Yorùbá proverbs
561
Ẹlẹ́rù ló ńgbé ẹrù ẹ̀ kí a tó báa fọwọ́ kún un
- Literal translation
- The owner has to first pick up his (or her) luggage before others will extend hands of support.
- Meaning
- Take responsibility and ownership, before seeking help; don't expect support from others, if you're unwilling to do all you can
562
Ẹlẹ́rù ló ńgbé ẹrù ẹ̀ kí a tó báa fọwọ́ kún un.
- Literal translation
- The owner has to first pick up his (or her) luggage before others will extend hands of support.
- Meaning
- Take responsibility and ownership, before seeking help; don't expect support from others, if you're unwilling to do all you can.
563
Èlírí kì í ṣe ọmọ eku, bí ìran ẹ̀ ṣe mọ ni
- Literal translation
- The tiny mouse isn't an offspring of the rat; its smallness is genetic.
- Meaning
- Look beyond the obvious
564
Èlírí kì í ṣe ọmọ eku, bí ìran ẹ̀ ṣe mọ ni.
- Literal translation
- The tiny mouse isn't an offspring of the rat; its smallness is genetic.
- Meaning
- Appearance can be deceptive; look beyond the obvious.
565
Èlùbọ́ ṣe ègbodò rí; arúgbó ṣe omidan rí
- Literal translation
- Yam flour was once fresh yams; the old grey-haired woman was once a maiden
- Meaning
- Nothing lasts forever
566
Èmi ló lòní, èmi ló lọ̀la, lọmọdé fi ńdi onígbèsè.
- Literal translation
- I own today and I will own tomorrow, is how a youngster runs into debt.
- Meaning
- Change is constant: don't be presumptuous about the future; plan and prepare for it, today.
567
Ẹni a fẹ́ la mọ̀, a kò mọ ẹni tó fẹ́'ni
- Literal translation
- You do know who you love for sure, but you can't really be certain of who loves you.
- Meaning
- Be perceptive
568
Ẹni a fẹ́ la mọ̀, a kò mọ ẹni tó fẹ́'ni.
- Literal translation
- You do know who you love for sure, but you can't be certain of who really loves you.
- Meaning
- Be perceptive; rely less on appearance, but more on substance; appearance, are quite, often deceptive.
569
Ẹni a fẹ́ la mọ̀, a ò mọ ẹni tó fẹ́'ni
- Literal translation
- You do know who you love for sure, but you can't really be certain of who loves you.
- Meaning
- Be perceptive
570
Ẹni a fẹ́ la mọ̀, a ò mọ ẹni tó fẹ́'ni.
- Literal translation
- You do know who you love for sure, but you cannot be certain of who really loves you.
- Meaning
- Be perceptive; things are often not as they appear.
571
Ẹni a fẹ́, kì í ṣi ìwà hù.
- Literal translation
- We are blind to the faults of those we love.
- Meaning
- With love, every other concerns pale.
572
Ẹni à ńbá nájà là ńwò, a kìí wo ariwo ọjà
- Literal translation
- We should face who we are trading with & ignore the noise in the market
- Meaning
- Be focused on your goals
573
Ẹni à ńgbé ìyàwó bọ̀ wá bá kì í ga'rùn.
- Literal translation
- A groom shouldn't be craning his neck to peek at his bride.
- Meaning
- Be patient; avoid undue haste
574
Ẹni á ńgbé ìyàwó bọ̀ wá bá, kì í ga’rùn.
- Literal translation
- A groom should not be craning his neck to peek at his bride.
- Meaning
- Be patient; avoid undue haste to force issues before their time
575
Ẹni a ṣe lóore tí kò dúpẹ́, bí ìgbà tí ọlọ́ṣa ko ni lẹ́rù lọ ni.
- Literal translation
- To be kind to a person who isn't thankful is akin to being robbed by a thief.
- Meaning
- Attitude of gratitude is it; be ever thankful
576
Ẹni a ṣe lóore tí kò dúpẹ́, bí ìgbà tí ọlọ́ṣa kó ni lẹ́rù lọ ni.
- Literal translation
- A person who receives an act of kindness, but remains unthankful, is comparable to a robber.
- Meaning
- Atittude of gratitude is crucial; be grateful, always.
577
Ẹni ayé ńyọ lẹ́nu, sàn ju ẹni ayé gbàgbé lọ.
- Literal translation
- A person who is pestered and kept busy is better than one ignored or forgotten.
- Meaning
- It is better to be kept busy than to be ignored.
578
Ẹní bá da omi sí'wájú, á tẹ ilẹ̀ tútù.
- Literal translation
- Whoever waters the ground ahead, will get to step on a wet ground.
- Meaning
- One good turn always beckons on another; sowers harvest; givers receive; seek opportunities to give
579
Ẹni bá da omi síwájú, á tẹ ilẹ̀ tútù
- Literal translation
- Whoever pours water on the ground ahead of him, will get to step on wet ground
- Meaning
- Life is give and take
580
Ẹni bá da omi síwájú, á tẹ ilẹ̀ tútù.
- Literal translation
- Whoever waters the ground ahead of him, will get to step on a wet ground.
- Meaning
- Life is give and take; to reap, we must sow.