Yorùbá and Igbo proverbs

Read Nigerian proverbs with their literal English translations and meanings.

Yorùbá proverbs

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  1. 1301

    Ohun tí a kò jẹ lẹ́nu kì í rùn lọ́nà ọ̀fun ẹni
    Literal translation
    What one has not eaten can't reflect in one's breath.
    Meaning
    You can't reap what you've not sown
  2. 1302

    Ohun tí a kò jẹ lẹ́nu kì í rùn lọ́nà ọ̀fun ẹni.
    Literal translation
    What one has not eaten cannot be reflecting in one's breath.
    Meaning
    One thing always leads to another; no one reaps what he or she has not sown.
  3. 1303

    Ohun tí ajá rí tó ńgbó, kò tó èyí tí ágùntàn fi ńṣe ìran wò
    Literal translation
    What makes the dog barks pales to what the sheep ignores.
    Meaning
    Different strokes
  4. 1304

    Ohun tí ajá rí tó ńgbó, kò tó èyí tí ágùntàn fi ńṣe ìran wò.
    Literal translation
    What makes the dog barks is nothing to what the sheep ignores.
    Meaning
    Different strokes for different folks; what is an issue to someone may well be of no consequence to another
  5. 1305

    Ohun tí èyàn bá bá lọ sí ogun, lèyàn ńkọ'jú mọ.
    Literal translation
    It's what takes one to the battlefield that one ought to focus on.
    Meaning
    Avoid distractions
  6. 1306

    Ohun tí èyàn bá bá lọ sógun lèyàn ńgbájú mọ́.
    Literal translation
    It's what takes one to the battlefield that one ought to place attention on.
    Meaning
    Being focused
  7. 1307

    Ohun tí èyàn ò bá ní í rà, kì í yọ owó rẹ̀.
    Literal translation
    One shouldn't be haggling the price of what one won't buy.
    Meaning
    Don't start what you won’t finish
  8. 1308

    Ohun tí èyàn ò bá ní ló ńjọọ́ lójú.
    Literal translation
    We place value on what we lack (or what's inaccessible to us).
    Meaning
    Demand increases as supply reduces
  9. 1309

    Ohun tí èyàn ò bá níí rà, kìí yọ owó rẹ̀
    Literal translation
    One should not be haggling the price of what one will not buy.
    Meaning
    Don't start what you won't finish
  10. 1310

    Ohun tí èyàn ò bá níí rà, kìí yọ òwo rẹ̀
    Literal translation
    One should not be haggling the price of what one will not buy.
    Meaning
    Don't start what you won't finish
  11. 1311

    Ohun tí èyàn ò bá rí, kì í rí èyàn lára.
    Literal translation
    One cannot be repulsed by what one cannot see.
    Meaning
    One cannot react to what cannot perceive
  12. 1312

    Ohun tó bá máa kan ará ilé, kan ará oko, ìwọ̀nba l’ẹnìkan ńd’ojú kọ ọ́ mọ.
    Literal translation
    A matter that affects everybody must be cautiously confronted singlehandedly by one person.
    Meaning
    Don't make a general problem a personal one; there's strength in numbers; cooperate and collaborate
  13. 1313

    Ohun tó kọjú sẹ́nìkan, ẹ̀hìn ló kọ sẹ́lòmíràn bí ìlù gángan
    Literal translation
    What faces someone backs another, like the talking drum.
    Meaning
    Different strokes
  14. 1314

    Ohun tó kọjú sẹ́nìkan, ẹ̀hìn ló kọ sẹ́lòmíràn, bí ìlù gángan
    Literal translation
    What faces someone backs another, like the talking drum.
    Meaning
    Different strokes
  15. 1315

    Ohun tó kọjú sẹ́nìkan, ẹ̀yìn ló kọ sẹ́lòmíràn bí ìlù gángan
    Literal translation
    What faces someone backs another, like the talking drum
    Meaning
    Different strokes
  16. 1316

    Ohun tó pamọ́ lójù èyàn, kedere ló hàn sí Ọlọ́run.
    Literal translation
    Whatever is hidden to man, is glaringly clear to God.
    Meaning
    God is all-seeing and all-knowing; nothing surprises Him and nothing is beyond Him
  17. 1317

    Ọjọ́ kì í pẹ́ kó máà dé, à fi àìmọ̀ọ́kà.
    Literal translation
    A set date cannot be so far off and not come to pass, except there is a mistake in counting it.
    Meaning
    Keep hope alive
  18. 1318

    Ọjọ́ kìí pẹ́ kó máà dé, à fi àìmọ̀ọ́kà
    Literal translation
    A set date can't be so far off and not come to pass, except it's improperly assessed.
    Meaning
    Be steadfast
  19. 1319

    Ọjọ́ kìí pẹ́ kó máà dé, à fi àìmọ̀ọ́kà.
    Literal translation
    A set date can't be so far off & not come to pass, except it's incorrectly counted.
    Meaning
    Be steadfast
  20. 1320

    Òjò ò bá ẹnìkan ṣọ̀tá; ẹni ejí rí leji ńpa.
    Literal translation
    The rain holds enmity with no one; it beats anyone within it's area of coverage.
    Meaning
    Discriminate against no one.