Aanhouer wen.
Literally: “The one who persists wins.”
Meaning: Persistence and perseverance lead to success; if you keep trying you will eventually succeed.
Al dra 'n aap 'n goue ring, hy is en bly 'n lelike ding.
Literally: “Even if a monkey wears a golden ring, it is and remains an ugly thing.”
Meaning: Outward finery cannot disguise an inferior or ugly nature; fine clothes do not change what someone truly is.
'n Jakkals verloor wel sy hare, maar nie sy streke nie.
Literally: “A jackal does lose its hair, but not its tricks.”
Meaning: People may grow older or change outwardly, but their ingrained cunning or bad habits remain.
Môre is nog 'n dag.
Literally: “Tomorrow is still a day.”
Meaning: There is no need to despair or rush; there will be another opportunity tomorrow.
Eie roem stink.
Literally: “One's own praise stinks.”
Meaning: Boasting about yourself is distasteful; self-praise is no recommendation.
Stille waters, diepe grond; onder draai die duiwel rond.
Literally: “Still waters, deep ground; underneath the devil turns around.”
Meaning: Quiet, calm people may hide deep or dangerous intentions; beware the unassuming.
Soek en jy sal vind.
Literally: “Seek and you shall find.”
Meaning: A Biblical maxim (from Matthew 7:7) meaning that those who seek will find what they are looking for; used to encourage active searching or, lightheartedly, when someone turns up what they sought.
Goedkoop is duurkoop.
Literally: “Cheap-buy is dear-buy.”
Meaning: Buying the cheap option often costs more in the long run because it must be replaced or repaired.
Hoë bome vang veel wind.
Literally: “Tall trees catch much wind.”
Meaning: Prominent or important people attract more criticism and adversity.
Wie nie waag nie, sal nie wen nie.
Literally: “He who does not dare will not win.”
Meaning: You must take risks to achieve success; nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Soos die ou hoenders kraai, so piep die jonges.
Literally: “As the old hens crow, so the young ones cheep.”
Meaning: Children imitate their parents; the young follow the example set by their elders.
Die appel val nie ver van die boom nie.
Literally: “The apple does not fall far from the tree.”
Meaning: Children resemble their parents in character or behaviour.
Een swaeltjie maak nie 'n somer nie.
Literally: “One little swallow does not make a summer.”
Meaning: A single instance or sign is not enough to draw a general conclusion.
Eendrag maak mag.
Literally: “Unity makes strength.”
Meaning: People working together in unity are powerful; there is strength in unity.
Klein begin is aanhou wen.
Literally: “A small beginning is to keep on winning.”
Meaning: Great achievements grow from modest starts when one perseveres.
Gou ryp, gou vrot.
Literally: “Quickly ripe, quickly rotten.”
Meaning: What develops or succeeds too fast often does not last; precocious things decay quickly.
Daar is meer as een manier om 'n kat te wurg.
Literally: “There is more than one way to strangle a cat.”
Meaning: There is more than one way to solve a problem.
Met geduld en spoeg vang 'n mens 'n vlieg.
Literally: “With patience and spit one catches a fly.”
Meaning: Patience and persistence accomplish what haste cannot.
Geduld is 'n goeie kruid, maar dit groei nie in almal se tuin nie.
Literally: “Patience is a good herb, but it does not grow in everyone's garden.”
Meaning: Patience is a valuable virtue that not everyone possesses.
Onbekend maak onbemind.
Literally: “Unknown makes unloved.”
Meaning: We tend to dislike or distrust what we do not know or understand.
Mooi vergaan, maar deug bly staan.
Literally: “Beauty perishes, but virtue remains standing.”
Meaning: Physical beauty fades, but good character endures.
As die kat weg is, is die muis baas.
Literally: “When the cat is away, the mouse is boss.”
Meaning: When the person in authority is absent, others do as they please.
Wie eerste kom, eerste maal.
Literally: “Who comes first, grinds first.”
Meaning: The one who arrives first gets served or attended to first.
Beter 'n half eier as 'n leë dop.
Literally: “Better half an egg than an empty shell.”
Meaning: It is better to have a little of something than nothing at all.
Sagte heelmeesters maak stinkende wonde.
Literally: “Gentle healers make stinking wounds.”
Meaning: Being too lenient or soft allows problems to fester; firmness is sometimes necessary.
Wie sy neus skend, skend sy aangesig.
Literally: “He who damages his nose, damages his face.”
Meaning: Harming something connected to you ultimately harms yourself; do not spite yourself.
Al is die leuen nog so snel, die waarheid agterhaal hom wel.
Literally: “However fast the lie may be, the truth does catch up with it.”
Meaning: No matter how quickly a lie spreads, the truth will eventually be revealed.
Ledigheid is die duiwel se oorkussing.
Literally: “Idleness is the devil's pillow.”
Meaning: Having nothing to do leads to mischief or wrongdoing.
Vroeg ryp, vroeg rot.
Literally: “Early ripe, early rotten.”
Meaning: What ripens or succeeds too early also decays early; precocious development tends not to last (correct Afrikaans spelling: 'Vroeg ryp, vroeg vrot').
Hy wat die laaste lag, lag die lekkerste.
Literally: “He who laughs last, laughs the nicest.”
Meaning: The one who is ultimately victorious enjoys it most; do not gloat too soon.
Waar 'n wil is, is 'n weg.
Literally: “Where there is a will, there is a way.”
Meaning: Determination will find a means to achieve a goal.
Honde wat blaf, byt nie.
Literally: “Dogs that bark do not bite.”
Meaning: Those who make the loudest threats are often the least dangerous.
Die een se dood is die ander se brood.
Literally: “The one's death is the other's bread.”
Meaning: One person's misfortune can be another's gain or livelihood.
Suinigheid bedrieg die wysheid.
Literally: “Stinginess deceives wisdom.”
Meaning: Being overly thrifty can lead to foolish decisions that cost more in the end.
Twee honde baklei om 'n been, 'n derde loop daarmee heen.
Literally: “Two dogs fight over a bone, a third runs off with it.”
Meaning: While two parties quarrel over something, a third makes off with the prize.
Nood leer bid.
Literally: “Need teaches one to pray.”
Meaning: Hardship and desperation drive people to seek help they would otherwise ignore.
Alle baat help.
Literally: “Every benefit helps.”
Meaning: Every little bit helps; even small contributions are worthwhile.
Wie wind saai, sal storm maai.
Literally: “He who sows wind shall reap storm.”
Meaning: Those who cause trouble or strife will suffer worse consequences.
Jou eie nes is altyd die beste.
Literally: “Your own nest is always the best.”
Meaning: Everyone regards their own (home, work, possessions) as the best — often an expression of natural, biased preference for what is one's own rather than a sentimental 'no place like home'.
Versigtigheid is die moeder van die wysheid.
Literally: “Caution is the mother of wisdom.”
Meaning: Being careful and prudent is the foundation of wise behaviour.
As die nood op die hoogste is, is die redding naby.
Literally: “When the need is at its highest, salvation is near.”
Meaning: Help often comes when things are at their most desperate.
Oefening baar kuns.
Literally: “Practice gives birth to skill.”
Meaning: Practice makes perfect; skill comes from repeated effort.
Belofte maak skuld.
Literally: “A promise makes debt.”
Meaning: A promise creates an obligation that must be honoured.
Soos die werk, so die loon.
Literally: “As the work, so the wage.”
Meaning: You are rewarded in proportion to your effort.
Klein muisies het groot ore.
Literally: “Little mice have big ears.”
Meaning: Children overhear and notice more than adults realise; be careful what you say around them.
Boontjie kry sy loontjie.
Literally: “Little bean gets its little wage.”
Meaning: A wrongdoer eventually gets their just deserts; one reaps what one sows.
Iemand wat met vuur speel, sal hom brand.
Literally: “Someone who plays with fire will burn himself.”
Meaning: To engage in risky or dangerous conduct invites harm — 'playing with fire' gets you burned. The established form is the idiom 'met vuur speel' (to court danger).
Daar is geen rook sonder vuur nie.
Literally: “There is no smoke without fire.”
Meaning: Rumours usually have some basis in truth.