Tsumo - Shumo

Panotyoka gumbo
ziso rinobudisa misodzi.

When the leg breaks, the eye sheds tears.

When one's friend gets into trouble, one sympathizes with him.

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

Tsumo - Shumo

Chiripo-chiripo
ndarira imwe hairiri.

What is there is there, one bracelet does not tinkle on its own.

Everything that happens has a cause; nothing just happens by chance.

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

Tsumo - Shumo

Chidembo hachinzwi kunhuhwa kwacho chomene.

The pole-cat cannot smell its own stink.

A person rarely blames himself. All people point to the mistakes of others leaving their own blunders untold.

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

Tsumo - Shumo

Kashiri kapangami kanovaka dendere neminhenga yedzimwe shiri.

A clever bird builds its nest with other birds' feathers.

A man who prospers often does so at the expense of others. People suspect that a successful businessman has got rich because he has shrewdly exploited others.

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

Tsumo - Shumo

Ukaona tsuro yomisa nzeve
yonyera nhanga yokutiza.

When you see a hare raising its ears it is about to run away.

When a usually composed person acts oddly or suspiciously it indicates that he wants to avoid blame or embarrassment. People quote the proverb at the chief's court to warn the judges of the cunning of the accused.

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

Tsumo - Shumo

Zvaita sei kuti chembere yorasika
bere rorutsa imvi?

Why is it that an old woman is lost and the hyena vomits grey hairs?

People become suspicious of a coincidence which could only be disproved by an alibi. A mother who misses a tin of sugar will suspect the child who has some grains of sugar on his lips.

Like the English saying, "Where there's smoke, there's fire."

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

Tsumo - Shumo

Rushavashava rune zizi
kwarafamba rinonzi muroyi.

It is the owl's bad luck to be called a witch wherever it goes.

An unfortunate fellow will always be blamed when something goes wrong, even when he is not responsible. An innocent person will quote the proverb in self-defence against those who accuse of a crime.

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

Tsumo - Shumo

Zinyakurasikirwa anotsvaga uta nomugate.

One who has lost his bow will look for it in a clay pot.

When a person loses something he really needs he will search for it desperately even in the most unlikely places.

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

Tsumo - Shumo

Nhamo haina duku.

Trouble is beyond any measure.

It does not need long suffering or great trouble for a person to lose his bearings. Quite a small mishap can deprive him of his happiness.

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

Tsumo - Shumo

Nhamo haigochwi.

Misery cannot be roasted.

Life is haunted by misery and there is no ready-made means to counteract it.

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

Tsumo - Shumo

Shure kwenzara
maguta.

After famine follows abundance (of crops).

In spite of being exposed to so many vagaries of nature, the Shona people strongly believe that things will finally work out to their advantage. This is a popular proverb quoted to encourage anybody in a desperate situation.

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

Tsumo - Shumo

Homwe yerombe haina chainosiya.

A beggar's bag takes everything.

The have-nots cannot choose. They have to accept anything, however small. Like the English saying, "Beggars can't be choosers."

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

Tsumo - Shumo

Chimedza matore
haachadzipwa nepfupa remhuru.

One who is used to eat old cows will not be choked by a calf bone.

A person feels confident of being able to do small things when he has successfully undertaken bigger and more difficult tasks in the past.

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

Tsumo - Shumo

Shungu dzinomona kana musungo wapotsa.

Grief grips (the heart) if a set snare misses (its target).

When people fail to achieve what they have firmly hoped to get they become very disappointed. For instance, an employee will be very worried if his hopes for promotion are not fulfulled.

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

Tsumo - Shumo

Chinobhururuka chinozoguma nokumhara pasi.

That which flies ends up by perching on the ground.

A person bragging of his high status or reputation will sooner or later experience humiliation that he cannot escape. An imperious young woman who thinks she is the prettiest girl in the world will lose her glamour when getting on in years.

Like the English saying, "Pride goes before the fall."

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

Tsumo - Shumo

Mukutanda mapfeni
ndimo munowanikwa ndimo.

While chasing baboons one discovers a new field (to plough).

One who does not travel and, instead, keeps all by himself will never get acquainted with new ways and ideas.

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

Tsumo - Shumo

Chirungu chakauya nechirungurira.

Westernization brought indigestion.

Western ways have replaced African customs to an extent that the changes are referred to as epidemic.

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

Tsumo - Shumo

Chandiwana nhasi
chichazokuwanawo mangwana.

What has befallen me today will befall you tomorrow.

Like the English expression, "What goes around comes around."

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

Tsumo - Shumo

Chura kugara mumvura
handi kunwa.

A frog living in water does not mean it is (always) drinking.

Do not be misled by appearances into making rush judgements.

Like the English, "Don't judge a book by its cover."

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

Tsumo - Shumo

Tsuro pfupi
haitemi uswa hurefu

A short hare does not cut tall grass.

It is not wise to attempt what is beyond one's energies or capabilities.

Much like the English expression "Don't bite off more than you can chew."

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger