40 Hindi Proverbs With Meanings To Get Nuggets of Wisdom

Proverbs are the short and traditional sayings that are generally used to offer life advice. In other words, a proverb is a short sentence that is full of meaning and gives life advice. These little sentences add richness or royalty to our speech and allow us to explore and learn new library.

There are proverbs for everything, especially the Hindi Proverbs. They are present in every aspect of our life. Traditionally speaking, proverbs are old sayings without an author but are considered as wise.

Most people use proverbs to describe the situations or for a person. It is a way to express one’s emotion: disapproval or disappointment, sympathy and approval. Everyone can relate them in some or the other way.

Every culture and language has proverbs and many proverbs exist in more than one language. Here’s the collection of some of the best and popular Hindi Proverbs with their meaning.

1. Bandar kya jaane adrak ka swaad

It literally means “how can a monkey appreciate the taste of ginger?” It means that a person who is almost unaware of the existence of something or someone can never appreciate its value. Those who don’t know, can’t appreciate.

2. Door ke dhol suhavne lagte hain

Some Hindi Proverbs have an English counterpart also. The grass is always greener on the other side. This proverb is used in a wicked manner.It is commonly used for things like we would wish to avoid bad people company or comparing something in the manner of sarcasm.

3. Ghar ki murgi, dal barabar

Familiarity breeds contempt.Taking something or someone for granted. This means when something/someone is easily available without doing any efforts then we doesn’t give importance or the thing/person has little value.

3. Ghar ka bhedi, lanka dhaye

A small leak will sink a great ship. This proverb depicts that the one who is close to you or knows your secrets, can reveal it to the world and causes a lot of damage.

4. Jo garajte hain, woh baraste nahi

Barking dogs seldom bite. A Hindi proverb which means a person who threatens other people does not take any action. Don’t be afraid of people who threaten you, they rarely take action.

5. Adhjal gagri chalkat jaye

An empty vessel sounds much. Deep rivers move silently while shallow brooks make noises. Hindi proverb which means, those with the least knowledge and talent speak loudest.

6. Andho mein kana raja

This Hindi proverb depicts ‘best among the worst’ scenarios. It means that in a group of foolish peoples a partially capable man is considered as brainiest. In other words, little talent is better than no talent.

7. Ab pachtaye hot kya jab chidiya chug gayi khet

What is the use of repenting when the bird has eaten the harvest? Basically, it means, because of your laziness and stupidity there’s no use of regretting when it is too late to undo the damage.

8. Anth bhala, toh sab bhala

The most famous Hindi proverb ‘All is well if the end is well’.If the outcome is happy, then it doesn't matter whether the problem is small or big.

10. Ek mayaan main do talwaren nahi samati

Two swords in one sheath do not fit. This means when two people with the same thinking, opinions or thought process can never be together, as there will be conflicts between them.

11. Naach na jaane aangan tedha

A bad workman quarrels with his tools. That means a person who has the best equipment, but he is not aware of how to use them, blames the tool rather than to admit their own lack of skill.

12. Ek haath se taali nahi bajti

It takes two to quarrel.It takes two or more people to start an argument. One person cannot blame the argument entirely on the other side.

13. Okhli mein sir diya to musal se kya darna

What to fear from the pestle given in the head. If you had started doing a job or task, don’t bother about the outcome. Be positive and do your job effectively.

14. Oont ke muh mein jeera

A drop in the ocean. This Hindi proverb means having a very small amount of commodity compared with what is needed or expected.

15. Pratyaksh ko praman ki avashyakta nahi

Stating the obvious needs no evidence. This proverb means that the truth is so obvious, so there is no need for proof or clarification.

16. Sar salamat, to pagdi hazaar

If your head is intact, you can have a thousand turbans. That is basically a synonym of health is wealth. Your first priority should be your health, not worldly things.

17. Sau sonar ki, ek lohar ki

A single blow of blacksmith is equal to a hundred blows of a goldsmith. Hindi proverb which depicts the power of a person as compared to the weak one.

18. Sau chuhe kha kar billi haj ko chali

After killing 100 mice, the cat goes on pilgrimage. Depicts that a person committed various sins, now act as innocent or displaying fake goodness.

19. Sawan ke andhe ko sab hara hi nazar aata hai

One who goes blind in spring sees the only greenery all around. Hindi proverb is mostly used for people who fail to see the reality usually in their bright time.

20. Jahan chah, wahan raah

Where there is a will there is a way. This proverb teaches us if someone wants to achieve a goal, then he should be determined and will power.

21. Chor ki dadhi mein tinka

Guilty Conscience Pricks The Minds. The proverb means if you are guilty for something than it can come back and will haunt you for a lifetime.

22. Kala akshar bhains barabar

The proverb means that the buffalo and black letters are similar. This proverb conveys that the person is illiterate or what is text/printed on the paper is similar to buffalo to the illiterate person.

23. Apna haath jagannath

It means to do your work yourself. The proverb depicts that one should have faith in his own hard work and not depend on other people.

24. Aage kuan peeche khai

Between the devil and the deep sea. The proverb simply means, stuck between 2 bad conditions or situations.

25. Oonche dukaan pheeke pakwan

All that glitters is not gold. This proverb depicts that all things are not good as the look i.e. everything that is shiny or fancy does not have any value.

26. Ulta chor kotwal ko dante

The pot is calling the kettle black. It simply means blaming each other when both the parties are equally guilty.

27. Ek anar sau bimar

It is a proverb which signifies a situation where a large number of people demand a single thing. Everyone wants the same thing at the same time.

28. Ek hi thaali ke chatte-batte

Birds of the same feather flock together. This means if two or more people have the same characteristics such as nature, behaviour, manner etc., they will always be found with one another.

29. Jaisi karni waisi bharni

As you sow, so shall you reap. This proverb depicts the things that will happen to you is the replica of what you have in the past. If you do good, you get good.

30. Lalach buri bala hai

Greed is the root of all evils. If you become greedy, then there will come a day when your lives will be destroyed even before you realize it. In simple words, greed leads to ruin.

31. Doobte ko tinke ka sahara

Grasps at straws.This proverb means desperately trying to find a way or to save yourself in a conversation to make things possible in difficult situations.

32. Neki kar dariya mein daal

Be discreet with your kindness. Do good things to other people and forget about it. Don not expect anything in return for your kindness. It is the best way to show your kindness.

33. Dhudh ka jala chach bhi fuk-fuk kar pita hai

Once bitten twice shy. This Hindi proverb depicts that if a person has a worst experience in doing something,then he should be more careful while doing the same thing next time.

34. Neem-Hakim khatra-e-jaan

A half doctor is dangerous to life. Most famous of all Hindi proverbs, this one means that having a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. If you give wrong advice, it can even lead to loss of life.

35. Har chamakne wali cheez sona nahi hoti

Everything that shines is not gold. This Hindi proverb means that maybe a good looking thing has an attractive character, but that thing may not possess any real quality.

36. Jaisa desh waisa bhes

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. The proverb depicts that one should mould themselves or to adapt changes according to the environment you are living in.

37. Naam liya aur shaitan hazir

Think of the devil and the devil is here. This proverb means that the person you are just talking about actually appears at that moment.

38. Daal mein kaala

There is something black in the lentils. Sometimes in real life, your gut feelings say that something is fishy or suspicious. There is doubt in your mind that things are not right.

39. Jaise ko taisa

Tit for tat. This proverb indicates that a person takes revenge upon one who does some harm to him. You will always get in return what you do with others.

40. Jal main rehkar magar se bair thik nhi

One should not have enmity against someone who gave shelter. This proverb simply means that it is not a good idea to go against someone who is more strong and powerful than us.

There’s no end for these Hindi proverbs, but for now, this is the list of 40 Hindi proverbs which are commonly used by people in their conversations without even realising it. Many of these proverbs will work in various situations.

Try their use in many general conversations as it will make it sound more natural and fluent. So start with these Hindi Proverbs and sayings and you'll sound like a native speaker in no time!

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