The Arabic language has numerous dialects relative to the different regions that Arabs inhabit. For instance, people in Egypt speak the Egyptian dialect. The Gulf/Khaleeji Arabic is the dialect common to Eastern Arabia or the Gulf region. Then, in countries like Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, you will hear variations of the Levantine Arabic. With different dialects, people in these regions have also developed different sayings and proverbs. In this article, we will be listing the 22 of the Most Common Arabic Proverbs that are used in Lebanon, along with their English translations.
Alf Kelmet Jaban, Wala Klmet Allah Yr7amo
ألف كلمة جبان ولا كلمة الله يرحمو
Translation: Thousand Phrases of Cowardice rather than the phrase of Rest In Peace
A common response used by Arabs, when asked about why they are unwilling to do something risky. This is a saying that advises cautiousness to avoid regret. It is the Arabic equivalent of the English motto of “Better Safe Than Sorry”
3asfour Bl 2eed Wala 3ashra 3al Shajra
عصفور باليد ولا عشرة عالشجرة
Translation: A bird in hand rather than ten on the tree
An extremely common proverb that advises people to play it safe. It is better to hold on to what you have, then let greed get the better of you and end up losing everything. The saying is the Arabic equivalent of “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”
El Beb Yelle Byejik Hawa Mnno, Sddo W Stree7
الباب يلي بيجيك هوى منو سدو واستريح
Translation: The door that brings you wind, close it and rest.
When facing problems and dilemmas, this is the proverb that people use to give advice. Meaning, you have to rid yourself of the situations and circumstances that cause you problems.
7ake 2lik ya kenne, sma3e ya jara
حكي الك يا كنة سمعي يا جارى
Translation: I talk to you my daughter-in-law for the neighbor to hear
An extremely common saying found in the Arabic world with many variations but the same core. It is simply used to denote that what someone is saying to a person is actually intended for somebody else who is listening to the conversation.
7terna ya 2a2ra3, men wen badna nboosak
احترنا يا أقرع من وين بدنا نبوسك
Translation: We’re confused baldy, where do we kiss you?
While this one sounds a bit strange when translated, it remains an extremely common saying that many use in the region. People use this saying towards somebody who is difficult to satisfy; thus, creating a confusion as to how to please him.
El2erd b 3ein emmo, ghazal
القرد في عين أمه غزال
Translation: A monkey in his mother’s eyes is a deer.
This one is actually borrowed from an ancient Roman fable. Jupiter was to be the judge of an animal beauty contest and pick the most beautiful animal. The monkey was laughed at for presenting her ill-featured son, so she responded resolutely saying that in her eyes, her son is the most beautiful of all. While sometimes used to denote how a mother’s love is unconditional, people also use it candidly towards parents who refuse to see the flaws of their kin and defend them vehemently.
Al Walad Walad Law 7akam Balad
الولد ولد ولو حكم بلد
English: A child is still a child even if he rules a country.
While some disagreements exist, this saying is most commonly attributed to Muhammad Ali Pasha, who controlled Egypt, Sudan, parts of Arabia and the entire Levant region in the 1800s.
The story goes that that Muhammad Ali passed a group of young children playing with marbles while walking around one of the streets of Cairo. One of the children was wearing a traditional hat. Muhmmad Ali picked the hat up from the boy’s head and inquired about its price. The boy replied by saying that it was ten pennies, but after him touching it, it has become priceless. Extremely impressed by the little boy’s logic, Muhammad Ali said such a clever person has the potential of ruling a country. He followed up, and asked the boy what he would do if he was to offer him a thousand pennies for it? The boy replied by saying that he would buy a pile of marbles with that money to beat all his friends. Then, Muhammad Ali laughed and said the famous words of: A child is still a child, even if he rules a country.
The saying is used to refer to immature people, who will always act with immaturely and recklessness regardless of their stature or position.
Titi Titi. Metel Ma Re7te, Jeete
تيتي تيتي مثل مارحتي جيتي
Translation: Titi Titi. However you left, you came back.
The “Titi Titi” part is just to add some rhyme and music to this common saying. Some believe it is the name of a young girl who returned empty-handed after her mother had sent her to do a purchase. As for its use, it is to explain situations where despite somebody’s efforts end up being in vain.
7ada bijeeb el deb la karmo?
حدا بيجيب الدب لكرمو؟
Translation: Does somebody bring the bear to his vineyard?
A saying that is presented in the form of a question. Its aimed to ask a person as to why would they decide to get close with somebody who will end up ruining their life. People use this saying in a personal, business, and even political context.
Tanjara w Le2it Ghataha
طنجرة ولقت غطاها
Translation: A pot and it found its lid.
Simply used to say that a person found his match, usually in reference to a negative trait that this person and his match both possess.
Mabishe5 3a esba3 majroo7
ما بيشخ عا اصبع مجروح
Translation: He doesn’t pee on a wounded finger.
Another strange one; however, it is important to remember that many of the old civilizations used pee to treat wounds and many diseases. As for the meaning, people use this saying to reference people who refuse to do any good even it involves giving up something they don’t need (pee, in this case) for the well-being of another person.
Mabya3ref koo3oo men boo3oo
ما بيعرف كوعو من بوعو
Translation: He doesn’t know his elbow from his feet
The beauty of the saying is in the way the words “Koo3” and “Boo3” rhyme. The first is the elbow, and the second denotes a foot bone. And by saying that somebody can’t differentiate between the two, means said person is extremely ignorant.
Bye5dak 3al ba7er w breddak 3etshan
بياخدك عالبحر وبردك عطشان
Translation: He takes you to the beach and returns you thirsty.
A beach denotes an abundance of water and thirst is the lack of it. So, by describing someone with this saying, one would be saying that this person isn’t trustworthy and would have no issues with leaving others in a bad situation.
Ma Fi D55an Bala Nar
ما في دخان بلا نار
Translation: There is no smoke without fire.
A smoke can’t exist without fire. Most commonly, you will hear this saying when people are discussing a rumor. It means that there has to be something that fueled a rumor and there are reasons behind it.
Dam Mabiseer May
دم مابصير مي
Translation: Blood wont turn into water.
The equivalent of the English proverb of “Blood is thicker than water” meaning family relationships are the strongest.
Yelle Bide2 El Beb, Byesma3 Al Jaweb
اللي بدق الباب بيسمع الجواب
Translation: He who knocks on the door, hears the answer.
Every action has a reaction, and when somebody says something, he should be willing to bear the results of his words and hear a response. So, this is used when somebody is triggered to say something by certain words or statements, when they wouldn’t otherwise have said them.
Kel Men Fi Msalle Ta7t Bato, Bten3aro
كل مين في مسلة تحت باطو بتنعرو
Translation: Everybody with a sewing needle under their armpit will be stung
People use this one after a statement or an event triggers a response from a person, because their conscious isn’t clear about a mistake that they have committed.
The back story of this proverb is that a tailor was attending the funeral of his counterpart, who he had a long dispute with. In a rush, he forgot some of his sewing equipment in his pocket. The needle kept going into his skin and causing him extreme pain. As a result, he became red-faced and teary-eyed. Other attendees thought that his conscious and his feeling of guilt were making him cry. When one of his friends quizzed him about it, the tailor explained that it was the needle’s doing. The story later developed into this famous saying that is commonly used today.
3mol Mnee7 W Keb Bel Ba7er
عمول منيح وكب بالبحر
Translation: Do good and toss it into the sea.
This is a saying to encourage people to do good deeds without expecting anything in return. Moreover, some people explain that good deeds never go unnoticed by God and will be rewarded.
Metlel Atrash Bel Zaffe
مثل الأطرش بالزفه
Translation: Like the deaf person in the procession.
People use this saying when somebody has no clue about what is happening around them. They are considered to be like a deaf person at a wedding procession, unable to relate to what is happening in their surroundings.
3alamnehon El Sh7ade, Saba2ona 3al Bweb
علمناهم الشحاده سبقونا عالبواب
Translation: We taught them how to beg, they beat us to the doors.
People aim this proverb at ungrateful people, who deny to accept the people who helped them get to where they are. Instead, they reap the rewards individually.
Teb El Jarra 3a Temma, Btetla3 El Bent La Emma
طب الجرة عتما بتطلع البنت لاما
Translation: Flip the jug on its head, a daughter grows up to be like her mother.
An old and a very common saying that denotes how a daughter always takes her mother’s traits and habits. The story behind it is how a woman always over-carried jugs of water from the well. She ended up spilling them and having to go back to the well to fill them again. This was to the discontent of her mother-in-law, who decided to send her granddaughter to the well instead. Like her mother, the daughter over-carried the jugs of water and ended up dropping and breaking them. Upon her return, the upset grandmother said the words of this famous proverb.
Lat2ool Fool, Laysir Bel Makyool
لا تقول فول ليصير بالمكيول
Translation: Don’t Say full, until it’s on the scale
This one resembles the famous English saying: “Don’t count your eggs until they’re hatched.”
People use this saying to advise people against anything for granted. Also, some use it to advise people to work in silence and only speak once they’ve reached their goals.
So there goes our list of the most common Arabic proverbs or sayings with their English Translations. Comment below what you thought of them, or let us know which ones we forgot to include!
Interesting read. Always fascinated by differences in cultures and learning something more. Such a good one- A child is still a child even if he rules a country.
I love the pot and lid proverb.
I really enjoyed this, thank you! It is so interesting to read expressions used by other cultures.
I love proverbs!! And this is an absolutely beautiful set! The one you forgot to include is “EZA HABIBAK A’ASAL MATELHASO KELLO”
Yeesss that’s such a good one! Maybe I’ll do a part two to this. Stay tuned!