Mbudzi kudya mufenje hufana nyina; Mbudzi kukwira mufuta kufana rudzi Mbudzi kudya mufenje hutodza mai nabambo

Mwana anofanana kana kutevedzera vabereki vake muzviito zvisinei kuti zvakashata kana kuti zvakanaka. Mwana wega wega anotevedzera tsika dzevabereki uye zvinoitwa mumhuri make.

For a goat to eat cabbage-tree leaves it is imitating its own kind. If a goat climbs a castoroil-plant, it imitates its own kind

Children usually pick up traits and habits from their parents. Simply put, like father like son and particularly in expressing similarity in character. The habits and the behaviuor of children very often reflect those of their parents. 'Like father, like son.'

The proverb is simplistic in observing that in the way the goat eats the cabbage-tree leaves, it is merely imitating its mother/father. Many animals actually avoid the cabbage tree leaves as they are considered some of the most bitter leaves. However the goat eats this and it can only be surmised that it saw it’s parent eating the leaves and merely copied. In this way our elders were using this example to show that children usually copy habits, traits and characteristics of their parents.

The proverb is used when identifying similar traits or characteristics in the child as those of the parent. It does not matter whether the traits are considered good or bad, if it is an imitation by the child from any of the parents, then the proverb applies.