Senegal Proverbs (50)

Kou mana faiya dou jarou thy ndoje.

“He who knows how to swim does not die in the water.”

Skill and preparation protect a person from the dangers they are equipped to face.

Bate ou deugne yomba na jama.

“The voice of truth is easily known.”

Honesty carries a recognizable ring that falsehood cannot truly imitate.

Samme bagna na naija barame.

“A shepherd does not strike his own sheep.”

Those entrusted with the care of others act gently toward them, not with cruelty.

Demmal mo guenne do demma.

“'Go' is better than 'don't go.'”

Taking action, even imperfectly, is worth more than refusing to act at all.

Satou dou wata bope am.

“A razor cannot shave itself.”

No one can fully correct their own faults alone; everyone needs an outside perspective.

Yalla dakala yomba na ko.

“To bring the dead back to life is easy for God.”

Nothing is too difficult for divine power, however impossible it may appear to people.

Yague bai oul dara.

“Time destroys everything.”

Nothing endures forever; time gradually wears down all things.

Mougne a guenne.

“Patience is best.”

Enduring hardship calmly leads to better outcomes than reacting in haste.

Jama a guenne.

“Knowledge is best.”

Understanding and learning are valued above wealth or other advantages.

Waje y mague doyoul vaidi.

“One does not contradict the words of an elder.”

Respect for the wisdom and experience of elders is a core social value.

Jalele bagna na lo mou tamma.

“The child dislikes the one who gives it everything it wants.”

Overindulgence breeds resentment rather than gratitude; limits matter in raising children.

Koumpa diapa na nitte thy diombase ou kani.

“Curiosity often leads a person into bitterness.”

Prying too deeply into matters that are not one's own can bring trouble.

Garap lo thia gadhia mou sajati.

“The tree that is split still grows.”

A person can recover and continue to flourish even after being wounded or broken.

Kou amoul y noppe dou degua.

“He who has no ears does not hear.”

A person unwilling to listen cannot learn from advice or warning.

Kou sango deurre na vatou dieigui safara.

“He who wraps himself in cotton should not go near the fire.”

Know your own vulnerabilities and avoid situations that would expose them to danger.

Dome lou mou faika thy vene ou ndeey am la nampa.

“The infant suckles only what it finds at its mother's breast.”

People make use of the resources actually available to them rather than what they merely wish for.

Kou amoul mboube sa bire faigna.

“He who has no shirt shows his stomach.”

Hardship or lack cannot always stay hidden; need eventually reveals itself.

Bala nga togua ama rande.

“Before cooking, one must have provisions.”

Prepare the means for a task before attempting to carry it out.

Boreey leufe a la reelo.

“One does not laugh without a reason.”

Every reaction, even something as small as laughter, has a cause behind it.

Bala nga sanni dira.

“Before shooting, one must aim.”

Careful preparation and focus should precede any important action.

Sou nga amey fasse varra ko.

“If you have a horse, ride it.”

Make use of the resources and opportunities you already possess rather than letting them go to waste.

Kou solla yerey you diafe, leguy anga solla sagar.

“He who dresses too finely today will wear rags tomorrow.”

Living beyond one's means now can lead to hardship later; moderation protects the future.

Kou vorra kou la doul vorra, yalla vorra la.

“He who betrays one who has not betrayed him will be betrayed by God.”

Unjust treachery against the innocent eventually brings its own reckoning.

Ella waja bou ntoute, tey deguelou bou barey.

“Speak little, and listen much.”

Wise people give more attention to listening than to talking.

Lou dougua thy benne noppe guenna thia baley.

“What goes in at one ear comes out at the other.”

Advice given to someone who is not truly listening is quickly forgotten.

Kou niake ndaje bope am, tey yalla ndaje gnop.

“Each for himself, and God for all.”

Individuals must look after their own needs, while trusting that a higher unity binds everyone together.

Niare y beutte de nagnou guenna gnissa asse benne.

“Two eyes see better than one.”

Combined perspectives grasp more of the truth than a single viewpoint alone.

Ndank-ndank mooy japp golo ci ñaay.

“Slowly, slowly is how one catches the monkey in the bush.”

Patience and steady effort succeed at tasks that haste and impatience cannot accomplish.

Nit, nitay garabam.

“A person is the remedy for another person.”

Human beings depend on one another; true healing and support come through community.

Yàlla, Yàlla, bay sa tool.

“Trust in God, but plough your own field.”

Faith and effort work together — devotion to God does not excuse a person from doing their own work.

Saabu du foot boppam.

“Soap does not wash itself.”

No one can fully cleanse, judge, or improve themselves without help from others.

Xaaral ba ginaar am bëñ.

“Wait until the chicken grows teeth.”

Used to say that something will never happen, since chickens never grow teeth.

Bor du am rakk.

“A debt has no younger sibling.”

Settle one debt before taking on another, since debts tend to multiply rather than wait their turn.

“To love the king is not bad, but a king who loves you is better.”

Loyalty flowing only one way is worth less than a bond of genuine, mutual affection.

“Don't try to make someone hate the person he loves, for he will go on loving him but he will hate you.”

Attacking someone's bond with a person they love rarely breaks that bond — it usually just turns their anger toward you instead.

“There can be no peace without understanding.”

Lasting harmony between people requires that they first truly understand one another.

Lou jalele vaja thia saine kuerre la ko deguey.

“What the child says, it has heard at home.”

Children's words and habits reveal the values and conversations of their household.

“One goes quickly where one is sent when one takes interest in the journey.”

A task carried out with genuine enthusiasm is finished far faster than one done reluctantly.

“The roof fights the rain, but the person sheltered beneath it takes no notice.”

Those protected by another's effort often stay unaware of the struggle happening on their behalf.

“The dog that has left the house has no master.”

Someone who abandons their community or commitments forfeits the protection and belonging that came with it.

“Children of the same mother do not always agree.”

Shared origin or family does not guarantee that people will always see things the same way.

“One cannot separate two bulls that are determined to fight.”

When two parties are truly set on conflict, outside efforts to stop them rarely succeed.

“Not to know is bad; not to wish to know is worse.”

Ignorance is forgivable, but refusing the chance to learn is a deeper fault.

“He who crosses the sea gets wet.”

Anyone who undertakes a difficult venture must accept its inevitable costs.

“Not all the flowers of a tree produce fruit.”

Not every effort or promising beginning leads to a successful result.

“It is better to walk than to curse the road.”

Taking action toward a goal is more useful than complaining about the obstacles in the way.

“The strong do not need clubs.”

True strength does not rely on weapons or force to prove itself.

“An intelligent enemy is better than a foolish friend.”

A capable rival can be dealt with wisely, but a foolish ally's mistakes can cause even greater harm.

“The chameleon changes its color to match the earth; the earth does not change its color to match the chameleon.”

The individual must adapt to the world around them, since the world will not bend itself to fit any one person.

“Haste and hurry can only give birth to children full of regret.”

Rushing into action without care tends to produce mistakes that must be regretted later.