Yorùbá and Igbo proverbs

Read Nigerian proverbs with their literal English translations and meanings.

Yorùbá proverbs

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  1. 1121

    Kì í ṣe gbogbo ajá tó bá gbóni lọ́jà la ńdá lóhùn
    Literal translation
    It's not all dogs that bark at one in the market that one responds to
    Meaning
    Being focused
  2. 1122

    Kì í ṣe gbogbo ajá tó bá gbóni lọ́jà la ńdá lóhùn.
    Literal translation
    It's not all dogs that bark at one in the market that one attends to.
    Meaning
    Be focused
  3. 1123

    Kì í ṣe gbogbo ajá tó bá ńgbó'ni lọ́jà, la ńdá lóhùn.
    Literal translation
    It's not all the dogs that bark at one at the marketplace that one responds to.
    Meaning
    Stay focused: ignore distractions; not all issues should get our attention.
  4. 1124

    Kì í ṣe gbogbo ajá tó bá ńgbóni lọ́jà la ńdá lóhùn.
    Literal translation
    Not all dogs that bark at one in the market that one responds to.
    Meaning
    Avoid distractions
  5. 1125

    Kì í tán n'ígbá osùn ká máà rí fi pa ọmọ lára.
    Literal translation
    The camwood powder container cannot be so exhausted as not to contain enough powder to rub on the baby.
    Meaning
    Keep hope alive; there is always a way forward, regardless of how things appear.
  6. 1126

    Kí ìkòkò ọbẹ̀ tó lè sọ̀rọ̀ síta, ìdí ẹ̀ á gbóná
    Literal translation
    Before a pot of soup can utter any sound, it's base has to be heated up
    Meaning
    No pain, no gain
  7. 1127

    Kí ìkòkò ọbẹ̀ tó lè sọ̀rọ̀ síta, ìdí ẹ̀ á gbóná.
    Literal translation
    Before a pot of soup can 'speak out', it's base will be hot.
    Meaning
    No pain, no gain!
  8. 1128

    Kí ìkòkò ọbẹ̀ tó lè sọ̀rọ̀ síta, ìdí rẹ̀ á gbóná.
    Literal translation
    Before a pot of soup can make any sound, it's base will have to be heated up.
    Meaning
    There's always a price tag; no pain, no gain.
  9. 1129

    Kí lo rí lọ́bẹ̀ tóo fi wàru ọwọ́?
    Literal translation
    What in the soup caused you to withdraw your hands?
    Meaning
    What are the reasons for your unusual behaviour?
  10. 1130

    Kìí ṣe gbogbo ajá tó bá gbóni lọ́jà la ńdá lóhùn.
    Literal translation
    It's not all dogs that bark at one at the marketplace that one responds to.
    Meaning
    Be focused
  11. 1131

    Kìí ṣe gbogbo ajá tó ba ńgbó'ni lọ́jà la ńdá lóhùn
    Literal translation
    It's not all the dogs that bark at one in the market that one responds to.
    Meaning
    Be focused
  12. 1132

    Kìí ṣe gbogbo ajá tó ńgbóni lọ́jà la ńdá lóhùn
    Literal translation
    Not all dogs that bark at one in the market that one responds to.
    Meaning
    Focus; avoid distractions
  13. 1133

    Kíkéré l'abẹ́rẹ́ kéré, kì í ṣe mímì fún adìyẹ.
    Literal translation
    A needle may be tiny, but it’s not an object to be swallowed by the hen.
    Meaning
    Don't judge a book by its cover: never judge by appearance; underestimate no one.
  14. 1134

    Kíkéré l'abẹ́rẹ́ kéré, kìí ṣe mímì f'ádìyẹ
    Literal translation
    Though the needle may be tiny, it can't be swallowed by the hen.
    Meaning
    Appearance can be deceptive
  15. 1135

    Kíni ìwúrí àwòdì tí kò lè gbé adìyẹ?
    Literal translation
    What's exciting a hawk that can't catch hens?
    Meaning
    Importance of competence
  16. 1136

    Kíni ìyá aláṣọ ńtà tó yẹgba dánị́? Ewúrẹ́ ńjẹ wúlì ni?
    Literal translation
    What's with the cloth seller and a cane? Do goats eat wool?
    Meaning
    Much ado about nothing
  17. 1137

    Kó dùn, kó pọ̀, kó pẹ́, Ọlọ́run ló ńfún ni
    Literal translation
    What's sweet, what's much & what endures are all from God.
    Meaning
    Ultimately all blessings are from God
  18. 1138

    Kó dùn, kó pọ̀, kó pẹ́, Ọlọ́run ló ńfún ni.
    Literal translation
    Whatever is sweet, whatever is much and whatever endures are all gifts from God.
    Meaning
    Ultimately all blessings are from God; if it is going to be good and enduring, it will have to come from Him
  19. 1139

    Kó dùn, kó pọ̀, kó pẹ́, Ọlọ́run ló ńfún'ni.
    Literal translation
    Whatever (blessing) is sweet, whatever is much and whatever is enduring are all gifts from God.
    Meaning
    Ultimately all blessings are from God - if it has been good and enduring, it is from Him; give Him thanks.
  20. 1140

    Kó dùn, kó pọ̀, kó pẹ́, Ọlọ́run ló ńfúnni
    Literal translation
    What's sweet, what's much & what endures, are all from God
    Meaning
    Ultimately all blessings are from God