50 insightful proverbs from the indigenous yoruba ethnic group native to the present-day western part of Nigeria.
- Ile oba t'o jo, ewa lo busi
Translation: When a king's palace burns down, the re-built palace is more beautiful.
Meaning: Necessity is mother of invention, creativity is often achieved after overcoming many difficulties.
- Gbogbo alangba lo d'anu dele, a ko mo eyi t'inu nrun
Translation: All lizards lie flat on their stomach and it is difficult to determine which has a stomach ache
Meaning: Everyone looks the same on the outside but everyone has problems that are invisible to outsiders.
- Ile la ti n ko eso re ode
Translation: Charity begins at Home
Meaning: A man cannot give what he does not have good or bad behavior is a reflection of one’s background.
- A pę ko to jęun, ki ję ibaję
Translation: The person that eat late, will not eat spoiled food
Meaning: It is more profitable to exercise patience while seeking a durable solution, in difficult situations than to hastily accept an ill-conceived/prepared solution.
- Eewu bę loko Longę, Longę fun ara rę eewu ni
Translation: There is danger at Longę's farm (Longę is a name of a Yoruba Legend), Longę himself is danger
Meaning: You should be extremely careful of situations that have a past history of danger
- Bi Ēēgun nla ba ni ohùn o ri gontò, gontò na a ni ohùn o ri Ēēgun nla
Translation: If a big masquerade claims it doesn't see the smaller masquerade, the small masquerade will also claim it doesn't see the big masquerade.
Meaning: If an important man does not respect those less important than himself, less important men will in turn refuse to give him his due.
- Kò sí ęni tí ó ma gùn ęşin tí kò ní ju ìpàkó. Bí kò fę ju ìpàkó, ęşin tí ó ngùn á ję kojū.
Translation: No one rides a horse without moving his head, voluntarily or involuntarily.
Meaning: Your status in life dictates your attitude towards your peers
- Bí abá so òkò sójà ará ilé eni ní bá;
Translation: He who throws a stone in the market will hit his relative
Meaning: Be careful what you do unto others it may return towards you or someone close to you
- Agba ki wa loja, ki ori omo titun o wo.
Translation: Do not go crazy, do not let the new baby look.
Meaning: Behave in a mature manner so avoid bad reputation.
- Adìẹ funfun kò mọ ara rẹ̀lágbà
Translation: The white chicken does not realize its age
Meaning: Respect yourself
- Ọbẹ̀ kìí gbé inú àgbà mì
Translation: The soup does not move round in an elder’s belly
Meaning: You should be able to keep secrets
- À ń pe gbẹ́nàgbẹ́nà ẹyẹ àkókó ń yọjú
Translation: A sculptor is summoned and the woodpecker shows up
Meaning: Never think too highly of yourself
- Díẹ̀ díẹ̀ nimú ẹlẹ́dẹ̀ẹ́ fi ń wọgbà
Translation: Little by little is how the pig’s nose enters the yard
Meaning: Attend to a small problem before it becomes uncontrollable
- Ilé ọba tójó ẹwà ló bùsi
Translation: The king’s palace that got burnt added beauty to it
Meaning: Every cloud has a silver lining
- A ti kekee e ti p’eitan u’oko i, do ba d’agba tan e i du ka ma
Trim the branches of an iroko tree while it is young, if it matures completely it cannot be bent again.
Meaning: Training of a child commences when the child is still very young and impressionable; otherwise his training become s late and an uphill task.
- Oiho buuk’ e ka koolo bi s’upekun da le da ma.
Translation: A man’s head with an evil mind does not curve like cutlass for one to know it.
Meaning: Appearance is deceptive
- Onen e n’oogun adoado ee gb’ ayinyan win.
Translation: He who does not have an antidote for a disease called “adoado” should not swallow a cockroach.
Meaning: One should avoid any thing or act that will have adverse effect on him/her.
- D’iaye ba a s’oko s’oja, o le la a ba ia l’onen.
If one throws a stone into the market it may hit his relative.
Meaning: avoid doing things that will have serious repercussion or effect
- Di ulu be e don panen panen, a ka jo ni melo melo.
Translation: If a drum is sounding “kill him, kill him” one should dance to it with caution.
Meaning: Avoid doing things that will have serious repercussion or effect
- Oju ya a b’onen t’ale e e m’owuo kutu s’ipen.
Translation: The eye that will be useful to its owner does not start discharging in the morning.
Meaning: The success of a venture requires early planning and preparedness
- Iy’o wu mi e wue, oun e m’omaiye meji jeun ototo i.
Translation: Differences in likes and dislikes make two brothers eat separately
Meaning: Every human being has special characteristics that make him unique.
- Ijo je o we yon i.
Translation: Eating together makes the exercise enjoyable.
Meaning: There is joy in cooperative effort
- Omi yi iay’ a mon ee san gb’onen ee.
Translation: the water that one is destined to drink will never flow past one.
Meaning: Whatever one is destined to become or achieve in life must come to pass.
- O so si ko du ka, o wo si ko du see
Translation: If the fruits of a tree grows where it cannot be plucked; it falls where it cannot be picked up
Meaning: The problem is enigmatic, defying solution.
- Die e je ma n’aja o siwin ku i
Translation: One eats a little of a dog that died as a result of rabies.
Meaning: One should not over do things. There should be some restraint.
- Uun yi agbalagba ri n’oiho joko, omoiton le ri un n’oiho uduo.
Translation: What an elder sees while sitting down, a child can never see it while standing up.
Meaning: Experience is the best teacher
- Igi so so o y’a a ghonen ‘ju, a to ke iye e ti ho i.
Translation: The pointed stick that will pierce one in the eye, is avoided while it is still far off.
Meaning: To be forewarned, is to be forearmed.
- Onen p’ aoko s’ oja oun oja p’ aoko si.
Translation: He who sends a gift to the market, he it is that a market sends a gift to.
Meaning: Anyone who gives will receive.
- Se s’ale oun e je Seike i.
Translation: He who leaves a good legacy behind will be fondly remembered for his generosity
Meaning: Benevolence leaves a lasting impression.
- Aja e e gbagbe l’oiye owuo.
Translation: A dog does not forget its morning benefactor.
Meaning: It is good to show appreciation for any good deed done to one.
- Oj’ ole igbad’e gbo i
Translation: Corn matures in the presence of a lazy man.
Meaning: If a man does not work, he must not eat.
- Li suu e fon wa’a keneun i.
Only the patient one can milk a lion.
Meaning: He who is patient can perform an impossible task.
- Ubee eese l’use, onen yo gbe jake oun o se l’use i
.
Translation: A good beginning is of no value unless one perseveres to the end.
Meaning: He who perseveres to the end will be rewarded
- Igbe ‘a ga o we s’ugwaju ipa’uun.
Translation: It is lifting oneself up that goes before destruction.
Meaning: Pride goes before a fall.
- Aja e e j, ogungun ya gbe ko ghon o ‘on.
Translation: A dog does not eat the bone, which is hung on its neck. In other words,
Meaning: It is one’s responsibility to take care of whatever he is entrusted with.
- Onen ma nen a’e do fi ghon n’onen, uya a a je pa i.
Translation: He who does not have himself but claims he has somebody’s support, suffer will kill him.
Meaning: He who does not help himself but relies on others will suffer.
- Ko omo e do le mu usimi ko e.
Translation: Teach your child to give you rest
Meaning: Train your child so that he can give you peace of mind.
- Den a’a e n’awo yo gba e.
Translation: Fry yourself in a pot that will conveniently contain you.
Meaning: Cut your coat according to your size.
- E e m’oiho Ade gwole.
Translation: We not allow a head wearing a crown to drag on the ground.
Meaning: This means that nobody disrespects a crowned individual.
- Li t’onen e e h’oi osan da m’aipan.
Translation: One’s relation cannot be on the top of a cherry tree and one eats an unripe one.
Meaning: Someone in an influential position should use his position for the benefit of his relation and community.
- Uun yi wo ba a gbe oun wa ka i, we le gbe ila du o ka koko.
What you plant, is what you will pluck, you cannot plant okro and you pluck cocoa.
Meaning: Whatever you sow, that you will reap;
- Ohun pele, o yo obi n’ apo; ohun lile yo uda n’ako
Translation: A gentle voice brings kola from the pocket while a harsh voice brings out a sword from its sheath.
Meaning: The tongue is a two-edged sword.
- A’a e e wowo di l’otu e m a le gbe un.
Translation: No matter how heavy the body may be the owner will still be able to carry it.
Meaning: Each individual must undertake his responsibilities.
- E e do da ma ja, sugbon aja i gb’uha o so o i.
Translation: People cannot live together without quarrelling but reconciliation/settlement should be given a chance.
Meaning: Emphasizes the importance of closeness of individuals to one another even when conflict exists between them.
- Omi yi iay’a a mon e e san gb’onen e.
Translation: The water one is destined to drink never flows past him or her.
Meaning: God’s timing is always perfect
- Esin e e da onen da ma ton gun.
Translation: The fact that the horse throws down the rider does not stop the rider from getting up and climbing it again.
Meaning: Never give up
- Di l’ejo ba a ma ejo n’ebi e ni i pe n’oiho ukonle.
Translation: If one acknowledges one’s guilt in court one will not remain on his knees for long.
Meaning: If you own up to your guilt, you have tried to put things right and so may be pardoned or judged with leniency.
- Ole yo ji kakaki oba, o ku boon ti a fon.
Translation: The thief who steals the king’s trumpet will find it difficult to blow it anywhere without being discovered.
Meaning: Nemesis will always catch up with a wrongdoer.
- Inon ukoko didun oun eko fifun ti jade i.
Translation: White corn paste comes out of the black pot.
Meaning: Do not judge a book by its cover.
- O nukan je nukan pawo ma.
Translation: Eater alone clearer alone
Meaning: A selfish individual.
