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Afirwa haatariswe kumeso
Proverb meaning “You should not look someone who is bereaved (in mourning) in the eye,” signifying respect for their grief and sorrow; it’s about understanding boundaries and showing empathy during times of loss in Shona culture.
Literal Meaning: “The one who has lost (someone) should not be looked in the face/eye”.
Cultural Significance: It’s a deep-seated rule in Shona tradition during funerals and mourning periods, emphasizing sensitivity, privacy, and avoiding adding to their pain by staring directly at them, which might seem intrusive or challenging.
Aiva Madziva Ava Mazambuko
Proverb meaning “What used to be a river is now a ford/crossing place,” signifying a major change in circumstances, where something once powerful or grand (a deep river) becomes diminished and easily crossed (a shallow ford), illustrating decline in status, wealth, or power. It’s used to describe how situations, people, or resources can transform from significant to mundane or even lost.
Key Meanings & Interpretations
Change of Fortune: A person who was once wealthy or important might become poor or insignificant, much like a mighty river drying to a small stream.
Loss of Power/Status: It reflects the impermanence of power; what was once a strong force (like a raging river) can become weak and easily overcome (a simple ford).
Transformation of Hardship: Conversely, it can also mean something difficult (a deep river) has become easy (a ford), though it more commonly refers to decline.
This proverb is similar to:
1. Bvupa jena rakabva munyama.
2. Dzaiva nhungo dzava mbariro.
3. Kwava kusakara kweowo kuita serisakambodyiwa nyama.
4. Chinokura chinokotama musoro wegudo chava chinokoro.
Akuruma Nzeve Ndewako
Shona proverb meaning “The one who bites/pulls your ear is yours,” which translates to the idea that those who give you honest criticism or tough love, even if it hurts, are the ones who truly care about you and are on your side, rather than being enemies or jealous people. It’s about accepting feedback for your own good, understanding it comes from a place of love.
Literal Meaning: “The one who bites your ear is yours” (or “belongs to you”).
Figurative Meaning: True friends or loved ones will tell you hard truths for your benefit, even if it’s uncomfortable.
In Context: If a close friend warns you against a bad decision, others might see it as harsh, but this proverb suggests it’s an act of care, like “tough love”.
Ane Ganda Ane Nyama Hazvienzani Neasina
Proverb meaning “That which has skin and flesh is not equal to that which has nothing,” essentially saying that having something, even if imperfect or less than ideal (like a little bit of meat on the bone), is far better than having absolutely nothing at all. It emphasizes the value of having something over nothing (like bare bone or a mere shadow of something), often used to encourage appreciation for what one has, even if it’s not perfect.
Proverbs with a similar meaning:
1. Ndongwe inyama hazvienzani nenhikiti.
2. Apunyaira Haashayi Misodzi. (If you try, it eventually pays off).
Ateya Mariva Murutsva Haatyi Kusviba Magaro
Proverb meaning someone determined to achieve their goal will do what’s necessary, even if it’s messy; literally, “One who sets traps in burnt grass fears not getting their apron dirty,” signifying taking risks or facing consequences for success. It’s about facing challenges and dirty work to succeed, highlighting perseverance and action over hesitation.
Literal Translation: “One who sets traps in burnt grass fears not getting their apron dirty.”
Meaning: A person must accept the consequences and do the hard, sometimes messy, work required to achieve their objectives.
Application: It’s a motivational phrase encouraging action, resilience, and not being deterred by potential difficulties or “dirty” aspects of a task.
Azvuva Sanzu Azvuva Nemarara Aro
Sometimes written as “Akweva sanzu akweva namashizha aro”) is a Shona proverb meaning “One who has pulled a branch along has pulled along its leaves as well”.
The proverb is used to convey that if you accept something, you must also accept all the consequences, responsibilities, or baggage that come with it.
Common applications of this proverb include:
Decisions: More broadly, it is a cautionary statement about the importance of considering the full implications before making a significant decision.
Inheritance/Family: It is often used in the context of marriage or family, implying that if you marry someone who has children from a previous relationship, you are responsible for the children as well.
Ashamba Haanokorerwi
The proverb iterally translates to, “One who has washed is not helped to food (or does not have stiff porridge broken off for him). The extended meaning and the lesson it teaches is:
A cultured or respectable person is entitled to proper respect.
People should take the consequences and responsibilities of their actions; someone who has done their part (like washing their hands to prepare for a meal, a sign of being ready and cultured) should be treated with appropriate consideration and not be made to wait or be treated as if they haven’t done what is expected.
Avengwa Anhuhwa
Haters rarely hate alone. They feel compelled to entreat others to hate as they do. Akanga Nyimo Avangarara Meaning: setting a hard goal but working hard to achieve it.
Ageza Haanokorerwi
Or “Ashamba haanokorerwi” translates to “One who has washed (is clean) is not served sadza (stiff porridge) on their lap”.
Meaning: The proverb means that a person who is clean, well-mannered, and cultured is entitled to proper respect and should not be treated without dignity. It emphasizes that people who conduct themselves with decorum and cleanliness deserve to be treated with consideration and honor by others.
Atswinya Arwa
Proverb meaning “One who has pinched has fought, with the underlying message that every little contribution counts or that even small actions have significance,” often used to highlight that seemingly minor efforts add up or that someone involved in a small part of a larger effort is still part of the whole struggle.
Literal Translation: “One who has pinched has fought”.
Figurative Meaning: It emphasizes that small contributions, like a pinch, are a form of fighting or participation, meaning no effort is too small to matter.
Akanga Nyimo Avangarara
The proverb meaning “The one who roasted ground peas must persevere/be bold,” used to encourage someone starting a difficult, risky, or potentially criticized task to see it through courageously to the end, as only success will silence critics. It implies that if you choose a challenging path (like frying hard peas instead of boiling them), you must have the grit to face the difficulty and consequences.
Literal Translation: “He who fried ground peas (nyimo) must be bold/persevere”.
Meaning: If you undertake something unconventional or difficult that will attract criticism, you must be strong enough to complete it successfully.
Application: It’s a warning to finish what you started, no matter how hard, to prove your critics wrong.
