PROVERBS

Tagalog and English

Tagalog proverb:

Buhay at Pagkatao (Life & Character)

Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa paroroonan.
He who does not look back to where he came from will never reach his destination.
→ Remember your roots and those who helped you.

Madali ang maging tao, mahirap magpakatao.
It’s easy to be human, but hard to act like one.
→ True humanity is shown through goodness and morals.

Ang buhay ay parang gulong: minsan nasa ibabaw, minsan nasa ilalim.
Life is like a wheel: sometimes you’re up, sometimes you’re down.
→ Life changes; stay humble and strong.

Pag may hirap, may ginhawa.
After hardship comes ease.
→ Persevere; success follows struggle.

Kapag may itinanim, may aanihin.
What you sow is what you reap.
→ You harvest the result of your actions.

Kung walang tiyaga, walang nilaga.
Without perseverance, there is no reward.
→ Success requires patience and effort.

Kung may tinanim, may aanihin.
If you plant something, you will harvest something.
→ You get what you work for.

Habang maikli ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot.
When the blanket is short, learn to curl up under it.
→ Live within your means.

Aanhin pa ang damo, kung patay na ang kabayo.
What good is grass if the horse is already dead?
→ Don’t act too late.

Ang taong nagigipit, sa patalim kumakapit.
A desperate person clings even to a blade.
→ People in need will do desperate things.

Ang taong walang kibo, nasa loob ang kulo.
A silent person has anger within.
→ Don’t underestimate quiet people.

Ang hipong tulog ay tinatangay ng agos.
A sleeping shrimp is carried away by the current.
→ Stay alert or risk falling behind.

Ang taong mapagmataas, malapit bumagsak.
A proud person is close to falling.
→ Pride leads to downfall.

Matibay ang walis, palibhasa’y magkabigkis.
A broom is strong because its strands are bound together.
→ Unity gives strength.

Kung di ukol, di bubukol.
If it’s not meant for you, it won’t happen.
→ What’s meant to be will be.

Ang umaayaw ay di nagwawagi, ang nagwawagi ay di umaayaw.
Those who give up never win; those who win never give up.
→ Perseverance leads to victory.

Ang taong naglalakad nang matulin, pag nadapa’y malalim.
He who walks fast may stumble hard.
→ Haste leads to mistakes.

Daig ng maagap ang masipag.
The prompt beats the industrious.
→ Acting early is better than working hard too late.

Ang taong matiyaga, nagtatagumpay.
A patient person succeeds.
→ Patience brings success.

Kung may sinuksok, may madudukot.
If you save something, you’ll have something to draw from.
→ Save for the future.

Karunungan at Kaalaman (Wisdom & Knowledge)

Ang karunungan ay kayamanan.
Wisdom is wealth.
→ Knowledge is more valuable than gold.

Ang hindi marunong magpatawad, hindi pinapatawad.
He who doesn’t forgive is not forgiven.
→ Forgive to be forgiven.

Ang marunong umintindi ay higit sa marunong magsalita.
He who understands is greater than he who speaks well.
→ Listening is a greater skill than talking.

Ang nakatikip na bibig ay hindi pinapasukan ng langaw.
A closed mouth has no flies entering.
→ Silence avoids trouble.

Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga.
Whatever the tree, so is the fruit.
→ Children resemble their parents.

Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.
He who forgets his past won’t reach his goal.
→ Be grateful for your beginnings.

Ang taong walang galang sa matanda, walang dangal sa sarili.
A person who doesn’t respect elders has no respect for himself.
→ Respect begets respect.

Ang taong mapagpakumbaba ay dinadakila.
The humble are exalted.
→ Humility brings honor.

Ang matandang pusa ay hindi natutulog sa kulambo.
An old cat doesn’t sleep in a mosquito net.
→ Experience teaches wisdom.

Ang taong nagigipit, natututo.
A person in need learns resourcefulness.
→ Adversity teaches lessons.

Pag-ibig at Relasyon (Love & Relationships)

Ang pag-ibig, parang alak—habang tumatagal, lalong sumasarap.
Love is like wine—the longer it lasts, the sweeter it gets.

Ang pag-ibig na wagas ay walang hanggan.
True love is eternal.

Ang pag-ibig sa bayan ay higit sa dangal.
Love for country is greater than honor.

Ang pusong mapagbigay, lalong nagiging masigla.
A generous heart is a happy heart.

Ang ampalaya, kahit anong pait, sa nagmamahal ay matamis.
No matter how bitter, it is sweet to the one who loves it.

Ang pag-ibig na hindi pinag-isipan ay parang pagkain na hilaw.
Love without thought is like half-cooked food.

Kung mahal mo, ipaglaban mo.
If you love, fight for it.

Pag-ibig na kusang dumating, di mo man hanapin, ay hindi mawawala.
Love that comes naturally will never fade.

Walang lihim na hindi nabubunyag.
No secret remains hidden.

Ang selos ay tanda ng pag-ibig, ngunit sobra ay lason.
Jealousy is a sign of love, but too much is poison.

Pamilya at Lipunan (Family & Society)

Ang sakit ng kalingkingan, damdam ng buong katawan.
The pain of the pinky is felt by the whole body.
→ One’s pain is everyone’s pain.

Ang batang matalino, ay pag-asa ng bayan.
A wise child is the hope of the nation.

Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa sa hayop at malansang isda.
He who does not love his language is worse than a beast and a stinky fish.

Ang mag-asawang walang turingan, parang tinik sa lalamunan.
A couple without respect is like a thorn in the throat.

Ang mabuting anak ay kayamanan ng magulang.
A good child is the treasure of parents.

Ang magulang ay maituturing na kayamanan.
Parents are treasures.

Walang kapantay ang pagmamahal ng ina.
A mother’s love is unmatched.

Ang pagkakaisa ay sandigan ng tagumpay.
Unity is the foundation of success.

Ang pamilyang sama-sama, kayang harapin ang anumang problema.
A united family can overcome any obstacle.

Ang respeto sa magulang ay tanda ng kabutihang asal.
Respecting parents shows good manners.

Paggawa at Tagumpay (Work, Success & Perseverance)

Ang masipag ay daig ng maagap.
The industrious is surpassed by the prompt.
→ Acting early is better than working hard but late.

Ang hindi tumingin sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.
He who forgets his roots cannot reach his destination.
→ Always remember your beginnings.

Ang taong masipag, pinagtatawanan man, ay nagwawagi rin.
The diligent may be mocked but will eventually win.

Ang taong walang tiyaga, walang nilaga.
A person without perseverance has no reward.
→ Patience brings results.

Pag may itinanim, may aanihin.
If you plant something, you will harvest something.
→ Your efforts will pay off.

Ang taong may tiyaga, may nilaga.
He who perseveres reaps the reward.

Kapag may sipag at tiyaga, may nilaga.
With effort and patience comes reward.

Ang mabigat ay gumagaan, kapag pinagtutulungan.
Heavy tasks become light when done together.
→ Teamwork makes everything easier.

Ang umaayaw sa laban ay hindi nagwawagi.
Those who quit never win.
→ Success requires persistence.

Ang taong nagigipit, natututo ng diskarte.
Necessity teaches resourcefulness.
→ Hardship breeds creativity.

Kapag may pinagpaguran, may aanihin.
What is worked for will bear fruit.

Ang magbiro sa biro, magdusa sa totoo.
He who jokes too much suffers in truth.
→ Don’t take important things lightly.

Walang matimtimang birhen sa matiyagang manalangin.
No modest maiden can resist a persistent prayer.
→ Persistence achieves what patience asks for.

Ang pagod ay kabayaran ng tagumpay.
Tiredness is the price of success.

Ang taong marunong maghintay, nagtatamo ng biyaya.
He who knows how to wait receives blessings.

Kabutihan, Katapatan, at Katarungan (Morality, Honesty & Justice)

Ang kasalanan, kahit kailan, ay hindi nagbubunga ng kabutihan.
Sin never yields good.
→ Wrongdoing has consequences.

Ang matapat na kaibigan, tunay na kayamanan.
An honest friend is a true treasure.

Ang tapat na salita ay mas mabigat kaysa ginto.
An honest word weighs more than gold.

Ang mabuting gawa ay nagbubunga ng kabutihan.
Good deeds yield good results.

Ang taong marunong tumupad sa pangako, iginagalang.
He who keeps promises earns respect.

Ang masamang damo, matagal mamatay.
A bad weed lives long.
→ Evil often persists but not forever.

Ang mabuting kalooban, higit sa magandang anyo.
A good heart is better than a beautiful face.

Ang taong walang dangal, ay parang punong walang ugat.
A person without honor is like a tree without roots.

Ang masama ay laging may kaparusahan.
Evil always meets its punishment.

Ang magalang na sagot ay nakapapawi ng galit.
A respectful answer cools anger.

Ang utang na loob ay di mababayaran ng salapi.
A debt of gratitude cannot be repaid with money.

Ang taong palabiro ay may taglay na lungkot.
A jester hides sorrow.

Walang lihim na hindi nabubunyag.
No secret stays hidden forever.

Ang may mabuting asal ay higit na mahalaga kaysa mayaman.
Good manners are more valuable than wealth.

Ang katarungan ay para sa lahat.
Justice is for everyone.

Kalikasan at Buhay-Rural (Nature & Rural Wisdom)

Bato-bato sa langit, ang tamaan huwag magalit.
Stones thrown to the sky, whoever’s hit—don’t be mad.
→ If it’s not about you, don’t take offense.

Ang tubig na malalim ay tahimik.
Still waters run deep.
→ Quiet people often have depth.

Kapag apaw na ang takalan, kailangan kalusan.
When the pot overflows, you must level it off.
→ Control excess and pride.

Walang lumalagong damo sa daang dinaraanan ng kabayo.
No grass grows on the road often used by a horse.
→ Hard work prevents stagnation.

Ang ibon ay nakikilala sa kanyang huni.
A bird is known by its song.
→ A person is known by their words and actions.

Kung anong itinanim, siyang aanihin.
You reap what you sow.

Kapag ang ilog ay tahimik, asahan mong malalim.
A quiet river runs deep.
→ Depth is often hidden.

Ang palay ay lalong nagiging mabigat habang nagkakabunga.
The rice stalk bows lower as it bears grain.
→ The wiser you become, the more humble you should be.

Magtanim ka at ikaw ay aani.
Plant and you shall harvest.

Ang punong mabunga ay laging binabato.
A fruitful tree is always stoned.
→ Successful people face criticism.

Katalinuhan, Wika, at Kabiroan (Wit, Speech & Practical Wisdom)

Ang dila ay walang buto, ngunit nakakapagpatay ng tao.
The tongue has no bone but can kill a person.
→ Words are powerful, use them wisely.

Ang taong maingay, kadalasan ay walang laman.
The noisiest person often knows the least.

Ubos-ubos biyaya, pagkatapos nakatunganga.
Spendthrift today, beggar tomorrow.

Ang magbiro sa lasing, madalas napapahamak.
He who jokes with a drunk often ends up hurt.

Ang pikon ay laging talo.
He who is short-tempered always loses.

Ang taong walang kibo, nasa loob ang kulo.
Silence may hide strong feelings.

Ang taong matalino ay marunong makinig.
A wise person knows how to listen.

Ang wika ay kaluluwa ng bansa.
Language is the soul of a nation.

Kung gusto, may paraan; kung ayaw, may dahilan.
If there’s a will, there’s a way.

Huwag mong gawin sa iba ang ayaw mong gawin sa iyo.
Do not do unto others what you don’t want done to you.
→ The golden rule of moral conduct.

OTHERS:

Kung di ukol, di bubukol.
English translation: If it isn't related to the matter at hand, it's irrelevant.

Tagalog proverb: Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa.
English translation: God helps those who help themselves.

Tagalog proverb: Kung walang tiyaga, walang nilaga.
English translation: Without perseverance, there is no reward.

Tagalog proverb: Habang maikli ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot.
English translation: When the blanket is short, learn to curl up under it.

Tagalog proverb: Kapag apaw na ang takalan, kailangan kalusan.
English translation: When the pot runs over, you need to level the water off.

Tagalog proverb: Kung may isinuksok, may madudukot.
English translation: If you stash away something, you'll have something to take out.

Tagalog proverb: Bago mo sabihin at gawin, makapitong iisipin.
English translation: Before you say and do, think about it seven times.

Ang hipong tulog ay tinatangay ng agos.
A sleeping shrimp is carried away by the water current.
(Keep alert and be vigilant so you won't find yourself in a bad situation.)

Ang nakatikip na bibig ay hindi pinapasukan ng langaw.
A covered mouth will not have flies entering it.
(Keep your mouth shut and be quiet to stay out of trouble.)

Aanhin pa ang damo, kung patay na ang kabayo.
The grass is of no use if the horse is dead.
(Don't be so fixated on accomplishing a certain task that you end up destroying the original goal for which the task was for.)

Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga.
Whatever the tree, so will its fruit be.

Kung may tinanim, may aanihin.
If you planted something, you'll harvest something.

Aanhin pa ang damo, kung patay na ang kabayo.
What good is the grass if the horse is already dead.

Malaking puno, ngunit walang lilim.
A large tree with no shade.