Sayings of Algerian origin
Peace wins over wealth.
One hand can’t applaud.
A friend is someone who shares your happiness and your pains.
Speak kindly or refrain from talking.
People who do not know your virtues might do you harm.
To associate oneself is a dangerous move.
The hand which gives is better than the one which receives.
Once we have something, we take it for granted.
Never rely on something you do not own.
The only thing left in the valley are its stones.
The soft tongue is sucked by the lioness.
Since we didn’t say anything, he thought he could do whatever he wanted to.
You know who your friend and your enemy are during difficult moments.
Union is strength.
A secret for two is soon a secret for nobody.
Cross the loud river but don’t cross the silent one.
When I think of the others’s misfortunes, I forget mine.
Walls have ears.
We taught them to pray, they got to the Mosque before us.
As we didn’t say a word, he thought he could do anything he liked.
Experience must always be taken into account.
Even short events need a lot of planning and preparation.
A sensible enemy is better than a narrow-minded friend.
The one who shows his fears ensures his salvation.
They only fall asleep after having mutually taken an oath and then they betray each other.
Beauty is a relative perception.
Do bad and remember, do good and forget.
People are not aware of their weaknesses, but tend to see other people’s flaws.
When he was alive, he looked enviously at any dates. When he died, they hung a bunch for him.
Only the victim feels really the pain.
Greedy people cannot have enough.
Some people tend to disturb others, but would never accept to be disturbed.
Your eye is the only way you can judge things.
Patience is the key to paradise.
The union of means triumphs over the lion.
The crow wanted to mimic the pigeon’s walk and forgot his own.
Friendship, we call it friendship, but without sincerity.
There is an excess of familiarity at the root of all hostility.
Who got it, did get it; and who left it, did regret it.
The one whose belly isn’t full of straw isn’t afraid of fire.
The absent has always got a justification.
A believer can’t be spiteful.
People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria
Algeria, is a country in North Africa on the Mediterranean coast. Its capital and most populous city is Algiers. With a total area of 2,381,741 square kilometres (919,595 sq mi), 90% of which is desert, Algeria is the tenth-largest country in the world and the largest in the Arab world, Africa and on the Mediterranean. The country is bordered in the northeast by Tunisia, in the east by Libya, in the west by Morocco, in the southwest by Western Sahara, Mauritania, and Mali, in the southeast by Niger, and in the north by the Mediterranean Sea. (An excerpt from Wikipedia)
The official language of Algeria is Modern Standard Arabic, as specified in its constitution since 1963. In addition to this, Berber has been recognized as a “national language” by constitutional amendment. Algerian Arabic and Berber are the native languages of over 99% of Algerians, with Algerian Arabic spoken by about 72% and Berber by 27.4%. French, though it has no official status, is widely used in government, culture, media and education, due to Algeria’s colonial history and can be regarded as being a de facto co-official language of Algeria. Kabyle, the most spoken Berber language in the country, is taught and partially co-officialin parts of Kabylie.
We Pledge (Kassaman) , is the national anthem of Algeria.
Algerian National Anthem ( English Lyrics):
We swear by the lightning that destroys,
By the virtuous and fragrant blood,
By the shining, fluttering banners,
In the steep and majestic mountains,
That we have risen to revolution in life or death
and we have resolved that Algeria shall live
So bear witness, bear witness, bear witness!
We are soldiers in the name of righteousness have revolted
And for our independence to war have risen.
Had we not spoken up none would have listened
So we have taken the drum of gunpowder as our rhythm
And the sound of machine guns as our melody,
and we have resolved that Algeria shall live –
So bear witness, bear witness, bear witness!
O France, the time of reproach has passed
And we have closed it like a book;
O France, the day of reckoning is at hand
So prepare to receive from us our answer!
In our revolution is the end of empty talk;
and we have resolved that Algeria shall live –
So bear witness, bear witness, bear witness!
From our heroes we shall make an army come to being,
and on our dead we build glory,
Our spirits shall ascend to immortality
And on our shoulders we shall raise the standard.
To the nation’s Liberation Front we have sworn an oath,
and we have resolved that Algeria shall live –
So bear witness, bear witness, bear witness!
The cry of the Fatherland sounds from the battlefields.
Listen to it and heed the call!
Let it be written with the blood of martyrs
And be read to future generations.
Oh, Glory, we have held out our hand to you,
and we have resolved that Algeria shall live –
So bear witness, bear witness, bear witness!
External link to Algerian anthem Video
Algerian Proverbs and Their Meanings
Algerian proverbs draw on Arab, Berber and Islamic tradition, shaped by desert and mountain life and by strong ideas of community, patience and faith. They tend to be practical and morally direct. Here is what some of the best known of them mean.
- “Patience is the key to paradise.” — Endurance and calm in the face of hardship are the surest path to reward; a deeply Islamic teaching that patience itself is a virtue blessed by God.
- “One hand can’t applaud.” — Nothing is accomplished alone; it takes cooperation, like two hands, to make anything happen.
- “The hand which gives is better than the one which receives.” — Generosity is nobler than dependence; there is more honour in giving than in taking.
- “Do bad and remember, do good and forget.” — Keep your own wrongs in mind so you may make amends, but forget the kindnesses you do, so you never do them for praise.
- “Walls have ears.” — Be careful what you say, even in private; you never know who may be listening.
- “A secret for two is soon a secret for nobody.” — Once a secret is shared it begins to spread; the only safe secret is the one you keep to yourself.
- “Cross the loud river but don’t cross the silent one.” — The quiet danger is the one to fear; a noisy threat is easier to judge than a still, hidden one — much like “still waters run deep.”
- “A sensible enemy is better than a narrow-minded friend.” — A reasonable opponent is safer company than a foolish, blinkered ally.
- “There is an excess of familiarity at the root of all hostility.” — Too much closeness breeds friction; familiarity, taken too far, turns into contempt.
- “When I think of others’ misfortunes, I forget mine.” — Seeing the greater troubles of others puts our own into proportion and eases them.
- “Speak kindly or refrain from talking.” — If you cannot say something good, it is better to say nothing at all.
- “Union is strength.” — People who stand together are far stronger than the same people divided.
Frequently Asked Questions About Algerian Proverbs
What are Algerian proverbs?
They are the traditional sayings of Algeria in North Africa, drawing on Arab, Berber and Islamic culture. Shaped by desert life and close-knit community, they emphasise patience, generosity and unity.
What is a famous Algerian proverb?
“Patience is the key to paradise” is among the best loved — a saying that captures the high value Algerian and wider Islamic culture places on calm endurance.
What do Algerian proverbs teach?
They teach patience, generosity, unity and discretion, along with a shrewd caution about human nature — whom to trust, what to say, and when to stay silent.
What language are Algerian proverbs in?
Mostly in Algerian Arabic and in Berber (Tamazight), the native languages of almost all Algerians. French is also widely used in the country, a legacy of its colonial history.
Explore more in our full library of proverbs and their meanings, or browse related collections of Arabian and Moroccan proverbs.