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:  Abofra yɛ deɛ yenyɛ a, ɔhunu deɛ yɛnhunu.
Translation: If a child does what is not done, then he sees what should not be seen.

Postproverbial: Abofra yɛ deɛ yenyɛ a, yɛ de aba bɔ no.
Translation: If a child does what is not done, s/he is caned.
Postproverbial: Abofra yɛ deɛ yenyɛ a, yɛ tea no.
Translation: If a child does what is not done, s/he is disciplined.
Ghana (Akan) Read more

Proverb:  Ọ̀nà kan ò wọjà, tí obìnrin fi ń gbóndó tà.
Translation: There are several routes to the market of success; such that makes a woman to sell her grounding mortar.

Postproverbial: Ọ̀nà kan ò wọjà, ló d’ífá fún tísà tó tún ń’kọ̀pẹ.
Translation: There are several routes to the market of success; the moral of a teacher who cultivates the palm tree.
Postproverbial: Ọ̀nà kan ò wọjà, tí “télọ̀” fi ń tẹ̀kọ.
Translation: There are several routes to the market of success; such that makes a tailor trade in corn-pap.
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

Proverb:  W’adaka si aburokyire a, deɛ ɛwɔ mu nyinaa wonim.
Translation: If your possessions are abroad, you know what is yours (wherever it may be).

Postproverbial: W’adaka si aburokyire a, wonsa nka da.
Translation: If your possessions are abroad, you’ve lost them.
Postproverbial: W’adaka si aburokyire a, wo nkyere hɔ kɔ.
Translation: If your possessions are abroad, you’ll definitely go there.
Ghana (Akan) Read more

Proverb:  Ẹni tó gbódó mì, ìdúró kò sí, ìbere kò sí.
Translation: [For] he who swallows a mortar or pestle, there is no rest, neither standing nor stooping.

Postproverbial: Ẹni tó gbódó mì, kò lè di ọjọ́ kejì.
Translation: He who swallows a mortar or pestle, will not survive the second day.
Postproverbial: Ẹni tó gbódó mì, kò ní jẹ́ ká r’íyán jẹ.
Translation: He who swallows a mortar or pestle, causes us to lose the chance of eating pounded yam.
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

Proverb:  Mmaa dodoo kunu wu a, na ɛkɔm na aku no.
Translation: When a man with numerous wives dies, it is hunger that has killed him.

Postproverbial: Mmaa dodoo kunu wu a, yɛn sae ne buo.
Translation: When a man with numerous wives dies, we don’t destroy his [tomb]stone.
Postproverbial: Mmaa dodoo kunu wu a, asɛm ba fie.
Translation: When a man with numerous wives dies, it foments trouble.
Ghana (Akan) Read more

Proverb:  Ayara adia ikot, Abasi abat isua.
Translation: The bully plunders the land but God counts the years.

Postproverbial: Oyod adia Abasi abat isua.
Translation: The rat is eating, God is counting the years.
Postproverbial: Idiok owo adia Abasi abat isua.
Translation: The wicked person is eating but God is counting the years.
Nigeria (Efik) Read more