Kurdish Proverbs
The wit and wisdom of Kurdish sayings — each proverb with its translation and meaning.
Ya herro,ya merro.Either you go, or you die.
Ya nare aş, ya jî dere aşvan dikujeEither he never goes to the mill, or he goes and kills the miller.
Yarê diya mi yek ba minê bi dendikê bihiva bi xwedi bikra.If my mother had but one true friend, I would feed that friend almond kernels.
Yê ku nefsa xwe islah nekirîye, nikare yekî din islah bikeOne who has not corrected himself cannot correct others.
Yek ta nabe, du ta tê ranabeOne thread is not enough, yet two threads will not pass through.
Zikê xwe hî neke di nana bejna xwe hî di fistana e ser te be salu zamanaDo not accustom your stomach to two loaves of bread or your body to two dresses; one day you may have to live without them.
Zikê zaroka kîrve lê zimanê wan nagereChildren's bellies are full of words, but their tongues cannot speak them.
Zilam kahnîya pîrek birka, go birk şikestî bê av xwe têda na girê.If the man is a spring and the woman a reservoir, water cannot collect in a cracked reservoir.
Zimanê dirêj darkukê serê xwedyê xwe yeA long tongue is a woodpecker pecking at its owner's head.
Zimanê xwe jêke cîhê xwe çêkeCut your tongue short if you wish to make a place for yourself.