Yorùbá and Igbo proverbs

Read Nigerian proverbs with their literal English translations and meanings.

Yorùbá proverbs

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  1. 1321

    Òjò òru kì í pa ẹni ire; tí kò bá pa wéré, á pa dọ́kọ dọ́kọ.
    Literal translation
    The midnight rain never beats a comely fellow; if the fellow is not a mad person, he or she will be an adulterer.
    Meaning
    Our lifestyles often dictates our experiences.
  2. 1322

    Ọjọ́ tí ìlù bá ńlu onílù, iṣẹ́ míràn yá
    Literal translation
    When the drum begins to beat the drummer, it's time to change vocation
    Meaning
    Service is not servitude
  3. 1323

    Ọjọ́ tí ìlù bá ńlu onílù, iṣẹ́ míràn yá.
    Literal translation
    When the drum begins to beat its drummer, it's time for the drummer to change vocation.
    Meaning
    Service is not servitude; when one's kind acts or good gestures get to the point of being taken for granted, it is time to do a rethink
  4. 1324

    Ọjọ́ ti ọmọdé nàró kọ́ ni í rìn.
    Literal translation
    The day a baby stands up for the first time is not the day he (or she) walks.
    Meaning
    Be patient; good things take time.
  5. 1325

    Ọjọ́ ti ọmọdé nàró kọ́ nií rìn.
    Literal translation
    The day a baby stands up for the first time is not the same day he or she walks.
    Meaning
    Good things take time
  6. 1326

    Ọjọ́ tí orí bá ti kúrò lára ejò ló di okùn lásán.
    Literal translation
    The day the head leaves the body is when the snake becomes a mere rope.
    Meaning
    Leadership is ever crucial to a body or team: at the very least, it gives life, points in a clear direction and harnesses strengths effectively.
  7. 1327

    Òjò tó rọ̀ sí ewúro náà ló rọ̀ sí ìrèkè
    Literal translation
    The same rain that fell on the bitter leaf fell on the sugar cane
    Meaning
    Our reactions tell of who we are
  8. 1328

    Òjò tó rọ̀ sí ewúro, náà ló rọ̀ sí ìrèké
    Literal translation
    The same rain that fell on the bitter-leaf, fell on the sugarcane (yet bitter-leaf is bitter while sugarcane remains sweet)
    Meaning
    Let's be better: our reactions tell of who we really are deep down; bitter or vengeful responses are by choice
  9. 1329

    Òjò tó rọ̀ sí ewúro, náà ló rọ̀ sí ìrèké.
    Literal translation
    The same rain that fell on the bitter-leaf, fell on the sugarcane (yet bitter-leaf is bitter while sugarcane remains sweet.)
    Meaning
    Our reactions tell of who we really are deep down; bitter or vengeful responses are by choice.
  10. 1330

    Òjò tó rọ̀ sí ewúro, náà ló rọ̀ sí ìrèkè.
    Literal translation
    The same rain that fell on the bitter leaf, fell on the sugarcane.
    Meaning
    Bitter or vengeful responses are by choice; our reactions, regardless of situations, tell of who we really are deep down
  11. 1331

    Ojojúmọ́ kọ́ lọbẹ̀ obìnrin máa ńdùn.
    Literal translation
    It's not everyday a woman's soup tastes delicious.
    Meaning
    Being tolerant
  12. 1332

    Òjòòjò kì í ṣe owó, kó má lè ná'jà.
    Literal translation
    Money can't be so sick, as to be incapable of being involved in trading.
    Meaning
    No impossibility
  13. 1333

    Ojú àpá ò lè jọ ojú ara.
    Literal translation
    A scar can't look like a normal skin.
    Meaning
    A scarred situation can't be compared to a fresh and an unimpaired one
  14. 1334

    Ojú àwo làwo fi ńgb'ọbẹ̀.
    Literal translation
    Eating plates receive stews on their 'faces'.
    Meaning
    Everyone bears his responsibilities
  15. 1335

    Ojú bí Ọlọ́run bá ṣe dá'ni, kì í tini.
    Literal translation
    How God has created one, shouldn't prove shameful to one.
    Meaning
    Accept what you can't change
  16. 1336

    Ojú éni máa là, á rí ìyọnu
    Literal translation
    Whoever desires success will experience challenges.
    Meaning
    Challenges aren't unusual, don't give up
  17. 1337

    Ojú éni máa là, á rí ìyọnu.
    Literal translation
    Whoever wants to succeed will experience challenges.
    Meaning
    Keep hope alive; challenges are not unusual
  18. 1338

    Ojú ẹni máa là, á rí ìyọnu.
    Literal translation
    Whoever would be wealthy would experience challenges.
    Meaning
    Challenges are not unusual; they come with the territory, if you aim for success: persist and you will win, eventually
  19. 1339

    Ojú ẹní máa là, á rí ìyọnu.
    Literal translation
    Whoever would be successful would experience challenges.
    Meaning
    Challenges are not unusual: overyone has them; don't give up.
  20. 1340

    Ojú ló ńkán ewúrẹ́ tó ńjẹ àlùbọ́sà; ṣebí àlùbọ́sà náà ni wọ́n máa fi sè é.
    Literal translation
    The goat that is eating onions is simply in haste; it certainly would be cooked with onions, eventually.
    Meaning
    Patience is it; never be in haste to force issues before their due time