Bahrain Proverbs (18)

ما لك غير خشمك لو كان عوج

“All you have is your nose, even if it's bent.”

You must accept and make the best of what you actually have, since it is the only thing that is truly yours.

ذنب الجلب ما ينعدل

“You can't straighten a dog's tail.”

A person's core nature or bad habits cannot be permanently changed, no matter how hard you try.

الناس في زلزلة والمرأة تدور رجل

“The world is in turmoil, and the woman is still looking for a husband.”

Said of someone chasing a trivial personal goal while everyone around them faces a much bigger crisis.

اللي مايطول العنب حامض عنه يقول

“Whoever can't reach the grapes says they are sour.”

People often belittle what they cannot have, making excuses to hide their own failure or envy.

علمناهم على الطرارة سبقونا على البيبان

“We taught them how to beg, and they beat us to the doors.”

A warning about ingratitude — those you help can surpass or outmaneuver you using the very skill you gave them.

اللي في الجدر يطلعه الملاس

“What is in the pot, the spoon will dig it out.”

The truth always comes out eventually, no matter how well it is hidden.

مد رجولك على قد لحافك

“Stretch your legs only as far as your blanket reaches.”

Live within your means and never spend more than you actually have.

صام صام وفطر على بصلة

“He fasted all day, then broke his fast on an onion.”

Used when a long effort ends in a disappointing, underwhelming reward.

طرار ويتشرط

“A beggar, yet still picky.”

Said of someone in a weak position who is still unreasonably demanding — the Bahraini version of 'beggars can't be choosers.'

يحسدون الميت على موتة الجمعة

“They envy the dead man for dying on a Friday.”

Describes extreme, almost absurd envy — begrudging someone even the smallest fortune, such as dying on a blessed day.

ما يحك ظهرك إلا ظفرك

“Nothing scratches your back like your own fingernail.”

No one looks after your interests as well as you look after them yourself; self-reliance is best.

مش بوزك

“Wipe your mouth.”

A blunt way of saying 'don't even think about it' — used to shut down an unrealistic wish or request.

“A monkey looks like a gazelle in his mother's eye.”

A parent, or anyone, naturally sees their own as more beautiful or better than everyone else's, regardless of the truth.

ريجك في بوزك حلو

“Your own saliva tastes sweet in your own mouth.”

People naturally favor and overvalue what belongs to them, including their own opinions and family.

صبري يا حريقة سار الى ان يجيش الماي من لحنينية

“Fire in Saar, and the water must come all the way from Hunainiya.”

Said whenever help or a solution is painfully slow to arrive, recalling the days when firefighting water had to be hauled a long distance between villages.

وش ليش بالبحر واهواله او رزق الله على السيف

“Why brave the sea and its dangers, when God's blessings are already on the shore?”

Advises choosing the safer, simpler path when a good living can be made without unnecessary risk.

أومرك ولا أوامر الحكومة

“I would rather take your orders than the government's orders.”

A polite, half-joking way of agreeing to do a personal favor for someone, said when asked to do a task.

برز الدواء قبل لا تعطي الفلعة

“Get the antiseptic ready before you throw the punch.”

A wry comment on someone who plans for the consequences of an action far too early, or too cautiously.