Yorùbá and Igbo proverbs

Read Nigerian proverbs with their literal English translations and meanings.

Yorùbá proverbs

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  1. 841

    Ewúrẹ́ oko kò ṣe é sìn nílé.
    Literal translation
    The wild goat is not to be reared at home.
    Meaning
    There is a place and a right approach for everything: one size does not fit all
  2. 842

    Ewúrẹ́ tó lè kígbe jù, kọ́ lebi ńpa jù
    Literal translation
    The goat that bleats the loudest, is not necessarily the most famished.
    Meaning
    Appearance isn't reality
  3. 843

    Ewúrẹ́ tó lè kígbe jù, kọ́ lebi ńpa jù.
    Literal translation
    The goat that bleats the loudest is not necessarily the most famished.
    Meaning
    Look beyond the obvious: appearance is not necessarily reality; noise or drama is not necessarily substance
  4. 844

    Èyàn kì í dára kó má kù síbì kan.
    Literal translation
    No one can be so good and not have a flaw.
    Meaning
    No one is perfect; be tolerant.
  5. 845

    Èyàn kì í dára, kó má kù síbì kan.
    Literal translation
    No one can be so good and not have a flaw.
    Meaning
    No one is perfect; be tolerant.
  6. 846

    Èyàn kì í fúyẹ́ kó lóun wúwo.
    Literal translation
    One shouldn't be light and claim to be heavy.
    Meaning
    One shouldn't live in denial
  7. 847

    Èyàn kì í fúyẹ́ kó ní òun wúwo.
    Literal translation
    One should not be light and claim to be heavy.
    Meaning
    Don't live in denial
  8. 848

    Èyàn kì í mọ iyì ohun tó ní, à fi tó bá sọ ọ́ nù.
    Literal translation
    We seldom appreciate what we have, until we lose the thing.
    Meaning
    Take nothing desired for granted: we lose, sometimes permanently, whatever we take for granted; treasure whatever you wish to keep
  9. 849

    Èyàn kì í mọ iyì ohun tó ní, à fi tó bá sọọ́ nù
    Literal translation
    We seldom appreciate what we have, until we lose the thing.
    Meaning
    Familiarity breeds contempt
  10. 850

    Èyàn kì í mọ iyì ohun tó ní, à fi tó bá sọọ́ nù.
    Literal translation
    We seldom appreciate what we have, until we lose the thing.
    Meaning
    Familiarity breeds contempt.
  11. 851

    Èyàn kì í ṣu síbi tí yóò sùn sí.
    Literal translation
    One should not defecate upon where one is going to sleep.
    Meaning
    Don't desecrate your base
  12. 852

    Èyàn kìí mọ iyì ohun tó ní, àfi tó bá sọọ́ nù
    Literal translation
    A man seldom appreciate what he has except he loses it
    Meaning
    What one has gets taken for granted
  13. 853

    Èyàn kìí mọ'yì ohun tó ní, à fi tó bá sọọ́ nù
    Literal translation
    A man seldom appreciate what he has, until he loses it
    Meaning
    What's available is taken for granted
  14. 854

    Èyàn mẹ́ta ò lé dùró ni méjì méjì
    Literal translation
    Three persons cannot stand (or be grouped) two-by-two.
    Meaning
    Refers to an impossible scenario
  15. 855

    Ẹyẹ igbó kì í mọ fífò ọ̀dàn.
    Literal translation
    Forest birds seldom know how to fly on grasslands.
    Meaning
    No one knows it all; an expert in one area is often a novice in another.
  16. 856

    Ẹyẹ igbó kìí mọ fífò ọ̀dàn
    Literal translation
    Forest birds don't have the flying know-how of grasslands
    Meaning
    An expert in one field often is a novice in another
  17. 857

    Ẹyẹ igbó kìí mọ fífò ọ̀dàn.
    Literal translation
    Forest birds seldom know how to fly on grasslands.
    Meaning
    No one knows it all
  18. 858

    Ẹyẹ kì í pẹ́ lórí igi tí kò l'éso.
    Literal translation
    Birds hardly perch for long on a tree with no fruits.
    Meaning
    People hardly value what has no value; consistently add value and you won't lack attention
  19. 859

    Ẹyẹ kìí dédé bà lòrùlé, ọ̀rọ̀ lẹyẹ ńgbọ́
    Literal translation
    Birds do not ordinarily perch on rooftops, they are drawn by words overheard
    Meaning
    Effects are caused
  20. 860

    Ẹyẹ kò lè fi apá kan fò.
    Literal translation
    Birds can't fly with one wing.
    Meaning
    Team-work