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70+ Swahili Proverbs, Quotes & Sayings + Meanings

Swahili speakers use a lot of sayings and expressions in daily life which offer advice and even sometimes have hidden meanings.

Check out these proverbs and quotes below to gain some insight into African beliefs and ways of thinking. 

Below I’ve listed famous Swahili quotes, inspiring Swahili sayings and common Swahili proverbs. 

My favorite fromt he list is ‘Umoja ni nguvu, utengano ni udhaifu ‘ which means ‘Unity is strength, division is weakness.’

Famous Swahili Proverbs & Swahili Sayings

Here’s the most famous Swahili proverbs as well as some common Swahili sayings. These are used often in day to day life.

  1. Adui wa mtu, ni mtu – The enemy of man is man.
  1. Afya ni bora kuliko mali – Health is better than wealth.
  1. Ahadi ni deni – A promise is a debt.

This Swahili proverb teaches us to always keep a promise.

  1. Asiyekosa hayupo – There is no one who does not make mistakes.
Famous Swahili proverb which reads 'there is no one who does not make mistakes'.
  1. Debe tupu haliachi kuvuma – An empty pot makes the loudest noise.
  1. Thamani ya taa ni giza kiingiapo – The value of light is noticed when night falls.
  1. Hata matumbo ni nyama – Even the bowels are meat.

This Swahili proverb teaches us that we should have respect for everyone.

  1. Kupotea njia ndiyo kujua njia – To get lost is to learn the way.
  1. Mema hayaozi – Good deeds never spoil.

This famous Swahili proverb about happiness teaches us that a good deed will not be forgotten.

  1. Akili ni mali – Knowledge is wealth.
  1. Si lazima kuzimia taa ya mwenzio ili yako ionekane – It is not necessary to blow out the other person’s lantern to let yours shine.
  1. Haraka haraka haina baraka – Hurry, hurry has no blessing.

This Swahili quote about happiness means ‘haste makes waste’. It means that you shouldn’t rush things.

  1. Adui aangukapo mnyanyue – When your enemy falls, lift them up.

This Swahili proverb about life teaches us to help an enemy who is in trouble as it may make you a friend.

  1. Heri kufa macho kuliko kufa moyo – It is better to lose your eyes than to lose your heart.
Famous Swahili proverb which reads 'it is better to lose your eyes than to lose your heart'.
  1. Chura hana nyoya – A frog has no feathers.

This Swahili proverb teaches us to not be too demanding. 

  1. Subira ina malipo – Patience pays.
  1. Kusahau maudhi ndio njia nzuri ya kulipiza kisasi – To forget a wrong is the best revenge.

This famous proverb in Swahili teaches us that if you forgive then you will defeat the wrongdoer. 

  1. Mchimba kisima huingia mwenyewe – He who digs a pit will fall into it himself.

This Swahili saying means that if you are planning something with the intention of hurting someone else, you may end up only hurting yourself.

  1. Kuwa geuzo unalotaka kuona duniani – Be the change you want to see in the world.
  1. Nyumba nzuri si mlango, fungua uingie ndani – A good house is not its door, open it and go inside.

This famous Swahili proverb is similar to the English version ‘don’t judge a book by it’s cover’.

  1. Mpiga ngumi ukuta huumiza mkonowe – He who hits the wall with his fist, hurts his own hand.

This famous Swahili saying means that you should not fight those who are stronger than you. 

Famous Swahili saying which reads 'he who hits the wall with his fist, hurts his own hand'.
  1. Si kila mwenye makucha huwa simba – Not all that have claws are lions.
  1. Makali ya jicho yashinda wembe – The sharpness of the eye is greater than the razor.
  1. Kuuliza si ujinga – It is not foolish to ask.

This famous Swahili saying teaches us that it isn’t stupid to ask questions. If you don’t know something, ask!

  1. Mwenye radhi hasumbuki – He who is blessed is not disturbed.
  1. Chochote akili ya binadamu kinaweza kuchukua na kuamini, inaweza faulu kulipata – Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.
  1. Usichague mchumba siku ya Idi – Don’t choose a fiance during the day of Eid.

Eid is a Muslim festival. This Swahili proverb means that during a festival everyone is on their best behavior and you can’t judge a person’s true character. 

It’s similar to the English version ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’.

  1. Penye nia ipo njia – Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
  1. Awashaye ndiye ajikunaye – A person who itches, scratches.

This Swahili proverb teaches us to be proactive.

  1. Mwenye pupa hadiriki kula tamu – A hasty person misses the sweet things.
Famous Swahili proverb which reads 'a hasty person misses the sweet things'.
  1. Furaha sio kitu kilochoundwa tayari, inakuja kutoka kwa matendo yako – Happiness is not readymade, it comes from your own actions.
  1. Haijalishi mwendo wako wa polepole ilhali tu usisimame – It doesn’t matter how slowly you go as long as you don’t stop.
  1. Maji hayatokoti yakishushwa kwa moto – Water does not boil if taken away from fire.
  1. Mtaka cha mvunguni sharti ainame – He who wants what is under the bed, must bend down to get it.

This Swahili proverb about life teaches that if you want something, you have to do it. If you want change, you have to initiate change.

Beautiful Swahili Quotes & More Swahili Proverbs

Below I’ve listed a range of famous and inspirational Swahili quotes and some more thought provoking proverbs in Swahili.

  1. Elfu huanzia moja – A thousand begins with one.
  1. Baada ya dhiki faraja – After hardship comes relief.
  1. Hapana marefu yasiyo na mwisho – There is no distance that has no end.
  1. Heri kujikwa kidole kuliko ulimi – Better to stumble with your toe than with your tongue.
  1. Kutoa ni moyo usambe ni utajiri – Charity is a matter of the heart not of the pocket.
  1. Jina jema hungara gizani – A good name shines in the dark.
  1. Lipitalo hupishwa – That which is passed is allowed to pass.
  1. Fimbo huvunja mfupa, haivunji kilema – A stick can break a bone, but not bad behavior.

This famous quote in Swahili means that violence and force do not fix bad behavior. 

  1. Jaza ya ihsani ni ihsani – The reward of kindness is kindness.
  1. Jicho la moyo linaona mengi – The heart’s eye sees many things.
  1. Nimeshindwa tena na tena na tena maishani mwangu ndiposa nafanikiwa – I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.
  1. Kila mlango na ufunguo wake – Every door has its own key.

This Swahili quote about life means that there is a correct way of doing things.

Famous Swahili quote which reads 'every door has its own key'.
  1. Hakuna njia panya ya kwenda mahali pa thamani – There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.
  1. Kila jambo na wakati wake – There is an opportune time for everything.
  1. ​​Mwenye kutenda jamala, naye hulipwa jamala – To the person who does kind things, kind things will be done.
  1. Ukijifanya asali nzi wote watakula – If you make yourself like honey, all the flies will devour you.

This famous Swahili quote means that if you are too good, people will take advantage of you. 

  1. ​​Ulimi huelekea penye jino bovu – The tongue always returns to the bad tooth.

This Swahili inspirational quote means that a good person will always try to help someone who is in trouble. 

  1. Ukupigao ndio ukufunzao – What beats you is what teaches you.
  1. Wapingapo fahali wawili, ziumiazo ni nyasi – When two bulls fight, it is the grass that suffers.
  1. Mwekaji kisasi haambiwi mwerevu – He who nurses vengeance is not wise.
  1. Asiyefunzwa na mamae hufunzwa na ulimwengu – He who is not taught by his mother, will be taught by the world.

This Swahili saying means that if parents fail in their obligation to properly bring up a child, the child will learn everything the hard way. 

  1. Lisilo budi hutendwa – Whatever should be done has to be done.
  1. Bahati haiji mara mbili – Luck comes only once.
  1. Asisa firie nyota ya mwenzio – Don’t set sail using somebody else’s star.
Famous Swahili quote which reads 'don't set sail using somebody else's star'.
  1. Mvumilivu hula mbivu – A patient person eats ripe fruits.

This famous quote in Swahili teaches people the importance of being patient and that good things will come to people who are patient.

  1. Kila ndege huruka na mbawa zake – Every bird flies with its own wings.
  1. Usipoziba ufa utajenga ukuta – If you don’t seal a crack, you will have to rebuild the whole wall.

This Swahili quote about life means that if you sort out a problem immediately, it may save you a lot of extra work later.

  1. Mafanikio sio mwisho, kushindwa si mbaya: ni ujasiri wa kuendelea ndio muhimu – Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
  1. Umoja ni nguvu, utengano ni udhaifu – Unity is strength, division is weakness.
  1. Kutoa ni moyo, si utajiri – Donating money is a matter of willingness and not wealth.
  1. Mwenda pole hajikwai – He who walks slowly, does not stumble.

This Swahili quote means that you should avoid making important decisions in a hurry.

  1. Kidole kimoja hakivunji chawa – A single finger cannot crush a louse.

Best Swahili Idioms & Swahili Expressions

Below I’ve listed the most well-known Swahili idioms and expressions. Many of these have hidden meanings. 

  1. Ndege njema, uenende ukale na vipofu

This Swahili idiom literally means ‘good birds, go and eat with the blind’. It is used as a wish for a good journey and means ‘good luck’. 

You’re told to eat with the blind as they cannot give you the evil eye.

  1. Pilipili usozila zakuwashiani?

This Swahili idiom literally means ‘how can you be burned by a hot pepper that you haven’t eaten?’.

It’s used to tell somebody to mind their own business.

  1. Mfuata nyuki hakosi asali

This Swahili idiom literally means ‘one who follows bees will never fail to get honey’.

It is used to teach someone to take appropriate actions to get what they want.

  1. Ukitaka kula nguruwe, chagua aliyenona

This Swahili phrase literally means ‘if you want to eat a pig, choose a fat one’.

It’s similar to the English phrase ‘in for a penny, in for a pound’. It means that if you’re going to do something, you might as well go the whole way. 

  1. Kuishi kwingi kuona mengi

This Swahili idiom literally means ‘to live much is to see a lot’. It really means that experience comes with age.

Check out the videos below which feature a range of famous Swahili proverbs and well-known Swahili quotes and sayings.

Thanks for reading this post on the best Swahili quotes about life, famous Swahili sayings and fascinating Swahili proverbs.

These quotes & sayings in Swahili give an interesting insight into the Swahili language.

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