Yoruba Proverbs

[Bravebold]

Ilé tí a fi itọ́ mọ, ìrì ló máa wó o.
 
A house built with saliva will collapse under dew drops.

(Whatever is built on deceit seldom lasts; it's only a question of time; personal integrity is it.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ẹni tí kò tó ni í nà tó ńdè'nà de'ni, àjẹkún ìyà ni yóò jẹ

To waylay someone you cannot defeat in a fight, is to expose yourself to layers of (avoidable)  punishment.

(Exercise self-control; underestimate no one; carefully assess risks: don't be presumptuous.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Òròmọadìyẹ ḿbá àṣà ṣeré, ó rò pé ẹyẹ oko lásán ni.

The chick gullibly plays with the hawk believing it to be an ordinary bird.

(Naivety can be costly; proper risk assessment is essential; don't be presumptuous.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Tí ògiri ò bá la'nu, aláǹgbá ò lè r'áyè wọ̀ ọ́.

If there are no crevices in the wall, the lizard cannot penetrate into it.

([Effects don't just happen; they are caused; to eliminate anything, remove the cause.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ ẹ́ dùn tó bá pọ́n, ṣùgbọ́n tó bá pọ́n láàpọ́njù, oúnjẹ ni fún ẹyẹ oko.

Banana is sweet when ripe, but if it's overripe, it will become food for the birds.

(Be temperate, even in good things, moderation can be costly.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ìjàlọ ò tóbi tó òmìrán, ṣùgbọ́n báa bá fojú di í, a máa gb'aṣọ lára ẹni.

The soldier ants are certainly not as big as a giant, but if disregarded, they may easily disrobe one.

(Don't be presumptuous; seemingly minor issues, left unattended, easily become major concerns.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ọlọ́run ò fẹ́ irọ́; ọmọ èyàn ò fẹ́ òdodo; bẹ́ẹ̀ lọ̀rọ̀ ò pé mẹ́ta.


God hates lies; man hates truths; yet there is no third option in a discourse.

(It is better to always stick with the truth, even when there are no easy options.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Bí inú bá bí baba tó bá gbé ọmọ ẹ̀ jù sí inú eèrùn, bí inú ẹ̀ bá rọ̀, inú eèrùn lè má rọ̀

If a father gets so angry as to throw his kid into a raid of army ants, by the time he calms down, the ants may not be.

(Decisions taken in anger are likely to be rash & regrettable)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ohun tó bá máa kan ará ilé, kan ará oko, ìwọ̀nba l'ẹni kan ńd'ojú kọ ọ́ mọ.

An individual should exercise caution in singlehandedly confronting an issue that affects everybody.

(Don't turn a general problem into a personal one.)

[Bravebold]

BíBí ọmọdé bá láṣọ bí àgbà, kò lè ní àkísà bí àgbà.

If a youngster has as many clothes as an elderly person, he or she cannot have as many rags as the elderly person.

(Be humble; recognise and respect your elders; even if you are better in some respects, you can't be in all.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ohun tó bá máa kan ará ilé, kan ará oko, ìwọ̀nba l'ẹni kan ńd'ojú kọ ọ́ mọ.

An individual should exercise caution in singlehandedly confronting an issue that affects everybody.

(Don't turn a general problem into a personal one.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ọmọ aráyé ńp'àtẹ́wọ́ fún yànmùyánmú, inú ẹ̀ ńdùn; kò mọ̀ pé òun ńfi ikú ṣeré ni.

People clap for the mosquito and it rejoices, oblivious that it is toying with death.

(Be perceptive: not all positive gestures are noble.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Àjùmọ̀bí ò kan t'àánú; ẹni orí rán sí'ni ló ńṣe'ni lóore

To be related to someone by blood does not guarantee receiving his or her support; help comes only from those divinely sent to one.

(Help, when it comes, may not necessarily be from expected sources; keep an open mind)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Mọ̀jà, mọ̀sá, ni ti akínkanjú; akínkanjú tó bá mọ̀ọ́ jà tí kò mọ̀ọ́ sá á bá ogun lọ

A good warrior must know when to fight and when to run; a warrior who knows when to fight but not when to run will perish in battle.

(Timing is crucial; know when to pursue, defer or quit)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ìwà àdó ni ńmú àdó mu ẹ̀jẹ̀: akèrègbè baba àdó, omi ni wọ́n fi ńpọn.

The tiny gourd is associated with bloodletting of its own volition: the bigger and fully grown gourd is simply used to fetch water.

(Our character, good or bad, is by choice: choose to be better.)

[Bravebold]