13 of the funniest Egyptian proverbs and sayings

Egyptian society, like every other society, has its own set of popular proverbs and sayings, passed down from earlier generations and protected like a prized cultural possession, but Egyptians manage to make proverbs a lot more fun.

While the sayings often express truths or offer valuable advice, sometimes they make no sense at all or are just so ridiculously funny that you forget the point they're trying to make, however valid that point may be. These are some of the craziest.

The proverb "walk in a funeral but don't walk into a marriage" could possibly mean that you shouldn't get involved into someone else's marriage, or that you shouldn't arrange a marriage. Either way, why are both of those worse than getting involved in a funeral? We'll never know.

This proverb "If you take the monkey for money, the money will go away and the monkey will stay" basically means you shouldn't marry for money, which is valid advice that just happens to be wrapped up in a ridiculous sentence.

"If your sweetheart is honey, don't eat all of it" is often used in situations when a loved one is being taken for granted, as you would take for granted of a jar of honey apparently.

"The belly dancer dies while her waist is still moving" is the funnier Egyptian version of "old habits die hard".

"Turn over the jar and the girl becomes like her mother" is one of the most widely used Egyptian proverbs in situations when a girl acts like her mother. But what does the jar have to do with that?

It says "dress up the stick and it becomes a bride", which could mean that looks can be deceiving or perhaps it cautions against false advertising? Interpretations are open to suggestions.

It says "the unlucky one finds even bones in tender meat", which is a popular Middle Eastern dish. The proverb is used when something unfortunate happens. So instead of comforting the "unlucky" person, this doomed saying tells them that they can't get away from bad luck!

"If you get between an onion and its peel you won't get anything except its foul smell" is also an Egyptian version of "Keep your nose out of my business".

"The one who marries my mother, I call him my uncle" is used in situations when you are forced to deal with someone you don't want to deal with, so if you can't beat them, join them!

"The bride gets a groom and everyone else becomes miserable" is a proverb that basically means weddings are unhappy occasions for everyone except the newly weds. But why?

"If you trust men, you trust water in a sieve" tells you all men can't be trusted, or no one at all can be trusted, it's not entirely clear.

"If you're going to steal, steal a camel and if you're going to love, love someone as beautiful as the moon". So basically it means live life to the fullest, or just steal a camel.

"We let him be so he came in with his donkey" is a popular proverb that means don't let someone walk all over you or take advantage of you. The donkey's role in this is not clear.