Lebanon Proverbs (50)

Traditional proverbs of Lebanon in ar and English — each with its meaning and source.

الجار قبل الدار

“The neighbor before the house.”

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

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

الديك الفصيح من البيضة بيصيح

“The eloquent rooster crows from inside the egg.”

True talent reveals itself from an early age.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

كتر الطباخين بيحرقوا الطبخة

“Too many cooks burn the food.”

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

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

الصبر مفتاح الفرج

“Patience is the key to relief.”

Enduring hardship patiently eventually brings a way out.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

اللي فات مات

“What has passed is dead.”

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

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

يوم عسل يوم بصل

“One day honey, one day onion.”

Life alternates between sweetness and bitterness.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

كل شي بوقتو حلو

“Everything is beautiful in its own time.”

Do not rush; things have their proper season.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

الطيور على أشكالها تقع

“Birds of a feather land together.”

People gravitate toward others like themselves.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

اضرب الحديد وهو حامي

“Strike the iron while it's hot.”

Seize an opportunity while conditions are favorable.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

يد وحدة ما بتصفق

“One hand alone cannot clap.”

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

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

احكي عن الديب وهيّئ العصا

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

Speak of trouble and be prepared for it to appear.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

الله إذا سكر باب بيفتح باب

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

After a setback, a new opportunity will appear.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

البيت يلي فيه ريسين بيغرق

“A house with two captains sinks.”

Divided leadership leads to failure.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

الكلاب تنبح والقافلة تسير

“The dogs bark and the caravan moves on.”

Ignore criticism from those who cannot stop your progress.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

الطبل الفارغ صوته عالي

“The empty drum makes the loudest sound.”

Those who talk the most often have the least substance.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

الصديق وقت الضيق

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

Real friendship reveals itself in difficult times.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

اسأل مجرب ولا تسأل طبيب

“Ask someone experienced, not a doctor.”

Practical experience is often more valuable than formal expertise.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

اللي بيجي بسرعة بيروح بسرعة

“What comes quickly leaves quickly.”

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

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

كل واحد بصنعته أمير

“Everyone is a prince in his own craft.”

Everyone deserves respect for their mastery of their own trade.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

الدني دولاب

“The world is a wheel.”

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

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

مش كل أصفر زبدة

“Not everything yellow is butter.”

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

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

الكلمة الطيبة صدقة

“A kind word is a charity.”

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

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

الطماعة تقل القناعة

“Greed diminishes contentment.”

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

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

جوز الطنجرة بيلاقي غطاها

“The pot finds its lid.”

Every person eventually finds the partner who truly matches them.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

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.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition

من جد وجد

“Whoever strives, finds.”

Determined effort eventually leads to success.

Traditional Lebanon Wisdom

Source: Traditional Lebanese proverb, public-domain oral tradition