Speech - silence

4259. Ahadi na mithaki ni deni katika haki.  JKP.
A promise and a vow are debts indeed.
Mithaki: having strength, having perfection.

4260. Ahadi [ni] deni.  J.,ahadi; B.1.52; T.6; SACL. 45; MARA.2; SAM.26.; V.4.
A promise is a debt.

Ahadi ni deni, na deni ijuzie.  SACL. 196; JKP.
A promise is a debt, and a debt obliges.
Juzia: to be obliged.

4261. Ahadi ni mtu, msi ahadi si mtu.  JKP.
[Keeping] a promise is [being] a real human, one who does not [keep a promise] is not a real person.

4262. Ahadi si neno, ngoja hatima.  AL,hatima; AL 1540; AL 1541.
A promise is nothing, wait for its fulfillment.
AL 1541 has baadaye, afterwards, instead of hatima.

4263. Ahadi zina sharuti.  JKP.
Promises have obligations.

4264. Ajuaye mengi hasemi mengi.  EM.8.4.
One who knows much does not say much.

Ajuaye mengi husema machache.  NGU.
The one who knows much says little.

4265. Alindaye ulimi wake, alinda nafsi yake.  NGU.
People who watch their tongue take care of [guard] their soul.

4266. Aliye mwema msifie, muovu mnamalie.  JKP.
Praise a good person, keep silent about a bad one.

4267. Ambiwaye ngano nae ana zake.  JKP.
People who are told tall stories, have their own to tell.
"Said when a story is not believed." JKP.

4268. Amejifunga kwa ulimi wake.  A.173; T.22; SACL. 234.
It is the tongue that bound its owner
What was said lightly has come to pass, and has caught up with that person.

Msi hadhari hujifunga kwa ulimi wake.  SAM.16.21.
If you are careless, you bind yourself with your tongue. Cf. #1841.

4269. Amekuja hapa akatoa mavi yake.  KS mavi.
That person came here to tell dirt.
Mavi: excrement, nonsense.

4270. Anayenguruma siye anayekula nyama.  NGU.
[The animal] that roars is not the one that will eat meat. cf. # 1852; # 1852.

4271. Asiyekubali utani si mtani.  ED.16.24.
A person who cannot take a joke is no joker.
Don't make jokes on people if you cannot take a joke yourseIf. Cf. #1883.

4272. Aso hasanati wala thawabu hufungwa kitaya kama rikabu.  KS.,rikabu.
People who have no kindness or gifts have their jaw tied like a camel's.
Hasanati or hisani: kindness, favor, goodness.
Thawabu: God-given gifts, rewards.
Rikabu: an animal used for riding; a camel, horse, donkey.
Kitaya:  lit., a small jaw.
Tia tayani mwa punda: put the bridle on a donkey's jaw.

4273. Awezae kufahamu, yatosha nusu salamu.  RSP.39.
For a person who understands, half a greeting is enough.

4274. Binadamu ana macho mawili, masikio mawili na mdomo mmoja. EM.28.16.
A human being has two eyes, two ears, but one mouth.
Watch and listen twice before speaking once.  EM.

4275. Bora ni kusoma, kuliko kusema.  RSP.61.
Study is better than talking.

4276. Chunguni yaingiayo ni mambo yatufaayo.  JKP.
The only useful things are those that can be put in a pot and eaten.
"Said by a wife to an unemployed, loquacious husband." JKP. Cf. #1830.

4277. Debe shinda haliachi kutika.  H.98; B.2.36; MARA 3.
A half empty tin never fails to make noise.
Empty vessels make the most sound. People with little knowledge talk most.

Debe shinda haliachi kusukasuka.  MARA 3.
A half filled tin does not stop shaking.

Debe tupu haliachi kutika.  EM.47.11.
An empty tin cannot stop sounding.

Debe tupu haliachi kuvuma.  F.8. 5- B.2.42.
An empty tin never stops making noise.
Debe shinda: half-empty tin; is used figuratively for bastards and people of low offspring. In Swahili custom it is very bad for a woman to have a baby out of wedlock. That child is called mwana haramu (a bastard) and whenever that person does something bad or shameful or lacks good behavior, this proverb is mentioned.  This proverb is used to show that if you want to know a person look at his deeds and behavior.

4278. Demokrasi si domokrasi.  EM.47.12.
Democracy is not domocracy.
Actions, not mere words.
Democracy is a way of life, and freedom and discipline are its bases. Domocracy is to rule by mere talk, a lot of words without actions.  EM.
Domocrasie: a word formed with mdomo (mouth).

4279. Fikara ndogo hufanya mtu aseme sana.  NGU.
Little thoughtfulness causes a person to say too much.

4280. Gumzo jingi uwongo mwingi.  EM g8.
Much talk, many lies. Cf. #1834, #1850.  

4281. Gumzo ni asusa ya safari.  EM g7.  
Talk is the asusa of a journey.
"Asusa is the snacks which are taken while having drinks to enable a person to take a lot of drinks without harming the body. It weakens the power of the drinks. Conversation during a journey makes the traveler forget the difficulties and the distance of the journey without getting tired too soon. Cf. Make short the miles with talk and smiles."  EM.
Asusa: n. food of any description eaten when drinking beer, spirits &c., but usu. well-cooked meat."  Johnson.

4282. Habari ina shindo.  T.71; J.,shindo.
News always comes with a kind of shock.

Habari ya mbali ina kishindo.  T.71; KB.,kishindo; SACL.407.
News from far comes with éclat. T.

4283. Habari ya mbalamwezi, kung'aa na kufifia.  PM.85.
News of the full moon, to shine and to fade away.
Do not believe all the rumors one hears in the evening; in the morning, they fade away.

4284. Hakuna kovu ya masimango.  KB.58.
There is no scar for slander.
Moral evil cannot be cured.

4285. Halifai neno jike wala dume.  JKP.
Nothing will be of any use, neither male nor female.
"Too much talking." JKP.

4286. Haliharibiki neno midomo ikikaa pamoja.  EM h8.
No word is spoiled if the lips stay together.
Cf. #1219A; Contrast #1821A, #1824.

4287. Hana kaba ya ulimi.  T.83; B.1.29.
So and So has no lining to the tongue.

4288. Haongezwi muongezi.  T.85.
To the words of a gossiper nothing is added.

4289. Hawamfii mtu kinywa.  AL 619, Al,fa.
One does not kill oneself for what people say.
All words should be taken with a grain of salt. Words are not reliable enough.

4290. Haya haya mdomo ulikunjama.  AL,haya; AL 1572.
For being overly shy, the mouth get crooked.
Too shy to speak up.
Of one who is too servile, without defending oneself. AL. Cf. #1206.

4291. Haya ya mno, kwale alikufa.  AL 1524; AL,kwale, mno.
Haya ya mno ilimwisha kwale.  AL 1525.
Too much shame killed the partridge.
The partridge died of hunger because it did not ask for food or shelter.
This is also sometimes said ironically when somebody overeats. Cf.#1206.

4292. Heri kukunguwaa kidole kuliko kukunguwaa ulimi.  J.,kwaa; V.147; KB.71; SACL. 278; T.90; F.11,16.

Heri kujikunguwaa kidole kuliko kujikunguwaa ulimi.  F. 11 16; B.1.29; MARA 3; BM 5; KS; MARA 3.

Heri kwaa ya dole kuliko kwaa ya ulimi. KS.,kwaa.
Better to stumble with the toe than with the tongue.

Heri kukuwaa kwa guu kama kwa ulimi.  ED.90.
Better to stumble with the foot than with the tongue.
The toe may be very painful, but the harm the tongue can do, can bring much greater pain and trouble. EM.
Bruising your toe is your pain, but your tongue hurts other people. It's difficult to soften other people's pain. MARA.

Mtu hujikunguwaa guu hakikunguwai ulimi. KS,kunguwaa.
A person stumbles a toe, but not the tongue.

4293. Hicho ni chuo cha mwangoma, cha majini pepo: endao kifyoma hukiacho papo. T.93.
This is the book of Mwangoma about the demons: the person who is going to read it, leaves it forthwith.
About an unpleasant subject of conversation, which you would rather not enlarge on. T.

4294. Himili mzaha, hamna jeraha.  RSP.10.
Tolerate a joke, there is no wound in it.
It does not hurt. RSP. Cf. #46.

4295. Huamba ulimi, ni mimi, ni mimi.  RSP.16.
The tongue says, it is me, it is me.
Talkers always talk about themselves. RSP.

4296. Hukunyima tonge, hakunyimi neno.  ZO 254.
So and So refused you food, but did not stop you speaking.

4297. Husema kama upatu.  JKP.
He talks like a cymbal.
A chatterbox. JKP.
Upatu: a dish-shaped gong.

4298. Huwezi kuwaza, bila kunyamaza.  FSP.56.
You cannot think, without holding your tongue.

4299. Jibwa lenye kelele haliumi.  EM j9.
A big barking dog does not bite.
A person who talks a lot and threatens others does not harm others.

4300. Jimbi tawikia jimbi, awikapo tawikia.  JKP.
A cock will crow to a cock, when he crows the other one will crow too.
"People will gossip, and what one person says will go around."JKP.
Jimbi, jogoo: cock.
Tawikia for atawikia: will crow.

4301. Jogoo mjanja huwika.  NGU.
The clever rooster crows.
It is the work of the rooster to crow in the morning. It is its duty.
Let people know what you can do, what you are worth.
Saa ya shamba : the clock in the village.

4302. Kalamu iambiweyo kakurubia kujiri.  JKP.
A pen [a word] that has spoken brings the event nearer. JKP.
"A word spoken in anger may cause unwanted reactions." JKP.
Kurubia for karibia: come close, approach. Pate dialect. 
Jiri for fika: come.
Kalamu: a pen (a pen is used to write words).
Iambiweyo for yaambiwayo: what is said.

4303. Kavaa kinu kajiambika mchi.  KS, ambika.
She put on a mortar and holds on to the pestle.
Of someone who interferes with other people's business.

4304. Kila mwenye choo huenda yaani.  JKP.
Everyone who has a need goes to the rubbish heap.
"All people slander". JKP 
"The rubbish heap was and is also the latrine, in the middle of a group of houses, to be used collectively." JKP.

4305. Kimya hakileti maudhiko.  MA.187.
Silence does not bring harm.

4306. Kimya kilimaliza miti porini.  REK.
Silence finished the trees in the forest.
For not protesting the evil done.

4307. Kimya, kimya si ujinga, ni maneno ya kupeleleza.  MP.82.8
Silence is not necessarily foolishness, it could be spying.  MP.
Be suspicious of dormant waters.  MP

4308. Kimya kingi kina mshindo mkuu.  F.15.21; V.,kimya; T.151; J.,kimya; JK.,mkubwa; RECH.207; KB.106; SACL 382; KA; KS, mshindo.
Much silence has a mighty noise.
A long silence is followed by a mighty noise. A too-long silence has harmful consequences.  KB. 
A person who remains silent and does not contribute in daily conversation is considered very dangerous. Often such a person does fearsome things. KA.

Kimya mshindo mkubwa.  JKP.
Silence is a big noise.
"Silence predicts storm, silence indicates your enemy is premeditating a big move." JKP.

4309.  Kimya ni sifa ya maiti, yu hai husema.  MA.188.
Silence is an attribute of the dead, one who is alive speaks.

4310. Kinywa kengele, miguu mayugwa.  AL 1140.
The mouth like a bell, the legs like the mayugwa.
Those with nice words are not the ones who will pay. AL.
Mayugwa: taro, a green vegetable, tasting like spinach when cooked. The plant has big leaves and the fragile long stems look like legs.

4311. Kinywa [ni] jumba la maneno.  F.15.24; B.1.29; KA has kanwa instead of kinywa.
The mouth is the home of words.

Kinywa jumbe la maneno. (V.,kinywa; T.126; SACL.,kanwa; KB.,jumbe; SACL.,jumbe 328.
The mouth is the magistrate [ruler or master] of words.
Or: The mouth is like a chief having under his orders the words of speech.  KB; SACL.
About the duty of controlling one's words.
Cf.#? Watu ni gamba hawakosi la kwamba (KA) (under Women-Men)
Jumba:  big house, palace.
Jumbe:  chief, head person.

4312. Kua uone.  JKP.
Grow up and see.
"Said to a child who is asking too many questions." JKP.

4313. Kuambiliwa kuna uwongo, mara kumi ukajionee.  AL 624
Hearsay is full of error, go and see yourself even ten times.

4314. Kuambiwa si kusikia.  NGU.
Being told is not the same as understanding.

4315. Kusema kiwi huona kitakuja.  JKP.
Speaking evil you will see it comes back.
"Persons with evil tongues will soon find they are slandering themselves." JKP.

4316. Kusema kusema, hapoi kilema.  RSP.147.
Talking, talking does not cure the cripple.
Too many words serve no purpose.  MM.

4317. Kusema mengi si haja.  JKP.
No need to say much.
There is no need for many words.

Kusema si huja.  JKP.
To speak many words is not [winning] an argument.

Kusema si hoja, kazi ni kufanya.  JKP.
Talking is no necessity, the essence of the job is to get it done.

4318. Kusema ni kuzuri, na kutosema ni kuzuri.  Holiday.
Speaking is good and silence is good

Hotuba ni fedha na kimya ni dhahabu.  MEM.302.
Speech is silver and silence is golden.

4319. Kusema si kutenda.  NGU.
Speaking is not the same as doing.

4320. Kusoma siyo sawa na kuambiwa.  NGU.
Reading is not the same as being told.

4321. Kwamba kwema kwenye shukurani ni kumpa mtu atakayo.  JKP.
Speaking good words of gratitude is giving a person what is needed.

4322. Kweli ya mdogo si uwongo wa mkubwa.  EM k39.
A little person's truth is not [as acceptable as] the big person's lie.
A little person may say the truth about something, but this will not be believed as well as the lies which an important person may say about it.

4323. Kwenda na wajinga maneno hayeshi.  NGU.
Going with fools and words never ends.

4324. Lamba asali, usisaili.  RSP.68.
Just lick the honey, don't ask any questions. Cf. #166.

4325. Lifaalo kueleza lieleze, lisilofaa limeze.  V.150; JKP.
What is worth explaining, explain; what is not worth, swallow it. One who speaks little has little to answer for.  V.

4326. Lililopo ndilo lisemwalo.  MARA 2.
What is, is spoken about.
People speak about the things that are present. So, don't do bad or stupid things, because people will speak about it. MARA.

4327. Lilo moyoni, ulimi huiba.  MARA 3; KA.
What is in the heart, the tongue steals.
Secrets want to be told and often come out inadvertently.

4328. Linda ulimi kama mlimi.  JKP.
Watch your tongue like a farmer [watches his crop].
"In Africa farmers must constantly watch their crops lest they are eaten by birds, monkeys or wild pigs. In the same way, the words we have spoken may be misused by our enemies to harm us." JKP.

4329. Lugha mbaya hueleweka upesi.  EM l11.
Bad language is soonest learned.
It is easier to learn what is evil than what is good.

4330. Lugha mbaya uvundo.  NGU.
Bad language is like a stench.

4331. Maji yaliyotulia yana kina kirefu.  NGU.
Still waters are deep.

4332. Maji yavumayo hayana meno.  FSM.93.
Roaring water has no teeth.
Barking dogs seldom bite. Cf. #1852.

4333.  Makaa hayakoki nyama.  V.50; STEERE, p.l94.
Charcoals do not roast the meat.
Dead embers do not roast meat.
Fair words butter on parsnips.

Ajabu makaa hayakoki nyama.  MM.
It is a surprise why the charcoal did not roast meat.
Said of people who do not perform as well as they could.

4334. Makanwa arubaini, mafumo arubaini.  T.233.
Forty mouths are like forty spears.

Ndimi arobaini, mafumo arobaini.  JK.131
Forty tongues, forty spears.

Ndimi kumi ni mikuki kumi.  JKP.
Ten tongues are ten javelins. Cf. #1860.

4335. Makukuu ya tai si mapya ya kengewa.  SACL. 857; KS,tai; AL 1186.
The carrion, food of the big vulture, is not fresh meat for the hawk.
The words of the old people have nothing pleasant for the young.  SACL; AL.

4336. Mambo yafaayo watu ni yangiayo chunguni.  T.242; KB, chungu; SACL.156.
The matters which are of use to people are those which go into the pot.
People are foremost worried about bread and butter issues.
Cf. #4276 Chunguni yaingiayo..

4337. Maneno fedha, majibu dhahabu.  L.43; V.,maneno.
Words are silver, but answers are gold.
Not words but results.

Kusema fedha, kujibu dhahabu.  MM.
Speaking is like silver, but replying is like gold.

4338. Maneno makali hayavunji mifupa.  F.22.16; SM; KA.
Hard words break no bones.
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. F.

Meno makali hayavunji mfupa.  NS.17.
Sharp teeth do not break a bone.
Stay away from quarrels.  NS.
Cf. #1856.

Maneno makali yavunja mfupa.  KA.
Hard words break a bone.
Hard words can hurt a person very deeply, as painful as the breaking of a bone.

4339. Maneno mazuri baraka.  NGU.
Kind words are a blessing.

Maneno mazuri kama maua yana rangi yake.  NGU.
Nice words are like flowers: they have their own color.

4340. Maneno mema humtoa nyoka pangoni.  F.22.17; SWA.17; MARA 3.
Pleasant words will draw a snake from its hole.
With kind words one may calm down a dangerous person.
It is easier to catch flies with honey than with vinegar.  SWA.

Maneno matamu humtoa nyoka pangoni.  SM; MARA 3.
Sweet words will draw a snake from its hole.
Usage in a newspaper:  Pamoja na zana zao wanamuziki hawa wanaoweza kumtoa nyoka pangoni, si wengine bali na Wana Jikomoro.(Nchi Yetu #163, Julai 1978). With their instruments these musicians, who can draw snakes from their holes, are no others than the Wana Jikomoro.

Neno jema lilitoa nyoka pangoni.  NS. 22.
A good word draws a snake from its hole.

Kauli njema ilitoa nyoka pangoni.  KB.90.
A kind word made a snake come out of its hole.
To obtain something by trick or flattery.

4341. Maneno mengi maradhi.  B.1.29.
Many words are like a disease.
Chattering and talking nonsense are signs that the brain is giving way.

Maneno mengi uwele.  B.1.29.
Many words are like a sickness.

Maneno mangi ukongo.  T.243; SACL.,ukongo; AL 726.
Many words are like a sickness.
Talking too much is a weakness of old people. AL.

Maneno mengi huvuta fadhika.  MA.284.
Many words call forth a lot of disgrace.
Talkativeness reveals one's faults, weaknesses. MA.

Maneno mengi hula akili.  FSM.80.
Many words consume the brain.

4342. Maneno mengi ya kweli husemwa katika dhihaka.  NGU.
Many a true word is spoken jokingly.
Dhihaka: mockery, ridicule, scorn.

4343. Maneno ni kama fumo yakitoka mdomoni hayarudi.  MA.285.
Words are like spears, once when they leave the lips they never come back.
Watch what you are saying.  MA. Cf. #1828.

4344. Maneno ya mpole yampoza mwenye hasira.  AL 817; AL, pole.
Words spoken by a kind person pacify an angry one.

4345. Maneno yaombolezayo na machozi yasemayo.  NGU.
Laments are expressed by tears.

4346. Mbele ya kusema uzungushe ulimi mara saba kinywani. KB.167.
Before you speak, turn your tongue seven times in your mouth.

4347. Mche mnyamavu: ana ngoma za midomo.  T.253; SACL. 627; AL 765.
Mistrust a taciturn person, that person has lips like a drum.
Has lips for an oration.  SACL..

4348. Mdomo wako mmbeya unautambua mwenyewe.  FSM.104.
Your gossiping mouth tells you what you really are.
Deep inside you know what you really are..
Mmbeya or mmbea (from -umbea): tale-bearer, gosslp, scandal monger. T.

4349. Meza ndogo, maneno mengi.  AL 1746.
The table may be small, but the palavers are many.
When unimportant things seem to be important.

4350. Midomo tawala, amani kulala.  RSP.77.
Control your lips, to sleep in peace.

4351. Mja kiwa sawa, kambiwa yu kombo.  JK.131; AL 1397.
Even when a person is straight, they will say there is something crooked with him.
Even if the newcomer is correct, they'll say that he is imperfect. AL.
A stranger is suspect and criticized.
Mja. (from kuja, coming): a newcomer, a stranger.
Mja or binadamu: a human being. KS., mja.
Cf. #787; #884; #985; #986; #1481; #1838.

4352. Mnyamaa kadumbu.  F.28.88.
One who keeps silent lasts.  F.

4353. Mrogi hasemi.  NGU.
A sorcerer speaks not.
Keeps silent about evil intent. Keeps away from people.

4354. Msafiri hodari ni uvumi.  REK.
A brave traveler has many tall stories.
Uvumi: gossip, rumors, tales.

4355. Msi kucha kwambwa nyamba.  KS; SM.
One who is not afraid to be slandered is a fool.
Kwambwa or kusemwa: spoken evil of.
Nyamba, duni: a fool

4356. Msi lake ana mungu.  JK.139.
The one who does not have any [word] has God.
"God suffices as a witness." Koran 24,6, 
Eloquence is not necessary.

Aso wake ana mungu.  MM.
If you have no one, you have God.

4357. Mtemewa mate mengi hulewa.  FSM 134.
One who is spat upon often enough gets intoxicated.
If somebody is told a thing over and over again that person will finally believe it.

4358. Mtenda mema hasemi, akisema hatendi.  FSM.132.
One who does good does not speak about it; if that person does speak [about it] that one does not do [good] deeds.
Also used regarding people who talk a lot but perform poorly.

4359. Mtu huanza kumega tonge kwanza, haanzi kupanua kinywa.  NGU.
A person starts breaking a piece of bread first, the mouth is not opened first.
Think before speaking or doing things. Wait for your time. In due time.

4360. Mtu huchongewa na ulimi wake.  J.,chonga; B.l. 19; T.340; KB.,chongea.
A person is betrayed by one's own tongue.
A shut mouth keeps one from strife.

Ulimi mchongea kichwa.  FSM.190.
The tongue betrays the head.
Puts the head in trouble. Cf. #1803.

4361. Mtu kikwambia neno, sijibu upesi mno.  JKP.
If someone tells you something, do not answer too quickly.

4362. Mtu kipofu haulizwi unaonani.  MA.382.
A blind person is not asked, what do you see. Cf. #1703.

4363. Mungwana ni kalima.  JK.133.
A gentleman is [as good as his] word. Cf. #916.

4364. Mwamba na wako hukutuma umwambie.  KA.
A slanderer of your friend sends you to tell your friend.
Don't talk bad to someone's friend, because that person will tell the friend.

Mwambe wako hukutuma umwambie.  TAA 21; AL 760.
Speaking evil about someone to your friend is the same as sending your friend on a mission to tell that person about the bad thing you said.
Mwamba: slander.

4365. Mwambie anayekubali kusikiliza.  NGU.
Tell it to the person who is willing to listen.

4366. Mwana mbeya hupozea kiporo chake.  NGU.
A child that slanders another gives away leftover food [in order to pacify the one slandered].

4367. Mwenda kimya hagombani na mtu.  FSM.154.
One who walks in silence quarrels with nobody.
Moreover, people respect the silent one because that person is more difficult to understand.  FSM.

4368. Mwenye kelele hana neno.  CM.51; B.1.52; F.35.157.
A noisy person has no message.

4369. Mwenye kwenda kiraguni harudi bure.  FSM.158.
One who goes to the meeting place will not come back with nothing.
Going to the place where people gather to talk things over will enlighten us about happenings, whether true or false. However, because it is also a place of gossip, it can also mean that if you go and listen to gossip, you'll return with many problems.

4370. Mwenye msiba haulizwi nguo chakavu.  KB.217; AL 128.
When someone wears mourning clothes you don't ask why.
Chakavu: old, spoiled, torn or discarded.

4371. Mzaha na mahali pake.  NGU.
A joke needs its own time and place.

4372. Mzuia midomo utartibu mwingi.  KB.231.
If you control your mouth you have much prudence.

4373. Natuone ndipo twambe, kusikia si kuona.  F.38.2.
Let us see, then we can talk, hearing is not seeing. Cf. #1333.

4374. Neno jiwi ni jeraha la moyo.  KA.
A bad word wounds the heart.

Neno jiwi ni kidonda cha moyo.  MARA 2.
An evil word wounds the heart.
It does not heal easily, is not soon forgotten.
Evil words build a lasting hatred.

4375. Niliona, niliona! Watakufanya mbona.  RSP.21.
I saw it, I saw it!  They will make you a witness.
Do not talk too much, you might be called to account for it.  JK.

4376. Nyama ya ulimi tamu.  KA.
Flattery is tasty.
Idle praise is sweet.
It is better to use kind words than words that hurt.
Nyama ya ulimi: meat of the tongue, [idiom], flattery, empty words of praise in order to obtain a favor.

4377. Panya anasema na mwamba, mwenye neno halijui. PM.303.12.
The mouse said to the joist, the one we talk about suspects nothing.
We are often ignorant of what people say or think of us.

4378. Paukwa pakawa ... T.454.
It came to pass and it happened ...
A phrase used in starting a tale.
The end of the story: Kigano na kihadithi kikomele hapo. The little tale and little story ends here.  T.

4379. Panapo maneno mengi dhambi haikosi.  KB.262.
Where there is an abundance of words, sin also is not lacking.

4380. Sema ujualo.  NGU.
Say what you know.
Don't say what you don't know.

4381. Shairi ni maneno mazuri ya mawazo matamu.  NGU.
A poem is made of nice words and fine thoughts.

4382. Shimo la ulimi mkono haufutiki.  F.43.4; B.1.64.
A pit [dug by] the tongue cannot be covered up by the hand.
A word is past recalling.

4383. Silaka kubwa ulimi.  NGU.
A big weapon is the tongue.
For cure and harm.

4384. Simba mwenda kimya ndiye alaye nyama.  F.44.12; SACL.382; KA; CM.42; NGU.
The lion which moves silently is the one that eats the meat.

Simba ambaye ni mgwizi, halii.  JK.145.
A lion that hunts does not roar.  JK.

Simba angurumaye si mwindaji.  FSM.93.
A roaring lion is not a hunter.

Simba angurumaye kachoka kuwinda.  NGU.
A roaring lion is tired of hunting.

4385. Sitapiki nyongo harudi kuramba.  KA; SM.
I don't vomit bile and come back to lick it.
A word spoken cannot be taken back. About nasty words or deeds. Used, e.g., in a divorce.

4386. Sumu ya neno ni neno.  NGU.
The poison of a word is a word.
Abuse going from bad to worse.

4387. Tajiri akinong'ona husikika, maskini akipayuka hasikiki. REK.
A rich person whispering is heard, a poor person fulminating is not heard.

4388. Tone hutoza dosari ambalo ndoo tele haitoshi kuliondoa. EM t17.
A drop can cause a stain that a bucketful of water cannot remove.
Stain here represents an insult or bad word.

4389. Ukiona neno, usinene neno: ukinena neno litakujia neno. J.,nena; SACL.676; B.1.29; MEM.91; NGU.
If you see anything, do not say anything; if you say anything, something will happen to you.

Ukiona neno, usiposema neno, hupatikani na neno.  F.46.7; A.140, T.525, L.99, V.49,hufikwi na neno; SAM.23.4.
If you see something and say nothing, you will not suffer.

4390. Ukitembeza zaidi ulimi, kinywa kinaharibika.  AL 766.
If you move your tongue too much, your mouth will be harmed.
The silent people and the babblers are asocial people.

4391. Ukitolea habari, usinene kwa mafumbo.  JKP.
When you tell news, do not speak in riddles.
Do not slander by allusion. JKP.

4392. Ulimi hauna dawa.  CM.50.
The tongue has no remedy.
Wounds inflicted by the tongue are incurable. Cf. #855, #856.

4393. Ulimi hauna mfupa.  F.47.17; L.102, B.2.24; CM.50; H.105; T.532; SWA.38; J.,ulimi; MARA.16; NS.72; JK.138; V.13; KB.316; KS, mfupa.
A tongue has no bone.
Is unreliable. Word and deed are two. KB. Cf. #854, #856.

4394. Ulimi hujiganga wenyewe.  NGU.
The tongue cures itself.
You cannot put medicine on the tongue. Cf. #2047.

4395. Ulimi huponza mwili.  NGU.
The tongue endangers the body.
By provoking fights.

4396. Ulimi mtamu humwondoa tembo shambani.  EM u17.
Sweet language makes the elephant leave the plantation.
Gentle coaxing often removes a danger. Cf. #1833.

4397. Ulimi ukuchome kwa chakula, sio kwa maneno.  EM u18.
Food should burn your tongue, but not words.
It's better to be hurt than hurt others.

4398. Ulimi umewekewa ngoma ya miamba.  EM u19.
The tongue is surrounded by a stone fort.
The tongue should be guarded within the wall of teeth.

4399. Ulimu unabaki katikati ya meno.  AL 728.
The tongue stays in the middle of the teeth.
We are surrounded by enemies. Be careful of what we say.

4400. Ulimi unauma kuliko meno.  F.47.18.
The tongue hurts more than the teeth. Cf. #1833, 1854.

4401. Usijitende ng'ombe, ukatoa ulimi kutia puani.  T.553.
Do not act like a cow, sticking out your tongue and putting it into your nose.
Do not put back into your nose what has come from your mouth, [i.e., a promise].  T.
Said of somebody who does not keep promises, or denies what has been said.

Ng'ombe usijitende.  T.553.
Don't act the cow!

4402. Usikaange mbuyu ukawaachia wenye meno watafune.  F.48.33.
Do not roast baobab kernels and let those who have teeth chew them.
Don't start quarrels among other people by telling tales.  F.
Cf. #? "If you roast maize [mbisi - popcorn] you roast it for people who have teeth". Racial proverbs 586.148.
Kaanga mbuyu: to deceive, to start a quarrel. Idiom.

4403. Usinene kwa mayowe, apitao kasikia.  JKP.
Do not speak loudly so that a passerby hear it.

4404. Usiposema utakonda.  AL 767.
If you do not speak up, you'll get thin.
A silent person is pushed back and cannot hope to have a happy life. AL.

4405. Usiseme ni haki unachoweza kuuliza kwa upendeleo.  NGU.
Don't say that it is your right if you can ask for it as a favor.

4406. Usitangaze ya njiani kabla kupeleleza.  NGU.
Don't speak about what happened on the road before investigating.
Tangaza: publish, advertise; proclaim

4407.  Waache waseme mchana, usiku watalala.  EM w1.
Let them speak in daytime, at night they will sleep.
Those who speak against you cannot speak all the time. So you should not mind so much. EM.

4408. Wasemapo ndipo wasikiapo.  FSM.201.
Where words are spoken there also words are heard.
Be careful what you say. Make your good ideas heard.

4409. Wasemayo ni kweli; hata hayajafika, sharti yafike.  AL 1892.
Spoken words are efficacious; even if not yet realized, they surely will come through. AL. Cf. #1742.

 4410. Wasikilize wote wasemao lakini washangilie wachache wasemao busara tu.  NGU.
They may listen to all the speakers, but applause [only] the few who make sense.

4411. Watasema mchana, usiku watachoka [watalala].  KA
Those who speak a lot during the day, are tired [sleep] at night.
Slanderers get tired at the end. So don't worry too much about them.

4412. Watu ni gamba, hawakosi la kwamba.  JKP.
People are like gramophones, they never stop talking.
Gamba [chombo kitoacho sauti]: an instrument that speaks.
Kwamba or kuamba or kusema: to speak.

4413. Watu wamba, wasiposema huamba.  V.,amba,
People are chatterboxes; if they do not talk in public they do it in secret.
Or: If they do not converse they talk nonsense. Said of the Swahili.  V.

4414. Watu wana ndimi nyingi.  JK.131.
People have many tongues.
Referring to the talk of the town.  JK. Cf. #1828.

4415. Yaani, yaani haivunji mfupa.  EM y1.
I mean, I mean, does not break a bone.
Empty words do not achieve anything. EM.

4416. Yanayozungumzwa mengine na yanayotendwa mengine. FSM.204.
What is said and what is done are different.

4417. Yateue ya usemi, na utawale ulimi.  JKP.
Choose eloquent words and control your tongue. Teua: choose.