Aruba Proverbs (37)

Poco poco ta yena bari.

“Little by little, the barrel fills.”

Steady, small efforts accumulate over time into real progress.

Sopi no ta herebé dos biaha.

“Soup doesn't boil twice.”

A missed chance rarely comes back, so do not dwell on what is already lost.

Un cabuya ta corta dos biaha.

“A rope cuts twice.”

Cutting corners or rushing a job often creates twice the trouble later.

Kabes ta traha otro.

“One head makes another.”

Two people thinking together accomplish more than one mind working alone.

Muchu amèn ta daña misa.

“Too much amen damages the mass.”

Even a good thing becomes harmful when it is carried to excess.

Bai gaña baka.

“Go tell that to a cow.”

A sharp dismissal of a story so unbelievable that not even an animal would fall for it.

Bo ta bomba awa di renbak.

“You're pumping water from an empty cistern.”

A parent's warning against wasting time on something pointless instead of doing real work.

Kara di angel, kurason di diabel.

“The face of an angel, the heart of a devil.”

A warning that an innocent appearance can hide a person's true, unkind nature.

Sòpi purá ta sali salu.

“A hastily made soup turns out salty.”

Rushing a task usually spoils the result, because care takes time.

Esun ku kana lo kontra.

“The one who walks will find it.”

Taking action and moving forward is what eventually leads to results.

Galiña ta laba ku e awa ku e tin.

“The chicken washes with the water it has.”

Make the best of whatever limited resources are actually available to you.

Papia ta un cos, hasi t'e otro.

“Talking is one thing, doing is another.”

Words are easy; a person's real character is proven through action.

Hasi bon i bon lo bin p'abo.

“Do good, and good will come back to you.”

Kindness given to others eventually returns to the person who gave it.

No por planta ku su awa.

“You can't plant with his water.”

You cannot rely on a person who is unreliable or unwilling to commit.

Awe ta awe, mañan ta podisé.

“Today is today, tomorrow is maybe.”

Do not put off until tomorrow what can be done today, since tomorrow is never guaranteed.

Un bon bisiña ta pasa famia.

“A good neighbor is worth more than family.”

Someone close and dependable in daily life can matter more than distant relatives.

Barku chiki, bodega hundu.

“Small ship, deep hold.”

A modest or quiet exterior can hide great depth, capacity, or hidden qualities.

Makaku bisti na seda, makaku ta keda.

“A monkey dressed in silk is still a monkey.”

Fine clothing or wealth cannot change a person's true underlying nature.

Ora diabel ta resa, gaña e ta gaña bo.

“When the devil prays, he is only tricking you.”

Beware of someone who suddenly acts overly pious or kind; it may hide a false intention.

Ladron ta jama otro semper ladron.

“Thieves always call each other thieves.”

Those who share the same faults tend to recognize each other and stick together.

Ora Buriku muri, warawara ta hasi fiesta.

“When the donkey dies, the hawks throw a party.”

Some people benefit from, and even celebrate, another's misfortune.

Un man ta laba otro, tur dos ta bira limpi.

“One hand washes the other, and both become clean.”

When people help each other, everyone benefits in the end.

Rama di palu mes sa tumba wea.

“Even a tree branch can knock over a pot.”

Small, unexpected causes can sometimes lead to big consequences.

Ku pasenshi bo ta gana gloria.

“With patience you win glory.”

Patience and perseverance eventually lead to success and honor.

Primintí ta debe.

“A promise is a debt.”

A promise made must be kept, just like a debt that has to be repaid.

Kada porko tin su djasabra.

“Every pig has its Saturday.”

Everyone eventually faces the consequences or reckoning that is coming to them.

Bo por saka buriku for di mondi, pero bo no por saka mondi for di kabes di buriku.

“You can take the donkey out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the donkey's head.”

Some people's habits or nature never truly change, no matter their surroundings.

Awa no sa muha macacu dos bez.

“Water does not wet a monkey twice.”

A wise person does not make the same mistake a second time.

Ora bo ta bao di palu, bo mester wanta kaka.

“When you stand under a tree, you must accept the droppings that fall.”

Enjoying the shelter or benefit someone provides also means accepting the small inconveniences that come with it.

Mihó lat ku nunka.

“Better late than never.”

Doing something later is still better than never doing it at all.

Tur kos na su tempu.

“Everything in its own time.”

Good things cannot be rushed; every matter unfolds in its proper season.

Es ku yega promé ta bebe awa limpi.

“Whoever arrives first drinks the clean water.”

Those who act early or arrive first get the best opportunities.

Macacu sa ki palu e ta subi.

“A monkey knows which tree it climbs.”

A wise person knows their own strengths and limits, and chooses the path or opportunity that truly suits them rather than one that will only bring them harm.

No ta tur macacu bo ta cohe cu bacoba.

“Not every monkey is caught with a banana.”

Not everyone falls for an obvious trick; some people are too experienced or too clever to be easily fooled.

Macacu ta hunga cu su jiu te ora e saca su wowo.

“A monkey plays with its young until it scratches its eye out.”

Excessive indulgence or careless play, even when well-meaning, can end up causing real harm.

Si palu grandi cai, ta su tempo a jega.

“When a big tree falls, its time has come.”

No matter how great or powerful someone or something is, its end arrives when its natural time comes.

No ta tur palu ta sirbi pa traha imagen.

“Not every piece of wood is fit to carve an image.”

Not everyone or everything is suited for every purpose; each has its own proper role.