BORANA PROVERBS
1. Haadha dhabuu mannaa haadha dhabduu wayyaa.
Having a destitute mother is better for one than not having mother at all.
2. Dhalaafi i ijoolleef uletu qoricha.
For women and children, stick is (the right) treatment.
3. Niitii abbaan manaa mana hin jirre, du’a ga’ii fardaa dhaqxi.
A wife whose husband is not at home (around) goes to condole the death of horse.
4. Ka dandeettu dhaani jennaan dhiirsi galee niitii dhaane.
When he was allowed to whip whoever he can, the husband returned home and whipped his wife.
5. Cidha beerti feete aanan qodaa hin hanqatu.
When a woman has decided to go to wedding, her milk does not fall short of her milk holder.
6. Dhiirsi niitii sodaatu ilma hin dhalfatu.
A husband that fears his wife can not father a child.
7. Dhiirti eebooyyuu hin obsiti.
Males endure even (the pains of) spear.
8. Niitiin dhiirsa mootu ollaa horn hin gootu.
A woman that dominates her husband will not at all value her neighbors.
9. Dhiirti utubaa sibiilaati, intalti karra ambaati.
A male is an iron pillar of a house whereas a female is the (outside) gate that belongs to others.
10. Niitii fi farda abbatu eeggata.
It is the man (the possessor) who should manage his horse as well as his wife.
11. Namni beera koorse galgala qorsoo nyaata, namini farad koorse galgala kooraa bataa.
One who has spoiled his wife eats qorsoo (roasted barley) for his supper (because she does not give him a wife-like service of fine and fancy food) as one who has spoiled his horse carries koraa (saddle) at night (because the unruly horse would throw the saddle as well as him off itself and run wild.
12. Beeraafi i harreen ba’aa hin dadhabdu.
Women and donkeys do not complain about burden.
13. ‘Wal fi xnee addaan nu guuraa’ jedhe namichhi bakka kufetti.
‘We have nearly tormented each other. Please, take us apart.’ said a man at his defeat.
14. Dhalaan akkuma harmaati ayyliin rarraati.
Women, their hearts sway just like their breasts.
15. Beerti daakkaa malee daangaa hin beeytu.
Women know grinding, but not where to stop.
16. Harreen moonaan qabdu moonaa loonii galti, beerti da’oon qabdu da’ oo dhiiraa gali.
Just as donkeys do not have their own kraal (and thus inhabit in that of cattle), women do not have their own abode (and thus dwell in that of men).
17. Beerti furdoo malee guddoo hin qabdu.
Women are bulky, but not great.
18. Intalti garaa laaftu garaa qullaa hin baatu.
A kind-hearted daughter does not marry without fetus.
19. Beerti qoonqoo tolchiti malee dubbii hintolchitu.
Women make (good) dish, but not (good) speech.
20. Hadhaa fi bishaan hamaa hin qaban.
Mother and water have no evil.
21. Ati heefaa, ani beeraa. Eennutu laga wal baasaa?
You are weak and shaky. I am woman. How do we cross the river?
22. Niitiin dhiirsi koorse itillerraa mucucaatti.
A woman whom her husband has spoiled slides from a tanned leather.
23. Mana onaa mannaa, mana niitii ontuu wayya.
Better a hollow wife than a desolate house.
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