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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

"A screaming cat can't catch its prey." inna s-sinnawra ṣ-ṣayyāḥa lā yaṣṭādu shayʾan Said of someone who makes empty threats ~ all bark and no bite.

تقول في المُرْعِدِ⁽¹⁾ المُبْرِقِ لا خير عنده ولا نكير معه:
١٤١٢ - إنَّ السِّنَّوْرَ الصَّيَّاحَ لا يَصْطادُ شَيْئاً . أي: الفأر يأخذ منه

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Dr. Valerie @drvalerieisin.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The note on this proverb reads, “It is said of a rich man whose wealth no one enjoys.” I can think of more than a few people who plague our news cycles it could be used to describe — let’s bring it back!

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Markˣ @shjsat.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

In Ras Al Khaimah, of course, you might hear "fɨ (a)mān allāh" as something like "ṯɨmallah"

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/nəˈθænjəl/ @nathanielbdemiller.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

I made a list of ways to say goodbye in Classical Arabic: أَسْتَوْدِعُكَ اللَّهَ astawdiʿuka llāh "I entrust you to God" فِي أَمَانِ اللَّهِ fī amāni llāh "In the security of God" رَافَقَتْكَ السَّلاَمَةُ rāfaqatka s-salāmah "May safety accompany you"

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Dr. Valerie @drvalerieisin.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

This week’s proverb describes someone so miserly that he won’t spare even the littlest bit to help someone in need. 1/

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

If someone passes by without greeting you, you can say: "He went past us like a duck passing a sailor." 🦆 yamurru ʿalaynā kamā yamurru al-baṭṭu ʿalā al-mallāḥ

وَإِذَا مَرَّ الرَّجُلُ وَلَمْ يُسَلِّمْ، قُلْتَ:
٩٩٨ - يَمُرُّ عَلَيْنَا كَمَا يَمُرُّ الْبَطُّ عَلَى الْمَلَّاحِ.

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

"They can't find a place to climb to in heaven or a place to sit on earth." huwa lā yajidu fī s-samāʾi maṣʿadan, wa-lā fī l-arḍi maqʿadan Said when someone is being indecisive.

فَإِذَا تَحَيَّرَ وَانْقَطَعَ بِهِ ، قِيلَ :
٩٣٧ – هوَ لا يَجِدُ في السَّماءِ مَصْعَداً ، ولا في الأرْضِ مَقْعَداً .

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

"So-and-so chokes you with butter." Fulānun yakhnuqu bi-z-zubd Said of someone who can attain what they want with blandishments and fine talk.

٩٣١ - فُلانٌ يَخْنُقُ بالزُّبْدِ. أيْ: يُخاشِنُ باللِّينِ، وينالُ حاجَتَهُ بالرِّّفْقِ.

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Thank you! I was on vacation and am behind on a dozen things but I'll try to keep them up

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Dr. Valerie @drvalerieisin.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Wise words, that is, if that thing has already passed you by. If you’re worried that you missed your chance to register for a language class — you’re in luck — we’ve extended the deadline to Friday, July 24th! Sign up @ link in pinned post/bio!

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Note that dār is one of a handful of unmarked feminine nouns in Arabic, including also shams (شَمْس - sun), arḍ (أَرْض - earth/land), nafs (نَفْس - self/soul), and nār (نَار - fire).

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

"So-and-so is the fartiest person in an empty house." fulānun aḍraṭu n-nāsi fī dārin fārighah Said when someone ostentatiously busies themselves with something completely futile.

فُلاَنٌ أَضْرَطُ النَّاسِ فِي دَارٍ فَارِغَةٍ

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

When someone treats you harshly and degradingly: "So-and-so is using flies' wings to give me a drink of water" or "giving me water by the drop " fulānun yasqīnī l-māʾa bi-ajniḥati dh-dhubāb wa-yasqīnī l-māʾa bi-l-qaṭr

فإذا كان يذيقك البؤس، ويسومك الخسف، قلت:
٩١٥ - فلان يسقيني الماء بأجنحة الذباب.
٩١٦ - ويسقيني الماء بالقطر.

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Dr. Valerie @drvalerieisin.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Have questions about our courses or just curious about the people behind these posts? Join us this Sunday, July 19th, at 1 PM EDT (two hours before the World Cup Final, starts) for a live Q&A on The Other Blue Site’s Spaces! Don’t have an account over there but still have a question? DM me!

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Markˣ @shjsat.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Emirati Arabic proverb of the day شنيوب غرق يمل šanyūb ġarrag yɨmal. "A ghost crab drowned a camel." It's meant to evoke the idea of someone small but clever influencing or overcoming someone important.

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

When someone is adored so much that even his vices are praised: "For them it's as if when he farted he praised God." fulānun idhā ḍaraṭa fa-ʿindahum annahu qad sabbaḥa

وتقول في الرجل يتحبَّبُ من قومٍ حتى يُحسِّنوا مساوئه:
١٠٢٥ – فلانٌ إذا ضرطَ فعندهُم أنَّه قد سَبَح.

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Note the use of the "energetic nūn" or نون التوكيد in لأفعلن

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

"I'll do such-and-such a thing as much as a dick pisses." wa-llāhi la-afʿalanna kadhā ʿadada kulli ayrin bāla

ويقولون:
١٠٥١ – والله لأفعلنَّ كذا عَدَدَ كُلِّ أَيرِ بالَ.

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Up until recently there haven't been many diseases in the US that bring boils but we're well back on our way to this proverb being reality again

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

"Boils come with a fever." Said when facing one tribulation after another. ~When it rains it pours maʿa l-ḥummā dummаl

فَإِذَا شَكَوتَ شَرًّا جَاءَ عَلَى شَرٍّ، وَبَلَاءً فِي إِثْرِ بَلَاءٍ، قُلتَ:

٨٧٧ – مَعَ الحُمَّى دُمَّلٌ.

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Dr. Valerie @drvalerieisin.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

People around here would say: “He can’t tell his ass from his elbow.” What do they say in your neck of the woods?

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Dr. Valerie @drvalerieisin.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

The best advice is always the hardest to hear. Oof.

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

If your speech, oh my soul, is silver, then silence surely is gold.

يُنْشَدُ في الصَّمْتِ والأمرِ بهِ [من المنسرح]:
١٤٥٨- إنْ كانَ من فِضَّةٍ كـلامُـكَ يا نَـفْـسُ، فـإنَّ السـكوتَ من ذَهَـبِ

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/nəˈθænjəl/ @nathanielbdemiller.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

—When Luck's sitting down— 🎲 She said run and seek wealth; when luck's sitting down how can you stand? It's true the good times don't last but neither, then again, do the bad. — Sibṭ ibn al-Taʿāwīdhī (Iraq, d. 1187)

وقائلةٍ : قُمْ واسْعَ في طَلَبِ الغِنَىٰ ! — وكيفَ يقومُ المَرْءُ والحَظُّ قاعدُ ؟
اذا لم يَكُنْ وقتُ الرَّخاء بـدائمٍ ، — فأحْرِ بِـها ألاّ تـدومَ الشـدائدُ !

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kobayashi ḫamṭu @mattboot.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

Burckhardt has something similar in his Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians

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/nəˈθænjəl/ @nathanielbdemiller.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

It is recited of the thing that passes away before its time: This is what they mean when they say: "the best of what was has vanished."

يُنشَد في الشَّيءِ يَذهَبُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُنْتَهى بِهِ [من الرجز]:
١٤٢٥ – هـذا الـذي قـيـلَ لَـهُ ... أطـيَـبُ مـا كـانَ فَـني

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/nəˈθænjəl/ @nathanielbdemiller.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

It is recited of the distressed asking aid of the distressed 🕊️ I'm as afflicted as you are, mourning dove, so ask whoever breaks your bondage to break mine

يُنشَد في المكروبِ يَستغيثُ به المكروبُ [من الكامل]:
١٤٢٦ – بي مِثلُ ما بِكِ يا حَمامَةُ فَاسأَلي ... مَن فَكَّ أَسرَكِ أَن يَفُكَّ وَثاقي

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/nəˈθænjəl/ @nathanielbdemiller.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

It's recited regarding placating temporal authorities 🐒 Bow to the evil monkey of the day! Tell him what he wants as long as he's in power

يُنشَد في المُداراةِ لِصاحِبِ الزَّمان مَعَ حَضرَتِهِ [من الرَّجَز]:
١٤٢٧ – اِسـجُـد لِـقِـردِ الـسـوءِ فـي زَمـانِـهِ ... وَدارِهِ مــــا دامَ فـي سُـلـطـانِـهِ

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/nəˈθænjəl/ @nathanielbdemiller.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

I taught him archery; when his arm grew strong he shot me. I taught him poetry, and when he could rhyme he wrote insulting ones against me.

يُنشَد في الرَّجُلِ تَخرُّجُه فيخرُجُ عليك [من الوافر]:
١٤٣١ – أُعَلِّمُهُ الرِّمايةَ كُلَّ حينٍ ... فَلَمّا اشتَدَّ ساعِدُهُ رَماني
وَأُعَلِّمُهُ القَصائِدَ كُلَّ يَومٍ ... فَلَمّا قالَ قافِيَةً هَجاني

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/nəˈθænjəl/ @nathanielbdemiller.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

—On a son growing up— 🪞 My son's grown up in my image, he wears now what I've left behind. It's a joy to see his face — though it's not a joy to see mine. —Ibn Abī Fanan (Iraq, d. ca. 890 CE)

عاشَ بُنَيَّي فَصارَ مِثلي ... يلبس ما قَد خَلعتُ عَنّي
فَسَرَّني ما رَأيتُ مِنهُ ... وساءَني ما رَأيتُ مِنّي

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/nəˈθænjəl/ @nathanielbdemiller.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

🫏 I loved a donkey-driver; he drove away sleep from my eye! He's like a full moon: untiring as he drives through the night. al-Sunbulī (Syria, d. 1294)

هَوِيتُهُ مُكارِياً شَرَّدَ عَنْ عَيْنِي الكَرَى
كَأَنَّهُ البَدْرُ فَمَا يَمَلُّ مِنْ طُولِ السُّـرَى

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

"Three kinds of people lose their minds even when they're sane: someone angry, someone jealous, and someone drunk." Thalāthatun majānīnu wa-in kānū ʿuqalāʾ: al-ghaḍbānu, wa-l-ghayrānu, wa-s-sakrān.

١٠٣٤ – ثلاثةٌ مجانينُ وإن كانوا عقلاءَ: الغضبانُ، والغيرانُ، والسكرانُ.

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Adam Bremer-McCollum @acbm.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

(Syriac) ܗܘܝܘ ܡܢܬ ܚܪܝܐ ܥܠ ܐܘܪܩܥܬܐ /huyu mnåṯ ḥaryå ʕal ʔurqaʕtå/

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

😁 I think phonological avoidance will persist for a while lol

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

"He's a piece of shit on a rag" huwa qiṭʿat kharā ʿalā khirqa

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

It's interesting that primary education was well-known enough to be proverbial, in addition to the seemingly universal hatred (male) children feel towards it.

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

"More detestable than school to a boy." abghaḍu min al-kuttābi ilā ṣ-ṣabīy

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Alexander Jabbari @ajab.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Persian equivalent: az to harakat, az khoda barakat (از تو حرکت، از خدا برکت) "movement from you, blessing from God" = you need to take action, and God will help/reward you for doing so

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

There's a proverb, ḥaraka baraka (الحركة بركة), which is basically the opposite of this: "Movement is a blessing."

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/nəˈθænjəl/ @nathanielbdemiller.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

No one is stingier than Fate, but I asked for four things anyway: having sex but staying hard, drinking wine but staying sharp, spending money but staying rich, and getting old with my hair still dark. — Muḥammad ibn al-ʿAbbās al-Khwārazmī (d. 993)

وله [ من الطويل ]:

تمنيت خلات على الدهر أربعاً ... ولم أر مسؤولاً أشح من الدهر
جماعاً بلا ضعف، وشرباً بلا سكر، ... وعمراً بلا شيب، وبذلاً بلا فقر

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Arabic proverb of the day: 👑 "How sweet is the throne even if you only rule over a stone!" It rhymes in Arabic: yā ḥabbadhā l-imāra wa-law ʿalā l-ḥijāra

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Palestinian proverb: "There are two things no one cares about: the death of the poor and the scandal of the rich." شغلتين ما حد بيدري فيهم: موت الفقير وفضيحة الغني shaghlatēn mā ḥad bidrī fīhum: mōt al-faʾīr wa-faḍīḥat al-ghanī

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/nəˈθænjəl/ @nathanielbdemiller.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

After perfect Paradise, Adam dwelt on Earth, so forgive me if you will, for I am human too: I'd spend my whole life sleeping, since when I sleep I dream of you. — Anonymous, quoted in al-Thaʿālibī, Yatīmat al-Dahr

وقد عاش بعد الخلد في الأرض آدمُ ... فإن شئتَ فاعذرني فإني ابنُ آدمِ
فياليتني أمسيتُ دهريَ راقداً ... فإني متى أرقد بذكركَ أحلمُ

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

🌜 "The day erases things said at night." kalāmu l-layli yamḥūhu n-nahār

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

🌿 "The misfortunes of this world are more numerous than the plants of the earth." maṣāʾibu d-dunyā aktharu min nabāti l-arḍ

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Those are both great! I wish I knew more Turkish.

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Turkish proverb: "When an ox comes to the palace, it does not become a king. Instead, the palace becomes a barn." Öküz saraya çıkınca kral olmaz. Ama saray ahır olur.

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Arabic Proverbs @arabicproverbs.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Elsewhere the general sense is said to be that the people will follow the mores of their political leader.

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