Here are some of my favourite maahmaahs and their translations. Add yours too please.
tiisa daryeela ba tukale ku dara
A man who benefits himself can benefit another
Bisad mininkeeda joogda miciyo libaax bee leedahay
A cat in its own territory has the fangs of a lion (this is a southern saying, I just switched mukulaal with bisad lol)
Abtirsi waxa ka dhaama raganimadaad la timaadid
the way you present yourself is more important than your lineage (rough translation, couldn’t find a good translation for “raganimo”. I would say manliness but being a “rag” is more than just manliness). This is a very important one that Somalis often forget. Even a madhibaan can be a better man than a landheer man just from the way he acts.
nin duuni diida ma buko
A man who refuses “duuni” is not ill.
duuni means food that is handfed to you.
My interpretation is that a man who is too prideful to take assistance was never in need of it or doesn’t deserve it.
Dhar aadan lahayn la’iskuma dheereeyo
You shouldn’t try on (rather, try to make fit) clothes that aren’t yours.
up for interpretation, or you can take it literally lol.
Dhar aadan lahayn dhaxan kaama cesho
Clothes you don’t own won’t protect you from the cold.
Dumar iyo caruur “ma hayo” ma yaqaaniin
Women and children don’t know the phrase “I don’t have [it]”. As in, women and children are the most generous/selfless.
Dumar nin amaanaa leh.
A man who praises women is the one who has women.
Edit: I just realized “amaan” can also mean safety/protection in Somali so I guess there’s a double entendre with the last one and can also be translated as:
A man who protects women is the one who has women.
tiisa daryeela ba tukale ku dara
A man who benefits himself can benefit another
Bisad mininkeeda joogda miciyo libaax bee leedahay
A cat in its own territory has the fangs of a lion (this is a southern saying, I just switched mukulaal with bisad lol)
Abtirsi waxa ka dhaama raganimadaad la timaadid
the way you present yourself is more important than your lineage (rough translation, couldn’t find a good translation for “raganimo”. I would say manliness but being a “rag” is more than just manliness). This is a very important one that Somalis often forget. Even a madhibaan can be a better man than a landheer man just from the way he acts.
nin duuni diida ma buko
A man who refuses “duuni” is not ill.
duuni means food that is handfed to you.
My interpretation is that a man who is too prideful to take assistance was never in need of it or doesn’t deserve it.
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Dhar aadan lahayn la’iskuma dheereeyo
You shouldn’t try on (rather, try to make fit) clothes that aren’t yours.
up for interpretation, or you can take it literally lol.
Dhar aadan lahayn dhaxan kaama cesho
Clothes you don’t own won’t protect you from the cold.
Dumar iyo caruur “ma hayo” ma yaqaaniin
Women and children don’t know the phrase “I don’t have [it]”. As in, women and children are the most generous/selfless.
Dumar nin amaanaa leh.
A man who praises women is the one who has women.
Edit: I just realized “amaan” can also mean safety/protection in Somali so I guess there’s a double entendre with the last one and can also be translated as:
A man who protects women is the one who has women.
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