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Kurdish Proverbs

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

Mal mala teye lê bi alîyê firaxa nere
The house is yours, but stay away from the kitchen side.
Mala me li çoyê meye, çoyê me li ser milê meye
Our home is on our staff, and our staff rests on our shoulder.
Mala mêran kaniya zêran
The house of brave men is a fountain of gold.
Mala pir jina xirabu ji bina
When too many women run a household, its order is ruined from the ground up.
Malê axê diçe canê xulam diêşe
The lord loses property, but the servant suffers.
Malê çamêrkî û xesiskî wek hev dere
The wealth of the generous and the miser is spent alike.
Malkê ji gund bar kir, re ferah bû.
A family moved away from the village, and the village breathed a sigh of relief.
Mêja Kurmanca ne ibadete, adete.
For a Kurd, prayer is a custom rather than an act of worship.
Mêr ketina quara, jin di çûna hawara
The men hid in fear while the women ran to help.
Mer meran dikujin,ew ura dişwe.
Heroes are being set against heroes, and you sit there washing tripe.