తుమ్ముకు తమ్ముడు ఆవలింతకు అన్న

tummuku tammudu avalintaku anna

Translation

A sneeze has a younger brother, and a yawn has an elder brother.

Meaning

This is a traditional Telugu saying used when someone sneezes or yawns repeatedly. It suggests that these actions rarely occur just once; if you sneeze once, another is likely to follow (the 'younger brother'), and if you yawn, more are soon to come (the 'elder brother').

Related Phrases

A child's sneeze and a postpartum mother's sneeze are good.

This is a traditional saying used to indicate that certain natural bodily reactions, which might normally be seen as bad omens or signs of illness, are actually signs of health and recovery in specific cases. It suggests that when a child or a woman who has recently given birth sneezes, it is a positive sign that their respiratory system and body are functioning well and clearing out.

There is no yawn without a wonder. Pratáparudru king of Ōrugallu, (Wurrangal) had a very sagacious minister, by name Yugandharuḍu, who was summoned by the Sultan to be employed in his court. The king refusing to send him, was taken prisoner and confined in the capital. His faithful minister having declared that he would rescue him and bring him back openly, went disguised to the capital and there feigning madness, ran daily through the streets calling out " Ho! I am going to take away Ōruganti Pratáparudruḍu." The Sultan, suspecting that his madness was assumed, caused him to be watched. The spies dis- covered that he cooked under a tree at midnight, and a man was concealed in the tree to watch him when he thought himself alone. According to his custom the minister came at midnight to cook his food, and while doing so, yawned. He immediately thought to himself that there must be some cause for this, and glancing furtively up the tree perceived the spy. He then said in a loud voice 'There is no yawn without a wonder,' and commenced breaking his pots and acting the mad man. The minister was then reported as really mad and his ravings were unheeded. Shortly afterwards a ship laden with valuables, was sent by the minister's con- trivance to the port. The Sultan hearing this, was anxious to inspect the cargo, and being informed that the imprisoned king was a connoisseur in gems ordered him to be brought with him on board the vessel. The minister also managed to get on board and while the Sultan was engaged in examining the precious stones, caused the anchor to be weighed. The Sultan then learnt the trick that had been played upon him and commending the sagacity of the minister, pardoned both him and the king, who returned rejoicing to Ōrugallu.

This expression suggests that nothing happens without an underlying cause or motivation. It is often used to imply that if someone is acting unusually or if a rumor is spreading, there must be some truth or specific reason behind it.

* A somewhat different version of the story is given in the Madras Church Missionary Record for October 1865 by the Rev. F. W. N. Alxander : "I could get very little information from my informant about this ancient king, one thing only is certain that in his days the Mohammedans invaded this part of India and besieged Wurrangal, but the Fort was not taken in his days. The story told to me by several people is very contradictory and unlikely in itself. The most credible version seems to be, that Wurrangal was besieged by the Padasha of Delhi in person, and for 7 years the assailants were beaten by the threat of being thrown into the sea from the large space enclosed by the walls. Falling in this way, they at last took the king by stratagem. The Mohammedans feigned a desire for peace and decoyed Pra- táparudru outside the gates on pretence of making peace, and then seized him in a chariot and carried him off to Delhi and kept him there many days. Meanwhile things went on badly in Wurrangal. In the absence of their king the people refused to obey the minister, and anarchy reigned in the city. The minister resolved to deliver his lord from confinement, and restore him to his subjects. He went to Delhi and began to tell in the most public manner that he was come to release Pratáparudru, the imprisoned king. For this he was imprisoned and beaten again and again, till at last he was regarded as a mad man and no heed was taken of his sayings or doings. Roaming through the city, he at last found out where his lord was, and brought to him two legs of the carved ebony cot on which the king used to sleep in Wurrangal, and offered them for sale. They were recognized at once; and the pretended seller was asked where he got them and where the remaining pair was to be found. The king was told that the missing pair would be found on board a ship in the river, and he was asked to come and see them. To this the king assented, and somehow brought with him the Padasha of Delhi. They both went on board the ship indicated, and at the helm was seen the pre- tended mad man who was in truth the minister of the king. In an instant the ship was loose, and the sails spread, keeping in mid-stream they escaped down the river before they could be apprehended, and entering the Godaveri the king and the Padasha made their way to Wurrangal. The latter is said was subsequently released by ransom, and Pratáparudru died peaceably in his own city."

Yawning has elder and younger brothers, sneezing has not even a younger brother. Yawning is sympathetic, sneezing is not. A good gaper makes two gapers. (French.)

This proverb is used to describe the contagious nature of certain actions versus the sudden, isolated nature of others. Yawning is socially contagious—when one person yawns, others often follow (the 'brothers'). In contrast, a sneeze is sudden and usually happens alone without triggering others to do the same. It highlights how some behaviors spread through a group while others remain individual.

Crop is the younger brother of dairy farming

This proverb highlights the interdependence of agriculture and animal husbandry. It suggests that where there is dairy (cattle), a good harvest naturally follows, as they complement each other's success and provide a holistic livelihood for a farmer.

When told 'The house is burning, brother!', he replied 'Let's warm ourselves by the fire then.'

This proverb is used to describe a person who is extremely selfish, opportunistic, or indifferent to a disaster. It refers to someone who looks for a personal advantage or a silver lining even in a catastrophic situation that is causing great loss to others.

The wild eggplant is the younger brother of the brinjal.

This proverb is used to describe two people or things that are very similar in nature, character, or appearance. Just as a brinjal and a wild eggplant belong to the same family and look alike, it implies that someone shares the same (often negative) traits as their associate or sibling.

A sneeze has no younger brother, but a yawn has an elder brother.

This proverb describes the contagious nature of yawning compared to sneezing. While a sneeze is usually an isolated event for an individual, a yawn often triggers others nearby to yawn as well (the 'elder brother' following the lead). It is used to highlight how certain behaviors or habits are easily imitated or spread among people.

After eating everything that came for free, saying 'I also have a brother'.

This proverb is used to describe a person who is extremely selfish or greedy. It depicts a situation where someone enjoys a free meal or benefit entirely by themselves, and only mentions their family or others when everything is finished or when there is nothing left to share. It highlights hypocrisy and lack of genuine concern for others.

A yawn does not come without a wonder.

This expression suggests that every action or occurrence, no matter how small or natural it seems, has an underlying cause or reason. It is often used to imply that something unusual must have happened to trigger a specific reaction or to suggest that there is more to a situation than meets the eye.

Younger brother to the one dying, elder brother to the one being born

This expression describes a person who is in a middle-aged or transitional stage of life. It is often used to refer to someone who is neither too young nor too old, bridging the gap between generations, or someone who is an experienced adult who has seen both the end of one era and the start of another.