Egyptian proverbs

Proverbs carry the humour of a language better than any phrasebook. Each of these 15 sayings is given in Arabic, in Latin letters, and with the situation egyptian speakers actually use it in.

• The monkey is a gazelle in his mother's eyes.el 2erd fi 3ein ommo ghazal
• Those who felt shame have died.elli ekhtashou matou
• Birds of a feather land together.el toyour 3ala ashkalha te2a3
• One hand alone cannot clap.eed law7edha matsa22afsh
• Patience is the key to relief.el sabr moftah el farag
• Ask someone experienced rather than a doctor.es2al mogarrab wala tes2al tabeeb
• What has passed is dead.elli fat mat
• The neighbour comes before the house.el gar 2abl el dar
• Walk in a funeral rather than arrange a marriage.emshi fi ganaza wala temshi fi gawaza
• The white piastre helps on the black day.el 2ersh el abyad yenfa3 fel yom el eswed
• The carpenter's own door is broken.bab el naggar mekhalla3
• Whoever sees another's trouble finds his own lighter.elli yeshouf balwet gheiro tehoon 3aleih balwito
• There is no sweetness without fire.mafish 7alawa men gheir nar
• The best kindness is the quick one.kheir el berr 3agelo
• The eye does not rise above the eyebrow.el 3ein mat3lash 3an el 7ageb