Hadal daan la qabto ayuu leeyahay.
“A word once spoken cannot be caught back.”
Once something is said, it can never be fully taken back, so speak carefully.
— Traditional Somalia Wisdom, Somalia
Source: Traditional Somali proverb, public-domain oral tradition
More Proverbs from Somalia
To err is human.
No human being is free from mistakes; making errors is part of being human.
Traditional Somalia Wisdom
Read more →
Silence gives consent.
Staying silent when something is wrong is often taken as agreement with it.
Traditional Somalia Wisdom
Read more →
A closed mouth is gold.
Knowing when to stay silent is often more valuable than speaking carelessly.
Traditional Somalia Wisdom
Read more →
Lost time never returns.
Time wasted can never be recovered, so it should be used wisely.
Traditional Somalia Wisdom
Read more →
Knowledge is power.
What a person knows gives them strength and advantage in life.
Traditional Somalia Wisdom
Read more →
Without knowledge, there is no light.
Ignorance leaves a person in darkness; learning illuminates the way forward.
Traditional Somalia Wisdom
Read more →