Yorùbá proverbs
1
A jókòó a fi àpò kọ́, a dìde ọwọ́ ò tó àpò mọ́.
- Literal translation
- We sat and hung a bag; we stood up and the bag was out of reach.
- Meaning
- A perplexing scenario.
2
Á ka owó tì lálẹ́, oníbárà tó ńṣe ẹ̀ẹ́kẹ́ èébú
- Literal translation
- A quarrelsome street beggar would find few alms to count at the end of the day.
- Meaning
- Courtesy and civility go a long way.
3
Á ka owó tì lálẹ́, oníbárà tó ńṣe ẹ̀ẹ́kẹ́ èébú.
- Literal translation
- A quarrelsome beggar would find few alms to count at the end of the day.
- Meaning
- Be courteous
4
A kì í bá ara ẹni tan kí á f'ara ẹni n'ítan ya.
- Literal translation
- To be a relation of someone is no excuse to become a liability to the person.
- Meaning
- Do not abuse your privilege; there is a limit to everything.
5
A kì í bá ara ẹni tan kí á fa ara ẹni n'ítan ya.
- Literal translation
- To be related to someone is no excuse to be unconscionably dependent on him or her.
- Meaning
- Good to take personal responsibility; never abuse your privileges: there is a limit to everything.
6
A kì í bá ọba pa àlà, kí ọkọ́ ọba má ṣán’ni lẹ́sẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- You cannot share (farm) boundaries with the king and not get your feet wounded by his hoes.
- Meaning
- Those who are not careful in riding the back of a tiger ends up inside; deal with positions of power with caution.
7
A kì í bá Ọlọ́run ṣòwò ká pàdánù.
- Literal translation
- You can't trade with God and lose.
- Meaning
- God is faithful; you can depend on Him.
8
A kì í bérè lọ́wọ́ adélébọ̀ pé ní'bo ló ti rí oyún.
- Literal translation
- No one asks a married woman where she has got her pregnancy.
- Meaning
- Don't ask obvious questions
9
A kì í bínú orí ká fi fìlà dé ìdodo.
- Literal translation
- One cannot be so angry with the head as to place the hat on the navel.
- Meaning
- Moderation is crucial
10
A kì í bínú sí ẹni tí a kò rí
- Literal translation
- We shouldn't be annoyed preemptively with someone we haven't seen (or heard out).
- Meaning
- Don't rush to judgment.
11
A kì í bínú sí ẹni tí a kò rí.
- Literal translation
- Do not be angry with someone you have not heard out.
- Meaning
- Never rush to judgment; there is always a chance you could be wrong; always give people the benefit of the doubt.
12
A kì í d'àgbà kí a má lè lá'bẹ̀, eegun ẹran nìkan l'àgbà ò le fọ́.
- Literal translation
- No one is too old to lick soup; cracking of bones is what may be an issue.
- Meaning
- Age is no barrier; get going.
13
A kì í dá aró ní Ìṣokùn; àlà ni wọ́n ńlò níbẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- No one engages in a cloth dyeing venture in Isokun Town; only whites (clothes) are worn there.
- Meaning
- Supply should respond to demand; never supply or offer what is not required
14
A kì í dàgbà fún ohun tí a kò bá mọ̀
- Literal translation
- One is never too old to learn what one does not know.
- Meaning
- Age is no barrier to learning; learn constantly
15
A kì í dàgbà fún ohun tí a kò bá mọ̀.
- Literal translation
- One is never too old to learn what one does not know.
- Meaning
- There is no end to learning.
16
A kì í dàgbà fún oun tí a kò bá mọ̀.
- Literal translation
- One cannot be too old to learn what one does not know.
- Meaning
- No end to learning
17
A kì í dàgbà jù fún ohun tí a kò bá mọ̀.
- Literal translation
- One is never too old to learn what one does not know.
- Meaning
- There is no end to learning: be open to it; age is no barrier to learning.
18
A kì í dàgbà kí a má lè lábẹ̀; eegun ẹran nìkan làgbà ò le fọ́.
- Literal translation
- One cannot be too old to lick soup; cracking of bones is what may present an issue.
- Meaning
- Age is never a barrier; don't make it one
19
A kì í dámọ̀nràn àti tà'kìtì lágbàlá ọ̀bọ, nítorí ọ̀bọ fúnra'ra rẹ̀, ọba òkìtì ni
- Literal translation
- Never toy with the idea of somersaulting in the vicinity of a monkey: monkeys themselves, are experts at somersaulting.
- Meaning
- Modesty is it; Not wise to make an open show of one's ignorance.
20
A kì í dámọ̀nràn àti tà'kìtì lágbàlá ọ̀bọ, nítorí ọ̀bọ fúnra'ra rẹ̀, ọba òkìtì ni.
- Literal translation
- Never toy with the idea of somersaulting in the vicinity of a monkey; monkeys, themselves, are experts at somersaulting.
- Meaning
- Be measured; it's not smart to needlessly display one's ignorance