[يحيى الزرعي]

أمثال شعبية من سوريا



اذا كان صاحبك عسل لا تلحسه كله
If your friend is honey, don't lick him all


عرج الجمل من شفتهThe camel limped from its split lip
A bad workman blames his tools


الجار قبل الدارChose the neighbour before the house
We can live without friends, but not without neighbours


انا واخي على ابن عمي وانا وابن عمي على الغريب
My brother and I against my cousin, My cousin and I against a stranger
Blood is thicker than water


اللي فات ماتWhat is past is dead
Let bygones be bygones


يا رايح كتر ملايحO departing one, leave behind good deeds!
A good deed is never lost


حبل الكذب قصيرThe rope of a lie is short
The liar is sooner caught from the cripple


العجلة من الشيطان و التأني من الرحمن
Haste is the devil's work and patience is from God the Merciful
Patience is a virtue


فرخ البط عوامThe son of a duck is a floater
Like father, like son


علمناهم الشحادة سبقونا على الأبوابWe taught them how to beg, they raced us to the gates
to beat someone at his own game


شحاد و مشارطA beggar and he bargains!
Beggars cannot be choosers




الديك الفصيح من البيضة يصيحThe eloquent cock crows from the egg
It early pricks that will be a thorn


الصبر مفتاح الفرجPatience is the key to relief


ضربني وبكى سبقني و اشتكى
He hit me and cried, he raced me to complain!
It's all his fault, yet he pretends to be the victim


على قد لحافك مد رجليكStretch your legs according to your quilt
Cut your coat according to your cloth


عصفور باليد أحسن من عشرة على الشجرة
A bird in the hand is better than ten on the tree
A bird in the hand is worth ten in the bush


اسأل مجرب ولا تسأل حكيمAsk one who has experience rather than a physician
Experience without learning is better than learning without experience


متل الأطرش بالزفةHe is like a deaf man at a wedding procession
A fish out of water


مو كل مرة بتسلم الجرة
It is not every time that the clay pot survives
You cannot tempt providence and always triumph


اللي ايده بالمي مو متل اللي ايدو بالنارHe who has his hand in the water is not like him who has his hand in the fire
Attitudes are formed by circumstances


بيطعمي اللوز للي ماله اسنانGod sends almonds to those without teeth!
Good things sometimes come to those who do not deserve them


خيرها بغيرها
A better one in another one
Better luck next time


كل عقدة و في الها حلالEvery knot has someone to undo it
Every problem has a solution


ابعد عن الشر و غني لهKeep away from trouble and sing to it
Never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you



تيتي تيتي متل ما رحتي متل ما جيتيAs you went, so you came back
So what else is new!


اصرف ما في الجيب يأتيك ما في الغيبSpend what is in your pocket, you will get more from the unknown
Spend and God will send


بطيخ يكسر بعضهLet the water melons break each other!
Let them stew in their own juice


يا أخد القرد على ماله راح المال و بقي القرد على حالهHe married the monkey for its money, the money went and the monkey stayed a monkey
As you make your bed, so you must lie on it


يا داخل بين البصلة و قشرتها ما بينوبك غير ريحتهاWhoever gets between the onion and its skin will get nothing but its stink
Never get between a man and his wife


متل الحية من تحت التبنLike a snake under the hay
Like a snake in the grass


يا مسترخص اللحم عند المرق تندمIf you buy cheap meat you'll be sorry when you come to the gravy
Beware of false economy


غابت السباع تلعب الضباع,غاب القط العب يا فارWhen the lions are away, the hyenas play
When the cat is away, the mice will play


طب الجرة على تمها بتطلع البنت لأمهاTurn the pot upside down, the girl will still be like her mother
Like mother, like daughter

تاجرنا بالأكفان بطلت الناس تموتWhen we decided to trade coffins, people decided not to die!

هين فلوسك ولا تهين نفوسكLet your money be insulted but not yourself
Rather than ask favors, do the thing yourself


يا مأمنة بالرجال متل المي بالغربالHaving faith in men is like having faith that water will remain in a sieve
Don't trust men!

خليها بالقلب تجرح ولا تطلع لبرا و تفضحLet it wound your heart rather than go out and cause a scandal
Keep it to yourself if you don't want others to know


أذا بدك تحيره خيرهIf you want to cause him confusion, give him a choice
Make things easier by defining the right way





Abo amgad al zaraie