Yorùbá proverbs
1441
Ọmọ àìjọbẹ̀rí ló ńja epo sáyà
- Literal translation
- It's a child new to eating stews; that soils his chest with it
- Meaning
- Those new to something are prone to excesses
1442
Ọmọ aráyé ńp'àtẹ́wọ́ fún yànmùyánmú, inú ẹ̀ ńdùn; kò mọ̀ pé òun ńfi ikú ṣeré ni.
- Literal translation
- People clap for mosquito and it rejoices, oblivious that it is toying with death.
- Meaning
- Be perceptive: not all positive gestures are noble.
1443
Ọmọ aráyé ńpàtẹ́wọ́ fún yànmùyánmú, inú ẹ̀ ńdùn, kò mọ̀ pé òun ńfi ikú ṣeré ni.
- Literal translation
- The mosquito rejoices when people clap for it, oblivious that it is toying with death.
- Meaning
- Be perceptive.
1444
Ọmọ aráyé ńpàtẹ́wọ́ fún yànmùyánmú, inú ẹ̀ ńdùn; kò mọ̀ pé òun ńfi ikú ṣeré ni.
- Literal translation
- Mosquito rejoices when people clap for it, not realising that it is toying with death.
- Meaning
- Be perceptive: naivety can prove costly; not all doors open to great rooms
1445
Ọmọ aráyé ri'ni ni wọ́n ńpe'ni; tí wọ́n ò bá rí'ni, wọ́n á pe ọmọ ẹlòmíràn.
- Literal translation
- You are available is why the world beckons on you; else, they'll beckon on someone else.
- Meaning
- Humility is it; no one is indispensable.
1446
Ọmọ burúkú lọ́jọ́ ti rẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- A lousy fellow has his day (when he will be sorely needed).
- Meaning
- No one is utterly useless.
1447
Ọmọ kì í ńsọ nkan nù kí a f'ọwọ́ raá lórí.
- Literal translation
- A child can't get something lost and he'd be congratulated.
- Meaning
- Good performance is crucial
1448
Ọmọ ọba kan kìí jayé ọba bí ẹrú
- Literal translation
- A prince does not enjoy the privileges of royalty like a slave
- Meaning
- Priviledged positions shouldn't be abused
1449
Ọmọ ọ̀lẹ làyè ò lè gbà, ibi gbogbo ló gba alágbára.
- Literal translation
- Only a lazy person has issues coping, every situation suits a hardworker, just fine.
- Meaning
- Diligence pays
1450
Ọmọ tí a jí adìyẹ bí, yóò jí adìyẹ ju ìyá a rẹ̀ lọ.
- Literal translation
- A child whose mother used to steal chickens while pregnant with him or her, will steal more chickens than the mother.
- Meaning
- Evil, uncurtailed, will fester; harvests will exceed the seeds sown: nothing remains the same.
1451
Ọmọ tí ayé bí láyé ńpọ̀n.
- Literal translation
- The world must back its offsprings.
- Meaning
- You bear the consequences of your choices
1452
Ọmọ tí ayé bí ni ayé ńpọ́n.
- Literal translation
- The world backs its offsprings.
- Meaning
- We bear the consequences of our choices
1453
Ọmọ tí ẹnu ò bá ká, aṣọ kànkan ò lè ka.
- Literal translation
- No amount of cloth will be sufficient for a child who spurns good counsel.
- Meaning
- Disobedience and wastefulness go arm in arm; whoever is disobedient will be wasteful
1454
Ọmọ tó bá mọ ọwọ́ ọ́ wẹ̀, yóò bá àgbà jẹun.
- Literal translation
- A child who knows how to wash his or her hands will get to eat with the elders.
- Meaning
- A well-behaved person will enjoy uncommon privileges; civility and courtesy do open doors
1455
Ọmọ tó bá mọwọ́ wẹ̀, á bágbà jẹun
- Literal translation
- A child that knows how to wash his hands will eat with the elders.
- Meaning
- Learn to relate well with those ahead
1456
Ọmọ tó gbọ́n fi tirẹ̀ ṣ'òwò, èyí tí kò gbọ́n fi tirẹ̀ jẹ àkàrà òwúrọ́.
- Literal translation
- The wise son invests his (inheritance) in a trade, but the foolish one expends his own on trifles.
- Meaning
- Think and act strategically; invest in your future.
1457
Ọmọ tó gé ìyá a rẹ̀ lẹ́hìn jẹ, ṣòro ó gbà pọ̀n.
- Literal translation
- It's tough offering to back a child who bit his mother's back when backed by her.
- Meaning
- Be perceptive; don't expect anyone to treat you better than they are treating those close to them
1458
Ọmọ tó máa ga ẹsẹ̀ rẹẹ̀ á tínrín
- Literal translation
- A child that will grow tall, his legs will be slim
- Meaning
- There is a price for rising
1459
Ọmọ yín ò ṣ'àgbàfọ̀, ó ńk'aṣọ wá'le; ẹ r'ójú olè ẹ ò mu!
- Literal translation
- Your son is not a washerman, yet brings lots of clothes home; you are beholding a thief, yet you are not apprehending him.
- Meaning
- Have zero tolerance for questionable lifestyle and source of living; a stitch in time
1460
Ọmọdé gbọ́n àgbà gbọ́n la fi dá ilẹ̀ Ifẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- The wisdom of both the youth and elders were used to redeem Ife town.
- Meaning
- Everyone is needed