Common Shona proverbs and figurative idioms with their meanings explained, for an upper-level learner. Front: the Shona idiom. Back: English meaning and usage note.
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- Chara chimwe hachitswanyi inda
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One finger cannot crush a louse. Meaning: people must work together, since one person alone cannot handle every task.- Kandiro kanoenda kunobva kamwe
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A small dish that goes out returns with another. Meaning: kindness given is kindness returned, one good turn deserves another.- Rume rimwe harikombi churu
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One man alone cannot surround an anthill. Meaning: some tasks need many hands working together.- Mwana asingachemi anofira mumbereko
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A child who does not cry dies on the carrying cloth. Meaning: if you never speak up about your needs, you may suffer quietly.- Gudo guru peta muswe kuti vazukuru vagokwena
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The big baboon must tuck in its tail so the young ones can cross too. Meaning: elders should set a good example for the young to follow.- Chakafukidza dzimba matenga
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What covers every house is its roof. Meaning: every family has private matters that outsiders never see.- Musha mukadzi
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A home is its wife. Meaning: a woman's care and presence are what truly make a house feel like home.- Ane mano haafi nenzara
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A resourceful person does not die of hunger. Meaning: cleverness and skill will always help a person find a way through hardship.- Kuora mwoyo
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Literally "the heart rots." Meaning: to lose hope, to become discouraged.- Kudya mwoyo
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Literally "to eat one's own heart." Meaning: to be consumed by worry or anxiety.- Kurova hana
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Literally "the chest pounds." Meaning: to be gripped by sudden fear.- Mwoyo wakasimba
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Literally "a strong heart." Meaning: a brave, courageous person who does not give up.- Ziso rakasvinura
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Literally "a sharp eye." Meaning: an alert, observant person who notices everything.- Musoro mukukutu
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Literally "a hard head." Meaning: a stubborn person who refuses to listen to advice.- Muromo wakashata
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Literally "a bad mouth." Meaning: someone who speaks rudely or stirs up trouble with careless words.
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