కుడుములు వండలేని ఆడదీ, కూనరాగము తియ్యలేని మొగవాడూ లేరు.

kudumulu vandaleni adadi, kunaragamu tiyyaleni mogavadu leru.

Translation

There is no woman who cannot cook kuḍumus, nor man who cannot hum a tune.

Meaning

This proverb highlights certain basic or inherent traits attributed to genders in traditional society. It implies that everyone possesses some fundamental skills or natural inclinations—suggesting that cooking simple staples is a basic skill for women and humming or showing interest in music/art is a basic trait in men. It is often used to describe common human nature or universal behaviors.

Notes

Kuḍumu is a common kind of cake. Applied to things which are very common.

Related Phrases

A field without weeding is like a temple without a deity.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of maintenance and care. Just as a temple is purposeless and empty without a god, a crop field is useless if it is not weeded. It is used to highlight that without proper effort, supervision, or the core essential element, any endeavor or establishment becomes worthless.

Like hiding a steamed dumpling and asking mother to cook more steamed dumplings.

This proverb describes a situation where someone pretends to be innocent or needy while already possessing or hiding the very thing they are asking for. It is used to mock hypocritical behavior or someone who is being cunning by feigning ignorance to gain more.

There is no woman who cannot cook rice and no man who cannot weave a cot.

This traditional proverb highlights the basic, essential life skills that were historically expected of every individual based on their role in the household. It suggests that certain fundamental tasks are so universal that one cannot claim ignorance of them; it is often used to emphasize that everyone should at least know the basics of their responsibilities.

A man who cannot weave a cot, and a woman who cannot churn buttermilk

This expression is used to describe individuals who lack the basic, essential skills expected of them in a traditional household. It highlights incompetence in fundamental duties: a man failing at manual labor/repairs and a woman failing at core domestic tasks.

A bed-ridden mother-in-law and a lazy daughter-in-law. A useless couple.

This proverb describes a situation where two people who are supposed to help each other are both equally incompetent, lazy, or incapable. It is often used to mock a partnership or a household where no work gets done because neither party has the strength or will to perform their duties.

There is no one who cannot hum a tune, there is no one free from disease.

This expression suggests that everyone has some hidden talent or inclination toward music (or emotion), just as everyone has some physical or mental imperfection. It is used to highlight the commonality of human traits and the inevitability of minor flaws in every individual.

* Veritas non quaerit angulos.

The odor without children, the flood without rain.

This proverb is used to describe things that are unnatural, inexplicable, or lacking their primary cause. It refers to a situation where a result is seen without its source, often used to highlight something that feels incomplete, artificial, or suspicious.

There is no woman who hasn't cooked steamed dumplings, and no man who hasn't hummed a tune.

This proverb highlights universal human behaviors or tendencies. It suggests that certain actions are so common and natural to specific roles or genders that it is nearly impossible to find someone who hasn't done them. It is often used to point out that everyone has certain basic habits or shared experiences.

A man who cannot weave a cot - a woman who cannot churn buttermilk

This proverb highlights the lack of basic essential skills expected of individuals in traditional roles. It describes a situation where people are incompetent in their fundamental duties, leading to an unproductive or dysfunctional household.

Dal without salt, curd rice without pickle.

This expression is used to describe something that is bland, incomplete, or lacking its essential flavor or excitement. Just as salt is vital for dal and pickle is the necessary accompaniment for fermented curd rice (saddi), a situation or a person's talk without substance is considered dull and unappealing.