Yorùbá proverbs
521
Bó pẹ́ bó yá, ogún ọdún ńbọ̀ wá k'ọ̀la.
- Literal translation
- No matter how long, twenty years time will one day be referred to as 'tomorrow'.
- Meaning
- Don't lose hope
522
Bó ti wù ká fa igi èsuru tó, èsuru yóò ta,
- Literal translation
- No matter how the aerial yam plant is pulled, it will yet grow to maturity.
- Meaning
- Determination
523
Bó ti wù ká fa igi èsúrú tó, èsúrú yóò ta.
- Literal translation
- No matter how the aerial yam plant is pulled, it will still grow to maturity.
- Meaning
- Be determined
524
Bó ti wù kéèyàn lówó tó, kò lè ra ilé ayé tán
- Literal translation
- No matter how rich anyone is, no one can buy up the whole world.
- Meaning
- You can pursue your dreams
525
Bó ti wù kéèyàn lówó tó, kò lè ra ilé ayé tán.
- Literal translation
- No matter how wealthy anyone is, he or she cannot buy up the whole world.
- Meaning
- There is no need to pull anyone down to rise; the world is big and endowed enough for all.
526
Bó ti wù kí ojú kan tóbi tó, ojú méjì sàn ju ojú kan lọ
- Literal translation
- No matter how big an eye is, two eyes are better than one.
- Meaning
- Together, we can do more
527
Bó ti wù kí ojú kan tóbi tó, ojú méjì sàn ju ojú kan lọ.
- Literal translation
- No matter how big an eye is, two eyes are better than one.
- Meaning
- Team effort is superior
528
Dídákẹ́ lerin dákẹ́, àjànàkú ló lẹgàn.
- Literal translation
- The elephant is simply unpretentious; its lordship of the forest isn't in doubt.
- Meaning
- Don't mistake meekness for stupìdity.
529
Dídùn dídùn là ńbá ilé olóyin.
- Literal translation
- Honeycombs are always found in a sweet state.
- Meaning
- You will not lack what you give to others
530
Dídùn ló dùn tá ḿbá ọ̀rẹ́ j'ẹ̀kọ; ti ilé oge tó oge é jẹ.
- Literal translation
- One eats with a friend because of the pleasure of friendship not necessarily because one lacks.
- Meaning
- Take no one for granted: friendly overtures are not necessarily attempts at currying favours
531
Dídùn ló dùn tá ńbá ọ̀rẹ́ j'ẹ̀kọ; ti ilé oge tó oge é jẹ.
- Literal translation
- One eats with a friend because of the pleasure of friendship not necessarily because one lacks.
- Meaning
- Take no one for granted: friendliness is not necessarily an attempt to seek favours
532
Dídùn ló dùn tá ńbá ọ̀rẹ́ jẹ ẹ̀kọ; ti ilé oge to óge é jẹ.
- Literal translation
- We eat with a friend because of the pleasure of friendship not because we lack.
- Meaning
- Foster friendships: people are more important than things.
533
Dídùn ló dùn tá ńbá ọ̀rẹ́ jẹ̀kọ, ti ilé oge to óge é jẹ.
- Literal translation
- One eats with a friend because of the pleasure of friendship not because one lacks.
- Meaning
- Treasure friendships; take no one for granted.
534
Díẹ̀ leyín tó ńjẹ ẹran; ìyókù kí ẹ̀rẹ̀kẹ́ má báa papó ni
- Literal translation
- Only a few teeth are really used to chew meat; the rest simply keep up the cheeks from folding up.
- Meaning
- Most will be achieved by the few, but the others have their places, too: write-off no one
535
Díẹ̀ tó nínú nkan onínǹkan.
- Literal translation
- A little out of someone else's possession should be good enough.
- Meaning
- Refraining from greed
536
Ẹ kó ilà kúrò lẹ́kọ, ẹ̀kọ ò kọlà.
- Literal translation
- Get the marks off the corn meal, the corn meal has no tribal marks.
- Meaning
- Don't pull the wool over our eyes!
537
Ebi kì í wọ'nú kí ọ̀rọ̀ mí ì wọ̀ ọ́.
- Literal translation
- Once hunger enters a stomach, no other issue will be permitted entry.
- Meaning
- Put first things first: clear up important (or existential) issues first, then other matters will easily receive desired attention
538
Ebi ńpa mí ò ṣe é fi ìfé sọ.
- Literal translation
- I am hungry is not to be expressed by whistling.
- Meaning
- A serious matter shouldn't be treated with levity
539
Ebi ńpa mí ò ṣeé fi ìfé é sọ.
- Literal translation
- Hunger should not be expressed by whistling.
- Meaning
- A serious matter should not be casually handled.
540
Ebi ńpa mí ò ṣeé fi ìfé sọ
- Literal translation
- I am hungry is not to be expressed by whistling.
- Meaning
- A serious matter shouldn't be taken lightly