నాతిబలము నాలుకపైన

natibalamu nalukapaina

Translation

The strength of a woman is on her tongue

Meaning

This expression suggests that a woman's primary power or weapon lies in her speech and verbal skills rather than physical force. It is often used to describe situations where someone uses words effectively to manage a situation or defend themselves.

Related Phrases

A tongue without a bone speaks in four different ways

This expression refers to the inconsistency of human speech. Since the tongue is flexible and has no bone (naram) to keep it rigid, it can easily change its stance or twist the truth. It is used to describe people who are unreliable, go back on their word, or change their versions of a story to suit their convenience.

One who has a tongue can travel in all four directions.

This proverb emphasizes the power of communication. It suggests that a person who can speak well, ask questions, and interact with others can navigate through any situation or place in the world without getting lost or stuck. Communication skills and the ability to seek help are key to survival and success.

Ninety tastes for a tongue that weighs only a Tola.

This proverb highlights human greed and the constant craving for variety in food. Despite the tongue being a very small organ (a Tola is a small unit of weight), it demands an endless variety of flavors and delicacies. It is used to describe someone who is overly fastidious about food or someone whose desires are disproportionate to their size or status.

A tongueless bone can say anything.

This expression is used to describe people who make irresponsible statements, false promises, or inconsistent claims because the tongue is flexible and has no bone to restrain it. It highlights that talk is cheap and people can easily lie or change their words without consequence.

Like the Gotti fruit biting the tamarind.

This expression describes a situation where an inferior or useless thing tries to dominate or overcome something superior and strong. It refers to a small, hard fruit (Gotti) attempting to bite into a tough tamarind, representing futility or misplaced arrogance.

If the cow is black, is the milk also black?

This proverb is used to emphasize that external appearance does not define internal quality or character. Just as a black cow still yields white milk, a person's outward look or status does not dictate their inner worth or the value of their contribution.

Uncivilized speech is an itch on the tongue.

This expression is used to criticize someone who speaks without manners, refinement, or consideration. It suggests that people who use foul or rude language do so because they have no self-control or 'culture' in their speech, as if their tongue is simply itching to say something inappropriate.

A person with two tongues

This expression is used to describe a hypocrite or a person who is deceitful. It refers to someone who says different things to different people or someone who goes back on their word (double-tongued).

The tongue without nerves goes all ways. When the conscience is dead, moral restraint disappears.

This proverb is used to describe people who are inconsistent or unreliable in their speech. Since the tongue is flexible (boneless), it can easily twist the truth, make false promises, or change versions of a story to suit the situation. It serves as a warning not to trust everything someone says blindly.

A tongue without bones (nerves) speaks in many ways.

This proverb is used to describe how people can easily change their words, lie, or speak inconsistently because the tongue is flexible and lacks structural restraint. It is often a criticism of someone who makes false promises or shifts their stance conveniently.