the son

مێر سورکە، ژن برکە

The man is a stream, the woman a pool

دیکلێ روژەکێ بە، نەکو مریشکا سالەکێ

Better one day a cock than a year a hen

پێت خو ل دیڤ بەکا خو درێژکە

Stretch your legs according to your blank

Proverbs of the world on soil

The bird ought not to soil its own nest.

It is the season not the soil that brings the crop.

Black soil produces white bread.

Only the soil knows when a young mouse is ill.

The master's footsteps fatten the soil, and his foot the ground.

No partridge is small when it claws the soil.

A good man finds his native soil in every country.

When a yam doesn't grow well, we don't blame it;

it is because of the soil.

Soil is life, conserve it.

No food without soil.

چەند گوتنێت جیهانی لسەر ئاخێ :

1) چ کەو هێلینا خو بن ئاخ ناکەت

2) وەرزێت سالێ، نە ئاخ، درامەتی دهینیت

3) ئاخا رەش، نانێ سپی دهینیت

4) ئاخ دزانیت، کو تێشکێ مشکی یێ نساخە

5) پێنگاڤێت خودانی، ئاخێ ب هێز دئێخیت، ئو پێت وی خاکی بزاخ دئێخیت

6) کەو نە یێ بچیکە دەما ئاخ خرخپاند

7) مروڤێ چاک ئاخا خو دبینیت دناڤ هەرخاکەکی دی

8) ئەم لومێ نا ئێخینە سەر پتاتوشکا ئەگەر باش نەچێبن، ئەم دبێژین ژبەر ئاخێ یە

9) ئاخ ژیانە، ب چاڤ دانێ راگرە.

10) بێ ئاخ ، بێ خارن وزاد

Badinan proverbs

Kurdish proverbs translated literally into English

ئەو کورێ هیچ لە ملێ یە

He is the son who has nothing on his shoulders

ژگای گوهێ نیشادای

From the ox, only ear was shown

من نان ب گوها نە خاری یە

I have not eaten bread with my ears

وەکی کورێ کێچ گرتی

You are as that blind who has caught a louse.

هەکە دەرسە حەرفەک بەسە

If it is a lesson, a letter is enough.

نەشیا ئێکی گوت: دو دو وەرنە من

He was unable to fight one, he said: I would defy two

کەس نەشیت دەستێ خوش مێرا بگریت

Nobody has seized the hands of the brave

رەشو ب دەستێ خو، هەکە ئاڤێ تو بری

Resho use your both hands, or else, water will drift you away

نە ئەو سویکە، نە ئەو بازار

It is neither that market nor this bazar

هندە جارا کتک شەرێ شێری دکەت

Sometimes, the cat fights the lion

کەس نا بێژیت ماستێ منێ تڕشە

Nobody says that his yogurt is sour

دەرمانێ نە شیانێ شوکر ژخودێ یە

The remedy of incapability is thanking God

2005- Mosul

English proverbs translated into Kurdish language

"If you break it, you buy it."1-

"Wake up and smell the coffee."2-

"Get your ducks in a row."3-

"A rising tide lifts all boats."4-

"Luck is when preparation meets opportunity."5-

"Labels are for cans, not people."6-

"A bird may love a fish, but where would they live?"7-

"There are no small parts, only small actors."8-

"If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."9-

"It isn't whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game."10-

١- ئەگەر تە شکاند، دڤێت تو ب کری.

٢- ژخەو رابە، ئو بهنکە قەهوێ.

٣- تو ژی وەردەکێت خو ببە رێزێ.

٤- پێلێت بلند دشێت خڕ گەمیا هەلگریت.

٥- قەپاخک بو قودیکانە، نە مروڤانە.

٦- شەنس ئەوە دەما ئامەدەبون دگەل دەرفەتێ ڤێک دکەڤن.

٧- دبیت چیچک حەژ ماسیێ بکەت، بەس دێ ل کیرێ ژین؟

٨- ل وێری نینن بەشێت بچیک، بەلێ ئاکتەرێت کوچکوک دهەین.

٩- ئەگەر تو خو ل بەر گەرمێ نەگری، خو ژلینانگەهێ دویر گری.

١٠- نە خەمە کا پێشبازیێ بەی یان نە، بەلێ یا گرنگە دێ چەوا وێ یاریێ کەی.

COMPARATIVE PROVERBS

English / Kurdish

• A castle in Spain

بەفرا لناڤ بەرواریا دهێت

• A cat in gloves catches no mice

چێڵ دوتن وکەزان کەلوتن

• A golden key can open any door

ب ئاخفتنا نەرم مار ژکونێ دەردکەڤیت

• A heavy purse makes a light heart

بەرتیڵ بەرا دحەلینیت

• A liar is not believed even when he tells the truth

مالا درەوینی سوت کەسێ ژێ باوەرنەکێ

• A man's home is his castle

مالا پیرێ خوشترە ژمالا میرێ

• A penny saved is penny earned

دراڤێ سپی بو راژا رەشە

• A still tongue makes a wise head

کتکێ مەلێل دینگێ قەلەو رادکێشیت

• A stitch in time saves nine

شول دگەرمێرا

• A tale loses in the telling

هەر بلویرێ بو گوهێ گای بێژە

• A burnt child dreads the fire مار گەستی ژ وەریسی دترسیت

A wolf in sheep's clothing

مارێ بن گڵ گلەیە

• A word to the wise is sufficient

هەکە دەرسە حەرفەک بەسە

• After a storm comes calm

هەر سەر ئاڤرازیەکی سەر نشیڤیەک دیڤ را دهێت

• All cats are gray in the dark

ل تاریێ رەنگێ رەش وسپی ئێکن

• All good things must come to an end:

هەموو ساتەکانى ژیانى مرۆڤ بەخۆشى و ناخۆشیەوە کۆتایى دێت

• All that glitters is not gold

هەمی سە نە یێت راڤی نە

• An apple a day keeps a doctor away

سەرێ نە ئێسێت هەوجەی دەرسوکێ نینە

• An eye for any eye and tooth for a tooth

توڵ بەر تولێ شمک بەر سولی

• An idle brain is the devil's workshop

شەرژ بەتالیێ باشترە

• As you sow, so shall you reap

چێ بچێنی دێ وی هەلینی

• A cat has nine lives

کتکا حەفت رحە

• Action speaks louder than words

سەد گوتن گوری کریارەکێ بن

• Barking dog never bites

نە ئەورێ گورگری ، نە مێرێ تڕتڕی

• Better safe than sorry

ئەزمانو بڕی سەرو ڤەهسیای

• Bird the lion in his the den

رویڤی ل بەرێ کونا خو یێ خورتە

Birds in their little nests agree

هەر تەیرو رەڤا خو

• Blood will have blood:

خوین خونێ دکێشیت

• Build castles in the air

گازیا ل دیڤ گورگی یە

• Charity begins at home

خێرا مامێ نویرە ژ مالێ ناکەت دویرە

• Children and fools tell the truth

بو خو ئاقلێ ژ بێ ئاقلا بگرە

• Clothes make the man

گربە دا یێ گراڤیبی

• Come easy, go easy

با دهینیت باران دشوت

• Curiosity killed the cat

خویا خو نەکە هەمی گرارا

• Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today

ئیشى ئەڤرۆنەهێلە بوسوبوهی

• Every could has a silver lining

تانگاڤی دیڤ کورتن

• Experience is the best teacher

پیرێ و سەربور

• Faith will move mountain

بئاخفتنا خوش بەر نەرم دبن

• Fields have eyes, and woods have ears

دیواردپشت گوهن

• First see the light of day

کورێ کێچ گرتی

• Good men are scare

خوش مێر دکێمن

• Haste makes waste

بێ خەمی گەزەک خوسارەتە

• He that has a full purse never wanted friend

هەڤالێ مروڤی بەریکا مروڤی

• It takes money to make money

هەتا دەست رەش نەبیت تاما دەڤی خوش نابیت

• Love me, love my dog:

خولامێ ئاغای ئاغایە

• One bitten، twice shy:

جارەکێ قوتایبە نە دو جارا ڤەقجیابە

• One law for the rich and another for the poor:

ئاڤا خورتا سەر ئەڤراز دچیت

• Out of sight، out of mind

هات مروڤێ مالێ ، صو زیانا سالێ

• Save for a rainy day

دراڤێ سپى بوروژا ڕەشە

• Seize the bull by the horns

گایێ ب شاخاڤە هەلاوستی

• Strike while the iron is hot

شول دگەرمیرا

• Still waters run deep

ئەڤ هەڤیرە دێ هشتا ئاڤێ ڤەخوت

• The gods send nuts to those who have no teeth

بلویرێ دەڤێ بێ لێڤی را دکەت

• The tree is known by its fruit

خیارە ژتیتکی دیارە

• There is no smoke without fire

چ ئاگر دبێ دکێڵ نینن

• Two heads are better than one

هەر سەرەک ئاقلەکە

• When in Rome do as the Romans do:

هەرە مللەتا دا بگری عەدەتا

Kurdish proverbs translated into English

Fire is good, but it produces ashes

ئاگرێ خوشە، بەلێ خوەلی ژی ژێ چێدبیت

A rock is heavier in its own place

بەرد لە جێگای خویدا قورس ترە

Struggling is life and life is a struggle

خوهدان ژیانە، ئو ژیان خوهدانە

Whatever the heart feels, the mouth reveals

یا دڵ هزر دکەت، چاڤ خەبەر دەت

The drum's sound is much better from the far

دەنگێ دەهولێ ژ دویرڤە یێ خوشە

The dagger's ache is easy, but the heart's pain is hard

دەردێ خەنجەر ئاسانە، دەردێ دل پڕگرانە

The idle hand rests on a hungry stomach

دەستێ رویس دانا سەر زکێ برسی

If the donkey will go under the load, then take the load to the donkey

ئەگەر کەر نە چیتە بەر باری ، باری ببەن بەر کەری

A flower was a flower, the rain came and made it wet

گول یا شڵ بو، باران لێ هات تەر وشڵ بو

Every rock has its own place

هەر بەر ل جهێ خو یێ ب قەدرە

Death on feet is better than life on knees

مرنا سەر پێت کوک، چێترە ژ مرنا سەر چوک

You can not clap with one hand

دەنگ ژ دەستەکێ پتنێ ناهێت

The fox did not reach the grape, said it is sour

ریوڤی نە گەهشتە تری، گوت: یێ تڕشە

A dark night is evident from the evening

شەڤا تارێ ژ هونگورڤا یا دیارە

A lion is a lion, whether male or female

شێر شێرە، چ ژنە چ مێرە

Task done on time, as a king on a bed

شولێ لبەر وەختی وەکی میرێ سەر تەختی

Help yourself, and beloved by others

شول کەرێ خو بە، ئو خوشتڤیێ خەلکێ بە

Light wisdom, heavy burden

زانینا سڤک، بارەکێ گرانە

Our language is our existence

زمان مە هەبونا مە یە

Empty words will not fill an empty stomach

گوتنێت ڤال، تێر ناکەن زکێت جوهال

The enemy of the father will not be the friend of the son

دوژمنێ بابێ نابیت دوستی کوری

Don not forget the fountain you drank from

کانیا تە ئاڤ ژێ ڤەخواری پیس نەکە

Both the hunter and the hunted rely on God

نێچیر ونێچیرڤان هەر دو پێگڤە یێ ل هێڤیا خودێ

No matter where you go, your destiny follows you

کیڤە بچی، قەدەر یا ب دیف تە ڤە

No one can repay one's debt to one's mother

کەس نەشێت دەینێ دایێ ئەداکەت

The rich man's wealth tires the poor man's jaw

مالێ مالداران، دقەرمینیت زمانێ ژار وفەقیران

A woman is a fortress, a man her prisoner

ژن کەلاتە، ئو مێر گرتی وخەلاتە

The snow melts but the mountain remains

بەفر دحەلیێت، بەس چیا دمینن

With patience, mulberry leaves become satin

بهن فرەهی، بێسیرە دبیتە دوشاڤ

Dogs bark, but the caravan goes on

صە درەویت ئو کاروان ب رێکا خو دچیت

A shy woman is worth a city, a shy man is worth a goat

ژنا شەرمین ب سارەکی ئو مێر شەرمین ب کارەکی

Kurdish proverbs translated to English with:

neither …nor and either …or

Some proverbs on Dogs

گوتن ل سەر سەی

پهێلە نەهشتی، سەیێ نڤستی

سەیێ رەوین، ناکەت گەزین

بدە سەی ناڤەک،هنگێ بدە بەر داسەک

تونەشێی پیرە سەی، فیرێ فەند وفێلا بکەی

Let sleeping dogs lie

Barking dogs seldom bite

Give a dog a bad name and hang it

You can't teach an old dog new tricks

12-2-2018