Proverbs of your language with English translation

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It is really a great idea to know about proverbs of all regional languages, including Hindi. Let us make it a learning tool and share some new ideas.
Let me start with 3 such proverbs with English translation. Can you add some more?

1. Minnunnathellaam Ponnalla - All that glitters are not gold(No change in meaning from English)
2. Muttathe Mullakku Manamilla/Akkara Paccha.......(Jasmine at our courtyard has no perfume/Only the other shore is green) Meaning.....We never see what's in our hand, we search it somewhere else.
3. Paavathinte Kanjiyil Paattayidaruth (Don't put cock roach in poor man's Kanji-food of poor people). Meaning...live and let live!

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"poocha kannadachu paalu kudikkumbol athinte vichaaram aarum onnum kaanunnilla ennu"

Translation- "A kitten always drink milk with its eyes closed because he thinks, "If I close my eyes, the whole world can't see me". :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

It is applicable in the case of normal men too, when he commits mistakes closing his eyes thinking no one will see me
Pucha kayala donga antay bujalu thadumukunnadanta - Telugu
this i dont know in english but i will explain you with example.
If we are telling that some one are making loss to us. then a person unnecessarily tells that am not that person.that to though we didnt suspect that person.
My honest view is that such proverbs are so worded that translating these into other languages make them lose their flavor!
My honest view is that such proverbs are so worded that translating these into other languages make them lose their flavor!


Yes, of course...translation is a dreadful experience...yet we can learn something new.

Let me add 1 or 2

"Theeyil mulachathu veyilathu vedilla".....one that born in fire never dies in sun heat
"Kathirinmel valam vachittu karyamilla"
"Giving manure to its leaves after the plant grows, is of no use"

Meaning....make hay when sun shines.....a stitch in time saves nine....prevention is better than cure

"Kurakkunna patti kadikkaarilla"
Barking dogs seldom bites
Mokkai vanguthadi kani, maanai vanguthada - telugu

A plant can bend but a tree cannot bend - English

The meaning is, a child can listen to us but after become adult never listen to us.

this proverb applies in many cases.
Mokkai vanguthadi kani, maanai vanguthada - telugu

A plant can bend but a tree cannot bend - English

The meaning is, a child can listen to us but after become adult never listen to us.

this proverb applies in many cases.


"Paakkaayaal madiyil vaikkam....kavungu aayaal pattumo"

"If it is an aracanut, we can place it in our lap. If it has become tree, can we put it again in our lap?"
Same meaning
Every failure is a success of pillar - english[/quote

] I don't want to be a pillar for somebody's success!!!
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Goru chuttu meeda rokali potu - telugu

On one wound another wound will occur - meaning of the about proverb
Why me and Sarala only? No one else interested? :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

I want some HIndi, Bengali, Tamil, Punjabi and of course Kashmiri ones
I think all of them dont know any proverbs of their languages or there are no proverbs in their language i guess
you can't teach an old dog new trick - English
Inthil valaiyathathu iempathil valaiyathu - Tamil

If the mother-in-law breaks it, it is a mud pot. If the daughter-in-law
breaks it, it is a golden pot. - English
mamiyar udaithal maen kodam, marumagal udaithal poon kodam. - tamil
you can't teach an old dog new trick - English
Inthil valaiyathathu iempathil valaiyathu - Tamil

If the mother-in-law breaks it, it is a mud pot. If the daughter-in-law
breaks it, it is a golden pot. - English
mamiyar udaithal maen kodam, marumagal udaithal poon kodam. - tamil


I know the second one....my 'Paati' used to tell it often :P
you can't teach an old dog new trick - English
Inthil valaiyathathu iempathil valaiyathu - Tamil

If the mother-in-law breaks it, it is a mud pot. If the daughter-in-law
breaks it, it is a golden pot. - English
mamiyar udaithal maen kodam, marumagal udaithal poon kodam. - tamil


I know the second one....my 'Paati' used to tell it often :P


Mostly senior persons only use that proverbs.. :laugh: :laugh:
"Thala irikkumbol vaal aadaruthu"
When there is head, no need for tail to nod :P
When there are seniors, we should keep quiet :evil:
Similar one
Ponnurukkunnidathu poochakkenthu kaaryam
Where gold is made, cat has what business there?
i.e. We need not interfere in other people's matters
mundu vachina cheyvulu kanna, veynakotchina kommu vadi - telugu

there is no english proverb here.

just explain you with an example. If you have friend and you met another new friend. then if you give preference to your new friend than the old friend. that is the meaning of this proverb
mundu vachina cheyvulu kanna, veynakotchina kommu vadi - telugu

there is no english proverb here.

just explain you with an example. If you have friend and you met another new friend. then if you give preference to your new friend than the old friend. that is the meaning of this proverb

We do have a similar one...but can't remember it now. Will quote later
The patient will rule the world - English
Porutthar bhumi allvar - Tamil :cheer:
Paddavadu yeppudu cheydda vadu kadu - telugu

The person who suffers is not a bad person

for example:A person is getting scolding from his boss though the person didnt do any mistake and the person kept silent.

So the person is the sufferer and as he is a good person so he kept silent

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Sandhya Rani

@Sandhya Rani

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Created Monday, 26 March 2012 09:21
Last Updated Tuesday, 30 November -0001 00:00
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