Maele a Sesotho le ditlhaloso

Literally: Two dogs are not beaten by a wild beast.

Meaning: People who stand together can overcome dangers that would defeat one person alone.

Tlhaloso: Batho ba kopaneng ba thusana ba hlola mathata ao motho a le mong a ke keng a a hlola.

Literally: The child's mother holds the knife by its sharp edge.

Meaning: A mother will protect and provide for her child whatever it costs her, even if it hurts.

Tlhaloso: Mme o itella bakeng sa ngwana wa hae; o etsa sohle se ka mo sireletsang le ha ho le bohloko ho yena.

Literally: A person is a person through people.

Meaning: We become fully human through other people; nobody lives or succeeds entirely alone.

Tlhaloso: Motho a ke ke a phela a le mong; o hloka ba bang, mme le yena o tlameha ho thusa ba bang.

Literally: A stick is straightened while it is still green.

Meaning: Children are best taught good habits while they are young, before bad ones set in.

Tlhaloso: Ngwana o rutwa mekgwa e metle a sa le monyane, hobane ha a se a hodile ho thata ho mo fetola.

Literally: One who marries with two (cattle) still marries his own wife.

Meaning: An honest effort counts even if it is small; a poor man who gives what he can still truly marries.

Tlhaloso: Le ha motho a na le hohonyenyane, ha a ntsha seo a nang le sona ka pelo e tshweu, o fumana seo a se batlang.

Literally: Partridge chicks call one another by whistling.

Meaning: People who share a bond understand each other with few words and look out for one another.

Tlhaloso: Batho ba tsebanang kapa ba leloko le le leng ba a utlwisisana, mme ba a thusana.

Literally: A glowing coal gives birth to ash.

Meaning: Admirable parents can have children who do not live up to their example.

Tlhaloso: Ho na le batswadi ba tsebahalang ka botle le bohale, empa bana ba bona ha ba tshwane le bona.

Literally: A bird builds its nest with another bird's feathers.

Meaning: Nobody succeeds alone; we all need help from others to reach our goals.

Tlhaloso: Motho o hloka thuso ya ba bang hore a atlehe; ha ho ya ka phethang tsohle a le mong.

Literally: A river is filled by small streams.

Meaning: Many small contributions added together make something great.

Tlhaloso: Dintho tse nyenyane tse kopantsweng di etsa ntho e kgolo; o se ke wa nyedisa thuso e nyenyane.

Literally: A child's fat (nourishment) is being sent on errands.

Meaning: Running errands and helping at home is good for a child and part of growing up well.

Tlhaloso: Ngwana ya rongwang o a hola, o ithuta ho sebetsa le ho mamela batho ba baholo.

Literally: A child belongs to the nation.

Meaning: The whole community shares the duty of raising and protecting children.

Tlhaloso: Motho e mong le e mong motseng o na le boikarabelo ba ho hlokomela le ho kgalemela bana.

Literally: Hands wash each other.

Meaning: People help each other in turn; kindness given comes back.

Tlhaloso: Ha o thusa e mong, le yena o tla o thusa ha o hloka.

Literally: An elephant is not defeated by its load.

Meaning: People who are strong and united are not overwhelmed by heavy responsibilities.

Tlhaloso: Batho ba ikopantseng ba jara boima bo bong le bo bong ntle le ho hloleha.

Literally: A crowd brings down the bull.

Meaning: Many people working together can overcome what one person cannot.

Tlhaloso: Ha batho ba le bangata ba kopane, ba kgona ho hlola mosebetsi o boima.

Literally: Unity is strength.

Meaning: Working together makes a group stronger than any one member.

Tlhaloso: Ha re kopane re sebetsa mmoho, re a matlafala mme mesebetsi ya rona e a phethahala.

Literally: A man's children drive a wild beast out of its rock den.

Meaning: Siblings who stand together can manage the hardest and most dangerous tasks.

Tlhaloso: Bana ba lelapa le le leng ha ba thusana, ha ho mosebetsi o ba hlolang.

Literally: The friend of a thief is a thief.

Meaning: You become like the company you keep, and others will judge you by it.

Tlhaloso: Kgetha metswalle ka hloko; o tla tshwana le batho bao o tsamayang le bona.

Literally: Lions of the same reed bed know one another.

Meaning: People from the same place or group know each other's ways well.

Tlhaloso: Batho ba dulang mmoho kapa ba hodileng mmoho ba tseba mekgwa ya bona.

Literally: A milk cow does not give birth to itself.

Meaning: Children do not always take after their parents in character.

Tlhaloso: Ngwana a ka fapana le batswadi ba hae ka mekgwa, e be e metle kapa e mebe.

Literally: An old blanket is not thrown away.

Meaning: Don't abandon old, faithful friends for new ones.

Tlhaloso: Hlokomela metswalle ya kgale e o thusitseng; o se ke wa e furalla.

Literally: The rock rabbit has no tail because it kept sending others.

Meaning: If you always rely on others to do things for you, you will miss out on what you need.

Tlhaloso: Iketsetse dintho tsa hao; ya dulang a roma ba bang o tla qetella a sa fumane seo a se hlokang.

Literally: 'Give me, give me' is tiring; a person manages with what is their own.

Meaning: Begging wears out those you depend on; rely on your own effort and resources.

Tlhaloso: O se ke wa dula o kopa ho ba bang; sebetsa o be le sa hao.

Literally: The duiker rises at dawn to suckle (its young).

Meaning: Do the important things early and on time.

Tlhaloso: Etsa mesebetsi ya bohlokwa kapele, o se ke wa diehisa.

Literally: Patience gives birth to success.

Meaning: Those who persevere through hardship are rewarded in the end.

Tlhaloso: Ya tiisetsang mathateng, a tswela pele a sebetsa ka thata, qetellong o a atleha.

Literally: It is poured out hot, but by morning it has cooled.

Meaning: Anger and heated feelings cool down with time, so wait before acting on them.

Tlhaloso: Kgalefo ya kajeno e ka fela hosane; o se ke wa nka qeto o ntse o halefile.

Literally: The child who refuses to be told is known by the bloodstains.

Meaning: Someone who ignores advice and warnings will learn the hard way, through painful consequences.

Tlhaloso: Ya hanang ho eletswa o qetella a le mathateng, mme bohloko boo ke bona bo mo rutang.

Literally: The pen is built after the hyena has already eaten.

Meaning: People often take precautions only after the damage is done; prepare before trouble comes.

Tlhaloso: Itokisetse pele kotsi e hlaha; ho lokisa ka mora hore ho senyehe ha ho sa thusa letho.

Literally: A cow does not drop all its dung at once.

Meaning: Do not reveal all your secrets or everything you know; keep something to yourself.

Tlhaloso: Motho ha a bolele makunutu a hae kaofela; o boloka a mang pelong ya hae.

Literally: At the coward's home there is no mourning.

Meaning: Someone who avoids needless fights and risks stays alive and keeps the family safe.

Tlhaloso: Ya sa itahleng kotsing ntle le lebaka o phela halelele, mme ha ho llelwe lapeng la habo.

Literally: Stubbornness eats its owner.

Meaning: Stubborn people end up hurting themselves.

Tlhaloso: Ya hanang ho eletswa o iphumana a le kotsing ka lebaka la manganga a hae.

Literally: Trouble is seen while it is still far off.

Meaning: A wise person spots danger early and prepares for it.

Tlhaloso: Motho ya bohlale o bona kotsi e sa tla mme o a itokisa pele e fihla.

Literally: A deep green pool is not leaned over.

Meaning: Don't play with danger; keep away from situations that can harm you.

Tlhaloso: O se ke wa bapala kotsing; qoba dintho tse ka o lematsang.

Literally: Ahead, too, there are those who eat them.

Meaning: Wherever you go you will meet people as clever as you or cleverer, so do not be overconfident.

Tlhaloso: O se ke wa ikgantsha ka bohlale ba hao; moo o yang teng o tla fumana ba o fetang.

Literally: The baboon does not see its own bulging forehead.

Meaning: People easily notice other people's faults but not their own.

Tlhaloso: Ho bonolo ho bona diphoso tsa ba bang, empa ho thata ho bona tsa hao.

Literally: A doctor does not heal himself.

Meaning: Even an expert needs help from others; nobody can solve all of their own problems.

Tlhaloso: Le motho ya tsebang dintho haholo o hloka ho thuswa ke ba bang ka nako e nngwe.

Literally: The poor weep for one another.

Meaning: People who share hardship understand each other's pain and support one another.

Tlhaloso: Batho ba sotlehang ba utlwisisa bohloko ba ba bang, ka hoo ba a thusana.

Literally: A cow is held by its horns, a person by their words.

Meaning: People are held to what they say; your words commit you.

Tlhaloso: Motho o ikarabella ka seo a se buileng; ha o tshepisitse, o tlameha ho phetha.

Literally: Hawk's child, do not praise yourself; a good person is spoken of by others.

Meaning: Don't boast about yourself; let others recognise your good qualities.

Tlhaloso: O se ke wa ithoholetsa; ha o le motle ka mekgwa, batho ba bang ba tla bona ba o babatse.

Literally: One who laughs at the pale (unfortunate) one calls the same upon himself.

Meaning: Mocking people in misfortune invites misfortune on yourself.

Tlhaloso: O se ke wa tsheha motho ya mathateng; le wena kotsi e ka o hlahela.

Literally: A gift is not looked down upon.

Meaning: Accept a gift with thanks, however small it is.

Tlhaloso: Amohela mpho ka teboho le ha e le nyenyane; ho e nyedisa ke ho hloka teboho.

Literally: Kindness eats its owner.

Meaning: Kind people are sometimes repaid with harm, so be generous but wise.

Tlhaloso: Motho ya mosa ka nako e nngwe o putswa ka bobe; etsa botle empa o be le kelello.

Literally: A lie does not make anyone rich.

Meaning: Dishonesty brings no lasting gain.

Tlhaloso: Seo o se fumanang ka leshano ha se o thuse nako e telele; nnete e molemo.

Literally: The truth is bitter.

Meaning: The truth is often hard to hear, yet it must be told.

Tlhaloso: Batho hangata ha ba rate ho utlwa nnete, empa e molemo ho feta leshano.

Literally: When the sun rises, matters are told.

Meaning: Secrets do not stay hidden; what is done at night comes out in daylight.

Tlhaloso: Seo batho ba se etsang ka sephiri se tla tsebahala qetellong.

Literally: The axe at the in-laws' home chops while bowing.

Meaning: A son-in-law serves his wife's family humbly and willingly, however hard the work.

Tlhaloso: Mokgwenyana o thusa ba habo mosadi wa hae ka boikokobetso, a sa tsotelle boima ba mosebetsi.

Literally: A chief is a chief through the nation.

Meaning: A leader's authority comes from the people, so a leader must serve and listen to them.

Tlhaloso: Moetapele a ke ke a busa a le mong; matla a hae a tswa setjhabeng, ka hoo o tlameha ho se mamela.

Literally: A chief is a bag of dung.

Meaning: A leader must patiently receive all the complaints and problems of the people.

Tlhaloso: Moetapele o tlameha ho mamela mathata le ditletlebo tsohle tsa setjhaba a sa halefe.

Literally: The thief is the one who has been caught.

Meaning: Do not accuse anyone without proof; guilt is established when someone is caught.

Tlhaloso: O se ke wa qosa motho ntle le bopaki; ya tshwerweng ke yena ya bitswang leshodu.

Literally: One who brings it upon himself is not wept for.

Meaning: If you cause your own trouble by ignoring advice, expect little sympathy.

Tlhaloso: Ya itlisetsang mathata ka ho hana keletso ha a utlwelwe bohloko haholo.

Literally: A child who does not cry dies in the carrying-skin.

Meaning: If you never speak up about your needs or problems, nobody will know to help you.

Tlhaloso: Ha o na le bothata, bua; ya kgutsang a sa bolele bohloko ba hae ha a thuswe.

Literally: A guilty conscience condemns itself.

Meaning: A person who has done wrong gives themselves away through their own behaviour.

Tlhaloso: Motho ya entseng phoso o a tshoha, mme diketso tsa hae di a mo senola.

Literally: It is the boiling pot that gets dished up.

Meaning: Those who are ready and active get the opportunities first; whoever delays loses out.

Tlhaloso: Ya itokiseditseng, ya sebetsang ka potlako, ke yena ya fumanang menyetla pele; ya diehang o sala morao.

Literally: The one who digs the well does not drink from it.

Meaning: Those who start a work often do not enjoy its fruits; others after them benefit.

Tlhaloso: Hangata ya qadileng mosebetsi ha a bone molemo wa ona; o thusa ba tlang ka mora hae.

Literally: The hen that cackles is the one that laid the egg.

Meaning: Whoever talks most loudly about a matter often gives away their own part in it.

Tlhaloso: Motho ya buang haholo ka taba e itseng hangata o a ipolela hore o na le seabo ho yona.

Literally: A traveller eats even a snake.

Meaning: When away from home you must adapt and accept things you would refuse at home.

Tlhaloso: Ha o le hole le hae o tlameha ho itlwaetsa maemo a matjha le ho amohela seo o se fumanang.

Literally: Cattle have no fixed leader at the front.

Meaning: Starting late does not stop you from succeeding; the first is not always the winner.

Tlhaloso: Ya qadileng morao a ka atleha ho feta ya qadileng pele; o se ke wa nyahama.

Literally: Death is the daughter-in-law of every household.

Meaning: Death comes to every family sooner or later; no home is spared, so people comfort one another.

Tlhaloso: Lefu le kena lapeng ka leng jwalo ka ngwetsi; ha ho lelapa le sa le tsebeng.

Literally: A cow is a god with a wet nose.

Meaning: Cattle were the foundation of Basotho life and wealth (bride-wealth, food, ploughing, ritual), so they are highly valued.

Tlhaloso: Kgomo e ne e le leruo le leholo ho Basotho: e fana ka lebese le nama, e lefa bohadi, ka hoo e ne e hlomphuwa haholo.

Literally: The heart eats what it loves.

Meaning: People love whom they love; the heart makes its own choice.

Tlhaloso: Lerato ha le kgethelwe motho ke ba bang; pelo e rata seo e se ratang.

Literally: Locusts eat one another at the thigh.

Meaning: Quarrels often break out among people who live or work closely together.

Tlhaloso: Batho ba lelapa le le leng kapa ba dulang mmoho ba ka lwantshana; ba tlameha ho batla kgotso.

Literally: A fool is the inheritance of the wise.

Meaning: Careless or foolish people are easily taken advantage of; use your head.

Tlhaloso: Motho ya sa nahaneng o nkelwa tsa hae ke ba bohlale; ithute o be hlokolosi.

Literally: Quarrels belong to those who live together.

Meaning: People who live closely together will sometimes disagree; it need not end their bond.

Tlhaloso: Batho ba dulang mmoho ba a phehisana ka nako e nngwe, empa ba tlameha ho boelana.

Literally: Cleverness is not cowardice.

Meaning: Avoiding danger wisely is not the same as being a coward.

Tlhaloso: Ho qoba kotsi ka bohlale ha se bokwala; ke ho sebedisa kelello.

Literally: Speed runs out while the plain remains.

Meaning: Strength and youth fade, but the world goes on; pace yourself in life.

Tlhaloso: Matla a motho a a fela ha a tsofala, empa lefatshe le ntse le le teng; sebedisa nako ya hao hantle.

Literally: Death is in the fold of the blanket.

Meaning: Death is always close and can come when least expected.

Tlhaloso: Lefu ha le tsebe nako; le ka hlaha neng kapa neng, ka hoo re phela ka hloko.

Literally: An accident is paid for with a needle.

Meaning: An honest mistake deserves only a light penalty.

Tlhaloso: Ha motho a entse phoso a sa rera, a se ke a ahlolwa ka thata.

Literally: You fear a forest that has no leopard.

Meaning: You are afraid of something that is not dangerous at all.

Tlhaloso: O tshoha ntho e sa tshoseng; nahana pele o tshaba.

Literally: Even with four legs it stumbles.

Meaning: Anyone can make a mistake, however strong, rich or clever they are.

Tlhaloso: Ha ho motho ya sa etseng phoso; le ba matla le ba bohlale ba a fosa.

Literally: A man does not see (the same thing) twice.

Meaning: A sensible person learns from a painful experience and does not repeat it.

Tlhaloso: Motho ya bohlale o ithuta phosong ya hae mme ha a e etse hape.

Literally: What eats a man does not finish him.

Meaning: Setbacks and people who cheat you will not destroy you; keep going.

Tlhaloso: Le ha o hlahelwa ke mathata kapa o qhekellwa, o se ke wa nyahama; o tla tswela pele.

Literally: A child who has been burnt fears the fireplace.

Meaning: Once hurt by something, a person stays wary of it.

Tlhaloso: Motho ya kileng a hlahelwa ke kotsi o a e tshaba mme ha a kgutlele ho yona.

Literally: Luck is not speed.

Meaning: Good fortune does not go to the fastest; it can come to anyone, unexpectedly.

Tlhaloso: Lehlohonolo le tla ho motho ka nako e sa lebellwang; ha le batle ho mathelwa.