- English translation
Say it enough times and even a donkey will learn it.
- Literal wording
Much repetition teaches the donkey.
- Meaning and lesson
The saying holds that persistent repetition can get a lesson into almost anyone's head. If something is said or practiced again and again, it eventually sticks, even for a learner who seems slow or unwilling to absorb it.
The donkey stands for the dullest possible pupil, which sharpens the point: if repetition works on such a creature, it will work on people too.
- When it is used
Use it to encourage patience when teaching, drilling a skill, or reminding someone repeatedly. It works best as a general remark about learning. Aimed at one listener, it can come across as an insult about their slowness rather than encouragement, so take care.
- Register
- Colloquial Arabic; the vowelling records an everyday spoken pronunciation.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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