Top 40 Hindi Proverbs in English with Meaning For Students

Hindi Proverb

English Translation

Meaning

1. आसमान से गिरा, खजूर में अटका

Asmaan se gira, khajoor mein atka

Fell from the sky and got stuck on a date tree

Escaped one problem only to land in another

2. नेकी कर, दरिया में डाल

Neki kar, dariya mein daal

Do good and throw it into the river

Do good deeds without expecting rewards

3. उंगली पकड़कर चलना सिखाया

Ungli pakadkar chalna sikhaya

Taught to walk by holding a finger

Refers to care and guidance from elders

4. बंदर क्या जाने अदरक का स्वाद

Bandar kya jaane adrak ka swaad

What does a monkey know of ginger’s taste?

The unworthy cannot appreciate true value

5. आ बैल मुझे मार

Aa bail mujhe maar

Come bull, hit me

Inviting trouble unnecessarily

6. जब जागो तभी सवेरा

Jab jaago tabhi savera

Whenever you wake up, it’s morning

It’s never too late to start

7. दूध का जला, छाछ भी फूंक-फूंक कर पीता है

Doodh ka jala, chhaach bhi phook phook kar peeta hai

Burnt by milk, blows even on buttermilk

One bad experience makes a person over-cautious

8. नौ सौ चूहे खाकर बिल्ली हज को चली

Nau sau chuhe kha kar billi haj ko chali

After eating 900 mice, the cat goes to a pilgrimage

Pretending to be virtuous after many wrongs

9. भगवान के घर देर है, अंधेर नहीं

Bhagwan ke ghar der hai, andher nahi

There may be a delay in God’s home, but no injustice

Justice will come, even if late

10. बेगानी शादी में अब्दुल्ला दीवाना

Begani shaadi mein Abdullah deewana

Abdullah is excited about someone else’s wedding

Unnecessarily getting involved in others’ matters

11. एक हाथ से ताली नहीं बजती

Ek haath se taali nahi bajti

You can’t clap with one hand

Both sides are responsible in a situation

12. ऊँट के मुंह में जीरा

Oonth ke muh mein jeera

Cumin in a camel’s mouth

Too little for someone’s large needs

13. खिसियानी बिल्ली खंभा नोचे

Khisiyani billi khamba noche

Embarrassed cat scratches the pole

Acting out to hide embarrassment or guilt

14. अपने मुंह मियां मिट्ठू बनना

Apne muh miya mithu banna

Praising oneself

Boasting or being self-congratulatory

15. जैसी करनी वैसी भरनी

Jaisi karni, waisi bharni

As you sow, so shall you reap

You get what you give

16. सौ सुनार की, एक लोहार की

Sau sunar ki, ek lohar ki

Hundred hits of a goldsmith equal one of a blacksmith

One strong action is more effective than many small ones

17. अंधेर नगरी, चौपट राजा

Andher nagari, chaupat raja

A chaotic kingdom ruled by a foolish king

A place with no proper system or leadership

18. दाने-दाने पर लिखा है खाने वाले का नाम

Daane daane par likha hai khane wale ka naam

Every grain has the eater’s name written on it

What is meant for you will reach you

19. घर का भेदी लंका ढाए

Ghar ka bhedi Lanka dhaye

An insider brings down the house

Internal betrayal causes the biggest harm

20. भागते भूत की लंगोटी ही सही

Bhaagte bhoot ki langoti hi sahi

Even the ghost’s loincloth is worth something if it’s running away

Something is better than nothing in a bad situation

Hindi Proverb

Transliteration

Literal Meaning

Simple English Meaning

English Equivalent

अधजल गगरी छलकत जाये

Adh-jal gagari chhalakat jaye

A half-filled pot spills more

People with little knowledge talk the most

Empty vessels make the most noise

चोर-चोर मौसेरे भाई

Chor-chor mausere bhai

Thieves are like cousins

Bad people support each other

Birds of a feather flock together

जैसी करनी वैसी भरनी

Jaisi karni waisi bharni

As you do, so you get

You will face the result of your actions

You reap what you sow

ऊँट के मुंह में जीरा

Oont ke muh mein jeera

Cumin seed in camel’s mouth

Something is too little to make a difference

A drop in the bucket

नेकी कर दरिया में डाल

Neki kar dariya mein daal

Do good and throw it in the river

Do good without expecting anything in return

Do good and forget about it

घर का भेदी लंका ढाये

Ghar ka bhedi Lanka dhaye

Insider destroys the house

A person from inside can cause the most harm

Betrayal from within hurts the most

मुंह में राम, बगल में छुरी

Muh mein Ram, bagal mein chhuri

Ram on the lips, knife under the arm

A person who pretends to be good but is dangerous

A two-faced person

ऊँची दुकान फीके पकवान

Unchi dukaan feeke pakwan

Big shop, tasteless food

Looks great from outside but has no quality

All that glitters is not gold

अपना हाथ जगन्नाथ

Apna haath Jagannath

Own hand is God

It’s best to depend on yourself

Self-help is the best help

काम बोलता है

Kaam bolta hai

Work speaks

Your actions are more important than your words

Actions speak louder than words

धैर्य से फल मिलता है

Dhairya se phal milta hai

Patience gives fruit

Good results come with patience

Good things take time

देर आये दुरुस्त आये

Der aaye, durust aaye

Came late but came right

It’s okay to be late if it’s done correctly

Better late than never

अंधेर नगरी चौपट राजा

Andher nagari chaupat raja

Lawless city with a careless king

Bad leadership leads to problems

Mismanagement ruins everything

हर बादल के पीछे चाँदनी होती है

Har badal ke peeche chaandni hoti hai

There is moonlight behind every cloud

There is hope even in tough times

Every cloud has a silver lining

जल्दबाज़ वीर पोषक नहीं

Jaldbaaz veer poshak nahi

Hasty hero is not brave

Rushing things causes mistakes

Haste makes waste

पुत को पूत जन्मों में पहचाने जाते हैं

Put ko poot janmon mein pehchaane jaate hain

A child’s nature shows from birth

A person’s qualities show early

Child is father of the man

तुरंत दान, महा कल्याण

Turant daan, maha kalyan

Quick donation brings big blessings

Helping at the right time is most valuable

Help in time is true help

तेल देखो, तेल की धार देखो

Tel dekho, tel ki dhaar dekho

Watch the oil and its flow