Manipuri Proverbs (Paorou) in English Pictures!

Proverbs are pretty cool. They’re like little nuggets of wisdom packed with knowledge and cultural insights, no matter how short they are.

Take the proverbs we’re looking at today, for instance. Many of these, known as paorou in Manipuri, can also be found in other languages, which shows that different cultures share similar ideas. But there’s also a unique Manipuri saying that reflects the local way of life.

You can dive into another collection of proverbs divided into three parts, focusing on animals, birds, and insects right here on the blog. Start with the first one: 80 Manipuri Proverbs (Paorou) Based on Animals, Birds, and Insects, and don’t forget to check out the other two parts!

This collection about animals, birds, and insects highlights how language and culture are intertwined, making it hard for one to exist without the other. A few years back, researchers discovered what’s thought to be the oldest living proverb. It was inscribed on a Sumerian clay tablet found in modern Ethiopia, dating back around 3,800 years. It goes: The bitch by her acting too hastily brought forth the blind. There’s a version involving a cat, but this one with the dog (bitch = female dog, just to clarify!) is the original.

Today, we’ve got a list of popular Manipuri proverbs or paorou, and as you’ll see, many of them have English equivalents. Keep reading!

Original Meiteilon text referenced from
Meitei Paorou Amasoong Chatnabi Londa, 1st Ed 1998
by Chongtham Kuber (Retd Headmaster, Mekola Gulap Higher Secondary School)

Check

• Proverbs: ‘Praman Panthei’ Expanded in Minimal Pictures
• 80 Manipuri Proverbs (Paorou) Based on Animals, Birds and Insects
• All the posts related to paorou, proverbs and praman panthei