SOME POPULAR ETHIOPIAN SAYINGS AND PROVERBS WITH THEIR TRANSLATION AND EXPLANATION IN ENGLISH. 2
5."ዝም:ባለ:አፍ:ዝምብ:አይገባበትም::" [="In a mouth not speaking, no fly will enter."]
If Ethiopians tell you this proverb, they are requesting you to keep silent (not to talk any further or at all from the beginning). Even if it literally means that if somebody's mouth is not talking, no fly will enter in to it, it is used for its subtle meaning - - if you do not talk, you will not mess up. Aparently, thi is the saying that Ethiopianss would through if they want to inform keeping silent is better than a perceived or actual problem that might occur because one is speaking. These is said to mean, if you do not talk in a certain situation, no one will hate, oppose or rebuke you, for haven't said any think. What you may talk is likely to arouse some bad feeling to others, thus keeping silent, you can avoid the danger of fly entering in to your mouth (being hated, or opposed, and even you may avoid mistakes.)
6."ካለመናገር:ደጅ-አዝማችነት:ይቀራል::" [="By not speaking, 'DEJ-AZMACHNET' ( DEJ-AZMACH:- a big title used to be awarded (given) for very great persons who have achieved something big, mainly in wars, in the past monarchial Ethiopia) will be lost"]
This time, speaking is encouraged by the saying. It means, if you do not dare and speak, you may lose some big advantages. So, you should not keep silent.
7."ዝምታ:ወርቅ:ነው::" [="Silence is gold."]
This saying is universal and needs no much explanation. It has the same purpose and meaning with the above one. keeping silent, has advantages and good sides than babbling like talktives, in some situations. And in such conditions, you say the proverb and try not to take part.
8."ከጅ:ያለ:ወርቅ:እንደ:መዳብ:ይቆጠራል::" [="Gold in the hand will be considered as copper."]
When you have something valuable in your hand or near to you, you don't give it much of your attention. You may be contemptuous of your parents, family members, friends, town, or country, because all these are near to you. You do not give them the respect and focal they deserve. Rather, you dream about things far away and unattainable. You are disdainful of your ability, your income or position (economic or social status) and think of others. But you are wrong. You should give the weight that your families, country or job deserve. You have not to underestimate something or someone only because it or they are near to you. This is what the proverb tells to you.
9."ብር:ካለ:በሠማይ:መንገድ:አለ::" [="If there is money, there is a way (path) in the sky."]
The saying emphasizes the capacity of money in doing anything. It states, if you have money, you can do whatever you want. With money, things are possible. You can buy, bribe, and if not possible still now, you can do something else with your money to get what you want. People reitrate the saying, to tell money is necessary and can do much.
10."ጉዋደኛ:መሥታወት:ነው::" [="Friend is mirror."]
It means, friendship is all about helping one another, showing your friends his/her weakness him/herself so that your friend can reduce or eradicate his/her negative side. The saying preaches you should be good to your friend and be as straightforward as mirror.
If Ethiopians tell you this proverb, they are requesting you to keep silent (not to talk any further or at all from the beginning). Even if it literally means that if somebody's mouth is not talking, no fly will enter in to it, it is used for its subtle meaning - - if you do not talk, you will not mess up. Aparently, thi is the saying that Ethiopianss would through if they want to inform keeping silent is better than a perceived or actual problem that might occur because one is speaking. These is said to mean, if you do not talk in a certain situation, no one will hate, oppose or rebuke you, for haven't said any think. What you may talk is likely to arouse some bad feeling to others, thus keeping silent, you can avoid the danger of fly entering in to your mouth (being hated, or opposed, and even you may avoid mistakes.)
6."ካለመናገር:ደጅ-አዝማችነት:ይቀራል::" [="By not speaking, 'DEJ-AZMACHNET' ( DEJ-AZMACH:- a big title used to be awarded (given) for very great persons who have achieved something big, mainly in wars, in the past monarchial Ethiopia) will be lost"]
This time, speaking is encouraged by the saying. It means, if you do not dare and speak, you may lose some big advantages. So, you should not keep silent.
7."ዝምታ:ወርቅ:ነው::" [="Silence is gold."]
This saying is universal and needs no much explanation. It has the same purpose and meaning with the above one. keeping silent, has advantages and good sides than babbling like talktives, in some situations. And in such conditions, you say the proverb and try not to take part.
8."ከጅ:ያለ:ወርቅ:እንደ:መዳብ:ይቆጠራል::" [="Gold in the hand will be considered as copper."]
When you have something valuable in your hand or near to you, you don't give it much of your attention. You may be contemptuous of your parents, family members, friends, town, or country, because all these are near to you. You do not give them the respect and focal they deserve. Rather, you dream about things far away and unattainable. You are disdainful of your ability, your income or position (economic or social status) and think of others. But you are wrong. You should give the weight that your families, country or job deserve. You have not to underestimate something or someone only because it or they are near to you. This is what the proverb tells to you.
9."ብር:ካለ:በሠማይ:መንገድ:አለ::" [="If there is money, there is a way (path) in the sky."]
The saying emphasizes the capacity of money in doing anything. It states, if you have money, you can do whatever you want. With money, things are possible. You can buy, bribe, and if not possible still now, you can do something else with your money to get what you want. People reitrate the saying, to tell money is necessary and can do much.
10."ጉዋደኛ:መሥታወት:ነው::" [="Friend is mirror."]
It means, friendship is all about helping one another, showing your friends his/her weakness him/herself so that your friend can reduce or eradicate his/her negative side. The saying preaches you should be good to your friend and be as straightforward as mirror.
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