Methali

1. Adhabu ya kaburi aijua maiti, The  touture of the grave is only known by the corpse
2. Akiba haiozi, A reserve will not decay
3. Asifuye mvuwa imemnyea. He who praises rain has been rained on.
4. Akili nyingi huondowa maarifa. Great wit drives away wisdom
5. Asiye kubali kushindwa si mshindani. He who does not admit defeat is not a sportsman
6. Atangaye na jua hujuwa. He wanders around by day a lot, learns a lot
7. Asiye kuwapo na lake halipo. If you are absent you lose your share
8. Avumaye baharini papa kumbe wengi wapo. Shark is the famous one in sea the but they many others
9. Baada ya dhiki faraja. After hardship comes relief.
10. Baniani mbaya kiatu chake dawa .An evil Indian but his bussiness is good.
11. Bendera hufuata upepo. A flag follows the direction of the wind.
12. Bilisi wa mtu ni mtu. The evil spirit of a man is a man.
13. Chamlevi huliwa na mgema. The drunkard's money is being consumed by palm-wine trapper.
14. Chanda chema huvikwa pete. A handsome finger gets the ring.
15. Chombo cha kuzama hakina usukani. A sinking vessel needs no navigation.
16. Chovya - chovya yamaliza buyu la asali. Constant dipping will empty goud of honey
17. Dalili ya mvua mawingu. Clouds are the sign of rain
18. Damu nzito kuliko maji. Blood is thicker than water
19. Dawa ya moto ni moto. the remedy of fire is fire
20. Dua la kuku halimpati mwewe. the curse of the fowl does not bother the kite.
21. Fadhila ya punda ni mateke. Gratitude of a donkey is a kick.
22. Fimbo ya mbali hayiuwi nyoka. A wepon which you don't have in hand wont kill asnake.
23. Fuata nyuki ule asali. Follow bees and you will get honey
24. Fumbo mfumbe mjinga mwerevu huligangua. Put a riddle to a fool a clever personwill solve it
25. Gnda la mua la jana chungu kaona kivuno. The skin of yesteday's sugarcane is aavest to an ant.
26. Hab na haba hujaza kibaba. Little by little fills up the measure.
27. Hapana marefu yasio na mwisho. They is no distance that has no end.
28. Hakuna siri ya watu wawili. They is no secret between two people.
29. Haraka haraka haina baraka. Hurry hurry has no blessings
30. Hasira, hasara. Anger brings loss(Damage)
31. Heri kufa macho kuliko kufa moyo .It is better to lose your eyes than to lose your heart.
32. Heri kujikwa kidole kuliko ulimi. Better to stumble with toe than toungue.
33. Hiari ya shinda utumwa. Voluntary is better than force .
34. Hucheka kovu asiye kuwa na jeraha. He laughs at scar who has received no wound.
35. Ihsani (hisani)haiozi. Kindness does not go rotten.
36. Ikiwa hujui kufa,tazama kaburi. If you don't know death look at the grave.
37. Jina jema hungara gizani. A good name shines in the dark.
38. Jino la pembe si dawa ya pengo. An ivory tooth is not cure for the lost tooth.
39. Jitihadi haiondoi kudura. Effort will not counter faith.
40. Jogoo la shamba haliwiki mjini. The village cock does not crow in town.
41. Kafiri akufaye si Isilamu asiyekufa. An infidel who does you good turn is not like a Muslim who does not
42. Kamba hukatika pabovu. A rope parts where it is thinnest.
43. Kanga hazai ugenini. A guine- fowl not lay eggs on strange places
44. Kawaida ni kama sheria. Usage is like law
45. Kawia ufike. Better delay and get there.
46. Kazi mbaya siyo mchezo mwema. A bad job is not as wothless as a good game
47. Kelele za mlango haziniwasi usingizi. The creaking of the door deprives me of no sleep.
48. Kenda karibu na kumi. Nine is near ten.
49. Kiburi si maungwana. Arrogance is not gentlemanly.
50. Kichango kuchangizana. Everyone should contribute when collection is made. 51. Kidole kimoja hakivunji chawa. One finger canot kill a louse.

52. Kingiacho mjini si haramu. That is fashionable in town is never prohibited.
53. Kikulacho ki nguoni mwako .That which eats you up is in your clothing.
55. Kila chombo kwa wimblile .Every vessel has its own waves
56. Kila mlango na ufunguwo wake. Every door with its own key
57. Kila mtoto na koja lake. To every child his own neck ornament
58. Kila mwamba ngoma ,ngozi huivuta kwake. Every who streches a skin on a drum,pulls the skin own his own side.
59. Kila ndege huruka na mbawa zake .Every bird flies with its own wings.
60. Kilio huanza mfiwa ndipo wa mbali wakaingia. The beareved begins the wailing latter others join.
61. Kimya kingi kina mshindo mkubwa. Along silence followed by mighty noise.
62. Kinga na kinga ndipo moto uwakapo. One fire brand after another keeps fire burning.
63. Kinyozi hajinyoi. A barber does not shave himself.
64. Kinywa ni jumba la maneno. Mouth is the home of words.
65. Kipendacho moyo ni dawa .What the heart desires is medicine to it.
66. Kipya kinyemi ingawa kidonda. A new thing is a souce of joy even if is sore.
67. Kisebusebu na roho kipapo. Refusing and wanting at the same time.
68. Kisokula mlimwengu,sera nale. what is not eaten by a man,let the devil eat it.
69. Kitanda usicho kilala hujui kunguni wake. You canot know the bugs of a bed that you have not lain on.
70. Kivuli cha fimbo hakimfichi mtu jua .Shadow of a stick canot protect one from the sun.
71. Kiwi cha yule ni chema cha;hata ulimwengu uwishe. The blindnes of that one is his good fortune
72. Kizuri chajiuza kibaya chajitembeza. A good thing sells it self a bad one advertises it self
73. Konzo ya maji haifumbatiki. A handfull of water can not be grasped.
74. Kosa moja haliachi mke. One fault does not warrant divorce of a wife
75. Kozi mwandada ,kulala na njaa kupenda. A goshawk is an egg child,if sleeps hungry its his own fault.
76. Kuagiza kufyekeza. ie One eye of a master sees more than four of a servent.
77. Kuambizana kuko kusikilizana hapana. Giving advice but no one listens.
78. Kucha M'ngu si kilemba cheupe. The fear of God is not wearing a white turban.
79. Kuchamba kwingi,kuondoka na mavi. Leave well alone! You wont improve matters by going on tinkering
80. Kufa kufaana. Death has its advantages too ie it benifits those who inherit.

81. Kufa kwa jamaa, harusi. The death of not a relative is a wedding.Compared to a death of a relative
82. Kufa kwa mdomo,mate hutawanyika. When the head of the family dies,that family breaks up.
83. Kuishi kwingi ni kuona mengi. To live long is to see much.
84. Kujikwa si kuanguka,bali ni kwenda mbele .To stumble is not falling down but it is to go forward.
85. Kukopa harusi kulipa matanga. Borrowing is like a wedding ,repaying is like mourning.
86. Kuku havunji yai lake. A hen does not break her own eggs.
87. Kuku mgeni hakosi kamba mguuni .A new fowl always has string around its legs.
88. Kula kutamu ,kulima mavune. Eating is sweet ,digging is weariness.
89. Kulea mimba si kazi kazi kulea mwana .It is not hard to nurse a pregnency,but it is hard to bring up a child.
90. Kunako matanga kume kufa mtu. Where they is mourning someone has died.
91. Kunguru mwoga hukimbiza mbawa zake. The timid crow withdraws his wings from harm.
92. Kupanda mchongoma ,kushuka ngoma. You may climb a thorn tree,and be unable to come down.
93. Kupoteya njia ndiyo kujua njia. To get lost is to learn the way.
94. Kutoa ni moyo usambe ni utajiri. Charity is the matter of the heart not of the pocket.
95. Kutu kuu ni la mgeni. Old rust is for the stranger.
96. Kuzima koleo si mwisho wa uhunzi. Cooling the tongs is not end of forging.
97. Kwa mwoga huenda kicheko na kwa shujaa huenda kilio. i.e.timidity often ends in a laugh, bravado in a lament.
98. Kwenda mbio siyo kufika. To run is not neccessarily to arrive.
99. Kwenye miti hakuna wajenzi. Where there trees,there are no builders.
100. La kuvunda(kuvunja) halina rubani. A vessel running agroud has no captain.
101.La kuvunda (kuvunja)halina ubani. They is no incence for something rotting.
102. Lake mtu halimtapishi bali humchefusha. One's foul smelling does not sicken one self but merely disguts one.
103. Leo ni leo asemayo kesho ni mwongo. Today is today who says tommorrow is a liar
104. Liandikwalo ndiyo liwalo. That which is written by God is what is.
105. Lila na fila hazitangamani. Good and evil will never mix.
106. Lipitalo ,hupishwa . Things dont just happen by accidents
107. Lisemwalo lipo,ikiwa halipo laja. What is benig talked about is here,and if its not it's comming around behind.
108. Lisilokuwapo moyoni,halipo machoni. Out of sight out of mind.
109. Maafuu hapatilizwi. You dont take viengeance on silliness.
110. Macho hayana pazia. Eyes have no screens,they see all that is within view.
111. Mafahali wawili hawakai zizi moja. Two bulls do not live in the same shade.
112. Maiti haulizwi sanda. A dead person is not asked for a shroud.
113. Maji hufuata mkondo. water follows current.i.e.swim with current.
114. Maji huteremka bondeni,hayapandi mlima. Water flows down the valley does not climb the hill.
115. Maji ukiyavuliya nguo huna budi kuyaogelea. If you take of your clothes for water you must bathe.
116. Maji usiyoyafika hujui wingi wake. You can not know the extent of water in a pond that you have never been to.
117. Maji ya kifufu ni bahari ya chungu. Water in a coconut shell is like an ocean to an ant.
118. Maji yakija hupwa. When tide is high,it ebbs.
119. Mpanda ngazi hushuka. He who climbs a ladder comes down again.i.e.What goes up must come down
120. Maji yakimwagika hayazoleki. If water is split,it can not be gathered up.
121. Majumba makubwa husitiri mambo. Big houses conceal a lot.
122. Majuto ni mjukuu. Regrets are like a child,They come some considerable time after event.
123. Manahodha wengi chombo huenda mrama. With many captains,the ship does not sail properly.i.e.Too many cooks spoil the broth.
124. Maneno makali hayavunji mfupa. Words alone wont break bones.
125. Maneno mema hutowa nyoka pangoni. Pleasent words will draw the snake from its hole.
126. Masikini akipata matako hulia mbwata. When a poor man gets something he boasts of his new wealth.
127. Masikini haokoti,akiokota huambiwa kaiba. A poor man does not pick up things if does they say he stole them.
128. Masikini na mwanawe tajiri na mali yake. A por man with his child a rich man with his wealth.
129. Mavi usioyala,wayawingiani kuku? Why drive away fowls from the dung you do not eat yourself?
130. Mavi ya kale hayanuki. Old droppings do not stink.
131. Mbinu hufuata mwendo. A double jointed arm follows the leg action.i.e Like father like son.
132. Mbio za sakafuni huishia ukingoni. Running on the roof finishes at the edge.
133. Mbiu za mgambo ikilia kuna jambo. When an oxhorn of a news man is sounded,something is wrong.
134. Mchagua jembe si mkulima. One who selects his hoe is not real farmer.
135. Mchagua nazi hupata koroma. He who selects coconut with great care ends up getting a bad cocon ut
136. Mchakacho ujao,halulengwi na jiwe. You dont throw stones at an approching craclin noise in the bush wait and see what is it first
137. Mchama ago hanyeli,huenda akauya papo. A traveller does not make a mess where he had made a camp as he might one day come back.
138. Mchelea mwana kulia hulia yeye.. He who fears the crying of a child,will cry himself.
139. Mchele moja mapishi mengi. Rice is all one but they are many ways of cooking it .
140. Mcheka kilema hafi bila kumpata. He who laughs at a cripple will not die without becoming himself
141. Mcheza hawi kiwete,ngoma yataka matao. A dancer will not become crippled for dancing calls for grace.
142. Mcheza kwao hutuzwa. He who dances at home will be rewarded.
143. Mcheza na tope humrukia. He who plays with mud will get splashed.
144. Mchezea zuri ,baya humfika. He who ridicules the good will be overtaken by evil.
145. Mchimba kisima hungia mwenyewe .He who digs a pit will fall into it himself.
146. Mchonga mwiko hukimbiza mkono wake. The maker of wooden spoons saves his hand from fire.
147. Mchovya asali hachovi mara moja. He who dips his finger into honey does not dip it once.
148. Mchuma janga hula na wakwao. He who earns calamity,eats it with his family.
149. Mchumia juani,hula kivulini. He who earns his living in the sun,eats in the shade.
150. Mdharau biu,hubiuka yeye. He who riducules a deformed person becomes deformed himself.
151. Meno ya mbwa hayaumani. The teeth of a dog do not lock together.i.e brothers do not harm one another when they fight.
152. Mfa maji hukamata maji. A drowning man catches at the water.
153. Mficha uchi hazai. One who hides private parts wont get a child.
154. Mfinyazi hulia gaeni. A potter eats from a potsherd.
155. Mfuata nyuki hakosi asali. One follows bees will never fail to get honey.
156. Mfukuzwa kwao hana pakwenda. He who is expled from home has no where to go
157. Mgaagaa na upwa hali wali mkavu. A lazy person with a nephwe does not eat dry rice.
158. Mganga hajigangui. A witchdoctor does not cure himself.
159. Mgema akisifiwa tembo hulitia maji. If the palmwine tapper is praised,he dilutes the palm-wine with water .
160. Mgeni ni kuku mweupe. A stranger is like a white fowl (noticeble)
228.     Kahiu karathime kariaga nyama cia kinandu
            The blessed knife (son) eats of the meat of the ‘kinandu'
‘Kinandu' is a small calabash used to keep oil, fat and the best morsels of meat.  They say that the father share the contents of the ‘kinandu' with the most beloved son.
229.     Kahunii gatiui mwiri
            He who is full does not understand what is told (about others' troubles)
            Another's burden does not worry us.
230.     Kahunii gatuhaga uriri wa nyina
            The fed baby plays on its mother's bed
231.     Kaihu koruri gatigaga kwao gugithinjwo
            The rambling pole-cat leaves its house when there is banquet.
The son that leaves his father's house for liberty's sake will not share his father's inheritance
232.     Kamamiriria gateire mugunda murime
            A little idleness lost a tilled field
            A little leak can sink a great ship
  233.     Kamau mweru ni airaga
            Kamau who is white becomes black
‘Kamau' is typical name.  The proverb means there is nothing constant in this world.
234.     Kamuhuthua kaharurukagia mwatu
            A little idleness causes the ruin of the beehive.
            The Kikuyu hang beehives on the branches of the forest trees, and it is their
Custom to visit them often to make sure that they are all right.  For it might happen that if out of idleness one did not see them regularly, one would ultimately find the branch broken, the beehive fallen and the contents spoilt.
235.     Kamuingi koyaga ndiri
            Many people together lift up the ‘ndiri'
‘Ndiri' is a heavy wooden mortar in which the Kikuyu women, when brewing beer, crush the sugar-cane.
Many hands make light work
236.     Kanira njara iria ukomeire
            Take an oath only for the hand youslept on
            Swear only to that which you know to be true.
237.     Kanoro kari ituura gatituhagia
            The whetstone in a village does no blunt the knife
            Every potter praises his own pots.
238.     Kanua karia kariire mbeu nook koragia ‘ngahanda ki?'
            The mouth who ate the seeds asks, ‘Now what shall I plant?'
            He sups ill who eats up all at dinner.
239.     Kanua kene gatinyuaga muma
            Another's mouth cannot take the oath for you
            Every bird must hatch its own egg
240.     Kanua ni ikahu
            The mouth is a chink
            From the mouth come many futilities.
241.     Kanua kendagia kiongo
            The mouth sells the head
            The tongue talks at the head's cost
242.     Kanua weriire
            You spoke (against yourself) with your own mouth
            Its means that one can sometimes condemn oneself in defending oneself
243.     Kanya gatune mwamukaniro
            A small red snuff-box is a welcome
The proverb refers to the Kikuyu custom of giving a pinch of snuff to their friends when they meet.
244.     Kanyoni kabariti keminagira njoya
            The little bird that flaps its wings too much will spoil them
            One must crawl before one can walk
245.         Kanywanjui kerathaga kero gako
‘Kanywanjui' scratches its thigh
‘Kanywanjui'is a species of a tiny blue bird with a long bill, which sucks nectar from flowers.   The proverb means that such birds, although very small, can do everything for their own needs, and do not require others' help to have their legs scratched.
Everyman something can
246.         Karaguthwo niko koi kwigita
He who is stricken knows how to defend himself
Scalded cats fear even cold water.
247.         Karanga hako gatiumagia
It is not the owner, trampling his own field, that spoils it (but the others)
The proverb has arisen from the fact that many people if they have a bad harvest, say that it is the fault of other people who walked across their plantations.
Nobody calls himself a rogue.
248.         Karara gekinya
A person will change his mind on something if left to sleep over it.
Never leave till tomorrow what you can do today.
249.         Karatha gatukagia karatha
Prophet copies a prophet
Like tree like fruit                 
250.Karatu gatagwo na kuguru kwa mwene
The shoe is made for the foot that will wear it.
If the cap fits wear it.
251.     Karegi nyina gatihonaga
            The baby that refuses its mother's breast, will never be full.
            Faint heart never won fair lady.
252.     Kareraria kagaruragwo na muti
The sleeping dog is turned by a stick; i.e. it turns round to bite if disturbed or touched by a stick.
253.     Kariki kamwe gatukiriirie ndutura kirimu
A stupid turtle-dove is sometimes surprised by night for wanting one more grain of castor-oil plant.
Time stays not the fool's leisure.
254.     Kari mata gatiagaga wa kuuga
            The mouth that has saliva does not lack words.
            The proverb means that the man who has something to say will say it.
255.     Kari nda gatiiyumburaga
            The word that remains in the belly does not mean anything.
            Tell the truth and shame the devil.
256.     Kiaga ngui kiabaca
            The song that has no leader, goes wrong.
            No longer pipe, nolonger dance.
257.     Kiama gitirugaga ruui
            The elders of the council do not jump over a brook.
Metaphorically the proverb means that the elders who are to judge a case must but hurry.  But if often means that a person like a judge should anot do anything undignified.
258.     Kiambi nda nikio giakura
            The food eaten first lasts longest in the stomach
            First impressions are most lasting.
259.     Kiara kiiyuragio ni guita ihuti
            The dunghill grows by straws thrown upon it
            Every little helps.
260.     Kiega ta ki gitithiraga
            A really good thing is ever good
            A good tale is none the worse for being twice told.