Yorùbá and Igbo proverbs

Read Nigerian proverbs with their literal English translations and meanings.

Yorùbá proverbs

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  1. 141

    Àdáníkànrìn ejò ló ńjẹ ọmọ ejò níyà
    Literal translation
    It's penchant for moving alone is what exposes the snake to life-threatening risks.
    Meaning
    Isolation is unwise
  2. 142

    Àdánìkànrìn ejò ló ńjẹ ọmọ ejò níyà
    Literal translation
    It's penchant for moving alone is what exposes the snake to life-threatening risks.
    Meaning
    Isolation is risky
  3. 143

    Àdáníkànrìn ejò ló ńjẹ ọmọ ejò níyà.
    Literal translation
    It's penchant for moving alone is what exposes the snake to life-threatening risks.
    Meaning
    Isolation can be risky.
  4. 144

    Àdánìkànrìn ejò ló ńjẹ ọmọ ejò níyà.
    Literal translation
    Its penchant for moving alone is what exposes the snake to life-threatening risks.
    Meaning
    Avoid isolation
  5. 145

    Adánilóró f'agbára kọ́ni
    Literal translation
    Those who do evil to others simply make them stronger.
    Meaning
    Ultimately, good will triumph over evil
  6. 146

    Adániwáyè ò gbàgbé ẹnìkan; àìmàsìkò ló ńdààmú ẹ̀dá
    Literal translation
    God hasn't forgotten anyone; ignorance of divine timing is what worries us.
    Meaning
    Be hopeful
  7. 147

    Adániwáyé ò gbàgbé ẹnìkan; àìmàsìkò ló ńdààmú ẹ̀dá.
    Literal translation
    God, the Creator, has not forgotten anyone; ignorance of divine timing is what makes us fret.
    Meaning
    The best is yet to come; keep hope alive.
  8. 148

    Adániwáyè ò gbàgbé ẹnìkan; àìmàsìkò ló ńdààmú ẹ̀dá.
    Literal translation
    God, the Creator, has not forgotten anyone; ignorance of divine timing is what makes us fret.
    Meaning
    Keep hope alive; the best is yet to come
  9. 149

    Adé orí ọ̀kín kò lè ṣe déédé orí ẹyẹkẹ́yẹ.
    Literal translation
    The crest on the head of the peacock simply won't fit any other bird.
    Meaning
    We are all differently endowed; be secure in who you are; envy no one
  10. 150

    Adẹ́tẹ̀ ò lè fún wàrà, ṣùgbọ́n ó lè da wàrà nù.
    Literal translation
    A leper cannot express milk, but can very well waste it.
    Meaning
    Underestimate no one: those who cannot build, may be able to destroy.
  11. 151

    Adìyẹ bà l'ókùn; ara ò rọ okùn; ara ò rọ adìyẹ.
    Literal translation
    The hen perches on the line and neither the hen nor the line is at ease.
    Meaning
    Pursue peace; to foment trouble is not to be at peace, as well
  12. 152

    Adìyẹ ńlàágùn, ìyẹ́ ara ni ò jẹ́ ká mọ̀
    Literal translation
    Hens sweat; their feathers conceal it.
    Meaning
    Everyone has issues; some are simply able to hide theirs
  13. 153

    Adìyẹ tí ò kú ṣì máa jẹ àgbàdo.
    Literal translation
    The hen that did not die would eventually get to eat corn.
    Meaning
    Once there is life, there's hope
  14. 154

    Adìyẹ tó ńṣu s'ínú íṣasún, sàréè rẹ̀ ló ńbàjẹ́.
    Literal translation
    A hen that defecates into a pot desecrates its grave.
    Meaning
    We reap whatever we sow.
  15. 155

    Adìyẹ tó ńṣu s’ínú íṣasún, sàréè rẹ̀ ló ńbàjẹ́.
    Literal translation
    A hen that is defecating inside a cooking pot is simply messing up its final resting place.
    Meaning
    Ultimately, we will reap whatever we sow.
  16. 156

    Adìyẹ tó ńṣu sínú ìṣasùn, sàréè ẹ̀ ló ńbàjẹ
    Literal translation
    A hen that's defecating into a soup pot is desecrating its grave.
    Meaning
    What goes around comes around
  17. 157

    Adùn ńbẹ lẹ́hìn ewúro.
    Literal translation
    There is sweetness in bitter-leaf, at the end.
    Meaning
    Keep hope alive; the best is yet to come.
  18. 158

    Adùn ńbẹ lẹ́yin ewúro.
    Literal translation
    Bitter-leaf at the end, gets to reflect sweetness.
    Meaning
    Keeping hope alive; don't give up
  19. 159

    Adùn-ńṣe bí ohun tí Ọlọ́run lọ́wọ́ sí, aṣòroóṣe bí èyí tí Ọlọ́run ò fẹ́.
    Literal translation
    As easy to do as what God sanctions, and as difficult to achieve as what He opposes.
    Meaning
    If God is in it, it will work out; keep hope alive
  20. 160

    Adùn-ńṣe bí ohun tí Ọlọ́run lọ́wọ́ sí, aṣòroóṣe bí ohun tí Ọlọ́run kò fẹ́.
    Literal translation
    As easy to accomplish as what God sanctions, and as difficult to do as what He opposes.
    Meaning
    If God is in it, it will work out.