Diane tsa Setswana le dikao

Literally: A bag of locusts is managed by holding it together.

Meaning: A heavy task becomes manageable when people share the load; cooperation achieves what one person cannot.

Kao: Fa batho ba dira mmogo, tiro e e boima e a nolofala. Se motho a le esi a palelwang ke sone, ba le bantsi ba a se kgona.

Literally: Hands are like sheep; they shelter one another.

Meaning: People should help each other, because help given today is returned tomorrow.

Kao: Batho ba tshwanetse go thusana. Fa o thusa yo mongwe gompieno, le ene o tla go thusa kamoso.

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

Meaning: A mother will endure pain and danger to protect her children and will stand by them no matter what.

Kao: Mmangwana o itshokela botlhoko le kotsi gore a sireletse bana ba gagwe; ga a ba tlogele le fa go le thata.

Literally: A branch is bent while it is still green.

Meaning: Teach children good habits while they are young; once they are grown, it is much harder to change them.

Kao: Ngwana o rutwa maitsholo a a siameng a sa le monnye; fa a setse a godile go thata go mo fetola.

Literally: What is cornered by two dogs is not strong.

Meaning: Two or more people working together can overcome what would defeat one person alone.

Kao: Fa batho ba babedi kgotsa go feta ba tshwaragane, ba fenya bothata jo motho a le esi a neng a ka palelwa ke jone.

Literally: The urine of one person does not make a stream.

Meaning: One person alone achieves little; real results come from working together.

Kao: Motho a le esi ga a kgone go fitlhelela dilo tse dikgolo; re atlega fa re dira mmogo.

Literally: Houses that stand side by side burn together.

Meaning: A neighbour's trouble can soon become yours, so help one another in hard times.

Kao: Fa moagelani a wetswe ke mathata, mo thuse ka gonne bothata jwa gagwe bo ka tla le kwa go wena.

Literally: Vultures eat with their relatives.

Meaning: People who are related or alike tend to stick together and share with one another.

Kao: Batho ba ba amanang kgotsa ba ba tshwanang ka mekgwa ba atisa go nna mmogo le go thusana.

Literally: The old guinea fowl says: I have no spots; the spots are on the young guinea fowls.

Meaning: Parents pour their best into their children, so a parent's worth and beauty are seen in the children they raised.

Kao: Batsadi ba bonala ka bana ba bone; bontle le maiteko a motsadi a bonala mo baneng ba a ba godisitseng.

Literally: Children of one family share even the tiny head of a locust.

Meaning: Family members share whatever they have, however small it is.

Kao: Ba lelapa le le lengwe ba abelana sengwe le sengwe se ba nang le sone, le fa se le sennye thata.

Literally: The rhino is led into the pit by its calf.

Meaning: Parents often land in trouble because of their children, since they follow them to protect them.

Kao: Gantsi batsadi ba tsena mo mathateng ka ntlha ya bana ba bone, ka gonne ba ba latela gore ba ba sireletse.

Literally: The hornbill says: I am not eating, I am gathering insects (for my young).

Meaning: A parent puts the children's needs first, even before their own hunger.

Kao: Motsadi o tlhokomela bana pele ga a ikgopola; o ba abela dijo le fa ene a sa ja.

Literally: When the little horn goes 'ping', it has heard the big ones.

Meaning: Children repeat what they hear and see from adults, so adults must set a good example.

Kao: Bana ba bua le go dira se ba se utlwang le go se bona mo bagolong; ka jalo bagolo ba tshwanetse go nna sekao se se siameng.

Literally: Lions that are not united are outrun by a lame bird.

Meaning: Without unity even the strong fail at simple tasks.

Kao: Batho ba ba sa utlwaneng ba palelwa le ke ditiro tse di motlhofo, le fa ba na le maatla.

Literally: Many people kill a snake.

Meaning: Together people can defeat a danger that would scare off one person.

Kao: Batho ba le bantsi ba kgona go fenya kotsi e motho a le esi a neng a ka e tshaba.

Literally: A child is food; it is shared.

Meaning: Raising a child is the shared duty of the family and the whole community.

Kao: Go godisa ngwana ke tiro ya setšhaba sotlhe, e seng ya batsadi fela.

Literally: There is no house that does not leak.

Meaning: Every family has its own problems; nobody's home is perfect.

Kao: Lelapa lengwe le lengwe le na le mathata a lone; ga go na lelapa le le se nang dikgang.

Literally: A single eye is easily struck by flying chips.

Meaning: Someone who stands alone, such as an only child, is more exposed to trouble.

Kao: Motho yo o se nang ope wa go mo thusa o bonolo go wela mo mathateng.

Literally: A locust flies on what is in its stomach.

Meaning: Nobody can work well on an empty stomach; people need food and support to perform.

Kao: Motho o tlhoka dijo le thuso gore a kgone go dira tiro ka maatla; tlala e fokotsa maatla.

Literally: The lazy person's shield is the tongue.

Meaning: Lazy people hide behind excuses and talk instead of doing the work.

Kao: Motho yo o setshwakga o dirisa mafoko le dipeelelo go itshireletsa mo tirong, go na le go dira.

Literally: The great medicine carved for you is the divining bone; a person carves their own.

Meaning: Nobody can build your life for you; your success depends on your own effort.

Kao: Ga go ope yo o ka go direlang botshelo jwa gago; katlego e tswa mo maitekong a gago.

Literally: Among jackals, the one that survives is the one with muddy paws.

Meaning: Those who work hard and are willing to get their hands dirty are the ones who succeed.

Kao: Ba ba dirang ka natla, le fa ba itshila, ke bone ba ba atlegang.

Literally: Lions do not lend each other teeth.

Meaning: Everyone must rely on their own abilities; nobody can lend you their strength when you need it.

Kao: Mongwe le mongwe o tshwanetse go ipaakanyetsa le go dirisa bokgoni jwa gagwe; ga go ope yo o ka go adimang maatla a gagwe.

Literally: The thubisi bird is not seen by everyone; it is seen by the one who wakes early.

Meaning: Opportunities go to those who start early and make the effort.

Kao: Yo o tsogang pele o bona tšhono pele ga ba bangwe; dilo tse di botlhokwa di batla maiteko.

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

Meaning: Constant begging wears people out; work for your own things instead of depending on others.

Kao: Go kopa ka metlha go a lapisa; motho o itumela ka se a se diretseng ka bo ene.

Literally: To limp first is not to die first.

Meaning: Struggling or falling behind early does not mean you will fail; never write yourself or others off.

Kao: Go simolola ka bokoa kgotsa go kopana le mathata pele ga ba bangwe ga go reye gore o tla palelwa; o se ka wa ineela.

Literally: The hasty one eats a goat; the one who circles patiently eats a big ox.

Meaning: Patience brings bigger rewards than rushing.

Kao: Go itlhaganela go tlisa dipoelo tse dinnye; go nna pelotelele go tlisa dipoelo tse dikgolo.

Literally: Lightning is fiercest just as it leaves the clouds.

Meaning: Pain or grief is sharpest when it is fresh, and it eases with time.

Kao: Fa kotsi kgotsa khutsafalo e sa le ntšhwa e utlwisa botlhoko thata; nako e a e folosa.

Literally: An orphan who does not die is waiting for plenty.

Meaning: Hard times do not last forever; whoever endures can still prosper.

Kao: Seemo se se thata ga se nnele ruri; yo o itshokang o tla bona matshelo a a botoka.

Literally: A young baboon with fine fur keeps itself out of danger.

Meaning: A sensible young person protects themselves by avoiding risky places and bad company.

Kao: Mmotlana yo o botlhale o itshireletsa ka go tila dikotsi le ditsala tse di sa siamang.

Literally: Ears go to a feast without being invited.

Meaning: Words travel to people they were not meant for, so be careful what you say.

Kao: Ela tlhoko se o se buang; mafoko a utlwiwa le ke ba o neng o sa ba ikaelela.

Literally: The cure for smoke is to move away from it.

Meaning: The best way to deal with temptation or trouble is to stay away from it.

Kao: Tsela e e molemo ya go tila bothata ke go tila mafelo le dilo tse di tlisang bothata.

Literally: White teeth: a killer laughs too.

Meaning: A smile can hide bad intentions; do not trust someone only because they are friendly.

Kao: O se ka wa tsiediwa ke monyenyo; motho a ka go nyenyela mme a go direla bosula.

Literally: Jealousy was once cooked together with a stone; the stone got cooked, but jealousy stayed raw.

Meaning: Jealousy is extremely hard to get rid of, so guard against it early.

Kao: Lefufa le thata go le tlosa mo pelong; motho o tshwanetse go le lwantsha a sa le gone.

Literally: One who calls a dog does not carry a stick.

Meaning: If you want someone to come to you or help you, approach them gently, not with threats.

Kao: Fa o batla gore motho a go atamele kgotsa a go thuse, o mo tshware ka bopelonomi, e seng ka ditshoso.

Literally: Do not look at the thola fruit's smooth skin; inside it is bitter.

Meaning: Do not judge people or things by their appearance; what looks good may be bad inside.

Kao: O se ka wa atlhola motho kgotsa selo ka ponalo fela; se se lebegang se le sentle se ka nna maswe ka fa teng.

Literally: The hyena sheds its fur, but it does not drop its habits.

Meaning: A person can change how they look, but their character rarely changes.

Kao: Motho a ka fetola ponalo ya gagwe, mme mekgwa ya gagwe ga e fetoge motlhofo.

Literally: Do not laugh at the one who has fallen; the slippery places are still ahead.

Meaning: Do not mock other people's misfortune; the same could happen to you.

Kao: O se ka wa itumelela mathata a ba bangwe; le wena o ka wela mo mathateng a a tshwanang.

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

Meaning: People easily see the faults of others but not their own.

Kao: Batho ba bona diphoso tsa ba bangwe bonolo, mme ga ba bone tsa bone.

Literally: The wild cat's kittens are known by their mewing.

Meaning: Children's behaviour shows where they come from; people are known by what they do.

Kao: Mekgwa ya bana e supa kwa ba tswang teng; ba bonala ka ditiro tsa bone.

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

Meaning: A person is bound by what they say, so keep your word.

Kao: Motho o tshwanetse go ikanyega mo mafokong a gagwe; se o se buang se a go tlama.

Literally: The one who guided me through the night, I thank at dawn.

Meaning: Remember and thank the people who helped you through hard times.

Kao: Gakologelwa le go leboga ba ba go thusitseng fa o ne o le mo mathateng.

Literally: An ant once sent an elephant on an errand.

Meaning: The small or young can sometimes direct the great; never underestimate anyone.

Kao: Le yo monnye a ka gakolola kgotsa a laola yo mogolo; o se ka wa nyatsa ope.

Literally: The night does not pick out lice.

Meaning: Things done in the dark or in secret are not done well; do things openly and properly.

Kao: Ditiro tse di dirwang mo lefifing kgotsa ka sephiri ga di nne tse di siameng.

Literally: A witch has no special colour.

Meaning: You cannot recognise a wrongdoer by appearance alone.

Kao: Ga o kgone go itse motho yo o bosula ka ponalo ya gagwe; o itsiwe ka ditiro.

Literally: Even a small morsel does not pass by the mouth.

Meaning: Do not despise small things; a little is better than nothing.

Kao: O se ka wa nyatsa sengwe ka gonne se le sennye; se sennye se botoka go na le sepe.

Literally: When we say they are zebras, we will know them by their stripes.

Meaning: The truth becomes clear when you see the evidence for yourself.

Kao: Nnete e tla bonala; fa re bona bosupi ka matlho re tla itse gore selo se ntse jang.

Literally: A chief is a chief through the people.

Meaning: A leader's power comes from the people they lead, so a good leader listens to and serves them.

Kao: Moeteledipele o nna le maatla ka ntlha ya batho ba a ba etelelang pele; o tshwanetse go ba reetsa le go ba direla.

Literally: Words spoken at the kgotla are all beautiful.

Meaning: In a meeting everyone has the right to speak, and every view deserves a respectful hearing, even when we disagree.

Kao: Mo phuthegong mongwe le mongwe o na le tshwanelo ya go bua, mme maikutlo a gagwe a tshwanetse go reediwa ka tlotlo le fa re sa dumalane le one.

Literally: A chief is a rubbish heap; it gathers all the litter.

Meaning: A leader must accept all people and listen to every complaint, even the unpleasant ones.

Kao: Moeteledipele o tshwanetse go amogela batho botlhe le dingongorego tsa bone, a reetsa le tse di sa itumediseng.

Literally: A child's richness is being sent on errands.

Meaning: Children grow well by helping their parents and elders willingly with tasks.

Kao: Ngwana o gola sentle fa a thusa batsadi le bagolo ka ditiro tsa lapa ka boikokobetso.

Literally: The chief's word is given a fence around it.

Meaning: Once a leader has decided after consultation, the decision is respected and protected.

Kao: Fa moeteledipele a sena go tsaya tshwetso ka morago ga therisano, tshwetso eo e a tlotlwa.

Literally: The one who speaks badly is speaking their own mind.

Meaning: Everyone may voice their opinion, even when others disagree with it.

Kao: Mongwe le mongwe o letlelelwa go bua se a se akanyang, le fa ba bangwe ba sa dumalane le ene.

Literally: A person is a person through people.

Meaning: We become fully human through our relationships with others, so we should treat everyone with respect, care and botho.

Kao: Motho ga a tshele a le esi. Re nna batho ka tsela e re tshwarang ba bangwe ka yone: ka tlotlo, botho le kutlwelobotlhoko.

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

Meaning: If you do not speak up about your problems or needs, nobody will know to help you.

Kao: Fa o na le bothata kgotsa o tlhoka thuso, o bue. Yo o didimalang ga a thusiwe ka gonne ga go ope yo o itseng bothata jwa gagwe.

Literally: The dark guinea fowl flies; we see its spots only when it is dead.

Meaning: We often fail to value a person while they are with us and only recognise their worth after they are gone.

Kao: Gantsi ga re lemoge molemo wa motho a sa ntse a na le rona; re o lemoga fa a sena go tsamaya kgotsa go tlhokafala.

Literally: A carcass calls the vultures.

Meaning: Where there is food or wealth, people quickly gather, including those who only want a share.

Kao: Kwa go nang le dijo kgotsa khumo, batho ba phuthega gona ka bontsi, mme bangwe ba tla fela go batla seabe.

Literally: A horse's grass is what is in its stomach; what is in its mouth it may die still holding.

Meaning: Only what you have truly secured is yours; do not count on what you do not yet have.

Kao: Se o setseng o na le sone ka nnete ke sone sa gago; o se ka wa ikanya se o iseng o se bone.

Literally: At a person's home there is a black-and-white shield.

Meaning: Home is where you are protected and welcome; there is no place like home.

Kao: Kwa lapeng ke kwa o sirelesegileng teng; ga go lefelo le le tshwanang le gae.

Literally: A puppy that will tackle wild beasts is recognised by its sniffing about.

Meaning: A person's talents and character show early, while they are still young.

Kao: Bokgoni le mekgwa ya motho di simolola go bonala a sa le monnye.

Literally: The impala's wisdom comes from the young impala.

Meaning: Elders can learn from the young; good advice can come from someone younger than you.

Kao: Le bagolo ba ka ithuta mo baneng; botlhale bo ka tswa mo go yo monnye.

Literally: The baboon saw the way up, but not the way down.

Meaning: Before you get into something, think about how you will get out of it.

Kao: Pele o tsena mo sengweng, akanya gore o tla tswa jang mo go sone; o se ka wa bona simologo fela.

Literally: A person is not enough on their own.

Meaning: Nobody can do everything alone; everyone needs other people.

Kao: Ga go na motho yo o kgonang dilo tsotlhe a le esi; mongwe le mongwe o tlhoka ba bangwe.

Literally: Wealth is a frog; it hops away.

Meaning: Wealth does not last forever, so do not be proud because of it.

Kao: Khumo ga e nnele ruri; e ka fela ka bonako, ka jalo o se ka wa ikgantsha ka yone.

Literally: Wealth and poverty sleep together.

Meaning: Rich and poor live side by side and fortunes can change, so respect everyone.

Kao: Bahumi le bahumanegi ba tshela mmogo; seemo sa motho se ka fetoga, ka jalo tlotla mongwe le mongwe.

Literally: Fish, expect the dry ground; the water may dry up while you watch.

Meaning: Prepare for hard times while things are still good.

Kao: Ipaakanyetse mathata a ka nnang a tla, le fa dilo di ntse sentle gompieno.

Literally: The great fight is the one of the mouth.

Meaning: Conflicts are best settled by talking, not by violence.

Kao: Dikgang di rarabololwa ka puisano le therisano, e seng ka go lwa.

Literally: Only mountains never meet.

Meaning: People's paths will cross again, so treat others well.

Kao: Batho ba tla kopana gape mo botshelong; ka jalo tshwara ba bangwe sentle.

Literally: Plans fail at nothing except at death.

Meaning: Careful planning can solve almost any problem; only death is beyond it.

Kao: Ka maano le kakanyo motho a ka rarabolola mathata a mantsi, fa e se loso fela.