N

1. Nahodha wengi, chombo huenda mrama. Too many captains (and) the ship rolls. cf. Too many cooks spoil the broth.
2. Natuone ndipo twambe, kusikia Si kuona. Let us see then tell; hearing is not seeing cf. Seeing is believing.
3. Nazi mbovu harabu ya nzima. A rotten coconut in a heap spoils the wholesome ones. cf. A rotten apple spoils its neighbours. cf. A sickly sheep infects the whole flock.
4. Ndege mjanja hunaswa na tundu bovu, An artful bird can be trapped in a rotten cage.
5. Ndege mwigo hana mazowea. A bird that imitates others does not get used to a place.
6. Ndugu chungu, jirani mkungu. (Alt. Ndugu kitu.... .) A brother is (as useful as) a cooking pot, and a neighbour is (as useful as) a cooking pot lid.
7. Ndugu mwui afadhali kuwa naye. A bad brother is far better than no brother. cf. Blood is thicker than water.
8. Ndugu wakigombana, chukua jembe ukalime, wakipatana chukua kikapu ukavune. When brothers quarrel, take a hoe and go and dig; and when they make it up, take a basket and patter the crop (i.e. never interfere with a dispute between brothers except to fly and settle it amicably).
9. Ngoja! ngoja? huumiza matumbo. Wait a minute! wait a minute! harms the stomach
10. Ngoma ivumayo haidumu. A noisy drumming does not last long.
11. Ngoma ivumayo haikawii kupasuka. A drum that is sounded loudly will soon split cf. A pitcher that often goes to the well, is broken at last.
12. Ngozi ivute ili maji.Stretch hide while it is still green. cf. Strike while the iron is hot.
13. Nia njema ni tabibu, nia mbaya huharibu. A good purpose is like a doctor (it heals or keeps you well) and evil purpose corrupts.
14. Nifae na mvua nikufae na jua. Do me a favour during a rainy season and I shall do the same to you during the dry season.
15. Nimekula asali udogoni, utamu ungali gegoni. I ate honey in my childhood, and its sweetness is still in my tooth.
16. Nimekupaka wanja, wewe wanipaka pilipili. I have anointed you with kohl, do you, in return, anoint me with pepper?
17. Njia ya mwongo fupi.The way of a liar is short (i.e. he soon comes to grief).
18. Njia ya siku zote haina alama. A regular path has no signpost. cf. A used key is always bright.
19. Ng'ombe avunjikapo guu hurejea zizini. When a bull gets his leg broken, he is sure to go back to his yard.
20. Ng'ombe haelemewi na nunduye. A cow is not oppressed by its own hump.
21. Nta Si asali; nalikuwa nazo Si uchunga. Wax is not honey; 'I had them' (i.e. cattle) is not herding.
22. Nyani haoni kundule, huliona la mwenziwe. The ape does not see his own backside, he Sees his companion's.
23. Nyimbo ya kufunzwa haikeshi ngoma. Songs learnt from outside sources (foreign importations) are not used at a dance so long.
24. Nyumba usiyolala ndani huijui ila yake. You cannot know the defects of a house you have not slept in. Cf. It is the wearer who knows where the shoe pinches.
25. Nyumba ya udongo haihimili vishindo. A mud hut cannot withstand great shocks.
26. Nzi kufa juu ya kidonda Si haramu. For a fly to die on an ulcer is not bad (after all, he got what he wanted).