Many Nepali proverbs have a close English twin, and a few are almost word for word the same. Others only share an idea, and a small number say something the English version would disagree with. This page pairs each ukhan with the English saying that comes closest, and flags how close the match really is, since a translation that is only roughly right can mislead.
Almost word for word
These pairs are close enough that an English speaker will recognise the Nepali proverb on first hearing.
भुक्ने कुकुरले टोक्दैन
Bhukne kukur le tokdaina.
Barking dog seldom bites.
English equivalent: a barking dog seldom bites. Nearly identical in both languages.
हात्तीको मुखमा जीरा
Hatti ko mukh maa jira.
A drop in the ocean.
English equivalent: a drop in the ocean. The Nepali image is cumin in an elephant's mouth: far too little to matter.
अगुल्टोले हानेको कुकुर बिजुलीदेखि तर्सन्छ
Agulto le haaneko kukur bijuli dekhi tarsanchha.
If a person makes a mistake, he will be scared of it happening again in the future
English equivalent: once bitten, twice shy. A dog hit with a burning ember is afraid even of lightning.
जसको लाठी उसको भैंसी
Jasko lathi usko bhaisi.
Jo snagha srot sadhan xa uni mathi hunxa
English equivalent: might makes right. Literally, whoever holds the stick owns the buffalo: whoever has the power gets the say.
गु पुछेको टालो पनी बेलामा काम लाग्छ
Gu puchheko taalo pani bela maa kaam laagchha.
One man's trash is another man's wealth.
English equivalent: one man's trash is another man's treasure. The Nepali version is blunter about what the trash is.
Same idea, different picture
The message is the same, but each language reaches for its own images: crows and cuckoos, gold, buffaloes and ember.
कागले कोइलिलाइ काले भन्छ
Kaag le koili lai kaale bhanchha
Aafu laie naheri aaru ko laie matra bhanu.
English equivalent: the pot calling the kettle black. Nepali has the crow calling the cuckoo black, which is a nice irony since the cuckoo's song is the sweet one.
अर्काको आङ्गको जुम्रा देख्ने, आफ्नो आङ्गको भैसी पनि नदेख्ने
Arka ko aang ko jumra dekhne, aafno aang ko bhaisi pani nadekhne.
It is easy to point out others' flaws but difficult to recognize one's own shortcomings
English equivalent: noticing the speck in another's eye and missing the plank in your own. The Nepali version swaps in lice and a buffalo.
अकबरी सुनलाई कसी लाउनु पर्दैन
Akabari sun lai kasi laaunu pardaina.
Good person is good by own, don't need to praise
English equivalent: to gild refined gold, or to gild the lily. Good things need no polish.
घोडा चड्ने मान्छे लड्छ
Ghoda chadne maanche ladchha.
Trying without failing is impossible.
English equivalent: nobody learns to ride without falling off. The Nepali saying is that a person who rides a horse will fall, so trying without failing is not possible.
अचानो को पिर खुकुरी ले जान्दैन
Achaano ko pir khukuri le jaandaina
Someone who has not experienced a situation cannot fully understand the pain of those who have.
English equivalent: only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches, or walk a mile in their shoes. The pain of a board is not known to the khukuri.
औंला दिंदा डुँडुल्ना निल्ने
Aulaa didaa dudulnaa nilne.
Give him an inch and he will take an yard, don't bite the hand that feed you.
English equivalent: give them an inch and they will take a mile. It is also read as a warning not to bite the hand that feeds you.
खाने मुखलाई जुँगाले छेक्दैन
Khaane mukh lai jungaa le chhekdaina
Where there is will there is way.
English equivalent: where there is a will, there is a way. A moustache does not stop a mouth from eating.
Straight advice
These ones are plain statements in both languages, so the English match is closest to a direct translation.
आजको कामलाई भोलि नभन्नु
Aaja ko kaam lai bholi nabhannu.
Don't procrastinate, complete today's tasks today
English equivalent: do not put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
आउँछ समय पर्खंदैन, बग्छ खोलो फर्कंदैन
Aauchha samaye parkhadaina, bagchha khola farkadaina.
Time waits for no one, opportunities once lost do not return
English equivalent: time and tide wait for no man. In Nepali, the time that is coming does not wait and the river that has gone by does not turn back.
एकता नै बल हो
Ekataa nai bal ho.
Unity is strength.
English equivalent: united we stand, or there is strength in numbers.
काम साँचे आफूलाई, खान साँचे अरूलाई
Kaam saache aafulai, khaana saache arulai.
If you want something done right, do it yourself.
English equivalent: if you want something done right, do it yourself.
आफ्नो भाग्य आफैले बनाउनु पर्छ
Aafno bhaagya aafai le banaunu parchha.
We are responsible for making our own destiny
English equivalent: every person is the architect of their own fortune. You are responsible for making your own destiny.
Where they disagree
Not every pair is a clean match, and the interesting ones are where the two languages argue.
गोलीको घाउ निको हुन्छ, बोली को हुँदैन
Goli ko ghau niko hunchha, boli ko hudaina
Pain inflicted by world never heals so be wise and aware about how you talk and converse with people.
English says "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me". The Nepali saying takes the opposite side: a wound from a bullet heals, a wound from a word does not.
अघिको तीतो पछिको मीठो
Aghi ko tito pachhi ko mitho.
It's hard at first, but will get better later
Loose English match: all good things come to those who wait. The Nepali is more specific about the experience. The first stretch is bitter and what comes after is sweet. It is about the early hardship more than about waiting.
Why the matches matter
A proverb is more than its meaning, and no equivalent captures the picture. An English "drop in the ocean" is a fact about scale, while cumin in an elephant's mouth is something you can see. When you use these in English, the equivalent gets the point across. When you want the flavour, use the Nepali.
For more on how these sayings are put together, see our explanation of ukhan and tukka, or read the full list of famous Nepali proverbs and their meanings. If you know a closer English match for any of them, the About page explains how to send a correction.