Yorùbá and Igbo proverbs

Read Nigerian proverbs with their literal English translations and meanings.

Yorùbá proverbs

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  1. 641

    Ẹni òjò pa, tí àrá kó pa kó má a dúpẹ́.
    Literal translation
    Whoever got beaten by rain but wasn't struck by lightning should be thankful.
    Meaning
    Be ever grateful.
  2. 642

    Ẹni òjò pa, tí àrá kò pa, kó má a dúpẹ́.
    Literal translation
    Whoever got beaten by rain but wasn't struck by lightning should be thankful.
    Meaning
    Attitude of gratitude is it; remain ever grateful to God: whatever is bad, could have been worse, were it not for Him.
  3. 643

    Ẹni òjò pa, tí àrá ò pa kó máa dúpẹ́.
    Literal translation
    Whoever got beaten by rain but wasn't struck by lightning should be thankful.
    Meaning
    Be ever grateful
  4. 644

    Ẹni òjò pa, tí àrá ò pa, kó máa dúpẹ́.
    Literal translation
    Whoever got beaten by rain but wasn't struck by lightning should be thankful.
    Meaning
    Be ever grateful; whatever is bad could have been worse.
  5. 645

    Ẹni ọ̀rẹ́ dà kó má ṣe bí'nú; ẹni abínibí ńda'ni
    Literal translation
    Those betrayed by friends shouldn't be offended; even siblings betray one another.
    Meaning
    Be tolerant; forgive and forget. Don't hold on to hurts
  6. 646

    Ẹni ọ̀rẹ́ dà kó má ṣe bínú, ẹni abínibí ńda'ni.
    Literal translation
    Those betrayed by friends shouldn't be offended, siblings betray one another.
    Meaning
    Be tolerant
  7. 647

    Ẹni ọ̀rẹ́ dà kó má ṣe bínú, ẹni abínibí ńda’ni.
    Literal translation
    Those betrayed by friends should not be offended; even siblings betray one another.
    Meaning
    Be tolerant; forgive and forget; do not hold on to hurts.
  8. 648

    Ẹni ọ̀rẹ́ dà kó má ṣe bínú, ẹni abínibí ńdani
    Literal translation
    Those betrayed by friends shouldn't be offended, siblings betray one another
    Meaning
    Being tolerant
  9. 649

    Ẹni ọ̀rẹ́ dà kó má ṣe bínú; ẹni abínibí ńda'ni
    Literal translation
    Those betrayed by friends shouldn't be offended; even siblings do betray one another.
    Meaning
    Be tolerant; forgive and forget. Don't hold on to hurts.
  10. 650

    Ẹni ọ̀rẹ́ dà kó má ṣe bínú; ẹni abínibí ńdani
    Literal translation
    Those betrayed by friends shouldn't be offended; siblings betray one another.
    Meaning
    Be gracious
  11. 651

    Ẹni ọ̀rẹ́ dà, kó má ṣe bí'nú; ẹni abínibí ńda'ni
    Literal translation
    Those betrayed by friends shouldn't be offended; even siblings betray one another.
    Meaning
    Tolerance is it; forgive and forget; don't hold on to hurts.
  12. 652

    Ẹni ọ̀rẹ́ dà, kó má ṣe bí'nú; ẹni abínibí ńda'ni.
    Literal translation
    Those betrayed by friends shouldn't be offended; even siblings betray one another.
    Meaning
    Tolerance is it; forgive and forget; don't hold on to hurts.
  13. 653

    Ẹní rí òkú ìkà nílẹ̀ tó taá níìpá, ìkà ti di méjì
    Literal translation
    Whoever kicked the corpse of a wicked fellow, made himself wicked too.
    Meaning
    Forgive & forget
  14. 654

    Ẹni sọ eré dìjà ní ńjẹ̀bi ẹjọ́.
    Literal translation
    Whoever turns a prank into a quarrel is the one at fault.
    Meaning
    Don't be too serious
  15. 655

    Ẹni sọ̀rọ̀ púpọ̀ yó ṣìsọ; àsọjù ló ńmú ìyá ọba pe ara rẹ̀ ní ìyá ọ̀bọ
    Literal translation
    Whoever talks inordinately will misspeak; inordinate talk made the king's mother (inadvertently) referred to herself as the mother of monkeys.
    Meaning
    Moderation is crucial; exercise self-control, always
  16. 656

    Ẹni sọ̀rọ̀ púpọ̀ yó ṣìsọ; àsọjù ló ńmú ìyá ọba pe ara rẹ̀ ní ìyá ọ̀bọ.
    Literal translation
    Whoever talks excessively will misspeak; excessive talk was how the king's mother (inadvertently) referred to herself as the mother of monkeys.
    Meaning
    Moderation is it; be moderate even in a good cause
  17. 657

    Ẹní sọ̀rọ̀ púpọ̀ yó ṣìsọ; àsọjù ló ńmú ìyá ọba pe ara rẹ̀ ní ìyá ọ̀bọ.
    Literal translation
    Whoever talks excessively will misspeak; excessive talk is how the king's mother (inadvertently) referred to herself as the mother of monkeys.
    Meaning
    Moderation is it; exercise self-control, always.
  18. 658

    Ẹni sọ̀rọ̀ púpọ̀ yó ṣìsọ.
    Literal translation
    Whoever talks too much will misspeak.
    Meaning
    Moderation is crucial
  19. 659

    Ẹni táa fi jẹ baálẹ̀ tí kò ba ìlú jẹ́, kò ní pẹ́ dé adé ọba.
    Literal translation
    A village head who did not mess up the village, would soon find himself crowned a king.
    Meaning
    Whoever is faithful in a minor responsibility would be offered a major one.
  20. 660

    Ẹni táa fún ló'bì tí kò ṣ'ọpẹ́, báa fún un lọ́'mọ kò ní ṣà'na.
    Literal translation
    A person who gave no thanks when offered kolanut, wouldn't pay his dues if given a bride.
    Meaning
    Whoever showed no appreciation for small favours is unlikely to reciprocate major acts of kindness