Marathi proverbs & idioms
Classic Marathi proverbs (mhani)
Well-known Marathi mhani (proverbs) with literal translation and figurative meaning. These sayings are staples of everyday Marathi speech, schoolbooks and Marathi-medium classrooms.
अति शहाणा त्याचा बैल रिकामा
ati śahāṇā tyācā bail rikāmā
The one who is overly clever, his bullock stays idle
Meaning: Being too clever or overthinking things often means nothing actually gets done.
गाव करील ते राव काय करील
gāv karīl tē rāv kāy karīl
What the village can do, what can a king do
Meaning: Collective effort by ordinary people can achieve more than the power of one individual.
बोलाचाच भात, बोलाचीच कढी
bōlācāch bhāt, bōlācīch kaḍhī
Rice made only of talk, curry made only of talk
Meaning: All talk and no action — empty promises with nothing to show for them.
नाचता येईना अंगण वाकडे
nāchtā yeīnā aṅgaṇ vākaḍē
Doesn't know how to dance, says the courtyard is crooked
Meaning: A poor workman blames his tools.
शितावरून भाताची परीक्षा
śitāvarūn bhātācī parīkṣā
Judging the rice from a single grain
Meaning: You can judge the whole from a small sample of it.
दुरून डोंगर साजरे
durūn ḍōṅgar sājarē
Mountains look beautiful from afar
Meaning: Things look more attractive from a distance than they actually are up close.
उंटावरून शेळ्या हाकणे
uṇṭāvarūn śeḷyā hākaṇē
Herding goats while sitting atop a camel
Meaning: Directing or supervising from a safe distance, without getting involved yourself.
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