A
Aana Vayil Ambazhanga.
ആന വായില് അമ്പഴങ്ങാ.
Literal:a small fruit in an elephant's mouth.
Translation: Having too small an amount for a very large need.
English equivalent :
Ariyethra? Payar anjaazhi.
അരിയെത്ര? പയര് അഞ്ഞാഴി.
Literal :How much rice you have? I have enough beans.[1]
Translation: Getting wrong answer for a question asked
English equivalent: Answer to the point
Ariyaatha pillakku choriyumbol ariyum.
അറിയാത്ത പിള്ളക്ക് ചൊറിയുമ്പോള് അറിയും.
Literal:An ignorant child learns when it itches.
Translation: If people refuse to realise the magnitude of a problem when there is time to solve it, they will only realize it when they're forced to deal with the repercussions.
English equivalent:
Aanakaaryam Pareyumbol Aano Chenakkaryam?
ആനക്കാര്യം പറയുമ്പോള് ആണോ ചേനക്കാര്യം?
Literal: When you are talking about an elephant don't bring up matters related to yams.
Translation: Do not bring up small issues during major problems.
English equivalent:
Araante ammakku pranthu pitichaal kaanaan nalla chellu.
ആരാന്റെ അമ്മക്ക് ഭ്രാന്ത് പിടിച്ചാല് കാണാന് നല്ല ചേല്.
Literal: If somebody's mother goes mad, it is a good scene to watch.
Translation: It is always enjoyable to make fun of the misfortune of others, until the very same befalls you.
English equivalent:
Aadariyunnuvo angadi vaanibham.
ആടറിയുമോ അങ്ങാടി വാണിഭം?
Literal: Does the goat understand the butcher's trade?
Translation: Each person has an area of expertise about which they know best.
English equivalent:
Aadukidannaduthu pooda polum illa.
ആട് കിടന്നിടത്തു പൂട പോലും ഇല്ല
Literal: There is not a trace of fleece where the sheep was sleeping.
Translation:This proverb refers to an action that has been done without leaving any evidence.
English equivalent:
Aarku badha koodiyalum kozhikku kidakkaporuthi illa.
Literal: No matter who ever is possesed,the chicken is the one who suffers.
Translation: this expression is used to refer to someone who perpetually becomes the scapegoat in a situation
English equivalent: "the usual suspects"
Arukkum munpu pidakkalle.
Literal: Don't thrash around before you're slaugtered.
Translation:
English equivalent:
Akale ulla bandhuvinekkal, aduthulla sathru nallathu.
Literal:The enemy who is close to you is better than a relative who is distant.[2]
Translation:
English equivalent:
Angadiyil thottal ammayodo.
Literal: Picking a fight with your mother at home because you lost a fight at the marketplace
Translation:Taking out one's frustration over one incident on someone else.
English equivalent:
B
Brahmavinaano aayusenu panjam?
literal:Does God have a shortage of years to live?
Translation: Somebody who has a lot wont want for something little.
English equivalent:
C
Chakkinu Vechatu Kokkinu Kondu.
Literal:
Translation: a trap or plot intended for someone backfires and befalls someone unintended.
Bengali equivalent: কাগটা দেখে মারলে তীর, বকটা গেলো মরে।
English equivalent :
Chakkikotha Chankaran.
Literal: Chankaran (male name)who is well suited for Chakki (female name)
Translation: People who're well suited to each others temperament or goal.
Bengali equivalent: ১)রাজযোটক;২)যেমন দ্যাবা তেমনি দেবী ।
English equivalent: Made for each other, brothers in arms
Changathi Nannayal Kannadi Venda
Literal:if you have a good friend, uou don't need a mirror
Translation:A real friend will tell you the truth.
English equivalent: "A friend's eye is a good mirror"
Chemmeen chadiyal muttolam, pinnem chadiyal chattiyolam.
Literal: if a prawn tries to jump, with its first leap it will reach your knee, and the second leap will land it in your pot.
Translation: Attempting to do something that is beyond one's capability or station in life will lead to failure.
English equivalent:
D
E
Eliye pedichu illam chudaruthu.
Literal: Fearing a rat don't burn your house.
Translations: Use solutions that are appropriate to the the magnitude of the problem
English equivalent:
G
Gathikettal puli pullum thinnum
Literal: Even a tiger will eat grass when it is starving
Translation: People take whatever they can get in order to survive in dire situations.
English equivalent:
H
I
Istamillatha achi thottathellam kuttam
Literal:One finds fault with anything done by a woman you don't like.
Translation:The proverb means that a man can always find reasons to blame a person who he dislikes.
English equivalent:
Ikkare ninnal akkare pachha
Literal:The other side of the river is greener.[2]
Translation: Other people's circumstances seem more desirable than one's own but in reality are often not.
English equivalent : The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence
Ikyamathyam mahabalam.
Literal: Unity is strength.
English equivalent :United we stand, divided we fall.
J
K
'Kaakka kulichaal kokku aakummo?
Literal:If crow bathes, will it become a crane? [2]
Translation:This proverb is usually used to say that one cannot do things that are beyond one's capabilities,or that one cannot go against one own nature.
English equivalent :
kupayil kalanjalum, alannu kalayanam.
കുപ്പയില് കളഞ്ഞാലും, അളന്നു കളയണം.
Literal:Even waste should be measured and discarded.
Translation:
English equivalent :
Kurangante kayil poomala.
Literal:A garland in the monkey's hand.
Translation:When someone has something that they don't know value of, they use it inappropriately.
Tamil equivalent:"Kurangu kaiyile poo malai"
English equivalent:
Kakkakkum than kunju pon kunju.
Literal: Even for a crow, its own baby is golden.[2]
Translation: Own creations will be invaluable to, even though it may not be so for others.
English equivalent :
Kurakkunna Patti Kadikkilla.
Literal:Barking dogs wont bite.[2]
Translation:People who talk big don't end up backing up their words with actions.
English equivalent :"All bark and no bite"
Kattullapole Thoottan patoo.
Literal: Wind is required for winnowing.
Translation:
English equivalent:"Strike while the iron is hot"
L
M
Muttethe Mullakku Manamilla.
മുറ്റത്തെ മുല്ലക്കു മണമില്ല.
Literal: The jasmine shrub in your front yard has no fragrance.[1]
Translation: We seldom recognise the value of people near to you**
English equivalent : Familiarity breeds contempt.
Moothavarude vaakum muthu nellikayum aadhyam kaykum, pinne madhurikkum.
Literal: Advices from elders are like gooseberries, its first taste is sour but it gets sweet later.[1]
Translation:Good advice may seems hard to follow at first, but its consequent results are worth it.
English equivalent:
Mookilla Rajyathu Murimookkan Rajavu.
Literal:In a land of people with no noses, the half-nosed man is King.[1]
Translation:Even someone without much talent or ability is considered special by those with no talent or ability at all.
English equivalent : In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is the king.
Minnunnathellaam ponnalla.
Literal:Everything that shines may not be gold
English equivalent :"All that glitters is not gold."
Maththa kuthiyal kumbalam mulakumo.
Literal:You cant reap a cucumber if you sow a pumpkin.
Translation:The quality of the results depends upon the quality of efforts that went into a task.
English equivalent : similar but not identical to "As you sow, so shall you reap"
Mulla poompodi eetu kidakkum kallinum undaam saurabhyam.
Literal:Feet that tread on jasmine buds smell good.
Translation:Our behaviour also depends on the company that we have
English equivalent :"A man is known by the company he keeps"
N
Nirakudam thulumbugailla.
Literal: A full pot never overflows.
Translation: A real scholar does not brag
English equivalent: The meaning of this proverb is implied in "Empty vessels make more noise"
Nadukadalil chennalum naaya nakkiye kudikku.
Literal:Even if you take a dog to the middle of the ocean, a dog will only lap water, not drink it.[2]
Translation: Habits or qualities that are innate or characteristic to a person cannot be changed
English equivalent :
Nallathe ariyo nayike.
Literal: What does a dog know about the good things?
Translation: Someone who can not understand, can not appreciate.
English equivalent: Laying pearls before swine.
Nanam illathavante aasanathil aalu kilichaal athu avanu oru thanal aayirikyum.
Literal:If a peepal tree grows out of a shameless man's butt, it will serve as shade for him.
Translation:Shameless people are not bothered by anything, however unsightly and offensive.
English equivalent:
Njan pathi deivam pathi
Literal:Half the effort by me and the other half by God
Translation: The proverb means that to gain anything, one has to expend effort.
English: No pain no gain.
O
Odunna pattikku oru muzham munpe
Literal:Throw a stone ahead of a running dog to hit it.
Translation: Being one step ahead of an opponent.
English equivalent:
Onam vannaalum Unni pirannaalum koranu kumbilil kanji thanne.
Literal:Be it Onam, be it the birth of a child, the layman still gets served his gruel in a tiny container.
Translation:Whatever be the occasion, there is no advantage for poor people.The rich keep getting richer, and the poor remain poor.
English equivalent:
Onnukil Aashante nenjath, allenkil Kalarikku purath.
Literal:Throwing oneself either onto the chest of the teacher or outside the school.[2]
Translation: Aashans were village teachers in Kerala and Kalari was a school, teaching the great art of self defense called Kalaripayattu. This proverb refers to a doing things in
extremes which never yields good results.
English equivalent:"Dabbling in extremes"
Oththu pidichal malayum porum, Oththillenkil Malannu Veezhum.
Literal Translation: With combined effort, even a mountain can be moved. With differences, one would just fall flat.
English equivalent:United we stand. Divided we fall. (English equivalent)
Orumayundenkil Ulakkamelum kidakkam.
Literal:
Translation:
English equivalent:
P
Paashaanatthil krimi.
Literal: Worm that lives in poison
Translation:This proverb is used to address someone inimically, to say that a person who can survive in poison is probably very poisonous himself. It used while judging people
who keep bad company as being bad themselves.
English equivalent:
Palam Kadakkuvolam "Narayana Narayana" Palam Kadannal "Korayana Korayana".
Literal: Until the bridge is crossed one prays "Narayana, Narayana",once the brigde is crossed one says "Korayana Korayana". (Narayana is a hindu god, Korayana refers to a
disrespectful distortion of the god's name. )
Translation: This proverb means that people praise other people until they get what they want out of them and once their work is done, they ignore or disrespect the very people
they just praised.
English equivalent:
Pinnem Chankaran Thengel...
Literal: "...and Chankaran is back on the coconut tree."
Translation: this proverb is used when a person keeps on repeating the same mistake over and over again even after much effort by others to correct him or her.
English equivalent:
Pattikku muzhuvan thenga kittiyathu pole.
Literal:Like a dog that got a whole coconut.(to get any use out of a coconut it must be cracked using tools to get to the fleshy fruit inside)
Translation: This proverb is used in the event of someone getting something that they cannot use.
English equivalent:
Papi chellunnidam paathaalam.
Literal: every place a sinner goes to becomes hell.
Translation: This proverb is used to describe someone who seems to bring bad luck to others.
English equivalent:
Pen chollu kettavanu peruvazhi aadhaaram.
Literal: A man who listens to a woman ends up destitute.
Translation: This proverb means that men who are easily talked into things by those seemingly less powerful than him will gain nothing.
English equivalent:
Pen chollu ketta Perumale pole.
Literal:Like Perumal who listened to his woman.
Translation:This proverb is commonly said of any man who is so enamoured of a woman that he does not bother to use his own judgement, but blindly agrees to her wishes.It
originates from an ancient fable in which a Perumal King was instigated by his queen to punish a loyal army commander. When the truth ultimately came out the King had to leave
his kingdom and escape to Arabia to escape the wrath of his own subjects
Payyethinnal panayum thinnam.
Literal:i=If you eat slowly, you can eat even a palm tree.
Translation: Actions that are welll tought and executed slowly and carefully will succeed despite its seeming impossiblity.
English equivalent: "Slow and steady wins the race"
Pala thulli peru vellam.
Literal:Many drops of water make a large water body
English equivalent : Little drops makes the mighty ocean.
Poththinodu vedham oadheettu karyam illa.
Literal: It is pointless to read scriptures to a buffalo.
Translation: To give advice to someone who cannot understand or befit from it, is useless.
English equivalent:
Pen budhi pin budhi
Pazham chollil pathirilla
Literal:Old sayings contain no hollow grains
Translation:Proverbs originated from high wisdom and therefore speak the truth.
English equivalent:
Puthan Achi Pura Puram Thukkum"
Q
R
Rogi ichichathum vaidyan kalpichathum palu.
Literal:The patient wanted milk and the doctor prescribed milk.
Translation:This proverb is what one says when things turn out fine under circumstances expected to be harsh.
English equivalent:
S
Sampathu kaalathu thai pathu nattal apathu kalathu kay pathu thinnaam!
Literal: In times of prosperity, if you plant ten trees, you can eat a bellyfull in times of famine"
Translation: Preparing for the future when one has time and energy will help one survive during hard times in the future.
English equivalent: "A stitch in time saves nine", "prevention is better than cure"
T
Thanikku thaanum, purakku thoonum.
Literal:In times of need you will get help like a a pillar is helpful to a shaking house.
Translation:It means that in times of need, one's best hope for help is oneself.
English equivalent: "When you cry, you cry alone. When you laugh, the world laughs with you."
Thala Irikkumbol, Valu-attaruthu.
Literal: When the head is present, tail should not wag.
Translation: One should not act out of turn in the presence of one's superiors.
English translation:
Thala marannu enna thekaruthu.
Literal:Don't forget the head when applying oil to your body.
Translation:one should always remember favors received in the past while acting in the present.
English equivalent:
Thalla chavittiyal pillakku kedilla.
Literal:Even if a mother stamps on her child's head, nothing will happen to it.
Translation: A mother knows how to care for her child, and always acts in its best interests.
English equivalent: "Mother knows best"
U
Undaal Ksheenam thendikkum.
Literal:Even a beggar will get tired after having a meal.
Translation:
V
Viththu gunam, paththu gunam.
വിത്തു ഗുണം പത്തു ഗുണം-- വിത്തില് പിഴച്ചാല് വിളവില് പിഴക്കും
Literal:As you sow, so you reap.
Translation: If it faultered in seed, so will it in yield.
velukkaan thechathu paandaayi.
Literal: Excessive washing in order to increase fairness may instead result in splotchy marks on the skin
Translation: Overdoing something will result in an unwanted consequence.
English equivalent:
Vinasha kale viparetha budhi.
Literal:When your destruction is near, your thoughts and actions will also fail you
Translation:
English equivalent:
Vaadi Prati Aayi.
Literal: the plaintif becomes culprit.
Translation:
English equivalent:
Vadi Koduthe Adi Madikkuka.
Literal: Get hit by the stick you provided.
Translation:
English equivalent:
Vaidyan kalpichathum roogi itchichedum paal.
Literal: What doctor prescribed and what patient wanted were same
Translation:
English equivalent:
Kannada equivalent: rogi bayasiddu haaluanna, vaidya heliddu haaluanna.
Vaidyan Oothi Oothi Pilla Keninju Keniju.
Literal: Doctor tried all the medicine, still no result on the kid.
Translation:
English equivalent:
W
X
Y
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