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:  Ìyàwó ọ̀lẹ là á gbà, kò sẹ́ni tó lè gba ọmọ ọ̀lẹ.
Translation: It is only the wife of the lazy man that can be snatched, no one can claim the child of the lazy man.

Postproverbial: Ìyàwó ọlẹ là á gbà, tó bá wuni.
Translation: It is (only) the wife of the lazy man that can be snatched, if one fancies her.
Postproverbial: Ìyàwó ọlẹ là á gbà, kò sẹ́ni tó lè gba ìyàwó alágbára.
Translation: It is only the wife of the lazy man that can be snatched, no one can claim the wife of a powerful man.
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

Proverb:  Mtoto akililia wembe mpe.
Translation: If a child cries for a razor give it to him.

Postproverbial: Mtoto akililia wembe, keshaota nywele za ukubwani.
Translation: If a child cries for a razor he must have pubic hair.
Postproverbial: Mtoto akililia wembe usimpe atajikata.
Translation: If a child cries for a razor don’t give it to him he will cut himself.
East Africa (Kiswahili) Read more

Proverb:  ɔbaa brefoɔ kɔ aware a, ɔde ade pa ba fie.
Translation: If a hardworking woman marries, she brings good things home.

Postproverbial: ɔbaa brefoɔ kɔ aware a, onya adepa.
Translation: If a hardworking woman marries, she gets good things/finds it profitable.
Postproverbial: ɔbaa brefoɔ kɔ aware a, ne kunu mmre.
Translation: If a hardworking woman marries, her husband doesn’t suffer.
Ghana (Akan) Read more

Proverb:  Yɛde akyire gya wo a, ɛnka wo nko.
Translation: If we leave you as caretaker you are not regarded as being alone.

Postproverbial: Yɛde akyire gya wo a, hwɛ ne yie.
Translation: If we leave you as caretaker, be diligent.
Postproverbial: Yɛde akyire gya wo a, hwɛ so yie.
Translation: If we leave you as caretaker, it is a huge responsibility.
Ghana (Akan) Read more

Proverb:  Àgbájọ ọwọ́ la fi ń’sọ àyà.
Translation: [With] All fingers clenched to fist, we beat the chest in solidarity.

Postproverbial: Àgbájọ ọwọ́ la fi ń’sọ àyà; l’áyée kòró kọ̀ọ́.
Translation: [With] All fingers clenched to fist, we beat the chest in solidarity; not in the age of coronavirus.
Postproverbial: Àgbájọ ọwọ́ la fi ń’wẹ ọwọ́.
Translation: [With] All fingers clenched to fist, we wash (the hands) to cleanliness.
Africa (COVID-19) Read more

Proverb:  “Mai zan yi da abinda ya gagare wuta,” inji kishiyar konania.
Translation: “I have no business with a fire fighter,” says the co-wife of a burnt woman.

Postproverbial: “Ba ruwana da asibiti,” inji kishiyar mai korona.
Translation: “I have no business with the hospital,” says the co-wife of a corona patient.
Postproverbial: “Mai zan yi da abinda ya gagare wuta,” inji kishiyar mai korona.
Translation: “I have no business with a fire fighter,” says the co-wife of a corona patient.
Africa (COVID-19) Read more