Filipino proverbs

Unless otherwise stated, the following proverbs are in Filipino, the national language of the Philippines, where they are called salawikain. Since the Filipino language does not have separate pronouns for male and female, or does not distinguish between genders, translations containing he are understood to mean both genders. Literal translations are given, followed by an explanation if needed.

A

• Aanhin ang malaki na hahanapin pa, kung mayroong maliit na nasa kamay na?
  • What would one do with a big one that needs to be searched for, if there is a small one that is already in one's hands?

• Aanhin pa ang damo, kung patay na ang kabayo?"
  • Literally, "What good is the grass if the horse is already dead."
  • Refers to solutions that comes late.

• Aanhin mo ang palasyo, kung ang nakatira ay kuwago. Mabuti pa ang bahay kubo, ang nakatira ay tao.
  • What good is a palace if it's inhabited by owls. Better a straw hut inhabited by humans.
    • A shot at materialism, this proverb states that it is better to live in a shabby house and be humane than to live in a lavish house and act like a low-life or animal.

• Ang buhay ay parang gulong, minsang nasa ibabaw, minsang nasa ilalim.
  • Life is like a wheel, sometimes (you're) at the top, sometimes (you're) at the bottom.

• Ang gawa sa pagkabata, dala hanggang pagtanda.
  • What one learns in childhood he carries into adulthood.

• Kung gusto, maraming paraan; kung ayaw, maraming dahilan.
  • Those who want (to do something) (find) many ways; Those who don't want (to do something) (find) many excuses.

• Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika, daig pa ang hayop at malansang isda.
  • He who does not love his native language is worse than a beast or a putrid fish.

• Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.
  • He who does not look back where he came from will never get to his destination.

• Ang katamaran ay kapatid ng kagutuman.
  • Laziness is the sibling of starvation.

• Ang langaw na dumapo sa kalabaw, mataas pa sa kalabaw ang pakiramdam.
  • A fly that lands on a carabao feels itself superior to the carabao.

• Ang lumalakad nang mabagal, kung matinik ay mababaw. Ang lumalakad nang matulin, kung matinik ay malalim.
  • Thorns bury shallowly into one who walks slowly. Thorns bury deeply into one who walks fast.

• Ang maniwala sa sabi-sabi, walang bait na sarili.
  • He who believes in hearsay has no sanity.

• Ang masamang damo, mahaba ang buhay .
  • Bad grass does not die easily.

• Ang nagtanim ng hangin, bagyo ang aanihin.
  • He who sows the wind, reaps a typhoon.

• Ang pagsasabi ng tapat ay pagsasamang maluwat.
  • Truthfulness ensures a lasting relationship.
    • Literally translated : Telling the truth is getting along well.

• Ang pili nang pili, natatapat sa bungi.
  • One who spends too much time choosing ends up with cracked wares.
    • Romantically: A choosy person ends up with someone lesser than she/he expected.

• Ang sinungaling ay kapatid ng magnanakaw.
  • A person who lies is the sibling of a person who steals. ***Literally translated: A liar is the sibling of a thief.

• Ang taong nagigipit, sa patalim kumakapit.
  • A desperate person will hold on to a knife edge.

• Ang taong walang kibo, tiyan ang kumukulo.
  • A person who is outwardly calm has anger raging inside his stomach.

• Ang tunay na anyaya, sinasamahan ng hila.
  • A sincere invitation is accompanied by a pull (of the hand).

• Ang umaayaw ay di nagwawagi, ang nagwawagi ay di umaayaw.
  • He who quits does not succeed, he who succeeds does not quit.

• Anuman ang gagawin, makapitong isipin.
  • Whatever you do, think about it seven times.

• Ang maghangad ng kagitna, Isang salop ang nawawala
  • He who cannot do things on his own, loses a lot

B

• Batu-bato sa langit, ang tamaan, huwag magagalit.
  • Stones hurled to the sky. Don't get angry if you get hit.
  • Meaning: Don't be angry if you get criticized without naming names.
  • Stones in the sky, he who gets hit, shouldn't get angry.
  • Interpretation : If a criticism intended for somebody hits you, you should not be angry.

• "Basurang itinapon mo, babalik sa iyo"
  • The garbage you throw away will return to you.
  • Same as: you reap what you sow

D

• Daig ng maagap ang taong masipag.
  • The prepared beats the hardworking person.

• Damitan mo man ang matsing, matsing pa rin.
  • A monkey dressed up is still a monkey.

• Di lahat ng kagalingan ay may dalang katamisan.
  • Not all goodness brings sweetness.

H

• Habang maikli ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot.
  • Literally "While the blanket is short, learn to curl up (to fit)"
  • Refers to situations when resources are scarce, one should learn to be thrift and adapt.

• Huli man daw at magaling, naihahabol din.
  • It is never too late to offer anything that is good.

• Habang may buhay, may pag-asa.
  • If there's life, there's hope.

K

• Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga.
  • Whatever the tree is, is the same with the fruit.
    • It is same as; Like Father, Like Son.

• Kung may tinanim, may aanihin.
  • If you planted something, you will have something to harvest.

• Kung nasaan ang asukal, naruon ang langgam.
  • Wherever you find sugar, you'll find ants.

• Kung sino ang masalita ay siyang kulang sa gawa.
  • He who speaks too much works too little.

• Kung may tiyaga, may nilaga.
  • (litterally) If you persevere, you'll have stew.
  • If you don't persevere, you can expect no reward.
  • Interpretation : He who works, gets compensated.

• Kung sino ang pumutak, siya ang nanganak.
  • He who cackles lays the eggs.
  • He who blabs is the guilty party.

• Kunwaring matapang bagkus duwag naman.
  • One who acts tough is really a coward.

M

• Madali ang maging tao, mahirap magpakatao.
  • It is easy to be human. It is hard to be humane.

• Maingay ang latang walang laman.
  • Noisy is the can that contains nothing.

• Matalino man ang matsing, napaglalamangan din.
  • An intelligent monkey can still be outsmarted.

• Matibay ang walis, palibhasa'y magkabigkis.
  • A broom is sturdy because its strands are tightly bound.

• May tainga ang lupa, may pakpak ang balita.
  • The earth has ears, news (gossip) has wings.

P

• Pagkahaba-haba man daw ng prusisyon, sa simbahan din ang tuloy.
  • No matter how long the procession, it still ends up in church.

• "Pag-ibig, Pag-asa, at Pananampalataya sa Diyos, tatlong katangiang dapat nating kamtan, nang sa buhay sa mundo, tayo ay magtagumpay"
  • We should always keep in mind that Love, Hope, and Faith in God,will bring us success in life.
    • These are the Three P's of Life.

• Pag may isinuksok, may maidudukot
  • If you have something saved in the past, you will have something to help you in dire need.

• Punong mabunga madalas binabato.
  • A tree that bears fruit is often hurled at.
    • people who succeed are the subject of jealousy and injury.

• Puro kahol, walang kagat
  • All bark no bite (Literally translated) *** All talk, no actions

S

• Sa taong may tunay na hiya, ang salita ay panunumpa.
  • To a person who has true humility, words are vows.
    • one must always be true to their word and keep their promises.

• Sa panahon ng kagipitan, makikilala ang tunay na kaibigan
  • In times of trouble and you need help, you will see your real friends.

W

• Walang ligaya sa lupa na hindi dinilig ng luha.
  • There is no earthly bliss not watered by tears.

• Walang mahirap na gawa pag dinaan sa tiyaga.
  • No undertaking is difficult if pursued with perseverance.

• Walang mapait na tutong, sa taong nagugutom.
  • There is no bitter (rice)crust to a hungry person.

• Walang matigas na tinapay sa mainit na kape.
  • No bread is too hard for warm coffee.