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50 Tigrinya Quotes, Sayings & Proverbs + Meanings

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

I spent ages putting together this list of these Tigrinya proverbs and quotes below to gain some insight into Tigrinya beliefs and ways of thinking. 

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

(My favourite is number 33 on the list.)

Famous Tigrinya Quotes & Eritrean Tigrinya Proverbs In Tigrinya + English

Here’s a bunch of the most famous Tigrinya quotes in Tigrinya and English as well as some common Eritrean proverbs in Tigrinya. These are used often in day to day life.

  1. Newih guzo bhade sgumti’yu zgmr – A long journey starts with the first step.
Famous Tigrinya saying which reads 'a long journey starts with the first step'.
  1. Nfue tezarabay nfue hasawi’yu – A great talker is a great liar.
  1. Kullu yihalif, fiqri yiterif – Everything passes, love remains.
  1. Msla bnay newih tmekro etrkeb, haxir mulue hasab’yu – A proverb is a short sentence based on a long experience.
  1. Blhi nay dka seb habti’yu – Ability is the poor man’s wealth. 
  1. Ade zelato zbekisi nede zeybilu kebki – Someone who has a mother and still cries makes someone without a mother cry. 

This Tigriya saying means that we should count our blessings.

  1. Seb yinebr kem betu, aykownin kem gorebetu – Live your own life, not your neighbors.

This Tigrinya quote teaches that we should not live for other people and should only do things that make us happy.

  1. Kol’a bneusu korbet brhusu – Guide a child when it’s still young just like you treat a hide when it’s still fresh.

This Tigrinya quote teaches that you should guide children when they’re young so they can have a bright future.

  1. Kab beynika giat mis hizbka miat – It is better to suffer with your own people than to eat porridge by yourself.
Famous Tigrinya quote which reads 'it is better to suffer with your own people than to eat porridge by yourself'.
  1. Zeytisemo tserfi darga derfi – If the insult is not understood, it sounds like a song.

This Tigrina saying highlights the importance of recognising when we are being insulted.

  1. Nikola kibla yibela – They say it’s for the baby but eat it themselves.

This Tigrinya proverb means that some people will say they are doing something for others when they are actually only doing it for themselves.

  1. Melk’a gereb qoxli, melk’a seb aqli – The beauty of a tree is its leaves and the beauty of a person is patience.

This beautiful Tigrinya quote is written as ‘መልክዕ ገረብ ቆጽሊ፣መልክዕ ሰብ ዓቕሊ’ in the Tigrinya script. It sums up the virtue of patience.

  1. Mealtn kelbe key tsewaekayomyme tsu – Time and the dog come without being called.

This proverb shows that time passes by quickly and we cannot stop it.

  1. Hilmi derho – Dreaming about a chicken.

This Tigrinya idiom actually refers to someone who is daydreaming or wasting their time dreaming of something that is impossible.

  1. Tsibuq zereba ‘atsmi aganinti yisebbir – Nice talk can break the bones of a ghost.
Famous Tigrinya quote which reads 'nice talk can break the bones of a ghost'.
  1. Qesey biqesey inqwilalih b’igru yikheyyid – In its own time even an egg gets up and walks on its own legs.
  1. Hasawi klte gze yrhix – A liar sweats twice as much as an honest person.
  1. Hibka aytklae, fetika aytxilae – Don’t give and then take, don’t love and then hate.
  1. Zeyhasb aynegd – Don’t go into business without thinking.
  1. Mistr hade tihti midri, mstr klite lieli mdri, mstr seleste zerie mdri – A secret of one person remains a secret, between two it becomes shaky but between three people it becomes a seed spread in a farm.

This Tigrinya quote means that if you share a secret with three people it will come out.

  1. ​​Haki zereba mot kereba – Death is inevitable so regardless of the consequences you should speak the truth.
  1. Anbesa endihir snu ar’eyuka si zfeteweka keymesleka – If a lion shows you its teeth, it doesn’t mean it likes you.

This Eritrean saying teaches us that if a person smiles at you, don’t always think that it is a good thing. You should be careful and not trust everyone.

  1. Melkena aberena – The shine is not so fine.

This Tigrinya saying is used when a person wants to express that something which seems good may not be so good.

It’s similar to the English version ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ meaning even if something looks great on the outside, it might be the opposite on the inside.

Beautiful Tigrinya Quotes & Tigrinya Sayings In English

Here I’ve listed a range of famous and inspirational Tigrinya quotes and Tigrinya sayings in English.

The list also features some famous Eritrean proverbs too.

  1. The one chased away with a club comes back, but the one chased away with reason does not.
Famous Tigrinya quote which reads 'the one chased away with a club comes back, but the one chased away with reason does not'.
  1. A fly that doesn’t listen to advice usually follows the corpse into the grave.
  1. He who hides his wound, hides his remedy.
  1. A home without a mother is a desert.
  1. Do not call the forest that shelters you a jungle.
  1. An old man who by himself carries one load on the head and another in his hand, must have played away his youth.
  1. When a road is good, it is used a second time.
  1. Tomorrow is pregnant and no one knows what she will give birth to.
  1. One who runs alone cannot be outrun.
  1. When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.
Famous Tigrinya proverb which reads 'when spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion'.
  1. What an old man can see while seated, a young man cannot see standing.
  1. Only when you have crossed the river can you say the crocodile has a lump on his snout.

This Eritrean saying means that you shouldn’t criticize others about something until you’ve done it yourself.

  1. A cow gave birth to a fire: she wanted to lick it, but it burned; she wanted to leave it, but she could not because it was her own child.
  1. Eritreans build with sweat, not debt.
  1. A coward sweats in water.
  1. The reason people stab you in the back is because you are ahead of them.
  1. If the palm of the hand itches it signifies the coming of great luck.
  1. Save your fowl before it stops flapping.

This quote means ‘act before it is too late’.

  1. Love is like a baby, it needs to be treated tenderly.
Famous Tigrinya proverb which reads 'love is like a baby, it needs to be treated tenderly'.
  1. What is said over the dead lion’s body, could not be said to him alive.
  1. When one sets a portion for oneself, usually it is not too small.
  1. A fool is a wise man’s ladder.
  1. When the bee comes to your house, let her have beer. You may want to visit the bee’s house some day.

This saying means that you should treat others how you want to be treated.

  1. ​​You cannot shave a man’s head in his absence.
  1. Two trees planted together cannot avoid brushing against each other.
  1. The camel keeps on marching, while the dogs keep on barking.
  1. Regret, like a tail, comes at the end.

Check out the video below which features a range of famous Tigrinya quotes and well-known Tigrinya sayings & Eritrean proverbs.

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

Did you find your favourite quote?

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