In The UAE
IN THE UAE – PROVERBS, RIDDLES
& FOLKLORE
D
uring our visit to the Sharjah
Heritage Museum, we came
across a few interesting
Emirati proverbs, riddles and
folklore. These are located in the
children’s section of the museum.
Children are able to sit comfortably
and listen to audio and watch a
video of stories in both Arabic and
English. This would make for a great
field trip for Islamic Studies, Arabic
or even English. The following
are a few of the offerings that are
available.
Emirati Proverbs
the beard.
Meaning: If misfortune falls upon a
family member, it affects the entire
family.
Tie a horse to a donkey and it will
imitate its sound.
Meaning: Habits are gained from
those in close contact.
Plates in a house are bound to clash.
Meaning: Misunderstandings are
common and natural in the home.
If it had any use, the bird would not
have left it.
Meaning: Leave what others reject.
Proverbs are important messages that
are often used to communicate cultural
and social values. They may offer
advice or teach an important lesson.
Here are a few Emirati Proverbs.
The one who knocks at the door gets
the answer.
Meaning: You reap what you sow.
Hair loss from the moustache falls over
Extend your leg to the end of your
blanket.
Meaning: Spend only what you can
afford.
Emirati Riddles
Riddles form a small part of many cultures. Most people use them to provoke thought, so as to unveil a deeper meaning. In this
case, the following riddles are intended to put a smile on your face. Can you guess the correct answers to the following riddles
without looking at the answers?
A. It is tall and its shadow is within… What is this?
Ans: ________________________________________________________________________________________________
B. It is green in the souq and red in its mother … what is this?
Ans: ________________________________________________________________________________________________
C. This has teeth but does not bite… what is this?
Ans: ________________________________________________________________________________________________
D. What has a loud voice and an empty stomach?
Ans: ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Answers:
henna, a drum, a well, a comb
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Nov - Dec 2014
After The Bell