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Kurdish Proverbs

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

Ji her hesinî şûr çênabin
Not every piece of iron can be forged into a sword.
Ji hirçkê du eyar dernayê
You cannot get two hides from one bear.
Ji pira pir diçe ji hindika hindik
Much is lost from much, and little from little.
Ji qantir re gotin “bavê te kîye?” got xalê min hesp e
When the mule was asked, 'Who is your father?' it replied, 'My uncle is a horse.'
Ji rovî fenektir tune ji eyarê wî pirtir tune
Nothing is cleverer than a fox, nor more plentiful than its hide.
Ji xelkêre masîgiro ji xwere kwêsîgiro
To others he is a fisherman; to himself he is only a turtle catcher.
Jijo destê xwe, ser çelike xwere birîya û gotîya:çika şahîka.
The hedgehog strokes its young and says, “How soft and lovely!”
Jin kelehe mêr girtiye.
The woman is the fortress; the man, her captive.
Jina ne delal, çavê mirov diêşîne, jina delal dilê mirov diêşîne
An ugly woman pains the eyes; a beautiful woman pains the heart.
Jinê rind û mêrê bihiş belayê serê gunde
A beautiful woman and a clever man bring trouble upon a village.