شعيرنا ولا أكل غيرنا
Sheirna wala akl gheirna
Translation: We’re rather (eat) our barley rather than the food of others.
Meaning: This is one of a genre of proverbs that advise people to live within their means rather than ask others for help. A more popular form of the same genre is “homartak el arga wala soal al-laim,” or “ride your lame donkey and don’t ask mean people to lend you a better animal.”
Source: Egyptian Proverbs, (Al-Ahram Center for Translation and Publishing, 1986) by Ahmed Taymour Pasha
Translated by: Nabil Shawkat
Short link: