Strawberry_Xu Posted January 11, 2005 I'm working on a script for a Somali film and I need Somali proverbs. Lots and lots of proverbs, and I was wondering if you lovely nomads could help me with them. Remember that my Somali is shaky at the best of times, so could you write it in Somali but explain it in English. And if you can give me any background to the proverbs that would be helpful, you know, whether certain phrases are only used in certain regions or by certain people. Thanks a lot Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGONGE Posted January 11, 2005 Here you go. Good luck with the script by the way. Is it a hobby of yours or is this script going to see the light in the form of a film? The things I do for you, people Edit: Soz! Didn't see the "English" bit there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sky Posted January 11, 2005 I got something for ya Xu. Here are my favourites. The proverbs in quote and the meaning: Amxaaro madax gumac galay leedahaye madax hadal galo ma laha. Damn Ethiopians' heads is full with shit, nothing else fits in it. Xoolo lama cunee dadkoodaa la cunaa. You don't eat livestock, you eat the people! Rag waa shaah dumarna waa sheeko. Dudes are tea and girls are chat. Means that women and men go hand in hand. I got some more and even some that are very dirty. Nevertheless the dirty ones are known proverbs too. Tell us about this film you're writing a script for? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
- Femme - Posted January 11, 2005 Cool! These are the ones that I am familiar with...heard quite often. Waa dhalaankii dhalmada hooyadood baray. "These youth taught their mother to give birth." Talo walaal diide taagoogta ayuu kajabaa. One refusing a sibling's advice breaks his arm." Mukulaal mininkeeda joogta miciyo libaax bay leedahay "A cat in her house has the teeth of a lion." Rag tag lama dhago ee wuxuu ku tago ayaa la tusiya "One doesn't tell a man 'go away' but one shows him something so he will go." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Strawberry_Xu Posted January 11, 2005 Thanks guys for your proverbs so far. Well I'm not sure if I need any dirty proverbs, but I certainly don't mind the very subtle ones that one uses in courtship or something. The reason I need so many proverbs is that I want to capture some of that lyrical quality that the Somali language has and exaggerate it so that it plays a central role in the film. I've always been a big fan of word plays and I'm only just starting to learn about this aspect of our language. And Ngonge, I am planning on directing this film. It started out as an idea for a short film, but I think I might have enough material for a feature. The problem is that even low-budget films need funding. But I'll deal with that later, once I get the hard stuff out of the stuff, i.e the script. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sky Posted January 11, 2005 Well I'm not sure if I need any dirty proverbs, but I certainly don't mind the very subtle ones that one uses in courtship or something. Well Somalis are not that subtle, if you know what I mean. We're talking old traditional ancestral proverbs that are X-rated. Would have loved to share them with ya. Then again I don't want to get banned. Good luck though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wiilo Posted January 11, 2005 Fadhi-ku-dirir. An armchair fighter. Falka iyo iswaafaji fekerka. To practice what one preaches. Fool-ka-fool. Face to face. Fuley geesi hortii buu dhintaa. Cowards die many times before their deaths. Fursad munaasabad. Await smb.’s convenience. Fursadda ugu horreysa. At one’s earliest convenience. Gaalka dil, gartiisana sii. Give the devil his due. Gacmo badan ayaa garabsiin hawl fududeeya. / Wadajir bay gacmuhu wax ku gooyaan. Many hands make light work. Gacmo furan. With open arms. Gacmo isweydaartay ayay galladi ka dhalataa. Friendship cannot stand always on one side. Garaadyo laysu keenay ayay garasho ka dhalataa. Four eyes see more than two. Garo naftaada. Know thyself. Geel kolkii loo heeso, goroyo u hees. Speak a different language. I coppied and pasted it, so I hope it helps,,,,, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Faarax-Brawn Posted January 11, 2005 Kool Bananas. i tell You. I have the perfect title for your movie. Naag Ama Guri ama god haakaga jirto A woman should either be in a house or a hole? Somali Been Kuma mahamaado laakin been wey shegtaa Somalis do lie but hardly do they tell a false mahamah?(proverb?).lol sorry my translation is shady Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Som@li Posted January 11, 2005 hi all, first good luck with ur movie, most of the above proverbs and their meanings in english are not right,they gave direct translation, and don't show the hidden messages, i would recommend u to collect as many proverbs in somali,then talk to the people u think known somali well,such as elders in person and ask each wat it means,and write them down, that would be productive. this site may be helpful with a large collecton of somali proverbs?--->> Proverbs! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Passion_4_Fashion Posted January 11, 2005 brotha-man i need 2 correct u there the correct 1 is gabar ha kaaga jirto god ama GUNTI RAGGEED i would add another 1 nin loo shoobo ma shoobo (can any1 translate that in english) musbaax minankaaga u baahan minan dadow laguma shido ( i like this 1) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rudy-Diiriye Posted January 11, 2005 xuux! here is one 4yah!! baabur hadii la fuulow walaga so dhiga!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Caveman Posted January 11, 2005 XU how about this 1 Dumar waa balo loo baahan yahay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Salma Posted January 12, 2005 Iam not good in English so don't expect perfect translation for the following Maahmaahyo :rolleyes: Rag waa raggii hore hadalna waa intuu yidhi Real Men were those who lived in the Past and what they said were the best Aroos lagama raago, lagumana raago. In Weddings “Don’t come late and don’t leave late†habaar waalid ma hadho. The parent’s curse will never end. waxay ili aragto ayaa ilko gooyaan What your eye can see is what your teeth can cut, I think probably it means “What you see is what you get†or “You can access only what your eyez can see†Laf jabtay sideedii ma noqoto. A broken bone won’t be as it was earlier Qufac iyo uur midna ma qarsoomo Coughing and pregnancy, both can’t be covered Iam sure if you find an articulate somalis who are fluent in both Somali and English language & the Somali Literature, certainly that will b the best Salam Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MR ORGILAQE Posted January 12, 2005 Siiley lafaanshey saracda ayey kadhididaa Roughly meaning a woman spoiled gets a chip on her shoulder ninkii soo seexo lagawaayo soo jiifso ayaa lagahelaa meaning if you dont listen to good advice it will be at your cost jini ninkii keena ayaa baxsha meaning A problem can only be solved by the one that initiated it Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wiilo Posted January 12, 2005 Qufac iyo uur midna ma qarsoomo Coughing and pregnancy, both can’t be covered I though inay ahayd sidatan Qufac iyo jaceel midna ma Qarsoomaan cough and love can't be hiden Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
