Yorùbá and Igbo proverbs

Read Nigerian proverbs with their literal English translations and meanings.

Yorùbá proverbs

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  1. 581

    Ẹní bá da omi síwájú, á tẹ ilẹ̀ tútù.
    Literal translation
    Whoever waters the ground ahead, will step on a wet ground.
    Meaning
    Life is give and take; to reap, we ought to sow.
  2. 582

    Ẹni bá dúpẹ́ oore àná yóò rí òmíràn gbà
    Literal translation
    Whoever gives thanks for past favours, will be granted another.
    Meaning
    An attitude of gratitude is it
  3. 583

    Ẹni bá dúpẹ́ oore àná yóò rí òmíràn gbà.
    Literal translation
    Whoever gives thanks for past favours, will be granted another.
    Meaning
    Attitude of gratitude commends increase.
  4. 584

    Ẹní bá dúpẹ́ oore àná yóò rí òmíràn gbà.
    Literal translation
    Whoever gives thanks for yesterday's kindness, will receive another.
    Meaning
    Attitude of gratitude makes for increase; let's be grateful for where we are and what we have
  5. 585

    Ẹni bá dúpẹ́ oore àná, á rí òmíràn gbà.
    Literal translation
    Whoever is thankful for yesterday's kindness, will be favored with another.
    Meaning
    Attitude of gratitude attracts further acts of kindness
  6. 586

    Ẹni bá dúpẹ́ oore àná, yóò rí òmíràn gbà
    Literal translation
    Whoever gives thanks for past favours would be favoured with more.
    Meaning
    An attitude of gratitude is it
  7. 587

    Ẹni bá dúpẹ oore àná, yóò rí òmíràn gbà.
    Literal translation
    Whoever gives thanks for past favours would be favoured with more.
    Meaning
    Remain grateful.
  8. 588

    Ẹni bá dúpẹ́ oore àná, yóò rí òmíràn gbà.
    Literal translation
    Whoever is thankful for yesterday's kindness, will be favored with another.
    Meaning
    Attitude of gratitude makes for increase.
  9. 589

    Ẹní bá fẹ́ jẹ iṣẹ́ ẹ̀ pẹ́, máa ńbínú mọ níwọ̀n ni.
    Literal translation
    Whoever wants to long enjoy the fruits of his labour ought to be moderate in his anger.
    Meaning
    Uncontrolled temper can be self-destructive.
  10. 590

    Ẹní bá fi iṣu tí kò jinná gún'yán, o di dandan kó jẹ iyán tó lẹ́mọ.
    Literal translation
    Whoever prepares pounded yam with yams that are not fully cooked, will certainly eat lumpy pounded yam.
    Meaning
    Patience is it: good things take time; don’t force issues before their time.
  11. 591

    Ẹní bá gbé ayé jẹ́jẹ́ ni í gbé ayé pẹ́.
    Literal translation
    Whoever is patient in life is the one who lives long.
    Meaning
    Be patient
  12. 592

    Ẹní bá gun àkàbà dé òkè máa ńṣe pẹ̀lẹ̀ ni
    Literal translation
    Whoever climbs to the top of a ladder, ought to tread gently.
    Meaning
    Those at the top must tread softly
  13. 593

    Ẹní bá ja'lè lẹ́ẹ̀kan, tó bá daṣọ àrán bo orí, aṣọ olè ló dà bo'ra
    Literal translation
    Whoever steals, even just once, if covered with velvet, remains a thief, still.
    Meaning
    Dishonesty permanently stains; looting, in whatever form or guise, is stealing and
  14. 594

    Ẹni bá lé eku méjì á p'òfo.
    Literal translation
    Whoever chases two rats simultaneously, will catch none.
    Meaning
    Be focused; don't spread yourself too thin.
  15. 595

    Ẹni bá lé eku méjì, á p'òfo.
    Literal translation
    Whoever pursues after two rats simultaneously, will catch none.
    Meaning
    Be decisive; be focused
  16. 596

    Ẹní bá mọ inú rò á mọ ọpẹ́ dá.
    Literal translation
    Whoever can reason well will understand why he or she should be thankful.
    Meaning
    Always maintain an attitude of gratitude.
  17. 597

    Ẹní bá mọ inú rò, á mọ ọpẹ́ dá.
    Literal translation
    Whoever can reason well will know how (and why) to be thankful.
    Meaning
    We'll always have reasons to be thankful; maintain a heart of gratitude always; be ever grateful
  18. 598

    Ẹní bá mọ inú rò, á mọ ọpẹ́ ẹ́ dá
    Literal translation
    Whoever can reason well will appreciate why he ought to be thankful.
    Meaning
    Be ever grateful
  19. 599

    Ẹní bá mọ inú rò, á mọ ọpẹ́ ẹ́ dá.
    Literal translation
    Whoever can think well, will know how to be ever grateful.
    Meaning
    Maintaining a heart of gratitude
  20. 600

    Ẹní bá mọ inú ú rò, á mọ ọpẹ́ ẹ́ dá.
    Literal translation
    The thoughtful are ever grateful.
    Meaning
    Let's maintain an attitude of gratitude, always