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Yoruba_Proverbs

Yoruba: A ki i fi ona ikun han ifun.

English:

One does not show the throat the way to the stomach.

Do not presume to know better than the expert.

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: À ti gbé ìyàwó kò tóó pọ́n, owó ọbẹ̀ ló ṣòro. /

English:

To get married is not an issue, but to meet the marriage responsibility is the tough nut.

[Look before you leap; it's easier to start some things, but tougher to sustain it.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Bi ina ba joni, to jo omo eni, tara eni la nko gbon.

English:

If one is on fire and one's child is on fire, one douses one's fire first.

Without first attending to one's needs, one cannot attend to others'.

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Obinrin beere osi beere.

English:

Innumerable wives, innumerable problems.

Whoever adds wives to wives adds problems to problems.

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Ìbẹ̀rẹ̀ kọ́ l'onísẹ́, à fi ẹni tó bá fi orí tì í d'ópin. /

English:

To start anything is not as crucial as seeing it through to completion.

['Finishiative' is superior to initiative; finish whatever you start.

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Pai lotun pai losi, t'oju o ba fo, a ko ma wo bai bai ni

English:

hardship here and there would definitely yield a broken personility.

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Aja la ba ki; ese o peran funni je.

English:

One should rather commend the dog; the cat does not kill meat for one to eat.

Assign commensurate values to your assets.

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Hùnrùnhunrun ni yóò pọ̀, ẹlẹ́dẹ̀ wa á dé Ọ̀yọ́. /

English:

Its grunting may be endless; but our pig would get to Oyo town, eventually.

[Keep up hope; if you won't give up, you would win.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Ogun agbotele ki I pa aro.

English:

A long foreseen war does not kill a cripple.

One must take advantage of foreknowledge to protect oneself.

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Ọlọ́run tó ńsebẹ̀, ò kúrò ní ìdí ààrò

English:

God who is cooking the soup, has not left the kitchen.

[Keep hope alive; never give up.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Ẹni tó ńkó ẹyin jẹ, kò mọ̀ pé ìdí ńro adìyẹ. /

English:

Those eating eggs seldom appreciate how tough egg-laying can be to the hen.

[Be considerate; things may not be that easy to the other person.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Bí a kò bá dẹ́kun ìgbìyànjú, bó pẹ́ bó yá, akitiyan á dópin lọ́jọ́...(more)

English:

If we won't give up trying, our hustling will one day come to an end. [Be persistent; if you won't quit, you will win, eventually.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Adùn ńbẹ lẹ́hìn ewúro.

English:

The bitter-leaf will end up sweet, ultimately. [Keep hope alive; never give up.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Ẹni bá dúpẹ́ oore àná yóò rí òmíràn gbà.

English:

Whoever gives thanks for past favours, will be granted another. [Attitude of gratitude commends increase.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Sùúrù ni baba ìwà; àgbà tó ní sùúrù, ohun gbogbo ló...(more)

English:

Patience is the epitome of character; an elder who has patience, has everything. [Be patient.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Tí ẹja bá sùn, ẹja á fi ẹja jẹ.

English:

A fish that sleeps would get eaten up by another fish. [Keep moving; inactivity can be risky.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Ẹni bá ńsọ òkò sí adìyẹ igba, òkò ló máa sọ tílẹ̀ á fi...(more)

English:

Whoever is throwing stones at two hundred hens, would be at it until the evening. [Be focused; don't spread yourself thin.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: A kò lè tìtorí pé kí ẹgbẹ́ ó máà tú, kí ọmọde máa sọ àgbà ní ìkó kó...(more)

English:

The desire to keep a group intact is no reason to expect an elderly person to keep mute when assaulted by a youngster. [Decorum is it; there is a limit to everything.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Àìrìn jìnnà làìrí abuké ọ̀kẹ́rẹ́, bí a bá dé igbó tó tó igbó, àá rí èranko tó...(more)

English:

Not going far enough (into the forest) is why one hasn't seen a humpy squirrel, if one could get deep into the forest, one would find an animal that tiptoes.
[Exposure broadens the mind]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Ẹni tí kò bá lè jìyà tó kún ahá, ò lè gbádùn ọrọ̀ tó kúnnú...(more)

English:

Whoever cannot endure a cup-filled deprivation cannot enjoy a pot-filled wealth. [No pain, no gain; no sweat, no sweet.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Gele odun bi ka a mo we, ka mo we ko le dabi ko ye eni.

English:

Head-tie is not fascinating except we know how to tie it...tying it is not as appealing as it fitting right.

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Ó lóhun tí àgùntàn rí, kó tó dákẹ́ jẹ́jẹ́.

English:

The sheep has its reasons for being noticeably quiet.
[People have their reasons; be tolerant.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Òní la rí, kò sí ẹni tó mọ̀la.

English:

We are only certain of today; no one knows tomorrow.

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Ewé kan kì í bọ́ lára igi, kí Ọlọ́run Ọba má mọ̀.

English:

A leaf won't drop off a tree without God's foreknowledge.
[Nothing surprises God.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Tí agbada ò bá gbóná, àgbàdo ò lè ta.

English:

If the frying pan is not heated up, the corns cannot pop.
[Nothing ventured, nothing gained.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Ọ̀pọ̀ ló fẹ́ lápa láì lápá, béèyàn ò sì lápá, kò leè...(more)

English:

Many want to make a mark without effort, yet without effort, no marks can be made.

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Aṣọ ńlá kọ́ lèyàn ńlá.

English:

Clothes do not make a man.
[Appearance can be deceptive.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Pẹ̀lẹ́pẹ̀lẹ́ là ńpa àmúkùrù ẹpón.

English:

It is with gentleness that one kills the black ant lodged around one's scrotum.

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Bí a bá dé ìlú táà léèyàn, ìwà rere làá

English:

If one is a complete stranger in a town, one ought to be of good character.
[Good character pays]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Eré tí ajá bá fi ogún ọdún sá, ìrin fàájì ni fún

English:

A race that takes dogs twenty years to complete, is a mere leisurely walk to horses.

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Ẹni tí bíńtí ò tó, púpọ̀ yóò jìnnà sí i.

English:

Abundance would be far from whoever is not contented with a little.
[Be contented; shun greed.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Ẹni tó ńsáré tó ńwo ẹ̀hìn, ó di dandan, kó fẹsẹ̀ kọ.

English:

Whoever keeps looking back while running, will certainly stumble.
[Stay focused.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Mo gbọ́n tán, mo mọ̀ọ́ tán, lagbọ́n ò ṣe lóró bí oyin.

English:

Wasps' claim to be the wisest and the best is why they have less potent venom than bees. [Be humble; pride does demote.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Mímì lẹpọ̀n àgbò ńmì, kò lè já.

English:

The ram's testicles are merely dangling, they can't fall off.

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Tí akòko bá ńsọ igi tí ò jáwọ́, bó pẹ títí á rí ǹkan gbà lọ́wọ́...(more)

English:

If the woodpecker won't stop pecking a tree,it'll get something from the tree

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Ohun tí ajá rí tó ńgbó, kò tó èyí tí ágùntàn fi ńṣe ìran...(more)

English:

What makes the dog barks pales to what the sheep ignores.
[Different strokes...]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Ìkòkò ńseṣu ẹnìkan ò gbọ́, iṣu dénú odó tán ariwó ta

English:

When the pot cooked yam, no one knew; but when it got to the mortar noise broke out.

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: konga to jin, ki n ru!

English:

A man who is deep and rich in wisdom is not easily angered!!

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Gbigbona la n je opolo, ti o ba tutu, a yi!

English:

However distasteful a task or assignment may be, it is best to do it speedily!

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Ayé tí ẹṣin ò jẹ, tírù ìdí ẹ̀ bá ní sùúrù, á jẹ jù bẹ́ẹ̀...(more)

English:

The lifestyle that the horse doesn't enjoy, if the tail is patient, it will enjoy more.
[Be patient]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Àkùrọ̀ ti lómi tẹ́lẹ̀, kí òjò tó rọ̀ si.

English:

The river bank was damp with water, even before the rain fell on it.
[Be humble.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: A bímo kò gbón, a ní kó má sàá kú; kí ní ńpa omo bí

English:

A foolish child isn't much better than a dead child.

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Agara kì í dá oníṣẹ́ Ọlọ́run.

English:

God's messenger never grows weary.
[Call on God; He can't be overwhelmed.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Ẹni máa fi ara yí ọlá, onítòhún á fi ara yí ẹ̀gbin; inú ẹ̀gbin lọlá...(more)

English:

Whoever wants to be wealthy must be prepared to be inconvenienced; wealth comes loaded with inconveniences.
[No pain, no gain.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Èéfín ni ìwà; kò ṣeé fi pamọ́.

English:

Character is like smoke; it cannot be covered up.
[No one can feign to be what he is not for long.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: A kìí sọ òkò sí ẹyẹ tó ńwá ọ̀nà làti fò

English:

Don't throw stones at a bird that wants to fly away.
[Don't worsen an already deplorable situation]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Bí ẹrú yóò bá di ọmọ ẹni, kì í ṣe ọ̀rọ̀ oòjọ́.

English:

Even if one would adopt a slave as one's son, it is not a one day's affair.
[Be patient.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Bí eégbọn bá dì mọ́ ẹpọ̀n ẹkùn, kì í se ajá ni yóò já...(more)

English:

A dog tick stuck to a leopard's testicles, is not one to be pried loose by a dog.

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Bí èkòlò bá júbà ilẹ̀, ilẹ̀ á lanu.

English:

If the earthworm would honour the soil, the soil would open up for it. [Humility promotes; be humble.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Agara kì í dá oníṣẹ́ Ọlọ́run.

English:

God's messenger never grows weary. [Call on God; He can't be overwhelmed.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Ẹni máa fi ara yí ọlá, onítòhún á fi ara yí ẹ̀gbin; inú ẹ̀gbin lọlá...(more)

English:

Whoever wants to be wealthy must be prepared to be inconvenienced; wealth comes loaded with inconveniences. [No pain, no gain.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Èèyàn ò sunwọ̀n láàyè; ọjọ́ a kú là ńdère

English:

Man is seldom appreciated while alive; only after death does he gets seen as perfect & honourable

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Bí asíndẹ kọ̀ tí ò síndẹ mọ́, èyí tó ti sín ò leè

English:

Even if a crown designer no longer design crowns, those already designed will remain

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Àjùmọ̀bí ò kan tàánú, ẹni orí rán síni ló ńṣe'ni

English:

Kindness won't necessarily come from one's siblings but those divinely sent to one.

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Ẹni tó ńbẹ Ọlọ́run kì í bẹ èyàn

English:

Whoever pleads (his case) with God, won't need to beg any man. [Nothing is beyond Him; keep hope alive]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Ẹni tó ńbẹ̀rù àti ṣubú, àti dìde á nira fún un.

English:

Whoever is scared of falling, would find it difficult to rise. [Be bold; no pain, no gain.]

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: kú fẹ́ pa alápatà ó ńkígbe; ọmọ ẹranko tó ti dá lóró ńkọ́?

English:

Death stalks the butcher and he screams; what about the animals he's butchered?

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Ẹni bá jalè lẹ́ẹ̀kan, bó bá daṣọ àrán bo orí, aṣọ olè ló dà...(more)

English:

Whoever steals once, even if covered with velvet, a thief he remains.

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Àìṣedédé ará ayé, ló ńmú’ni rántí ará ọ̀run.

English:

The untoward behaviour of those alive is what makes one pines for those who had gone.

Translated from: Yoruba

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Yoruba: Apá l’ará, ìgbò nwó ni iyèkan; bí a ò rí eni fèhìntì bí òle li à ń rí; bí a kò rí eni gbójúlé, a te ra mó isé...(more)

English:

A man’s arms are his relatives, his elbows are his brothers and sisters; if we find no one to lean on, we are like a lazy man; if we find no one to rely on, we apply ourselves to our work.

Translated from: Yoruba

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