Filipino proverbs

Proverbs from all Filipino speaking parts of the world.

  • Habang may buhay, may pag-asa.
    • Meaning: As long as there is still life, there still lies hope.
    • نجم (2005). كلامجرايد. كتبعربية. p. 178. 
  • Kapag may usok, may apoy.
    • Translation and English equivalent: When there's smoke, there's fire.
    • Meaning: "There is no effect without some cause. or It is supposed that if there is a rumour, there must be some truth behind it."
    • Source for meaning of English equivalent: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). "X". European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese. Veszprémi Nyomda. p. 33. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
    • Tica, Nimrod Ebenezer; Tica, Vivian Balaris (2006). Mga bugtong at salawikain para sa bagong henerasyon. Anvil Pub.. p. 72. ISBN 978-971-27-1230-2. 
  • Ang lumalakad nang mabagal, kung matinik ay mababaw; Ang lumalakad nang matulin, kung matinik ay malalim.
    • English equivalent: More haste, less speed.
    • Meaning: "Progress with discretion. Acting hastily one is likely to forget/overlook something important, leading to grave errors or failure."
    • Source for meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). "X". European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese. Veszprémi Nyomda. p. 241. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
    • "Christianity taught submission to the will of God, and even for those who cannot accept this phraseology there should be something of the same kind pervading all their activities."
    • Bertrand Russell, The Conquest of Happiness (1930)
    • Mithi. The Union. p. 29. 
  • Ti bassít a káyo nalaká a lintegén, ngem no dakkél narigáten.
    • A young tree is easy to straighten, but when it's big it is difficult.
    • "PHILIPPINE PROVERBS", Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Northern Illinois University.
  • Ti táo nga mannaríta, awán ti ania nga magapuánanna.
    • A man that talks too much accomplishes little.
    • Ibid.
  • Mabiág ti kalkalsáda, matáy ti koskosína.
    • Captivating in the street, dead in the kitchen (lady who dresses beyond her means)
    • Ibid.
  • Ti napudpudno a gayyémmo, am-ammontó no addáka ití pelígro.
    • A true friend is known in time of need.
    • Ibid.
  • Tay áso nga taol nga taol saán a makakagát ken makadunor.
    • Barking dogs seldom bite.
    • Ibid.
  • Awán kas iti sursúro a sanikuá, ta daytá awán makatákaw kenká.
    • Knowledge is wealth that can't be stolen.
    • Ibid.
  • No trabáho, gulpién, no kanén, in-inúten.
    • If it's work, do it fast. If it's food, eat it little by little.
    • Ibid.
  • Ti táo a manákem, dína makíta ti panagdissó ti sakána ití dagá. Kitáenna ketdi ti sumarunó a baddekánna.
    • A wise man doesn't see his foot on the ground, he watches his next step.
    • Ibid.
  • Ti nalaká ti pannakasápulna, nalaká met ti pannakapúkawna.
    • What is easily acquired is easily lost.
    • Ibid
  • Ti kukuá masapúlan ngem ti pintas saán.
    • Wealth can be acquired but beauty cannot.
    • Ibid
  • Ti agkuták, isú't nagitlóg.
    • He who cackles laid the egg (he who talks first is the guilty party).
    • Ibid
  • Uray kukuá a tawíden, no addá la ket naimbág a nákem.
    • One need not inherit wealth if he inherits good manners.
    • Ibid.
  • No addá sabsábong, agaarák dagití kulibangbáng.
    • Where there are flowers there are butterflies (young women attract young men)
    • Ibid.
  • Kugtár ni kabaián, ilot ni kalantangan.
    • The kick of a female carabao, the massage of the male. (women can't hurt men physically)
    • Ibid.
  • Puráwto ti wáken, nangísittó diay kannawyen.
    • The crow will turn white and the heron black (said to express impossibility)
    • Ibid.
  • Aniánto pay serbí diay rúot no natáyto met diay kabálion?
    • Of what use is grass when the horse is dead? (said to misers)
    • Ibid.
  • Ti kamátis, di agbúnga ti manggá.
    • The tomato plant doesn't grow mangos. (A good person doesn't come from a bad family)
    • Ibid.
  • Ti útang mabayádan, ngem ti naimbág a nákem saán.
    • A debt can be paid, but a kind act cannot.
    • Ibid.
  • Ti napíli makapíli ti kuggangí.
    • He who is choosy often picks the worst.
    • Ibid.
  • Nalpás ti áni, awán ti garámi.
    • After the harvest, there's no hay. (Deeds cannot be undone)
    • Ibid.
  • Uray naáta tay tungo, no maisungród, sumgedtó.
    • Even if the firewood is green, it will burn when lit (man and women together will eventually be attracted to each other)
    • Ibid.
  • Naim-imbág ti matáy ta malipátanen ngem ti agbiág a maibabaín.
    • It's better to be dead and forgotten than to live in shame.
    • Ibid.
  • Sasáor banbannóg no sabáli ti aglamlámot.
    • Useless labor if someone else eats from it (said if another reaps benefits of your work)
    • Ibid.
  • Ti madí a pagbagbagaán agturóng ití pagrigátan.
    • He who refuses advice will end up in hardship.
    • Ibid.
  • Ti agmúla, agápit.
    • He who sows, reaps.
    • Ibid.
  • Awan libég a di aglitnáw.
    • There is no muddy water that doesn't clear (One can always change one's ways)
    • Ibid.
  • Di pay nalúto ti pariá simmagpáw ti karabása.
    • The bittermelon is not yet cooked and the squash jumped in (who asked you to join in?)
    • Ibid.
  • Aluádam no matupraan met la ta rúpam.
    • Be careful that you don't spit on your own face.
    • Ibid.
  • Uray isubsúbomon, mateppáyto láeng.
    • Even if you put it in your mouth, it can fall out (it is not unconditionally yours)
    • Ibid.
  • No agtúdo, matuduán ámin a táo.
    • When it rains, everyone gets wet (gifts must be given to all)
    • Ibid.
  • Ti kabálio no bulbuloden, ti ngípenna di kitkitáen.
    • When a horse is borrowed, don't look at its teeth (don't criticize what you borrow)
    • Ibid.
  • Ti agsíli magasángan, ket ti agiggém ti bánga maugingan.
    • He who eats chili gets burned and he who touches the pot gets charcoal on his hands.
    • Ibid.
  • Awán ti ngumáto a dínto bumabá.
    • What goes up must come down.
    • Ibid.
  • Saánmo a mapadára ti awán dárana.
    • You cannot squeeze blood out if there's none left. (said by a debtor)
    • Ibid.
  • No awán ti ánus, awán ti lámot.
  • If there is no patience, there will be no food.
    • Ibid.
  • Matáy ti agur-úray, mabiág ti paur-úray.
    • He who waits dies, he who makes others wait lives.
    • Ibid.
  • No sáan nga makaammó nga nangtaliáw ti naggapuánna, saán a makadánon ti papanánna.
    • He who does not look back to his origins will not reach his destination.
    • Ibid.
  • Yánud ti danúm ti matmatúrog nga udáng.
    • A sleeping lobster is carried away by the current.
    • Ibid.
  • Perdisión bagás, agráman tuyo.
    • Rice is wasted, even the bran. (said when everything ventured is lost)
    • Ibid.
  • No aniá ti imúlam, isú ti apítem.
    • Whatever you sow, you reap.
    • Ibid.
  • Ti ubing nga matungpal amin a kayatna, awan ti nasayaat a banagna.
    • A child that is given everything will rarely succeed in life.
    • Ibid.
  • Awan lalaki nga natured wenno nabaneg no ti babai ti sanguanan agsainnek.
    • No man is brave in the presence of a crying woman.
    • Ibid.
  • Sabali nga ili, sabali nga ugali.
    • Different towns have different customs.
    • Ibid.

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