Saudi Arabia Proverbs (10)

Traditional proverbs of Saudi Arabia in Khmer and English — each with its meaning and source.

اللي ما يعرفك ما يثمنك

“He who does not know you does not value you.”

People who are unaware of your true worth will not appreciate what you offer.

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Source: Traditional Saudi/Najdi proverb, public-domain oral tradition

الصبر مفتاح الفرج

“Patience is the key to relief.”

Enduring hardship with patience eventually leads to a way out and relief.

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Source: Traditional Arabic proverb widely used in Saudi Arabia, public-domain oral tradition

يد وحدة ما تصفق

“One hand alone does not clap.”

Success and achievement require cooperation, not a single person acting alone.

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Source: Traditional Saudi proverb, public-domain oral tradition

القرد في عين أمه غزال

“The monkey, in his mother's eye, is a gazelle.”

A mother sees beauty in her own child regardless of how others perceive them.

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Source: Traditional Arabic proverb used across the Gulf and Saudi Arabia, public-domain oral tradition

الجار قبل الدار

“The neighbor before the house.”

Choose good neighbors before choosing where to live, because they matter more than the dwelling.

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Source: Traditional Arabic proverb common in Saudi Arabia, public-domain oral tradition

من جدَّ وجد ومن زرع حصد

“Whoever strives, finds; and whoever sows, reaps.”

Serious effort and hard work are rewarded with results.

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Source: Traditional Arabic proverb, public-domain oral tradition

درهم وقاية خير من قنطار علاج

“A dirham of prevention is better than a qantar of cure.”

A small amount of precaution is worth far more than a large effort to fix a problem later.

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Source: Traditional Arabic proverb, public-domain oral tradition

اللي فات مات

“What has passed is dead.”

Do not dwell on the past; what is gone is gone and cannot be changed.

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Source: Traditional Saudi/Gulf proverb, public-domain oral tradition

عصفور في اليد خير من عشرة على الشجرة

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

A small certain gain is more valuable than a larger uncertain one.

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Source: Traditional Arabic proverb used in Saudi Arabia, public-domain oral tradition

الكلام يجرّ الكلام

“Talk draws more talk.”

One word or topic leads to another, so conversations can grow beyond their intent.

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Source: Traditional Arabic proverb, public-domain oral tradition