Funny Damascene Proverbs About Mothers-in-Law and Daughters-in-Law

In every Damascene home, the story is never complete without a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law. Sometimes the relationship is sweet and loving… and sometimes it feels like a cold war! This is nothing new. Since our grandmothers’ days, people have used proverbs to joke about this relationship. Some are funny, some are sharp, and all of them reflect real life in a simple, honest way. Here are some of the most famous and humorous Damascene proverbs about mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law:

Damascene Provers: Mothers-in-Law and Daughters-in-Law

• Maktoub ala bab el janne: be omra hamaye ma habbet kenne.
• El kenne yalli betnam laylha w douhaha… el ‘ishe arham balaha.
• El kenne yalli betnam la dehrha… khasara fiha maherha.
• El hamaye aleha kel fanne, betjannen alf kenne.
• El kenne awal sene aroos, tane sene jamoos, talet sene hayye b saba rous.
• El kenne metl el almas… bas aamliha metl el nas.
• El kenne khobza makhbouz, w mayeta bel kouz, w lissa darbe boz.
• El kenne kanneniya betken, w janneniya betjen.
• El hamaye law kanet waliye, ella ma taamel baliye.
• El kenne yalli ma laha farha… btaamel bel alb arha.
• Hamati wejha metl el adas… en dehket w en abas.
• Akhadnaha darwishe… tele’ ala rasha rishe.
• El hamaye law bteheb mart el ibn… kan sar el qamh b seer el tebn.
• Hal kenne temma shebrawe… sar bado zrar w arawe.

• Ana akhadet ma rabbayti, w fakkeit masarayti… kan el bet betek, w hala sar beti.
• Miyet el nar wala hamaye bel dar.
• Ana hamalet w eedi rabbet… w bent el nas anni tbadet.
• El hamaye bt’oul la benti byelbaella… w kenneti Allah la ybarekla.
• Jebna hal kenne tanke… w amalnaha malke.
• El hamaye metl el mraye… tool ma lammaatiha mniha, w iza ahmaltiha fdiha.
• Jebnaha khadme… sarit bel bet hakme.
• Habbetni hamati nayyametni ala tannour, baghadetni nayyametni ala kanoun… hon shahar w hnik shahar.
• El kenne el asile betnam ala haseere.
• El kenne metl el sajjade… kel fatra badda nafd.
• Hamati khatyara w mharrhara, w badda abr… w hemreta ala temma, semka shebr.
• Kayd el knayen min addo? Law we’e ala heit biheddo.
• Bhayata el hamaye ma habbet kenne… w law kanet huriye men el janne.
• Men lon el batenjan ya knayen hal zaman… ya aleelat el mruwe ya tawilat el lsan.
• Ya hamati la touli anni shrene… ma enti abli kenti kenne.
• Dallili hamatek w eksabi wedda… iza nawet ala el shar ma hada biredda.

These proverbs are not just jokes. They are part of Syrian culture and daily life. They show how humor has always been a way to deal with family tension.

Whether you are a new daughter-in-law or an experienced mother-in-law, you will probably find one proverb that feels very close to home.

So tell us… which one sounds most like your story?

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