الرئيسية
[center]
He who over-lengthens his stride falls down.
إللي بيكبّر فشختو بيوقع
He who needs something from the dog, says to it Good morning milord!
إللي بيعوز الكلب بيقول له صبحَك بالخير يا سيدي
Ride a rooster and see where it takes you! (the answer is the
dung heaps which it enjoys much)
اركب الديك وشوف لوين بيوَدِّيك
God cannot make [me] more misshapen than a monkey. (So let the worse come, I'm not afraid)
اكتر من قرد ما مسخو الله
I married a [beautiful] stranger, but found that the tares of ones homeland are better than the wheat of the crusaders.
تزوّجنا وجبنا غريبة، زِوان بلادك ولا القمح الصليبي
Repetition teaches [even] the donkey.
التكرار بيعلّم الحمار
Three things cannot be kept hidden: love, pregnancy, and riding a camel.
ثلاثة ما بيتخبّوا: الحُب والحَمل وركوب الجمل
The bell invites people to church but remains outside.
الجرس بيدعي الناس للكنيسة وبيبقى برّا
Nothing can be done when an old man is in love.
جهل الختيار ما لو دبّار
Yes I'm your ruler and oppressor, to whom are you going to make an appeal?
حاكمك وظالمك ولمين بتشكي أمرك؟
When eating grapes, take one berry at a time, although taking two is considered polite. But three berries at a time make you spit them; four make you like a gluttonous bear
حَبّة حَبّة أكل العنب. تِنتان تِنتان حشمة وأدب
تلاتة تلاتة تبِقّ العنب، أربعة أربعة أكل الدبب
We thought the Pasha [a fearful man of rank] was a Pasha, it turned out that the Pasha was a mere man.
حسبنا الباشا باشا، تاري الباشا زلمه
Would you put your hand in a hornet's nest and say, this is my fate?
حِط إيدك بوكر الدبابير وقول هيدا من التقادير!
Lucky indeed who has a mother-in-law who loves him
حظّو من السما اللي بتحبّو الحما
Lucky indeed who has not a mother-in-law.
حظّو من السما اللي ما عندو حما
They loaded the donkey with books; he thought that he could read now!
حمار حَمَّلوه كُتب، خمَّن حالو صار يعرف يِقرا
Learn their secrets from their children
خود اسرارهم من صغارهم
He who takes to politics is like someone trying to get into the garbage can
الداخل بالسياسة متل الداخل بتنكة الكناسة
Jiha [a fictional naive character] went to pray. He found the door of the mosque locked. He said, Its good that its because of you and not of me
راح جحا ت يصلّي، شاف باب الجامع مسكّر
قال: مليح اللي طلعت منَّك وما إجت منّي
A man (in the family), though may be a bit of black charcoal, is a blessing
الرجّال ولو كان فحمة، وجوده بالبيت رحمة
Not even an axe can smash a Greek Orthodox head
الروم ما بيكسِّر راسو القدّوم
(Id rather have) the (harmful) sun of February for my daughter-in-law; the (better) sun of March for my daughter; and the (best) sun of April for my old age
شمس شباط لكنتي، وشمس آذار لبْنَيْتي، وشمس نيسان لشيبتي
What's sweeter than honey? FREE vinegar.
شو أحلى من العسل؟ الخل ببلاش
What can the hairdresser do with an ugly face (or, with a crooked mouth)?
شو بتعمل الماشطة مع الوِج العكش (او مع النّيع الألوق)؟
A son-in-law may be a good support, but he may be ready to get his spade to bury (his father- and mother-in-law)
صهر بيشدّ الظهر، وصهر بيجيب المجرفة ع القبر
The oppression of rulers, the intrigue of women, and the obstinacy of monks (are things unbearable)
ظلم الحكام، وكيد النسوان، وعناد الرهبان
I kept praying till I got what I wanted; but when I got what I wanted, I gave up praying
ظلّيت صلّي حتى حصل لي، ولما حصل لي بطّلت صلّي
Only the shroud can extirpate a bodily habit
عادة في البدن، ما بيغيِّرها غير الكَفَن
The camel went lame on account of its lip! (a bad excuse or reason to complain)
عرَج الجمل من شفتو
The groom took the bride, and the guests went back like he-goats
العريس اخذ العروس، والمعازيم رجعوا متل التيوس
When a donkey is invited to a wedding, its either to carry wood or to bring water
عزيمة الحمار للعرس، يا للحطب يا لزقّ المَي
His brains are half-sleeved (lacking intelligence)
عقلاتو بنصّ كِم
At the time of changing of governments, keep your head (during which there's usually bloodshed)
عند تغيير الدول احفظ راسك
That which the brunette earns is hardly enough to pay for her makeup
اللي بتطَيلعهن السمرا ما بيكفّوها خطوط وحُمرا
He who wants to butt should not hide his horns
اللي بدّو يناطح ما بيخبّي قرون
He who swears a lot tells many lies.
اللي بيحلف كتير بيكذب كتير
Just as lice beget nits, so does money begets money.
المال بيجرّ المال والقمل بيجرّ السيبان
He (the man who deprives himself to give to others) is like the needle: it clothes people while it remains naked
متل الابرة بتكسي الناس وهيي عريانة
Like the one who entrusts a piece of cheese to a cat
متل اللي بيوَكِّل القط بالجبنة
The debtor is the donkey of the creditor
المديون حمار الدائن
If the miserable should become rich, he dies
المعتَّر لو سِعِد بيموت
His face cuts ones livelihood
وِجّو بيقطع الرزق
His face is like the obituary (death notice)
وِجّو متل ورقة النعوة
She's very ugly, moreover, she's standing in the middle!
وِحشة وعِكشة، وواقفة بالوِج
A master craftsman standing by, watching another master craftsman, is an embarrassing thing
وقفة المعلّم ع إيد المعلّم صعبة
A child is a child, even if he became the ruler of a town
الولد ولد، ولو حكم بلد
If someone sells you with the price of an onion, sell him with the price of its skin
يلّي باعك ببصلة، بيعو بقشرتها!
If someone treats you as a jackass, kick him!
يلّي بيعملك حمار، البُطه!
If I spit downwards it fells on my beard, and if I spit upwards it fells on my moustache. (Every conduct I choose will be painful)
إن بزقنا لفوق ع شواربنا وإن بزقنا لتحت ع ذقنّا
It's far easier for a sieve to hold water than for a woman to trust a man.
إن ضبطت المَي بالغربال بتأمِّن المرا للرجّال
The hand which you're unable to bite, kiss and pray that it may be broken.
الإيد اللي ما فيك تعضها، بوسها وادعي عليها بالكسر
Nothing is secret to the son of the midwife (who knows every gossip in town).
ابن الداية ما عليه مخبّاية
If you want to have a country ruined, pray that it may have many chiefs.
اذا بدّك تخرب بلاد، ادْعي عليها بكتر الرؤسا
If I should say to you, toqborni, should you get the shovel and actually bury me?
اذا قلتلَّك تقبرني بتجيب المجرفة وبتطمني؟
Just for tasting things, he needs to have seven ooqiehs [=1400 g.]
بدّو من الذواق سبعة واق
Bribery makes the judge loosen the belt of his pants.
البرطيل بيحلّ دكّة القاضي
They spat in the face of the defamed person. He said, "it's raining." (Even the worst insult won't leave any effect on a base person)
بزقوا ع وِجّ النذل قال الدني عم بتشتّي
He distracts a donkey from eating his fodder (for he's a good entertainer, or chatterer)
بيلهي الحمار عن عليقه
You could drink him with turbid water (for he's so amiable)
بينشرب مع المَي العكرة
The sea and the wind quarreled; the consequences fell upon the boat.
تخانق البحر والريح طلعت الفلّة ع المركب
Borrow money and then lend it; you'll find yourself drowned without even knowing it.
تْدَيَّن ودَيِّن، بتغرق ما بتبيِّن
He stumbled over the ashes of a cigarette!
تفركش برماد سيكارة
Three things are unbearable: tick tacking, grumbling, and bed bugs. (The words rhyme in Arabic)
تلاتة ما بينطاقوا: الطق والنق والبق
Hold to the bad luck you have, lest you get a worse luck.
تمسّك بنحسك لا يجيك انحس منو
Titi, Titi, you've come back the same as you were gone.
تيتي تيتي، متل ما رحتِ متل ما جيتِ
They brought the wolf to teach him reading. They said to him, say A, he said goat.
جابوا الديب تيعلموه القراية قالوا له: قول ألف، قال: عنزة
A Christian marriage: no separation except by choking (too difficult for a Christian to get a divorce in Lebanon)
جازة نصرانية: لا فراق الا بالخنَّاق
Do you think I'm an apricot tree? You never stopped jiggling me!
حاسبني مشمشة كل ساعة بتهزّ فيّ؟
He's as restless as a hen wanting to lay an egg.
حايص متل دجاجة بدها تبيض
They put the dog's tail in a mold for forty years and it remained crooked. (He's unteachable)
حَطّوا ذنبة الكلب بالقالب اربعين سنة بقيت لَوقة
Close him tightly from above, he speaks from below.
سِدّو من فوق بيحكي من تحت
What am I to expect from you, quince, when every bite of you is followed by a choke?
شو بدي اترجى منك يا سفرجلة وكل عضة بغصّة؟
Do you take people as watermelons?
شو محسَّب الناس بطيخ؟
[I admit] you're my friend and eyes, but do not come near my purse.
صاحبي وعيوني وصَوب الجيبة لا تقرِّب
Although she's deaf, she's eavesdropping through the door.
طرشا ع الباب بتتنصَّت
A pot that has found its lid (they both make a perfect match)
طنجرة ولقيت غطاها
Fear drives pain away.
الفزع بيطيِّر الوجع
To be a judge of children is to hang oneself.
قاضي الاولاد شنق حالو
Said one to another, "Love me, and I'll give you a young donkey." The other replied, "Love does not come by force." (Young donkey and force rhyme)
قال لو: حبني وخدلك جحش، قال لو: المحبة ما بتصير دحش
They said to the mule, "Who's your father?" He answered, "The horse is my uncle." (Said of a man of low origin but who boasts of some distant aristocratic kin)
قالوا للبغل مين بيَّك؟ قال: الحصان خالي
He broke his hand and used it to beg
كاسر إيدو وشاحد عليها
Whenever Tannous needed us, we would call him Tannous only; whenever we needed Tannous, we would say to him, Master, please!
كل ما احتاجنا طنّوس منقلّو طنّوس حاف
وكل ما احتجنا طنّوس منقلّو تفضّل يا معلّم
The dog says, "May the children live that I may be fed by them!" But the cat says, "May the children die that I may sit in their [the parents] laps!"
الكلب بيقول: يا الله يعيشوا وليداتهم ت آكل من ديَّاتهم، والبسين بيقول: الله يقطع وليداتهم ت اقعد بحضَيناتهم
In the stomach and not in the bush (better to eat remaining food than to throw it away)
بالكرش ولا بالحرش
Drinking water while being hungry is like a blow on the elbow
الشرب بالجوع متل الضربة ع الكوع
He who over-lengthens his stride falls down.
إللي بيكبّر فشختو بيوقع
He who needs something from the dog, says to it Good morning milord!
إللي بيعوز الكلب بيقول له صبحَك بالخير يا سيدي
Ride a rooster and see where it takes you! (the answer is the
dung heaps which it enjoys much)
اركب الديك وشوف لوين بيوَدِّيك
God cannot make [me] more misshapen than a monkey. (So let the worse come, I'm not afraid)
اكتر من قرد ما مسخو الله
I married a [beautiful] stranger, but found that the tares of ones homeland are better than the wheat of the crusaders.
تزوّجنا وجبنا غريبة، زِوان بلادك ولا القمح الصليبي
Repetition teaches [even] the donkey.
التكرار بيعلّم الحمار
Three things cannot be kept hidden: love, pregnancy, and riding a camel.
ثلاثة ما بيتخبّوا: الحُب والحَمل وركوب الجمل
The bell invites people to church but remains outside.
الجرس بيدعي الناس للكنيسة وبيبقى برّا
Nothing can be done when an old man is in love.
جهل الختيار ما لو دبّار
Yes I'm your ruler and oppressor, to whom are you going to make an appeal?
حاكمك وظالمك ولمين بتشكي أمرك؟
When eating grapes, take one berry at a time, although taking two is considered polite. But three berries at a time make you spit them; four make you like a gluttonous bear
حَبّة حَبّة أكل العنب. تِنتان تِنتان حشمة وأدب
تلاتة تلاتة تبِقّ العنب، أربعة أربعة أكل الدبب
We thought the Pasha [a fearful man of rank] was a Pasha, it turned out that the Pasha was a mere man.
حسبنا الباشا باشا، تاري الباشا زلمه
Would you put your hand in a hornet's nest and say, this is my fate?
حِط إيدك بوكر الدبابير وقول هيدا من التقادير!
Lucky indeed who has a mother-in-law who loves him
حظّو من السما اللي بتحبّو الحما
Lucky indeed who has not a mother-in-law.
حظّو من السما اللي ما عندو حما
They loaded the donkey with books; he thought that he could read now!
حمار حَمَّلوه كُتب، خمَّن حالو صار يعرف يِقرا
Learn their secrets from their children
خود اسرارهم من صغارهم
He who takes to politics is like someone trying to get into the garbage can
الداخل بالسياسة متل الداخل بتنكة الكناسة
Jiha [a fictional naive character] went to pray. He found the door of the mosque locked. He said, Its good that its because of you and not of me
راح جحا ت يصلّي، شاف باب الجامع مسكّر
قال: مليح اللي طلعت منَّك وما إجت منّي
A man (in the family), though may be a bit of black charcoal, is a blessing
الرجّال ولو كان فحمة، وجوده بالبيت رحمة
Not even an axe can smash a Greek Orthodox head
الروم ما بيكسِّر راسو القدّوم
(Id rather have) the (harmful) sun of February for my daughter-in-law; the (better) sun of March for my daughter; and the (best) sun of April for my old age
شمس شباط لكنتي، وشمس آذار لبْنَيْتي، وشمس نيسان لشيبتي
What's sweeter than honey? FREE vinegar.
شو أحلى من العسل؟ الخل ببلاش
What can the hairdresser do with an ugly face (or, with a crooked mouth)?
شو بتعمل الماشطة مع الوِج العكش (او مع النّيع الألوق)؟
A son-in-law may be a good support, but he may be ready to get his spade to bury (his father- and mother-in-law)
صهر بيشدّ الظهر، وصهر بيجيب المجرفة ع القبر
The oppression of rulers, the intrigue of women, and the obstinacy of monks (are things unbearable)
ظلم الحكام، وكيد النسوان، وعناد الرهبان
I kept praying till I got what I wanted; but when I got what I wanted, I gave up praying
ظلّيت صلّي حتى حصل لي، ولما حصل لي بطّلت صلّي
Only the shroud can extirpate a bodily habit
عادة في البدن، ما بيغيِّرها غير الكَفَن
The camel went lame on account of its lip! (a bad excuse or reason to complain)
عرَج الجمل من شفتو
The groom took the bride, and the guests went back like he-goats
العريس اخذ العروس، والمعازيم رجعوا متل التيوس
When a donkey is invited to a wedding, its either to carry wood or to bring water
عزيمة الحمار للعرس، يا للحطب يا لزقّ المَي
His brains are half-sleeved (lacking intelligence)
عقلاتو بنصّ كِم
At the time of changing of governments, keep your head (during which there's usually bloodshed)
عند تغيير الدول احفظ راسك
That which the brunette earns is hardly enough to pay for her makeup
اللي بتطَيلعهن السمرا ما بيكفّوها خطوط وحُمرا
He who wants to butt should not hide his horns
اللي بدّو يناطح ما بيخبّي قرون
He who swears a lot tells many lies.
اللي بيحلف كتير بيكذب كتير
Just as lice beget nits, so does money begets money.
المال بيجرّ المال والقمل بيجرّ السيبان
He (the man who deprives himself to give to others) is like the needle: it clothes people while it remains naked
متل الابرة بتكسي الناس وهيي عريانة
Like the one who entrusts a piece of cheese to a cat
متل اللي بيوَكِّل القط بالجبنة
The debtor is the donkey of the creditor
المديون حمار الدائن
If the miserable should become rich, he dies
المعتَّر لو سِعِد بيموت
His face cuts ones livelihood
وِجّو بيقطع الرزق
His face is like the obituary (death notice)
وِجّو متل ورقة النعوة
She's very ugly, moreover, she's standing in the middle!
وِحشة وعِكشة، وواقفة بالوِج
A master craftsman standing by, watching another master craftsman, is an embarrassing thing
وقفة المعلّم ع إيد المعلّم صعبة
A child is a child, even if he became the ruler of a town
الولد ولد، ولو حكم بلد
If someone sells you with the price of an onion, sell him with the price of its skin
يلّي باعك ببصلة، بيعو بقشرتها!
If someone treats you as a jackass, kick him!
يلّي بيعملك حمار، البُطه!
If I spit downwards it fells on my beard, and if I spit upwards it fells on my moustache. (Every conduct I choose will be painful)
إن بزقنا لفوق ع شواربنا وإن بزقنا لتحت ع ذقنّا
It's far easier for a sieve to hold water than for a woman to trust a man.
إن ضبطت المَي بالغربال بتأمِّن المرا للرجّال
The hand which you're unable to bite, kiss and pray that it may be broken.
الإيد اللي ما فيك تعضها، بوسها وادعي عليها بالكسر
Nothing is secret to the son of the midwife (who knows every gossip in town).
ابن الداية ما عليه مخبّاية
If you want to have a country ruined, pray that it may have many chiefs.
اذا بدّك تخرب بلاد، ادْعي عليها بكتر الرؤسا
If I should say to you, toqborni, should you get the shovel and actually bury me?
اذا قلتلَّك تقبرني بتجيب المجرفة وبتطمني؟
Just for tasting things, he needs to have seven ooqiehs [=1400 g.]
بدّو من الذواق سبعة واق
Bribery makes the judge loosen the belt of his pants.
البرطيل بيحلّ دكّة القاضي
They spat in the face of the defamed person. He said, "it's raining." (Even the worst insult won't leave any effect on a base person)
بزقوا ع وِجّ النذل قال الدني عم بتشتّي
He distracts a donkey from eating his fodder (for he's a good entertainer, or chatterer)
بيلهي الحمار عن عليقه
You could drink him with turbid water (for he's so amiable)
بينشرب مع المَي العكرة
The sea and the wind quarreled; the consequences fell upon the boat.
تخانق البحر والريح طلعت الفلّة ع المركب
Borrow money and then lend it; you'll find yourself drowned without even knowing it.
تْدَيَّن ودَيِّن، بتغرق ما بتبيِّن
He stumbled over the ashes of a cigarette!
تفركش برماد سيكارة
Three things are unbearable: tick tacking, grumbling, and bed bugs. (The words rhyme in Arabic)
تلاتة ما بينطاقوا: الطق والنق والبق
Hold to the bad luck you have, lest you get a worse luck.
تمسّك بنحسك لا يجيك انحس منو
Titi, Titi, you've come back the same as you were gone.
تيتي تيتي، متل ما رحتِ متل ما جيتِ
They brought the wolf to teach him reading. They said to him, say A, he said goat.
جابوا الديب تيعلموه القراية قالوا له: قول ألف، قال: عنزة
A Christian marriage: no separation except by choking (too difficult for a Christian to get a divorce in Lebanon)
جازة نصرانية: لا فراق الا بالخنَّاق
Do you think I'm an apricot tree? You never stopped jiggling me!
حاسبني مشمشة كل ساعة بتهزّ فيّ؟
He's as restless as a hen wanting to lay an egg.
حايص متل دجاجة بدها تبيض
They put the dog's tail in a mold for forty years and it remained crooked. (He's unteachable)
حَطّوا ذنبة الكلب بالقالب اربعين سنة بقيت لَوقة
Close him tightly from above, he speaks from below.
سِدّو من فوق بيحكي من تحت
What am I to expect from you, quince, when every bite of you is followed by a choke?
شو بدي اترجى منك يا سفرجلة وكل عضة بغصّة؟
Do you take people as watermelons?
شو محسَّب الناس بطيخ؟
[I admit] you're my friend and eyes, but do not come near my purse.
صاحبي وعيوني وصَوب الجيبة لا تقرِّب
Although she's deaf, she's eavesdropping through the door.
طرشا ع الباب بتتنصَّت
A pot that has found its lid (they both make a perfect match)
طنجرة ولقيت غطاها
Fear drives pain away.
الفزع بيطيِّر الوجع
To be a judge of children is to hang oneself.
قاضي الاولاد شنق حالو
Said one to another, "Love me, and I'll give you a young donkey." The other replied, "Love does not come by force." (Young donkey and force rhyme)
قال لو: حبني وخدلك جحش، قال لو: المحبة ما بتصير دحش
They said to the mule, "Who's your father?" He answered, "The horse is my uncle." (Said of a man of low origin but who boasts of some distant aristocratic kin)
قالوا للبغل مين بيَّك؟ قال: الحصان خالي
He broke his hand and used it to beg
كاسر إيدو وشاحد عليها
Whenever Tannous needed us, we would call him Tannous only; whenever we needed Tannous, we would say to him, Master, please!
كل ما احتاجنا طنّوس منقلّو طنّوس حاف
وكل ما احتجنا طنّوس منقلّو تفضّل يا معلّم
The dog says, "May the children live that I may be fed by them!" But the cat says, "May the children die that I may sit in their [the parents] laps!"
الكلب بيقول: يا الله يعيشوا وليداتهم ت آكل من ديَّاتهم، والبسين بيقول: الله يقطع وليداتهم ت اقعد بحضَيناتهم
In the stomach and not in the bush (better to eat remaining food than to throw it away)
بالكرش ولا بالحرش
Drinking water while being hungry is like a blow on the elbow
الشرب بالجوع متل الضربة ع الكوع
