Yorùbá proverbs
1021
Ilé l'adìyẹ ò ti níyì.
- Literal translation
- It is at home that a hen has no honour.
- Meaning
- Familiarity breeds contempt
1022
Ilé la ńwò kí a tó sọmọ lórúkọ
- Literal translation
- One looks at one's home (or financial condition) before naming one's baby.
- Meaning
- One should not outdare himself
1023
Ilẹ̀ mọ́, ọ̀lẹ pòṣé.
- Literal translation
- The day breaks and the indolent hissed.
- Meaning
- Be diligent.
1024
Ilé ò ní gba eku kó tún gba ejò
- Literal translation
- A house can't harbour rats and harbour snakes (snakes prey on rats).
- Meaning
- You can't eat your cake and have it
1025
Ilé ọba tó jó ẹwà ló bù si
- Literal translation
- A palace that got burnt is preparing for better aesthetics.
- Meaning
- A disappointment may well be a blessing in disguise
1026
Ilé san mi dùn ju oyè lọ.
- Literal translation
- To be at peace in one's home is better than (compromising this for) positions or titles.
- Meaning
- Precious little is worth compromising our peace of mind for; contentment is it
1027
Ilé tí a fi itọ́ mọ, ìrì ló máa wóo.
- Literal translation
- A house built with saliva would collapse under dew drops.
- Meaning
- Whatever is based on deceit won't last
1028
Ilé tí a fi itọ́ mọ́, ìrì ló máa wóo.
- Literal translation
- A house built with saliva will collapse under dew drops.
- Meaning
- Whatever is based on deceit seldom lasts
1029
Ilé tí a fi itọ́ mọ́, ìrì ni yóò wóo.
- Literal translation
- A house built with saliva will collapse under dew drops.
- Meaning
- Integrity is it; fruits of deceit seldom last.
1030
Ilẹ̀kùn tí kò bá ní alùgbàgbà, kó yára dẹ́kun àpárá dí dá.
- Literal translation
- A door with no frame, had better cease all pranks.
- Meaning
- Exercise self-control; operate within your means; don't make an open show of your weaknesses.
1031
Ilẹ̀kùn tí ò bá ní alùgbàgbà, kó yára dẹ́kun àpárá dí dá
- Literal translation
- A door that has no frame, had better cease all pranks.
- Meaning
- Operate within your means
1032
Imú kì í gbọ́ òórùn ara rẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- The nose can't perceive its own odour.
- Meaning
- Objective self-appraisal can be difficult
1033
Iná l'ọmọ aráyé lè pa, kò s'ẹ́ni tó lè pa èéfín.
- Literal translation
- It's fire that man can put out, no one can put out smoke.
- Meaning
- Man proposes, God disposes
1034
Iná l'ọmọ aráyé lè pa; kò s'ẹ́ni tó lè pa èéfín.
- Literal translation
- Man can only put out fire, no one can put out smoke.
- Meaning
- He or she may only be hindered, but no one can keep a good person down permanently; keep up hope.
1035
Iná la fi ńmọ òórùn tùràrí
- Literal translation
- The assault of fire is (what ignites and) how we perceive the fragrance of incense.
- Meaning
- Adversities, quite often, are stepping stones to greater heights: keep hope alive, it's not over yet
1036
Iná lọmọ aráyé lè pa kò sẹ́ni tó lè pa èéfín
- Literal translation
- It's fire that man can put out, no one can put out smoke
- Meaning
- No one can kill a good cause
1037
Iná orí ò ní jó ilé.
- Literal translation
- The lice on the head cannot burn down the house.
- Meaning
- Appearance isn't reality; sounds like fire doesn't make it fire
1038
Inú ilé ẹni la ti ńjẹ èkúté onídodo.
- Literal translation
- It's in the seclusion of one's home that one eats a rat with an outsized navel.
- Meaning
- Some issues are better kept private.
1039
Inú ò ní rorò kí ìdodo má ba gbé.
- Literal translation
- The belly cannot be so fearsome that it won't cohabit with the navel.
- Meaning
- Pursuing peace
1040
Inúure àníjù, ìfunra àti èébú ní ńmú wá báni.
- Literal translation
- Excessive generosity does invite suspicion and derision to one.
- Meaning
- Moderation is crucial