| "Kiembu,English" | |
| "Akua utune ta nguku,He has died innocently like the red-beaked, red-crested bird." | |
| "Cia mucii ti como,Family matters are not exposed to everyone." | |
| "Gucura kwa yage tikuo gutwika,The heavy hanging of the fruit does not mean it will fall from the tree." | |
| "Guoya niyo yengivirie ngoyo,Fear caused the increase number of “ngoyo” birds." | |
| "Gutiri muthamaki utagutagwa,There is no king who is not gossiped about." | |
| "Gutiri muthenya ukecaga ta wingi,No day dawns like another." | |
| "Gutiri mwii na mucuthiriria,There is no difference between a thief and his accomplice." | |
| "Gutiri nthitho ya mundu umwe,There is no secret of one person." | |
| "Gutiri undu utari kiambiriria kiaguo,Everything has its origin." | |
| "Gutiri utuku utakecaga,Every night dawns to day." | |
| "Gikaro kimwe gitiocagwa mbui,One cannot collect feathers from one place." | |
| "Ikirega kuura igwatagia rukungi,When the rain fails to pour, it blames the wind." | |
| "Imenyagwa yari iria yakua,It is when the cow dies that you realize it provided milk." | |
| "Iri ngure ndici iriuko,When chased suddenly from the watering hole by an enemy, it does not remember its regular crossing." | |
| "Kanua werire,Mouth you bite yourself." | |
| "Kanya gatuneni mwamukaniro,A gourd gets smooth because of being passed around by many hands." | |
| "Kanyiri kainagua ni mwene,A tail feather can only be waved by its owner." | |
| "Kari guoya kenukire ng’ina; kari urume kenukirie ng’ina ruvara,The coward ran back to his mother; the brave one went back to her with scratches." | |
| "Kathunya ka mwana munyi kauragira njarari,A child loses his treasured item as he holds it in his hand." | |
| "Kavuthia kavarurukirie mwatu,Assuming causes the ruins of the beehive." | |
| "Kiara kimwe gitiuragaga ndaa,One finger cannot crush a louse." | |
| "Kienjagwa uria mwene akwenda,The head is shaved as the owner wishes." | |
| "Kiguuta kigwatagia muro,A lazy worker blames his tools." | |
| "Kindu kioneku gitiikagirwa muvuthia,What is available to you should not be taken for granted." | |
| "Kiratu gitumagwa na ikinyo ria mwene,The shoe is fitted according to the size of the wearer." | |
| "Kirema arume nikigariure,Nothing is impossible to men." | |
| "Kirimu ni ta mwatu,A fool is like a beehive." | |
| "Kironda kia mwene gitinungaga,One’s own wound does not smell." | |
| "Kivoto kiunaga uta mutunge,A just answer breaks a set bow." | |
| "Kunuva gutiricagwa,Selfishness cannot be eaten." | |
| "Kuria muno ni kuoria nda,Gluttony rots the stomach." | |
| "Kurivwa nai gukirite gutavwa,Better to be paid in bits, than let your assets be taken away from you." | |
| "Kuthekua ti kwendwa,To be smiled at is not to be loved." | |
| "Kuthii gutigiragia mundu acoka,Departure does not prevent one from returning." | |
| "Kuthii mbere ti gutava,Arriving ahead does not mean success in the raid." | |
| "Kuuga na gwika,Say it and do it." | |
| "Kwaria wega gukirite kuvecana,Speaking well is better than offering gifts." | |
| "Ma ndikucaga,Truth never dies." | |
| "Mbiti ndithinjagirwa kairi,No hyena deserves to be entertained twice." | |
| "Mbogo nyingi itiri nyama,A herd of buffaloes has no meat." | |
| "Mburia ithwire mai mayo,A rhino hates the sight of its faeces." | |
| "Mburia kiara ivuragia kaviu ga kumithinja,The finger teases the knife which will slaughter it." | |
| "Mucera na mukundu akundukaga taguo,Anyone who associates with a bad person also becomes bad." | |
| "Muketha utuku ndaici kinoru,One who harvests at night does not know the healthy millet." | |
| "Mundu mugo ndari ngumo kwao,A medicineman has no fame in his home." | |
| "Muria na kavaca namenyaga muria na njara nuravia,The one who eats with a spoon does not know the one using fingers is burning." | |
| "Muria weka akucaga weka,One who eats alone dies alone." | |
| "Murimi tiwe uricaga,The one who tends the crop is not the one who consumes." | |
| "Murimia ndari karo gatuvu,One who tills the land does not consider any hoe as blunt." | |
| "Murume wa aka airi ndathekaga,The husband of two wives does not laugh." | |
| "Muthii eci kuria aumite, nwati ndeci kuria athiite,The traveler knows where he is coming from, not where he is going." | |
| "Muthii ndaumbikaga irigu,The traveler does not bury his banana in the fire." | |
| "Mutinu nduri njamba,Misfortune knows no hero." | |
| "Muvoi ndauragia gukathima,A beggar does not need to extract fats from meat." | |
| "Muuri ari njira yake,One who is bound to stray follows a defined path." | |
| "Mwakiriria nyungu igiri imwe nirunguraga,One who cooks two pots never fails to burn one." | |
| "Mwana muugi ndari muvere wa ndeto,An intelligent child does not have to be instructed in too many words." | |
| "Mwana ni toria wingi,All children are of similar value." | |
| "Mwana uri matu aricaga matu make,An obedient child benefits from his obedience." | |
| "Mwere mwega umenyagwa na ngetho,A good millet crop is known by its yields." | |
| "Mwetereri ndanogaga,One who waits does not tire." | |
| "Nauma kia makanga nathii kia macikari,I have come from an unruly situation to one of extreme rules and order." | |
| "Ndinakworota ni kara keveta,I have not pointed at you; it's my finger which bent." | |
| "Ndiocagwa na mata ta nthua,You cannot trap me with saliva the way you do a flea." | |
| "Ndugacuke ithiga wikarire manji,Do not gossip or plan evil about a rock when you are sitting in water." | |
| "Ndukagurwe ni nja mwaro,Do not be attracted by the outward appearance of a homestead." | |
| "Ndukanatheke nthongo ndunavitia kumigia,Do not laugh at a mono-eye because you can become one." | |
| "Ndutecagwa utemukandie,The bone is only thrown away after it is cracked to reach the marrow." | |
| "Ngi imwe yoragia muthuri,One fly spoils the soup." | |
| "Ngiariria kiri nthi wana kiri itara nikiregua,When I speak to the one below, even the one in the rafter hears." | |
| "Ngingo ndikiraga kiongo,The neck does not go above the head." | |
| "Ngomi ndivagia mwatu,The chisel does not damage the beehive." | |
| "Ngwaci ya mwana wene niyo ivoragia mwaki,The sweet potato of another’s child is the one used to put off the fire." | |
| "Ngwiririria rwitiki, kienyu kiri munengerwa,I long to eat the crumbs; the bigger chunk belongs to another." | |
| "Nigitu na ndumo,The calabash/gourd is leaking." | |
| "Nikava kumenwa kuri kuthiganwa,You would rather be disliked naturally than to be judged." | |
| "Njamba ti ikere,Do not judge a warrior by the strength of his muscles." | |
| "Njara nyingi imenanagira nyunguri,Many hands disagree when at the cooking pot." | |
| "Njira ndikanagia muthii,The path does not stop the walker from making the journey." | |
| "Njira ndivurukagia mugendi,The footpath does not offer rest to the sojourner." | |
| "Nthucira ndithiraga mauru,The inspection of a beehive never lacks disagreements." | |
| "Nyungu ithekaga rugio,The pot laughs at the half calabash." | |
| "Riua ritietagiririra muthii,The sun does not wait for the traveler." | |
| "Ruku ruri itara ruthekaga ruri riko,The firewood in the rafters laughs at the one in the fire." | |
| "Runji rutwaraga mbutia,A river drowns even the best swimmer." | |
| "Rurigi rwetagiriria mukwa,A string waits to become a rope." | |
| "Toro ndiri murata,Sleep has no friend." | |
| "Ugaciara ngiongagia,You will give birth as I breastfeed." | |
| "Ukonjagwa uri mwigu,A stick is shaped when it is green." | |
| "Ungiona gacau ka ngia kari na mata mugongo niko gecunite,If you see an orphan calf with saliva on the back, it has licked itself." | |
| "Urimu ni gara,Foolishness makes one drag behind and not see ahead." | |
| "Utenderu uri nja nducicagwa,A slippery doorstep cannot be avoided." | |
| "Uthingu ukirite utonga,Being virtuous is better than being rich." | |
| "Utuku ndutumagwa nguo,One does not mend clothes in the dark." | |
| "Wanaruona wanarumenya,One who has seen has knowledge." | |
| "Wona kene ritho konoko; wona gaku ritho cioko,When you see someone’s items, your eyes pop out; when you see your items they do not." | |
| "Yaciara mathatha yongagia tuonthe,When it delivers twins, it breastfeeds both." | |
| "Yakuura yuraga ikianagirua,A goat bound to stray will do so even when its herder is calling it back." | |
| "Yura riria yugi riricaga yura riria iritu,The clever hunger feeds on the foolish hungers." | |
| "Aka aìrì ni nyŭngŭ igìrì cia ŭrogi,Two wives are two pots of witchcraft." | |
| "Kìgwa gìgìkŭra gìcokagia mŭrìo gìtina,As sugarcane grows older, its sweetness flows to the bottom." | |
| "Mwari mwega nì magambo,A beautiful young woman is trouble." | |
| "Mwere mwega ŭmenyagwa na maketha,A good millet plant is distinguished by the harvest." | |
| "Ndìa nyama ndìcumìkagua na nyama,A carnivore is not let to salivate with meat." | |
| "Aka nì njŭkì,Women are bees." | |
| "Ŭcio nì watwuìkire kìere kìa njìrarì,That one has become a millet plant of the road." | |
| "Mwere wa mŭka kìgŭta ŭvŭragwa gakinda kamwe,The millet harvest of a lazy woman has only one bundle to thresh." | |
| "Mŭndŭmŭka nìke mŭciì,The wife is the home." | |
| "Mŭndŭmŭrŭme nìke gìtugì kia mŭciì,The man is the pillar of the home." | |
| "Arŭme nì ngŭ ciotanaga,Men are firewood that warms each other." | |
| "Mŭndŭrŭme nì mŭgambo,A man is the voice." | |
| "Mŭciari nì mŭciari,A parent is a parent." | |
| "Mŭciari ndarì ngoro na kìmira kìa mwana wake,A parent does not get nauseated by the mucous of his/her child." | |
| "Mŭtì ŭrŭngagwa wì mwìthì,A tree is straightened up while still young." | |
| "Njokoma mbaro yumaga ìkŭrìrorì,A good club is determined right from its base." | |
| "Kaviŭ gatemaga mŭnori,A knife cuts the one who sharpens it." | |
| "Icoya rìthekaga mwagaŭ,A green banana leaf laughs at the dry one." | |
| "Ngima yumaga muturì,Ugali comes from flour." | |
| "Kìa mŭndŭmŭka gìtìkagua gwakìa,A woman’s word can only be believed at dawn." | |
| "Gìkŭrŭ kìega nwa ndigŭ,The only good old thing is a banana." | |
| "Kaŭgì ta ìthe karitu ta ngina,Intelligent like the father, foolish like the mother." | |
| "Rwì ìtara rŭthekaga rwì riko,The one in the wait laughs at the one already on fire." | |
| "Gŭtirì ìì kavìcì ìtarigagwa kiongo,There is none who has a boy that does not roast a head." | |
| "Ngingo ndìkìrŭkaga kìongo,The neck can never surpass the head." | |
| "Mŭndŭmŭka ndarì kwao,A woman has nowhere to call home." | |
| "Gutirì kanini kareìgeria nguo,There is none who is small once she fits herself with clothes." | |
| "Gŭtirì wonaga njaga ya ngina nwa ya ngina mŭnini,None sees the nakedness of the mother but of the stepmother." | |
| "Ng’ombe ndìkŭraga kìgori,A cow never grows old on the liver." | |
| "Mŭndŭmŭka ndamenyagìrwa,You never know with a woman." | |
| "Mwarì mŭtune ndarìvaga ngari nwa makanga acokagìria ngantho,A brown woman does not pay bus fare; she only thanks the tout." | |
| "Ngina wa ndŭrŭme ndarì mŭkia,The mother of a ram has no tail." | |
| "Gŭtìrì mŭndŭmŭrŭme na kavìcì,There is no man and a little uncircumcised boy." | |
| "Njamba tì ikere,A hero is not determined by the size of his calves." | |
| "Mŭndŭmŭrŭme tì kavìcì,A man is not a little uncircumcised boy." | |
| "Gŭtirì njamba ya mwera ŭmwe,There is no cock of one hen." | |
| "Gŭtirì nginyanthì ìtarì mŭtegi,There is none that steps on the ground that has no trapper." | |
| "Gŭtirì ngoma ìtarì mwovi,There is no insanity without someone to control it." | |
| "Mwana muciare ndatecagwa,An already born child is never discarded." | |
| "Ivìcì itithiììcaga ŭthoni,The uncircumcised do not go to dowry negotiation." | |
| "Mwana mŭgì ndarì mìvere ya ndeto,A wise child gets meaning easily." | |
| "Mwana wì kìo ndagaga mŭthambia,A hardworking child does not lack someone to bathe him." | |
| "Mŭrega akìathwa ndaregaga agìkŭnjwa,One who refuses to be directed does not refuse to be folded." | |
| "Mwarì mwaro avìtŭkagìrìra thome ya ngìa,A beautiful lady passes by the threshold of the poor." | |
| "Mŭndŭmŭka mwaro nì mìtugo tì ŭthaka,A good wife is character not beauty." | |
| "Mŭgŭnda wa mwimwa ni iirì nìguo wì matunda maaro,The farm of the barren is the one with sweet fruits." | |
| "Mwongia wa mbere acokagìrìrwa na methori,One returns to the first wife in tears." | |
| "Mŭthuri nìkŭthuranìra maŭndŭ na mŭtumia nì gŭtumìria maŭndŭ,A man plans and organizes while a woman perseveres and remains silent." | |
| "Mbere ya arŭme ndìrì mwene,The front of men is not owned." | |
| "Ndìrì ìvŭragwa nì mŭtì wayo,A mortar is best hit by its own pestle." | |
| "Ngemi ciumaga na muciìì,Ululation comes from home (charity begins at home)." | |
| "Canga na ndaki warita unue kŭgŭrŭ,Wander around villages and break your leg if foolish." | |