55 Useful Arabic Proverbs (Multiple Dialects + Translations)

Proverbs are very important in Semitic (and indeed many) cultures.

They function as timeless educational idioms, and are applicable to the most frequent and universal human situations.

It’s safe to say that most, if not all, Arabic proverbs are context-based, which means that you get to learn a proverb as well as its historical or cultural origin. Arabic proverb origins can be Islamic, pre-Islamic, Greek, or just folklore.

Today I’ll share with you some of the most popular Arabic proverbs.

I’ve also added some Tunisian, Egyptian, Levantine and Moroccan proverbs so that you can use them in contexts that are more specific.

Since most proverbs are essentially universal, I did my best to find matching English equivalents. The meaning may or may not match perfectly, but the idea behind it remains the same.