HomeProverbs

Kurdish Proverbs

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

Birîndar bi birina xwe zane
The wounded know their own wounds.
Bişoxle weke mêra, bûxe weke şêra
Work like a man, eat like a lion.
Bûk li ser hespê ye, kes nizane nasîbê kê ye
The bride arrives on horseback, but no one knows whose destiny she is.
Carna mirov ji yarê diya xwere dibê yabo.
There are times when a person calls his mother's friend 'father'.
Çavê derigırtiya lı ê derivekıryaye
The one whose door is closed watches the one whose door is open.
Çavê li deriya xwelî li seriya
Pity the one who waits for help from others.
Çela ku mirev ji hevalê xwe re bi kohle, rojekî bi xwe dikevê
One day you will fall into the pit you dug for your friend.
Çêlekê mara bê jahr nabin
A snake's offspring is never without venom.
Çira ji koran re def ji keran re bêfêde ye
A lamp is useless to the blind, and a drum is useless to the deaf.
Çû dermanê mizê gû lê esiri.
He went seeking a cure for urine trouble and ended up constipated.