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Kurdish Proverbs

The wit and wisdom of Kurdish sayings — each proverb with its translation and meaning.

Gul bê stirî nabe
There is no rose without thorns.
Gul ew gul bû baran lê hat şil bû
The rose remained a rose, but the rain came and soaked it.
Gur dikujin qijak dixun
The wolf kills, but the crow eats.
Gurê, ku dijminî min nîn e, bila hezar salî bijî
May the wolf that is not my enemy live a thousand years.
Ha cigara ber bayê ha gayina nav kayê.
Like a cigarette smoked against the wind or lovemaking in the hay — wasted effort.
Ha kevir li cer ket ha cer li kevir ket
Whether the stone hits the jug or the jug hits the stone, the result is the same.
Hechecikê silava li hecêk.
O swallow, carry my greetings to the pilgrimage.
Hêdi dimeşim bela dighê min, zû dimeşim ez dighêm bela
If I walk slowly, trouble catches me; if I walk fast, I catch up to trouble.
Heft cara li male xwe bi gera, payda gunehe xalke hilena.
Search your own house seven times before you blame another for the loss.
Heft sâlâ çû sêferê dîsa hât kêrê berê
He traveled for seven years and returned the same old donkey.