There is no point in excluding her from a matter that will eventually involve her anyway. White cloth and stains are not friends. (While plans may never bear fruit, people should still make them.) Meaning, translation and how to say, character in Hausa, Igbo, Pidgin, Yoruba, English| Nigerian Dictionary A sheep does not wake in the morning and droop its mouth. [Back to text], 12. It is an imbecile who is soaked in the rain in the middle of a town. One does not take a child destined for poverty to lr. ), A k k m- b k s n wold? ), Alr k ru in. jp n j t n ti jgbn-n o lrn ti w un m. The woodcock has but one statement: dil (meaning Time to head for home) is the cry of the touraco. ), fr kan ju k r igb l b s l; b kan ju p yn l; r gb mi l tte kan ju or in l. (The task to which one gives the highest priority does not suffer.). (Where the claim can be put to the test, verbal argument is foolish. A k sr kk lj olff. The Colobus monkey jumps to the ground; it runs for home. Disaster-causing legs that drag weeds into town. (Self-preservation is a compulsory project for all. (Everybody needs some support. (Justice requires impartiality and a full hearing. [25], A-gb-d b f, a-m-ara--r b od;a db fn f, f r, agnrn gbb, rb; shnw shnb f di ar y, agnrn di ar oko; wn r p f gbn. One does not carve a tall statue without resting its hand on something. Festivals. It is abstention from speaking that makes the mouth smell. (This is a variant of the preceding entry.) Foolishness will be the death of Iika he is told that his mother has died, and he says that when he heard the news he sorely lamented the tragedy; if one's mother dies is it lamentation that is called for? It is the owner of rags who makes sure that needle and thread are available. (Precautions are useful only before the event. (Some tools are inadequate for some tasks. (Assert only those things you know for certain.) . Yoruba Proverbs: The Good Person. Ọbẹ̀ kìí gbé inú àgbà mì. (Leave nothing to waste, for one can always find some use for the smallest remnant.) Atipo does not recognize beans, he says, Father, I saw white leaves on the farm. Although the language is rich in phrases, descriptions, and idioms that resemble some of the false English proverbs cited above, the Yoruba do not recognize these as òwe. ), nftn tn, fs t kt, obnrn n a k b un gb tm. ), Aiwr yn lj gboro pa. (Having done some good, do not hang around to compel gratitude.). Maybe the headline shouldn’t have “100” since it’s not actually up to hundred. One does not fight to save another person's head only to have a kite carry one's own away. (One entrusts important tasks only to those one can trust.) To type tonal characters, press the tone mark first. . One does not grab hold of a person who has pulled a knife. )-gb-b di t ni. (One would be wise to avoid adversaries confident enough to show their hands beforehand. He-who-carries-live-coals-in-his-palm does not tarry. (One should not waste one's time on a task one cannot master. Aj t gb iy, k ni y fi e? j k dn knl m rel. gb oore m wo b. When a bachelor becomes old, he makes his own cooking fire. They are parables,said by elders to teach character or correct a bad behaviour. One does not go to bed while there is a fire on one's roof. One does not compete with another for a chieftaincy title and also show the way to the king's house to the competitor. When you get to understand the literal translation of Yoruba proverbs and the meaning derived, you would see that the Yoruba culture is very rich. Translation: The person who eats late, will not eat spoilt or rotten food [Back to text], 27. A wicked elder sows suffering for his children. The person who walks casually is the one who will bear a title home; the person who runs fast has no title to show for his efforts. Because agnrn is considered favored by the gods it is usually sacrificed to them, while f, which is not so favored, is spared that fate. [Back to text], 43. Proverbs are wise sayings. ), A k pa ign, a k j ign, a k fi ign br. Agbe lo l’aro, aluko lo l’osun, lekeleke lo l’efun, Very enlightening. He-who-alerts-one-before-he-throws-one is a past master of wrestling. (There is nothing one can do in the face of ingrained folly.) Owe Yoruba: 100 Yoruba Proverbs & Their Meanings, The yorubas seem to have a wise word for every situation, an answer to every question, what’s more? (No one should want anything to do with conspiracy. ), A k peni ll k ma gb m ran j. (It is indeed a fool that cannot discern the obvious. Now that you are learning to pronounce Yorùbá words, we will highlight some distinctive characters of the Yorùbá alphabet and their use. . A k e fr dd sm adt. . . People who-know-the-answer-yet-ask-the-question, natives of y, if they see you carrying a water-pot they ask whether you are on your way to the farm or the stream. A wastrel does not know that what is plentiful can be used up. two share. You have done a great job. (The person who has endured since yesterday takes precedence over the person who has endured all day. The ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people. The Colobus monkey is wily, but so is Ogungb as Ogungb crouches, so the monkey tiptoes. The reference here is obviously to the cheeks. [44], y b sl, b sl. The spider has woven its web in the sauce-pan; the spoon takes a holiday. ), Ad lrnkn j. As part of Yoruba funerary rites, a chicken is sacrificed to clear evil forces off the way of the deceased's spirit. One does not deliver a verdict after hearing only one side. The wind is impossible to carry. ~Somalia One cannot both feast and become rich. ), Amn k e amn dnn. [Back to text], 26. f, od (odd, oddr) and agnrn are all types of parrots. The palm of the hand is not good for stoking fires. The wielder of the incantation rattle lifts it, and you respond, May it be so! ), A k ka oyn in kn m il. Washing one's hands before meals is both a health requirement and a mark of social grace. He-who-will-not-listen-to-talk, he-who-will-not-listen-to-counsel, who drinks water with the bare hand. (To expect the impossible is to delude oneself. (There is nothing like having one's own.) gbgb, fly warily, for the hunter has arrived in the forest; any gbgb that does not fly warily will wind up in the hunter's bag. Thanks for the wonderful work. Arngbr ni y m oy dl; asrtete ry j. ), A k sn jr d. One taste of wine and the belt snaps; what would happen in the event of drunkenness? Chicken cannot at this late date bemoan its lack of teeth. African proverbs, especially Yoruba proverbs have always struck us with their deep meaning. ), km kn-n nynu. . The expression does not, however, mean that the people believe that the plant is human. The name Tmdire means My affairs have prospered. He was so powerful and so feared that people believed that even oracles could not deflect him from any course he chose to follow. See the following entry. [Back to text], 8. We grab a dog with the hands and it escapes; thereafter we beckon it with two fingers. A-oore-jk-t-, b ale ni. ), A k gbj-u ff l ad gg; a k gbj-u yyan l algm. Compare A k fi ej . All-day-long is no match for since-yesterday. (A person for whom everything must be spelled out, a person who cannot make deductions from the most obvious hints, is daft indeed. ), A k fi ran ikn gbn ti gbnrn n. The-seeker-of-all-things-from-God does not yield to impatience. (One should have something to show for one's efforts. See the previous entry. One does not find helpers willing to help with one's load and yet sprout a hump on one's back from carrying too heavy a load. (It is a person who will bring disaster on others who behaves like the wayward foot that drags weeds into town. ), A rk fi bora. ), tnmn t tnmn. . When the white man is about to leave a garden for good, he wrecks it. 7 quotes have been tagged as yoruba: Karen E. Quinones Miller: ‘Olofi made Oya . (This variant of the previous entry suggests that for all one's efforts and exertions one has not significantly altered one's circumstances. African Proverbs About Family. gb k gbin y sl de m r. [Back to text], 30. The r summons you and you consult the oracle; what if the oracle says all will be well and the r decrees otherwise? ), A k ka m fn b. b n di tt; ojo ni k j k da. (One must be discreet in speaking about other people's flaws and deformities. (The child obviously does not know that the fact that he does not die immediately in no way invalidates the curse. One does not kill the imbecile within one's home, because of the day when the one from outside might visit one. [34] (Only the promise of a greater fortune should tempt one to neglect what one already has. Therefore, if an hunter is lucky to have seen a Buffalo, it is best of he is careful in shooting it and hits once, because if he misses it, chances are the Buffalo will escape for good, Meaning: This proverb is often used when advising a person who is about to make a decision to be careful and make the right one. ), pmra l pe Tmdire. (Each person must advance his or her own interests.) The elephant's hide cannot be used to fashion a gngan drum. ), A k r ni ranni lr k yk. (Some secrets one should not divulge to others. (One cannot be too subtle with the daft. It is also mainly found in thick forest, here, it is difficult or almost impossible for any human to channel his part easily. This is a variant of Aj to l sr . [Back to text], 10. (Responsibilities should rest where they belong. (Some tasks are hopelessly impossible to accomplish. ), A k wj ww k jre. The tortoise struts on the farm, the senseless person says it resembles a duck. (Certain tasks are impossible of accomplishment. ), A k fi -m-w mkn. It is in furtherance of one's own fortune that one calls the name Temidire. [4]. A little bit of it is a little bit of it: the policeman's short pants. One does not count a fetus among living children. (Assign commensurate values to your assets. Respect yourself. [Back to text], 15. ), A k fi olr ogun e fagun. [Back to text], 22. When you get to understand the literal translation of Yoruba proverbs and the meaning derived, you would see that the. ), A-sr-lw b ln ogun; A-p b ln r; B-p-tt-ng--l b lb, j sun iu. ), A k gb jnkan dj. (Ignorance is a curse. [Back to text], 16. (The host's death will be the parasite's death. It is wiser to be patient in any situation and find a well thought out plan than to hastily make decisions and accept ill conceived solutions, Proverb: Bí a bá ro dídùn ifọ̀n á ó ọ’ra déegun, Translation: If a person thinks of the pleasure gotten while having an itch on the body he or she is likely to keep scratching out the skin till it gets to the bone, Meaning: There are limits and boundaries to everything in life and it is important one bears this in mind so as to avoid calamities’, Translation: One is not chanced to shoot a Buffalo twice. (A person who has no part in paying for a thing is seldom careful in using it.) [Back to text], 9. Pls translate this proverb, Tani Esinsin o ba GBE nbiba selegbo, Please i need english translation for”a o ti je ekuru kotan enikan tun wa n gbon owore si awo, you shouldnt have written hundred when its not, please translate this , lowelowe lanlulu agidigbo ologbon lonjo ,Omaran lohunma,Ewe koko niwonfise gomugomu ilu ,Afoju niolu Aditi niojo besini ilu naa kogbudoyaa, please complete this proverb: abule ni mu aso looto, What is the English translation of this proverb Omo Toso Ile nu,Apo Iya losoko, Kini itumo ati oyinbo owe yi, gele o dun bi kaa moowe , ka moowe ko da bi koyeni. (Do not list questionable items as part of your wealth. [8] The explanation is that Tortoise one was in the company of more powerful animals. Proverbs are nuggets of moral instruction, take the saying: “Iwa rere l’eso eniyan” which espouses the importance of good character and proper etiquette as prerequisites for an outstanding life. socio-political character of the Yoruba people. ), -jk--fhnt, b n nr ni. Ewúrẹ́ ò ṣe-e fiṣu ṣọ́. . A stranger who asks the way will not get lost. See the following entry. See Aw k pa ow l. A ta bb, a fow-o bb ra baba. A dog born a year ago does not know how to hunt. (Never betray trust or connive at betraying it. ), A k fi ogun dn w. (One should always say one's piece in a discussion. (Existing debts eat new fortunes away. ), Aroj b j j; ontj n s; ni t n n n dw dr. This article provides you with Yoruba proverbs and their meanings. (The obstinate child drinks with the bare hand. Wrapping-from-waist-to-the-floor is the style of the queen's wrapper; digging-down-to-the-deepest-bottom is the requirement of the dry moat, yr. (One cannot effectively manage two enterprises at once.) [40], Ar run t a. jj lj, gbn k fi rran. One does not as a joke say one's mother has collapsed. ), A-w-fnni-k-t-dni, gb mj ni. One cannot be so much at ease, or so much in pain, that one cannot wake early to consult the oracle. (He has expended more effort in his refusal than he would have in complying.) -gb-b di tni. The porter cannot carry a horse. Meaning: Good manners, ethics, character and behaviour are learnt from the home; therefore you can trace a man’s behaviours (good or bad) to his/her background. One does not see leaves lying about and scoop up feces with one's bare hand. [16] ), k bal, fi gbogbo ara kgbe. Cloth fashioned from the bark of the rk tree cannot be wrapped around one's body. (Certain materials are of no use in some applications. A-w- k pa ow la. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Also n b lku mj pfo. A k m oko m j k kan m y. [We cannot pretend to be who we are not for very long.] (What must be consumed must be completely consumed. At times, in order to avoid such blows Tortoise would carry the loads at the expense of its weak neck. For example, when a Yorùbá proverb says that ‘Òwe l’e sin ò rò , . ), A k fi oko sin fn wf. (Discretion is the better part of discipline. We strive to keep a child from dying, and you say he resembles neither the father nor the mother. The gods heed what chameleon proposes. ., thereby invoking good fortune on him/herself. (When those better situated than one are defeated, one must be prepared for tough times. One-who-throws-stones-at-two-hundred-chickens will be engaged in stone throwing until nightfall. lej t br n k n sn. The proverb came into being in the days of Kurunm the r (military ruler) of jaye in the 1820s. ), A k fi id pa gbn. Who wouldn’t know it is the witch who is responsible for the child’s death, Meaning: There was a threat yesterday and a tragedy struck today, who wouldn’t know it is the one who threatened to strike yesterday that is responsible for the tragedy, Proverb: Bí kò fę ju ìpàkó, ęşin tí ó ngùn á ję kojū. [42], A-rn-f-lj-akgn, a-yan-k-loj-abni, abni lw nl ju nu-u r l. (Supplement rather than deplete. ), A-e-k-sni, r-u Sgb; f akrgb tn l sde y l gba ons w; bni gb low ons. Proverb: A pę ko to jęun, ki ję ibaję. (One who says yes to every request avoids a great many arguments.) ), ks a la fi e k. (One does not waste one's time on trifles or hobbies. [Back to text], 2. He-who-plucks-the-African-locustbean-tree-seeds-to-sell spends death's money. (It is folly to employ an impossible tool for a given task. by 2prexios: 6:10am On Jan 03, 2016 FisifunKododada : A kin fi oju o loju shewo ka jare - one does not succeed by handing over his affairs to someone else. personal hygiene, through the application of Yoruba proverbs. (There is no point in attempting to restrict the action of an absolute authority.) ~ Somalia Money is sharper than […] A k s p ab y m; ngb n ni y s p b ni un t pn. The soup does not move round in an elder’s belly. ), Aledn t faj d ja. ), A k fi gb sl sin gb. [Back to text], 29. (One should not save other's at the cost of one's own safety. One does not list vultures among edible meats. (One should approach other people as their stations dictate.). ), A-tr-ohun-gbogbo-lw-lrun k knj. (Childbirth is always a happy event.). ), Altaknn takn s asn, b gblud. Compare gbt j ob . A rag is what one uses as a carrying pad. (Do not advertize your acts of kindness, or pointedly await acknowledgment of them.). ), Alkatap e b b gbn; b gbn; tin b lb e. A k s fn j k dgb lu egn. ), Alj gb e sk, o n, K ! and A k w mj kran m j kan. A k m m odp d. ), gb dd kj od di funfun. ), Abr t wn kun w. Compare: ni b m p ynn m. A-p--j k j bj. An elder shows a smooth belly to the world; but what he will do is known to him. (While one must look to the future, one must also take care of the present. One does not see the look on a leopard's face and then taunt the leopard. [Back to text], 11. ), A-s-ar-dj n jbi j. (A person who cannot be instructed is useless.). One does not enter into the water and then run from the cold. [Back to text], 18. (One's most valuable possessions are not for careless use. [41], r p df; bf b fre t r fbi k? (They prey that knows its stalker's tricks is safe. Spare-time work is no profession; it is an assignment from one's father that takes all of one's day. ), jwn w lj; j lara tn br. (To qualify to live in society, one must learn the social graces.) One does not eat I almost in a stew. ), Aff da olg lm; onyfun rra. bt lp; a b t, a b a r. . ), A k yin md lj ara ; fshn n kngun . Meaning: A small gift is better than none at all " A kì í rí i ká tún sọ pé a ò ri mọ́." (If one is engaged in a dangerous venture, one should not also cast discretion to the wind.). [31], p, Tr ny n b ay nn. (Always live according to your circumstances. ), A k fi ohun sw bra. One should not expect flight from the flightless chicken; one should not expect striding from a chameleon. ), A k w nn k perin tr. . . ), gbn k e onj y. (Wherever one might be, one should respect the manners and habits of the place. A cornered leopard poses problems. Opportunities come but once, Proverb: Ọmọdé kìí mọ Ori jẹ kí ó mà ràa lọ́wọ́. A stranger has eyes, but they do not see. The quote is short for I almost hit the prey I was aiming at. [Back to text], 41. Dry smoked fish is delicious, but what is one to eat before the fish is smoked? One does not use oneself as an ingredient in a medicine requiring that the ingredients be pulverized. Literal Translation. It is the votive herald-chicken that precedes a dead person. A jackal is apparently no enticing food. The Yoruba people (Yoruba: Ìran Yorùbá) are an ethnic group that inhabits western Africa, mainly the countries of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo.The Yoruba constitute around 47 million people worldwide. Aj ti er-e r b dnilj l d s ehoro. The kneeling and sacrificing described here are the final activities in funeral obsequies. The moral is that one may agree to every request, but one does not have to follow through. (The person addressed has his or her priorities reversed. Compare, gb t gbin b k . When the maize plant develops fruits the Yoruba say, y m literally, It has sprouted a child. One does not so resent having a child that one names it What-is-this-that-has-happened? Meaning: Prolonged endurance is what yields elderly maturity. Translation: The head of an old man is bald because he has taken on so much trouble on his head in his lifetime. (It is foolish to behave in ways that will confirm people's evil opinion of one. We kneel and sacrifice a ram, and the bt drummer shows reluctance to take his leave. [28], gbkan l r If adit. (A person who takes life as a jest does not learn to be wary. ), Awo alwo la k d lmej. A nursing mother cups her palm to strike her child. [15], Abiyam pur mm- r jun. (A person who does not keep his eyes peeled for developments is ever behind times. (One should use only tools proper to the task in hand.) ), A k fi a dd yw. ), Aw nu e l. (Never trifle with serious matters. Proverb:  “Ìkòkò ò ni gba omi k’ó tún gba ẹyìn, Meaning: The pot cannot contain both the palm fruit and water at the same time, Meaning: Two masters cannot ride one boat/ Two incompatible people cannot live or work together, Translation: The dead does not know how much casket is bought, Meaning: This proverb is used when addressing a person who good things without care, mostly because he is not the one who paid the price for it, Proverb : “Bi Esin ba dáni gúlè ã tun gun ni!”, Meaning: If a Horse fell someone, what we do is to re-climb it, Translation: When a plan falls out, you should not give up but keep trying, Proverb : Aje ke lana omo ku loni, tani o so wipe ko mope ana lo pa omo je, Translation: There was a witch cry yesterday and a child died today. (Certain approaches one must reject as improper.) (The shiftless person hurts himself more than others. [Back to text], 4. lr is an j township. ), A k fi gbn sk sr. it means "to the head belong deeds, but to the creation is what pertains with each of them". A leper must not wait for a bearer of abrasive leaves (epn See, jklko gb . (One does not settle a matter in the absence of the person most concerned. (More serious problems deserve more immediate attention. [35] This is also a riddle whose solution is soap. [10], A n rk ni y pa md, boj-whn; j n j? (She must be prepared to nurse the baby.) One-who-turns-play-into-a-fight is always guilty. (The uninitiated do not know the customs of a place.) Muslims are understandably squeamish about blood from the deflowering of a woman. The world here stands, of course, for people at large. ), A k d ar nok l l l. (Never make fun of people because of their affliction.) We sell guinea-corn, and with the copper coins we redeem the old man. Unfinished abandoned wall: unable to master it, one befriends it. ), p- fi w mww b nu; p, a-bjun-wm-wm. Burying-the-dead-without-sharing-in-the-inheritance leads one to poverty.
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