Postproverbials in Gikuyu (Kenya)

Curator(s)

Dr. Jane Mugo

mugoj63@yahoo.com

Laikipia University, Nyahururu, Kenya.

Postproverbial: Kĩongo kĩenjagwo na style iria lates
Translation: The head is shaved in the latest style or fashion
Proverb: Kĩenjagwo ũrĩa mwene,ekwenda
Translation: It(head) is shaved the way the owner wishes.
Language - Region: Gikuyu (Kenya)
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Postproverbial: Ciakorire Wacũ, akĩrĩmĩra mboco
Translation: The food found Wacũ removing weeds from beans
Proverb: Ciakorire Wacũ, mũgũnda
Translation: The food found Wacũ, in the field
Language - Region: Gikuyu (Kenya)
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Postproverbial: Ngemi ciumaga na, gwa cũcũ
Translation: Charity begins at grandmother’s house
Proverb: Ngemi ciumaga na, mũciĩ
Translation: Chrity begins at home
Language - Region: Gikuyu (Kenya)
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Postproverbial: Ĩganagwo yarĩ iria, yenderio neimba
Translation: The productive dairy cow is praised, after she has been sold to a neighbour
Proverb: Ĩganagwo yarĩ iria, yakua
Translation: The productive dairy cow is praised after her death
Language - Region: Gikuyu (Kenya)
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Postproverbial: Kũmenya mũno nĩ, kuuga nĩũthomaga mũn
Translation: Knowing very much means that one reads a lot.
Proverb: Kũmenya mũno nĩ, kũmenyũria
Translation: Knowing too much is like being ignorant
Language - Region: Gikuyu (Kenya)
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Postproverbial: Mũteng’erania na mũteng’erio gũtirĩ, ũrĩ mũtwe mwega
Translation: The pursuer and the pursued are both insane
Proverb: Mũteng’erania na mũteng’erio gũtirĩ, ũtanogaga
Translation: The pursuer and the pursued both get tired
Language - Region: Gikuyu (Kenya)
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Postproverbial: Mũthii tene, okĩrire tene mũno
Translation: One who goes early wakes up very early
Proverb: Mũthii tene, ainũkaga o tene
Translation: One who goes early returns early
Language - Region: Gikuyu (Kenya)
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Postproverbial: Ciathanaga ikĩgwa, mũgũnda kũrĩa mwere
Translation: Birds agree when flying down in the garden to eat millet
Proverb: Ciathanaga ikĩgwa, itiathanaga ikĩũmbũka
Translation: Birds agree when flying down, but not when flying up
Language - Region: Gikuyu (Kenya)
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Postproverbial: Harĩ mũthuri, hatithakagwo naho
Translation: Where there is elderly man, one should not joke with that place
Proverb: Harĩ mũthuri hatĩitagwo,maaĩ
Translation: Where there is elderly man, one must not pour water
Language - Region: Gikuyu (Kenya)
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Postproverbial: Kũhoya ti, kũthirĩrwo/ kwag
Translation: Begging is not poverty
Proverb: Kũhoya ti,kũiya
Translation: Begging is not, stealing
Language - Region: Gikuyu (Kenya)
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