🗣️ Philippines: “One who does not love his own language is worse than an animal and a putrid fish”

Tagalog proverb · Asia

Ang hindi maraho magmahal sa sariling wika, ay mas bahagpa sa hayop at malansang isda

ang hindi maraho magmahal sa sariling wika

“One who does not love his own language is worse than an animal and a putrid fish”

To neglect your mother tongue is to neglect your own identity — a line from José Rizal, national hero of the Philippines.

About this proverb

Origin country	Philippines
Region	Asia
Language	Tagalog
Romanisation	ang hindi maraho magmahal sa sariling wika

This saying belongs to the oral tradition of Philippines, a country in Asia. Read the full collection of Philippines proverbs, or explore the Proverbs of the World index.

Proverbs are traditional folk heritage (public domain); the translation and explanation are our own plain-English rendering. Stored statically.

Traditional sayings from around the world, each with its original wording, a romanisation, a plain-English translation and what it really means.

Folk wisdom from 6 Africa countries in the collection.

Folk wisdom from 4 Americas countries in the collection.

Folk wisdom from 12 Asia countries in the collection.

Folk wisdom from 15 Europe countries in the collection.

Folk wisdom from 2 Oceania countries in the collection.