Lebanon Proverbs (50)

الجار قبل الدار

“The neighbor before the house.”

Choose your neighbors before you choose your house — community matters more than property.

العين ما بتعلى عن الحاجب

“The eye does not rise above the eyebrow.”

Know your place and respect the natural order; humility keeps a person grounded.

اللي بيته من زجاج ما يرشق الناس بالحجار

“He whose house is made of glass should not throw stones at people.”

Do not criticize others for faults you share yourself.

القرد بعين أمه غزال

“In his mother's eyes, the monkey is a gazelle.”

A parent's love makes them blind to their child's flaws.

يا ما تحت السواهي دواهي

“How many disasters lie beneath calm waters.”

A peaceful surface can hide serious trouble; do not judge by appearances alone.

الديك الفصيح من البيضة بيصيح

“The eloquent rooster crows from inside the egg.”

True talent reveals itself from an early age.

كتر الطباخين بيحرقوا الطبخة

“Too many cooks burn the food.”

Too many people trying to lead the same task ruin it.

الصبر مفتاح الفرج

“Patience is the key to relief.”

Enduring hardship patiently eventually brings a way out.

من قلة الخيل شدوا على الكلاب سروج

“For lack of horses, they saddled the dogs.”

When good options are scarce, people settle for poor substitutes.

اللي فات مات

“What has passed is dead.”

Let go of the past; do not dwell on what cannot be changed.

يوم عسل يوم بصل

“One day honey, one day onion.”

Life alternates between sweetness and bitterness.

كل شي بوقتو حلو

“Everything is beautiful in its own time.”

Do not rush; things have their proper season.

الطيور على أشكالها تقع

“Birds of a feather land together.”

People gravitate toward others like themselves.

اضرب الحديد وهو حامي

“Strike the iron while it's hot.”

Seize an opportunity while conditions are favorable.

يد وحدة ما بتصفق

“One hand alone cannot clap.”

Cooperation from more than one side is needed to accomplish or resolve things.

اللي بحبك بيبكيك واللي بيبغضك بيضحكك

“He who loves you makes you cry, and he who hates you makes you laugh.”

True friends tell hard truths, while flatterers only tell you what pleases you.

احكي عن الديب وهيّئ العصا

“Talk of the wolf, and get the stick ready.”

Speak of trouble and be prepared for it to appear.

الإيد يلي ما فيك تقطعها بوسها

“The hand you cannot cut off, kiss it.”

When you cannot overcome a stronger power, it is wiser to make peace with it.

الله إذا سكر باب بيفتح باب

“If God closes one door, He opens another.”

After a setback, a new opportunity will appear.

البيت يلي فيه ريسين بيغرق

“A house with two captains sinks.”

Divided leadership leads to failure.

الكلاب تنبح والقافلة تسير

“The dogs bark and the caravan moves on.”

Ignore criticism from those who cannot stop your progress.

الطبل الفارغ صوته عالي

“The empty drum makes the loudest sound.”

Those who talk the most often have the least substance.

اللي بيحفر حفرة لأخيه بيوقع فيها

“He who digs a hole for his brother falls into it himself.”

Those who plot harm against others often bring ruin upon themselves.

إذا كان الكلام من فضة فالسكوت من ذهب

“If speech is silver, silence is golden.”

Knowing when to stay quiet is more valuable than speaking.

الصديق وقت الضيق

“A true friend is known in times of hardship.”

Real friendship reveals itself in difficult times.

اسأل مجرب ولا تسأل طبيب

“Ask someone experienced, not a doctor.”

Practical experience is often more valuable than formal expertise.

الغايب عذره معه

“The absent one has his excuse with him.”

Give the benefit of the doubt to someone who is not there to explain themselves.

اللي بيجي بسرعة بيروح بسرعة

“What comes quickly leaves quickly.”

Wealth or success gained too easily is often lost just as fast.

كل واحد بصنعته أمير

“Everyone is a prince in his own craft.”

Everyone deserves respect for their mastery of their own trade.

الدني دولاب

“The world is a wheel.”

Fortune constantly turns; today's hardship can become tomorrow's ease, and vice versa.

مش كل أصفر زبدة

“Not everything yellow is butter.”

Appearances can be deceiving; not everything valuable-looking is truly valuable.

اللي ماله ظهر بينضرب على بطنه

“He who has no one behind him gets struck in the stomach.”

Without support or connections, a person is left vulnerable.

يلي بيدخل بين البصلة وقشرتها ما إله إلا ريحتها

“He who comes between the onion and its peel gets nothing but its smell.”

Meddling in others' private or family matters brings only trouble, no benefit.

احكي مع الحيط يرجعلك الصوت

“Talk to the wall and it will echo your voice back.”

Arguing with a stubborn person is as futile as talking to a wall.

عصفور بالإد ولا عشرة عالشجرة

“A bird in the hand is worth ten on the tree.”

A small guaranteed gain is worth more than the promise of a much larger one that is out of reach.

اللي ما بيعرف الصقر يشويه

“He who does not recognize the falcon roasts it.”

Ignorance causes people to destroy or waste something precious simply because they fail to recognize its worth.

الحيط الواطي بيركب عليه الكل

“Everyone climbs over the low wall.”

A person or group seen as weak invites everyone to take advantage of them.

الكلمة الطيبة صدقة

“A kind word is a charity.”

Speaking gently and generously to others is itself a form of giving.

القرش الأبيض بينفع باليوم الأسود

“The white penny is useful on the black day.”

Save something for hard times, because a little kept aside brings relief when misfortune strikes.

شر البلية ما يضحك

“The worst calamity is the one that makes you laugh.”

Some misfortunes are so absurd or bitter that laughing is the only way to bear them.

الطماعة تقل القناعة

“Greed diminishes contentment.”

Wanting more than one needs erodes the peace that comes from being satisfied with what one has.

من شبه أباه ما ظلم

“He who resembles his father has done no wrong.”

A child who takes after a parent in character or looks is only following a natural, forgivable path.

الباب يلي بيجيك منه الريح سده واستريح

“The door that brings you the wind, close it and rest.”

Cut off the source of your recurring trouble instead of enduring it again and again.

جوز الطنجرة بيلاقي غطاها

“The pot finds its lid.”

Every person eventually finds the partner who truly matches them.

الوقت متل السيف إذا ما قطعته قطعك

“Time is like a sword: if you do not cut it, it cuts you.”

Use your time well and take action, or time itself will work against you.

اللي ما عندو كبير يشتريه

“He who has no elder should buy one.”

The guidance of someone older and wiser is valuable enough to be worth seeking out at any cost.

متل الديب لابس فروة الخروف

“Like a wolf wearing the sheep's wool.”

A dangerous or dishonest person may disguise themselves as harmless and gentle.

الطبع غلب التطبع

“Nature overcomes what is learned.”

A person's true, inborn character eventually shows through, no matter how much they try to appear otherwise.

كل شي إذا زاد عن حده انقلب لضده

“Anything that exceeds its limit turns into its opposite.”

Even good things become harmful when taken to excess; moderation preserves their value.

من جد وجد

“Whoever strives, finds.”

Determined effort eventually leads to success.