Yorùbá proverbs
541
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 treated with levity
542
Ebi ò ní pa igún títí, kó wá jẹ àgbàdo.
- Literal translation
- The vulture cannot be so hungry as to eat maize.
- Meaning
- There's a limit to how low anyone will stoop
543
Ẹ̀bìtì ẹnu ò tàsé.
- Literal translation
- The trap of the mouth (for food) never misses.
- Meaning
- One rarely fails at what one deeply desires
544
Ẹda ò l'àròpin.
- Literal translation
- No one can be written off.
- Meaning
- Never underestimate yourself or anyone; you have no idea what you or anyone is capable of
545
Ẹ̀dá ò l'áròpin.
- Literal translation
- No one can be written off.
- Meaning
- Write-off or underestimate no one, including yourself; you absolutely have no idea what you or anyone can become, tomorrow: it's not over, yet
546
Èébú àlọ ni ti ahun; àbọ̀, ti àna rẹ̀ ni
- Literal translation
- The initial shame is for the tortoise; the subsequent ones are for its in-law (who exposed it to the shame, in the first instance).
- Meaning
- Be perceptive: ultimately, we embarrass ourselves when we expose those close to us to embarrassments
547
Èébú ò so.
- Literal translation
- Abusive words never (grow and) fruit on anyone.
- Meaning
- Disparaging attacks are defused when ignored; keep moving: don't major on minors.s
548
Èéfín ni ìwà; kò ṣeé fi pamọ́.
- Literal translation
- Character is like smoke; it cannot be covered up.
- Meaning
- No one can pretend to be who he isn't for long.s
549
Ẹ̀ẹ̀kan latannimú, í tan’ni í mú, mọ.
- Literal translation
- Only once do those who deceive others to catch (or take advantage of) them, succeed.
- Meaning
- Ultimately, deception does not pay.
550
Èèyàn bo'ni lára ju aṣọ lọ.
- Literal translation
- Humans provide better cover than clothes.
- Meaning
- Human relationships are crucial
551
Èèyàn boni lára ju aṣọ lọ.
- Literal translation
- People provide better cover than clothes.
- Meaning
- Relationships are critical
552
Ẹ̀gàn kò ní kí oyin má dùn.
- Literal translation
- Derision does not deter honey from sweetness.
- Meaning
- External forces cannot stop internally-driven success
553
Ẹ̀gàn ò ní kóyin má dùn; ọ̀tẹ̀ ò ní kóyin ó kan
- Literal translation
- Derision won't kill honey's sweetness; rebellion won't make honey go sour.
- Meaning
- Keep hope alive
554
Ẹ̀gàn ò ní kóyin má dùn.
- Literal translation
- Derision can't stop honey from being sweet.
- Meaning
- External forces cannot stop internally-driven success
555
Ẹja wẹ́wẹ́ ló ńtan ẹja ńlá lọ sínú àwọ̀n
- Literal translation
- It's the little fish that lure the big one into the fishing net.
- Meaning
- Unbridled greed is destructive
556
Ẹ̀kọ àsìkò sàn ju iyán ewú lọ.
- Literal translation
- Fresh pap is better than stale pounded yam.
- Meaning
- Be perceptive to choose wisely.
557
Ẹkọ gbígbóná ńfẹ́ sùúrù.
- Literal translation
- Patience is needed to drink hot pap.
- Meaning
- Crucial issues must be patiently handled
558
Èkù ò mọ̀ pára ńtàdá
- Literal translation
- Handles seldom appreciate that cutlasses are under stress
- Meaning
- Those shielded seldom appreciate subsisting harsh realities
559
Èkù ò mọ̀ pé ara ńta àdá.
- Literal translation
- The handles hardly appreciate that cutlasses are stressed out.
- Meaning
- Be careful to appreciate kind gestures received from others.
560
Eku tó bá fi jùà jùà wọ isà, jùà jùà náà ló máa bá jáde.
- Literal translation
- A mouse that carelessly rushed into its burrow will carelessly rush out, as well.
- Meaning
- It's good to handle issues with patience and care.