Some Tulu proverbs..

1. Bele danthina Aachari baaleda pinkan kettiye!

Literal: That the jobless carpenter chiseled at the bums of a kid.

Meaning: A person, indulging in unwanted, unproductive work without purpose.

2. Aane saithandala aiku laksha kattale bele undu.

Literal: Even if an elephant dies, it values in lakhs. [of rupees]

Meaning: Great personalities are valued even after their death.

3. Matti kettidina Marle leka!

Literal: Acts like a mad fellow, if tipsiness exceeds its limit.

Meaning: A person should act within his limits.

4. Aaragyave bhaagya!

Literal: Health is wealth.

Meaning: In one’s life, health is more essential than material wealth and so it should not be neglected.

5. Alpagu aishwarya thikanda madya raatridala kode budpavege!

Literal: If an inferior person gets riches, he holds an umbrella over his head even at midnight.

Meaning: An indirect way of saying a person should be poised and should maintain his emotional balance, when fortune smiles on him.

Equivalent: No pride is like that of a enriched beggar.

6. Maamigu onji kaala, marmalegu onji kaala!

Literal: There is a time for mother-in-law and a time for daughter-in-law.

Meaning: Every dog has his day.

7. Dudde doddappa

Literal: Money is the godfather.

Meaning: Money is everything in the real world.

8. Matherna illada dosedu vottene!

Literal: Dosa made in every house has pores.

Meaning: We all have same sorrows and joys in different forms, which is understood but not mentioned.

9. Yedata nettigu hakanda balada nettigu taagundu!

Literal: if you pat the left side of the head, it struck the right side of the head.

Meaning: He struck at Tib but down fell the Tim.

10. Kandani bodedina ladai jeppo mutta!

Literal: The strife between a husband and wife lasts only till they dine and go to bed.

Meaning: Disagreements between people in love are forgotten easily.

11. Dainandala baggavoli, maranu baggavoliya?

Literal: It is rather easier to bend a sapling than a tree.

Meaning: Those who have trouble following rules as young will get worse when they get older.

12. Haasige ittinathu kaaru pudpavodu.

Literal: Stretch your legs as much as the bed.

Meaning: This is a warning to live within one’s means.

13. Idi murkundala munku mitthe!

Literal: Though he drowned completely. his nose is still above the water.

Meaning: Though vanquished he could argue still.

14. Jana marla jaatre marla?

Literal: Are the people stupid or the crowd stupid?

Meaning: This proverb bemoans the irrational behavior of normal people in large crowds.

15. Kaasu itanda kailaasa ijjinda vanavaasa!

Literal: If you have money, it's paradise,otherwise it's a reclusive life.

Meaning: In a society high status and position are yours if you are rich otherwise people ignore you.

16. Aanen derpare aanene aavodu!

Literal: To lift an elephant an elephant is a must.

Meaning: Great jobs requires great efforts!

17. Mannu du bathina mannuge podu!

Literal: From mud to the mud.

Meaning: Whatever comes from Mother Earth goes back to Mother Earth.

18. Illagu maari oorugu upakari!

Literal: Samaritan to the society and a devil at home.

Meaning: A trouble maker at home may be a samaritan to the society.

19. Madime malpadu tuvodu, illu kattadu tuvodu!

Literal: Try arranging a marriage, try building a house.

Meaning: Arranging a marriage or building a house should be experienced by oneself to actually understand the difficulties.

20. Basale da dompogu kanji kattadu batthi laka!

Literal: Like tieing a calf to a spinach support.

Meaning: People are always in a hurry.

21. Illagu thu burgina kedu toderegu poye!

Literal: When the house is on fire he began to dig a well.

Meaning: Do work before it's too late.

22. Urcheregu bannaga bithillu nadondu poye!

Literal: He went looking for open space when he needed to shit!

Meaning: Do not wait until the last minute to complete your work.

23. Mangana kaittu manikya korileka!

Literal: Giving Ruby in the hands of a monkey.

Meaning: Giving something valuable in the hands of an idiot.

24. 24. Mandedu kullanda baigu urchuve!

Literal: If he sits on your head he will shit into your mouth.

Meaning: If you promote a cunning person, he will cheat you.

25. Naigu salige kornda bisaleda nesal nakkundu!

Literal: If the dog is given freedom it will lick the cooking pot.

Meaning: If too much freedom is given to anyone they may take undue advantage of you.

26. Naida beela yepaglaa domku

Literal: Dog's tail is always bent

Usage: This is said of a person who engages himself in crooked ways (bad behaviour) and not inclined to mend his ways.

27. Onji kebitt kenddu bokonji kebitt budodu!

Literal: Hear it out from one ear and leave it out from the other ear.

Meaning: To turn a deaf ear to something unimportant.

28. 28. Punyathme muttina maatha bangar!

Literal: Whatever the lucky person touches becomes gold.

Meaning : The lucky fellow has King Midas touch.

29. Sathyag saavijji, sullugu jayaijji!

Literal: Truth dies not, lie wins not.

Meaning: Truth always triumphs and lie never prevails!

30. Mara puttinalpane, naramani poyinalpane”

Meaning : Tree remains where it was grown, but man can prosper anywhere he goes.