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These Setswana (Setswana) proverbs speak to knowing, learning and good judgement — the kind handed down by those who came before. Here are 8 of them, each with its literal translation and a clear explanation of its meaning, drawn from documented Setswana usage.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Go tsamaya ke go bona
Literally: “To travel is to see (learn)”
Meaning: Travel and experience broaden one's knowledge.
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.