Mbudzi yafura mamera yatorunza

Kana munhu akaravira chinhu chikamunakira haachachiregi kunyange chiri chinhu chakaipa.

The goat that has eaten sprouting grain has shown its appetite for that grain.

Once a person has tasted something (good or bad) and likes it or finds convenience in it, they seldom give it up. One is more likely to repeat something they have done before and ultimately this may become habitual.

This proverb like many Shona proverbs observes certain habits of the goat. The goat is known as one of the most stubborn domesticated animals and it was observed that a goat that gets to taste any sprouting grains would be very difficult to keep away from the grain field. The proverb actually refers to the goat having becoming greedy for the grain. Likewise people also have a habit of continuing good or bad traits that they would have done once

This proverb is applied in determining or explaining repetitive behavior particularly around bad habits. It is used to relate to someone continuously doing something that others may not want or expect them to do. For instance it can be used to explain an habitual criminal offender or incessant erring. It is really an explanation of habit.

Similar Kikuyu Proverb: Uracama ari njeme - While the above proverb is not exact in meaning, its literal translation is that “He who has tasted (food) has its appetite.” However while the same meaning can be denoted, the Kikuyu proverb also relates to completing a task. In other words, if one has willingly started to do a task, they are not satisfied until they have completed it. The structure of the proverbs is also similar to the shona proverb.