Na'vi Proverbs

[Blue Elf]

Tivul ke nìtam.  Fko zene pivate ulte ivomum krra fko pìlmate.

It is not enough to run.  One must arrive and know when one has arrived.

Hmm, what is meaning? What you've written sounds like "One must to arrive and to know what time he arrived".
But IMHO intended was something like "One must reach the goal and know where he arrive during this action". And I agree with Puvomun, sì can used here (ok, ulte connect sentences, while sì is used for creating lists of words; but here two verbs form list - you can look at them as sentences reduced to single word - so they aren't real sentence (my point of view)). So, my attempt:

Fwa fko tul ke tam. Fko zene wivo tsata fko kin ulte ivomum tsengit a po polate tsane.
It is not sufficient to run (that one runs). One must reach that what one need and know the place he arrived to.

And another version, IMHO better:
Tì'i'amì fya'oä nga zene ivomum tsengit a nga za'u tsane.
At the end of path you must know where you come to. When you finished something, you must know, if it is what you intended.

[Seze Mune]

Tivul ke nìtam.  Fko zene pivate ulte ivomum krra fko pìlmate.

It is not enough to run.  One must arrive and know when one has arrived.

I'd use sì then instead of ulte.

What is the difference between sì and ulte?

[Blue Elf]

Tivul ke nìtam.  Fko zene pivate ulte ivomum krra fko pìlmate.

It is not enough to run.  One must arrive and know when one has arrived.

I'd use sì then instead of ulte.

What is the difference between sì and ulte?

See previous post

(ok, ulte connect sentences, while sì is used for creating lists of words; but here two verbs form list - you can look at them as sentences reduced to single word - so they aren't real sentence (my point of view))

[Puvomun]

(ok, ulte connect sentences, while sì is used for creating lists of words; but here two verbs form list - you can look at them as sentences reduced to single word - so they aren't real sentence (my point of view))

[/quote]

For example:

I take my paint sì my brushes sì my canvas, ulte then I go out to paint a picture.

[Ateyo Te Syaksyuk]

Sunu oeru fwa f'iu thread!
It is making me wiser and smarter Nì'Na'vi!

[Seze Mune]

Sunu oeru fwa f'iu thread!
It is making me wiser and smarter Nì'Na'vi!

Irayo ma Ateyo!  If you would like to try your hand at creating proverbs, please do post.  It is fun!

[Seze Mune]

Well alright then!  Here's what I have so far, for Na'vi proverbs:

'Awa tskxel ahì'i a kip teylu ska'a ftxozäti.  (Question: we all hear 'teylu' as a plural word.  Is it? Should it be ayteylu?)
(Nì'ul) sìltsan lu fwa 'awa teylul tok tsyokxit, to vola teylul tok utralit.

It is better to have one teylu in the hand than eight teylu in the tree.  (Again, I question the plurality of teylu.)

T will lenit into S in plural. (Teylu -> (ay)Seylu)
In the dictionary, as proclaimed by JC, the translation is "beetle larva", which is one. I would say that seylu would then mean "beetle larvae".

This is also supported by what Wikipedia shows us: "A larva (Latin; plural larvae)"

This is what I suspected, and in the Na'vi dictionary it is listed as singular with no notation as to plurality.  We 'hear' it as plural, but I think we also 'hear' ikran and palulukan this way often, kefyak?  Is this something we need to check with K. Pawl about?

Kehe, for more experienced Na'vi listeners/users there is a distinct difference between ikran and ayikran, and palulukan and falulukan. (Speaking for myself, pretending I am experienced.)

If someone feels like checking with Karyu Pawl, feel free.

Sorry! I think I gave the wrong impression.  I meant that when speaking in English, we talk about a bowl of teylu for example.  We don't say a bowl of teylus.  And when referring to the banshee in plural, we might say 'How many ikran are in that tree?' rather than 'How many ikrans are in that tree?'  Or we might say, 'There are 20 packs of nantang in the forest' rather than 'There are 20 packs of aynantang in the forest' or 'There are 20 packs of nantangs in the forest.'  I'm not saying it's correct, I'm just saying I've noticed this.

And I agree about the falulukan and the ayikran....it's just 'teylu' I thought we might want to check on with K. Pawl.  But it's a minor point, I guess.

K. Pawl spoke about this here under the heading "Generics".  When talking about a pack of viperwolves, it is pongu nantangä.  But I confess that I'm not sure how one would treat (a pot full of) teylu.

Also when specifying a plural number of something (vola teylu), one doesn't change it to ayseylu because that knowledge is implicit when you say there are 8 of them.

Since this discussion occurred, we have an update from K. Pawl which forces a change in this information. Apparently a pack of viperwolves would be snanantang.

K. Pawl has this to say about sna- in his latest update:  

sna'o (n., SNA.'o) 'set, group, pile, clump, stand'

Ayskxe a mì sasna'o ku'up lu nìtxan.
'The rocks in that pile are very heavy.'

Note: Sna'o is nfp—not for people. For a group of people, use pongu.

What's interesting about sna'o is that it has an abbreviated form, sna-, which functions as a noun prefix to indicate a group or collection. With living things other than people, sna- is productive—you can use it to indicate a group of any plant or animal: snanantang 'a pack of viperwolves,' snatalioang 'a herd of sturmbeest,' snautral 'a stand of trees,' etc. These words are not listed in the dictionary.

However, in all other cases sna- is not productive, and you're not free to form your own words with this prefix. The meanings of such sna- words can be unpredictable, and so they have to be listed in the dictionary. For example:

snatxärem (n., sna.TXÄ.rem) 'skeleton' (lit.: 'a set of bones')

snafpìlfya (n., sna.FPÌL.fya) 'philosophy' (lit.: 'a group of mindsets')

snatanhì (n., sna.tan.HÌ) 'constellation' (lit.: 'a clump of stars')

One more thing to note about sna- words: they indicate naturally occurring groups or sets. For example, a snasyulang is a patch of flowers growing naturally on the ground or on a tree branch. Contrast that with a sästarsìm syulangä, a collection of flowers selected and put together intentionally by a person—that is, a bouquet.

I suppose a group of teylu (maybe a 'clot' would be more gruesomely descriptive) would be snateylu?  (I imagine the texture of the teylu to be similar to the English meaning of that sound...)

[Alyara Arati]

One more thing to note about sna- words: they indicate naturally occurring groups or sets. For example, a snasyulang is a patch of flowers growing naturally on the ground or on a tree branch. Contrast that with a sästarsìm syulangä, a collection of flowers selected and put together intentionally by a person—that is, a bouquet.

I suppose a group of teylu (maybe a 'clot' would be more gruesomely descriptive) would be snateylu?

Yes, a naturally occurring clump of teylu would be snateylu.  I think a pot of them would be sästarsìm teyluä.

Somewhat off topic: I need to go back through what I've written and substitute new words also.

[Seze Mune]

Here is a collection of the latest Na'vi proverbs.  If anyone sees a mistake, please let me know so I can correct this post!  Irayo srekrr.   Ulte irayo seiyi ma Blue Elf for volunteering corrections to these!!

(Note: corrections were made 7 April 2012)



Krra aylì'fya lam sraw, may' frivìp utralit.

When the language seems a pain, try biting a tree.



Ngeyä kxa lu txumtsä'wllna.

Your mouth is like a poison-squirting plant (your words hurt, are poison).



Kawkrr rä'ä hahaw tengkrr ngeyä syuvet 'em.

Never sleep when your food cooks.



Rä'ä hahaw tengkrr 'em syuvet.

Don't sleep while cooking food.


Tute a hahaw tengkrr 'em syuvet, slayu txen fa nikre anusekx.

The person who sleeps while cooking food will wake by means of burning hair.



Rä'ä hahaw tengkrr 'em.

Don't sleep while cooking.



Pay fayfyayä latem pxìm, slä rì'ìr tanhìä apxa (fu: tsawkeyä) frakrr teng lu.

The water changes often, but the reflection of the stars (or sun) is always the same.



Pay a mì ayfayfya latem nìtxan/mi/frakrr, slä rì'ìr tsawkeyä txonä lu teng mi.

Water in stream changes very much/still/every day, but reflection of the moon is still the same.



Ikran ke tsun leykivatem sanhìt sneyä.

The ikran cannot change his spots.



Ikran ke tsun leykivatem pilit tokxä sneyä.

The ikran cannot change his stripes.



Fwa kar lu fwa nume.

lit: That you teach is that you learn.


Tìkusar lu tìnusume.

Teaching is learning.



Kawkrr rä'ä tivìran äo nivi a tok tuteot ahusahaw.

Never walk under a hammock in which someone sleeps.



Fra'u a tswayon ke lu toruk.  

Everything which flies is not a toruk.



Ke lu toruk frapo a tswayon.

Not all that flies is a toruk.



Nga ke tsun rivun frateylut äo tskxe a'aw.  OR Ngal ke rayun frateylut äo tskxe a'aw.

You cannot find all teylu under one rock.



Sweylu txo fko nivume ta 'awa nantang tup nantang apxay.

(OR) Sìltsan (nì'ul) lu fwa fko nume 'awa nantangta to fwa zene nivume nantangta apxay.

Better to learn from one viperwolf than from many.



Sngä'i tiväftxu ulte Eywal tayìng ngaru kìngit.  

Sngä'i tiväftxu ulte Eywal tìng ngaru kìngit.

Begin to weave and Eywa will give you the thread.



Txopul tsawl sleyku palulukanit apxa (nì'ul) to tìngay.

Fear makes the thanator bigger than he is.



Palulukan tsawl slu ngeyä txopuhu nì'eng.

Thanator grows equally with your fear.



Txopul tsawl sleyku palulukanit apxa (nì'ul) to tìngay.

Fear makes the thanator grow bigger than the truth.



Palulukan 'ul krr a nga txopu si.

Thanator increases when you are afraid.



Keng palulukan zene zäpivong wä ayzize'.  

OR  Keng zene palulukan zäpivong ayzize'wä.

Even the thanator must defend himself against Hellfire wasps.



Fwa kan ke lu nìtam. Nga zene swizawit livonu.

To aim is not enough.  You must let the arrow fly.



Tìkan ke lu nìtam. Nga zene swizawit livonu.

Aim does not suffice. You must let the arrow fly.



Tuteru akanu lu memikyun angim sì pupa ftxì.

The wise person has long ears and a short tongue.


Ngeyä kxutu tsun mivakto torukit.

             (or stronger version)

Ngeyä kxutul makto torukit.

Someone can ride toruk. (Don't think you're invincible.)



Txo nga tsivun tivìran nìftue, skxakep nga kä ìlä fya'o akeyawr.

If you can walk easily, you're probably going the wrong way.



Tìran mì hllte, ke mì fay.

Walk on the earth, not on the water.



Frafya'oru lu senge atsewtx.

Every path has dirty places.



Sre fwa nga kä few kilvan, zene ivomum tsengit a lu kilvanur kllpa.

Before you go across river, you must know place where river has bottom. (i.e. you must know where the bottom is.)



Pol leykatem ronsemit pxìm to fwa syeha si.

She changes her mind more often than she breathes.



Txo kawkrr nga ke hivum slärftu, kifkey nìwotx lam vawm.

If you never leave your cave, the whole world seems dark.



Rä'ä tung futa po tìran mì ketse ngeyä.

Don't allow that he walk on your tail. (i.e. Don't let him bother you.)



Rä'ä tung poru fte tivìran mì ketse ngeyä.

Don't allow him to walk on your tail.



Rä'ä tung futa ngeyä kxetse poru l(iv)u.



Tì'eylan 'ongokx aylì'uta, slä sleru fyeyn fa hem.

Friendship is born from words, but grows by actions.



Txo ultxarivun skxawngit, livu kanu. Txo ultxarivun tìyawnit, livu ftxavang. Txo ultxarivun palulukanit, livu win.

If you meet moron, be smart. If you meet love, be passionate. If you meet palulukan, be fast.



Taronyu syulangä.

Hunter of flowers. (Can be interpreted variously.)



Meykìn keyit ngeyä ne atan ulte ayuk tayungzup uo nga.

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows will fall behind.



Nì'awve fpìl. Ke tsun tìftang sivi swizawur krr a (tsal/pumìl) txìng tskot.

Think first. You can't stop the arrow when it leaves the bow.



Woka palulukan ke tsun stivä'nì pxaya smarit.

A roaring palulukan doesn't catch much prey.



Vultsyìpit aean 'ärìp nìftue.

The green twig is easily bent.



Txeptsyìpìl nerekx tsengit a pum zerup.

An ember burns where it falls. (Various implications)



Ikran awin frato ke zene livu ikran alor frato frakrr.

The fastest ikran doesn't have to be always the prettiest.



Frakìngur lu munea tì'i'a.

Every thread has two ends.



Nga ke tsun yilvom talioangit (lewotx) mì le'awa trr.

You can't eat the whole sturmbeest in the one (the only) day.



Fko ke slu taronyu 'awa trrmì.

One does not become a hunter in one day.



Fko ke slu taronyu 'awa txonmì.

One does not become a hunter overnight.



Tìlam syuveyä ke lu teng na fì'u a fkol yerom pumit.

The appearance of the food is not the same as eating it. (You can't tell a book by its cover.)



Ftxey ftxìlor ftxey ftxìvä', tìlam fkxenä lor lu.

Appearance of the vegetables is nice whether it is delicious or disgusting (meaning: nice surface can hide something bad.)



Krrpe yayo slu txur nìtam fte palulukanit tspivang?

When would a bird become strong enough to kill a thanator?



Tìtstew ke lu fwa nga txopu ke si, ki fwa wem keng ngaru lu txopu.

Bravery doesn't mean to not be afraid, but rather to fight despite of fear (literally: Bravery is not that you do not afraid, but that you fight even if you (have) fear.)



Fwa fko tul ke tam. Fko zene wivo tsata fko kin ulte ivomum tsengit a po polate tsane.

It is not sufficient to run (that one runs). One must reach that what one need and know the place he arrived to.



Tì'i'amì fya'oä nga zene ivomum tsengit a nga za'u tsane.

At the end of path you must know where you come to. When you finished something, you must know, if it is what you intended.



Ayu a tsranten frato ke tsun fko fyivep.

The things that matter most cannot be held (in the hand).

[Alyara Arati]

Poel leykatem ronsemit pxìm to ya teya si tsopìru sneyä.

She changes her mind more often than she breathes (fills her lungs).

We have a new word for "breathe": syeha si.  So now we can say...

Pol leykatem ronsemit pxìm to fwa syeha si.

Also, another one from me...

Ayu a tsranten frato ke tsun fko fyivep.

[Blue Elf]

Here is a collection of the latest Na'vi proverbs.  If anyone sees a mistake, please let me know so I can correct this post!  Irayo srekrr.  

That's huge list, wou! I definitely check it when I get bigger amount of time, probably at weekend. But ma Seze Mune IMHO this list should be put in first post to find it easily (and first of all for people who come here first time - they will not read complete thread, which is very long today (and it grows))

[Seze Mune]

Ma Blue Elf, that is a very good idea.  Unfortunately, I do not have the permissions necessary to rearrange the posts.  And besides, imho the true value of the thread is in reading and learning how these proverbs are molded and polished in Na'vi.

So for right now I've worked out a compromise.  I have altered the original post so that it notifies readers where they can find the 'completed' proverbs if they wish.   

[Puvomun]

Oel fpìl futa fì'u

So for right now I've worked out a compromise.  I have altered the original post so that it notifies readers where they can find the 'completed' proverbs if they wish.   

lu fwa Blue Elf pamltxe:

IMHO this list should be put in first post

[Na'vin Nos'feratxu]

I'm going to be working on these, any help would be greatly appreciated. Special thanks to Seze*

Never harbor hatred for your enemy, such thoughts are poison.
(working on translation)

Spending your life searching for peace, would not be a wasted life.
(working on translation)

Greatness means holding others higher than yourself.
(working on translation)

[Alyara Arati]

I'm going to be working on these, any help would be greatly appreciated. Special thanks to Seze*

Never harbor hatred for your enemy, such thoughts are poison.
(working on translation)

Spending your life searching for peace, would not be a wasted life.
(working on translation)

Greatness means holding others higher than yourself.
(working on translation)

Kawkrr rä'ä meyam tìve'kìt; aysäfpìl anafì'u txum lu.

Still thinking about the other two...

Edit:  Furia lu nawm fwa leioae si aylaporu to nga, lu ral.

[Blue Elf]

Nice sayings, I'll think about them too

Kawkrr ke meyam tìve'kìt; aysäfpìl anafì'u txum lu.

Still thinking about the other two...

I'd use simply:
Kawkrr rä'ä wan tìve'kìt (eo kxutu); aysäfpìl anafì'u txum lu.

[Alyara Arati]

Nice sayings, I'll think about them too

Kawkrr ke meyam tìve'kìt; aysäfpìl anafì'u txum lu.

Still thinking about the other two...

I'd use simply:
Kawkrr rä'ä wan tìve'kìt (eo kxutu); aysäfpìl anafì'u txum lu.

I think I'd use wä rather than eo, since the hatred is directed against the enemy.

[Blue Elf]

not completely sure. I understand "wan ... eo..." as to "to hide sth. from sb (to not see it)". "Hide against" doesn't give reason to me, "wä" is something like opposition (fight against sb/sth.). Or did I misunderstand that sentence completely?

[Alyara Arati]

4. to give shelter to; offer refuge to: They harbored the refugees who streamed across the borders.
5. to conceal; hide: to harbor fugitives.
6. to keep or hold in the mind; maintain; entertain: to harbor suspicion.
7. to house or contain.
8. to shelter (a vessel), as in a harbor.

I was thinking of definition 6 from dictionary.com, but I can see where you would think of hide, as in 5...

[Puvomun]

Greatness means holding others higher than yourself.

Krra fko nawm lu, fkol keltekx sutet alahe kxayl nì'ul to sno.

When one is great, one lifts another person higher than one self. (ttm,ntw)