Welcome to Postproverbial Community

What then is a postproverbial, or to address the form in the plural sense, what are postproverbials? Postproverbials are radicalized proverbial utterances which subvert the logic and the pattern of conventional proverbs...

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SOME RANDOM PROVERBS & THEIR POSTPROVERBIALS

Proverb:  Baabi aburopata wɔ no, ɛhɔ na akokɔ bɔ mprɛ korɔ.
Translation: Wherever the cornshed stands, there the chicken moves around.

Postproverbial: Baabi aburopata wɔ no, yɛ sɔ gya wɔ hɔ.
Translation: Wherever the cornshed stands, fire is kindled.
Postproverbial: Baabi aburopata wɔ no, ɔmo mpa hɔ da.
Translation: Wherever the cornshed stands, you will always find rice.
Ghana (Akan) Read more

Proverb:  Bí òkété bá dàgbà tán, omú ọmọ rẹ̀ ní í mu.
Translation: Once a rodent gets old, it sucks its child’s breasts.

Postproverbial: Bí òkété bá dàgbà tán, á d’arúgbó.
Translation: Once a rodent is old, it grows older.
Postproverbial: Bí òkété bá dàgbà tán, èkùrọ́ tó ti tọ́jú ní í máa jẹ.
Translation: Once a rodent is old, it eats its own reserved palm kernels.
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

Proverb:  Ẹni tó gbépo lájà kò jalè bí eni tí ó gbà á síle.
Translation: He who steals the palm oil from the rafters is no less a thief than his accomplice.

Postproverbial: Ẹni tó gbépo lájà, olè paraku ni.
Translation: He who steals the palm oil from the rafters is a certified thief.
Postproverbial: Ẹni tó gbépo lájà fẹ́ sebẹ̀ ni.
Translation: He who steals the palm oil from the rafters (certainly) desires to cook.
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

Proverb:  Deɛ ɔso twene kɛseɛ nni biribi a, ɔwɔ awerɛkyekyerɛ.
Translation: If he who carries the big drum has nothing else, he has condolences.

Postproverbial: Deɛ ɔso twene kɛseɛ nni biribi a, ɔwɔ akokoɔduro.
Translation: He who carries the big drum is brave.
Postproverbial: Deɛ ɔso twene kɛseɛ nni biribi a, ɔwɔ kakyire.
Translation: He who carries a big drum has a pad to cushion his shoulders.
Ghana (Akan) Read more

Proverb:  Ko na maŋe ko pa mo, mo boŋe we mo mo yei banzure.
Translation: When things go well for you, you think it is because you know how to marry well.

Postproverbial: Ko na maŋe ko pa mo, ye pa se ko gyi pimpaala.
Translation: When things go well for you, do not turn it into a boast.
Postproverbial: Ko na maŋe ko pa mo, ko lamma.
Translation: When things go well for you, it is good.
Ghana (Kasem) Read more

Proverb:  Mo na kwɛɛre de m’bɔɔlo bu, o wo gya mo pene a ma wu wua mo.
Translation: If you play with your lover’s child, s/he will use your penis as a whistle.

Postproverbial: Mo na kwɛɛre de m’bɔɔlo bu, o wo gya m’tɔna mo.
Translation: If you play with your lover’s child, he/she will pull your beard.
Postproverbial: Mo na kwɛɛre de m’bɔɔlo bu, o wo mae o gyeŋa o chu m’yi mo.
Translation: If you play with your lover’s child, he/she will use the finger to poke your eye.
Ghana (Kasem) Read more