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Kurdish Proverbs

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

Mirov pîr dibe, dil pîr nabe
A person grows old, but the heart never does.
Mirov xwe bi destê xwe ne xurîne xura mirov naşkê
If a person does not scratch himself with his own hand, the itch will not go away.
Nabêjin kê kir, dibêjin kê got
They do not ask who did it; they ask who said it.
Nan û pîvaz hebe nexweşî çavreşîye
If there is bread and onion, sickness is only a matter of complaint.
Nanê xwe bide nanpêja, bila nanekî te zêde biçe
Give your dough to the baker, even if it costs you an extra loaf.
Navê gur derketîye, rovî dinya xera kir
The wolf got the blame, but the fox caused the damage.
Ne dujminê xeraba bin, dujminê xerabîyê bin
Be the enemy of evil, not merely of evil people.
Ne fene, ev çi dar û bene?
If it is not a trap, then what are these sticks and ropes for?
Ne sar li te tê, ne germ li te tê
Neither cold nor heat suits you.
Ne xwar ne da hevala, geni kir avêt newala
He neither ate it nor shared it with friends; he let it rot and threw it away.