Mmangwana o tshwara thipa ka fa bogaleng
Literally: “The child's mother holds the knife by the sharp edge”
Meaning: A mother will endure pain and sacrifice anything to protect her child.
Sejo sennye ga se fete molomo
Literally: “A small portion of food does not pass by the mouth”
Meaning: Be grateful for what you receive, even if it is little; a small benefit is still worth accepting.
Moseka phofu ya gaabo ga a tshabe go swa lentswe
Literally: “One who claims the eland of his home does not fear losing his voice”
Meaning: You should fight tirelessly and without fear for what rightfully belongs to you.
Mmualebe o a bo a bua la gagwe
Literally: “The speaker of something bad is voicing his own (truth)”
Meaning: Let everyone speak, even the one with an unpleasant view, so that the good can also be heard; everyone has the right to express their opinion.
Lebitla la mosadi ke bogadi
Literally: “A woman's grave is at her in-laws' home”
Meaning: Traditionally, once married a woman is expected to remain committed to her marital home for life.
Phokoje go tshela yo o dithetsenyana
Literally: “The jackal that survives is the cunning/resourceful one”
Meaning: It is the clever and resourceful person who gets by in life.
Mabogo dinku a a thebana
Literally: “Hands are like sheep, they herd/help one another”
Meaning: People should help one another; cooperation gets work done.
Kgetsi ya tsie e kgonwa ke go tshwaraganelwa
Literally: “A bag of locusts is filled by working together”
Meaning: A big task is accomplished through cooperation and collective effort.
Ngwana yo o sa leleng o swela tharing
Literally: “A child who does not cry dies on the mother's back (in the carrying-skin)”
Meaning: If you do not speak up about your needs, they will go unnoticed; ask if you want help.
Mphemphe o a lapisa, motho o kgona se se mo lapeng
Literally: “Constant begging tires you out; a person manages with what is in their own home”
Meaning: Relying on borrowing or handouts is exhausting; self-reliance is better.
Bana ba motho ba kgaogana tlhogo ya tsie
Literally: “Children of one person share the head of a locust”
Meaning: Relatives share even the little they have; kin should divide what they have fairly.
Lefoko ga le boe go boa monwana
Literally: “A spoken word does not return, only the finger returns”
Meaning: Once a word is spoken it cannot be taken back, so be careful what you say.
Motho ke motho ka batho
Literally: “A person is a person through other people”
Meaning: Our humanity is realised through our relationships with and treatment of others (ubuntu/botho).
Botlhale jwa phala bo tswa phalaneng
Literally: “The wisdom of the adult impala comes from the young impala”
Meaning: Even elders can learn from the young; wisdom can come from unexpected sources.
Mosadi tshwene o jewa mabogo
Literally: “A woman is a baboon, she is eaten by her hands (judged by her work)”
Meaning: A woman is judged not by her face/beauty but by the work of her hands; a person's worth lies in their industriousness, not appearance.
Go tsamaya ke go bona
Literally: “To travel is to see (learn)”
Meaning: Travel and experience broaden one's knowledge.
Tlou ga e ke e imelwa ke naka tsa yona
Literally: “An elephant is never burdened by its own tusks”
Meaning: One does not regard one's own kin or responsibilities as a burden.
Kgosi ke kgosi ka batho
Literally: “A chief is a chief through (by) his people”
Meaning: A leader's authority and legitimacy come from the people he serves.
Ntwa kgolo ke ya molomo
Literally: “The greatest war is that of the mouth”
Meaning: It is better to settle disputes through dialogue and negotiation than through violence.
Pelo e ja serati, ga e je sejwabodintsi
Literally: “The heart eats what it loves, not what is popular with the crowd”
Meaning: The heart desires what it desires; one is drawn to and chooses what one loves regardless of others' opinions.
Lerato ga le na matlho
Literally: “Love has no eyes”
Meaning: Love is blind: when one loves, one overlooks the other's faults and judgement is clouded (a modern/borrowed saying, not a traditional proverb).
Khumo le lehuma di a tsalana
Literally: “Wealth and poverty give birth to each other”
Meaning: Riches and poverty alternate; today's rich may become poor and vice versa.
Dikgomo ke madi a a tshelang
Literally: “Cattle are living money”
Meaning: Cattle are living wealth/a store of value (a genuine cultural concept; this exact wording is not a fixed traditional proverb).