Zimbabwe (Shona), Nigeria (Efik), Nigeria (Fulbe), Nigeria (Hausa), Nigeria (Igbo), Nigeria (Mwaghavul), Nigeria (Yoruba), Ghana (Akan), Ghana (Kasem), East Africa (Kiswahili), Kenya (Gikuyu), Kenya (Luo), Africa (COVID-19),

Proverbs

Proverb: Bí ẹkún bá pẹ́ dalẹ́, ayọ̀ ń’bọ̀ l’òwúrọ̀.
Translation: If weeping lasts till the night, joy will come in the morning.

Postproverbial: Bí ẹkún bá pẹ́ dalẹ́, ẹ̀bà gbọdọ̀ tẹ̀ le àsapù.
Translation: If weeping lasts till the night, ẹ̀bà must follow it ASAP.

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Proverb: A ò rí ọjọ́ so mọ́lẹ̀.
Translation: You cannot tie time to the stake.

Postproverbial: A ò rí ọjọ́ so mọ́lẹ̀; okùn ò tó ni!
Translation: You cannot tie time to the stake; there is not enough rope!

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Proverb: A ò rí ọjọ́ so mọ́lẹ̀.
Translation: You cannot tie time to the stake.

Postproverbial: A ò rí ọjọ́ so mọ́lẹ̀; okùn ò tó ni!
Translation: You cannot tie time to the stake; there is not enough rope!

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Proverb: Àtẹ́lẹwọ́ ẹni kìí tan ni jẹ.
Translation: One’s palm does not betray the bearer.

Postproverbial: Àtẹ́lẹwọ́ ẹni a má pa ni jẹ.
Translation: One's palm can become one’s deathtrap.

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Proverb: A kìí gbé’lé ẹni ká f'ọrùn rọ́.
Translation: One cannot stay at home and get injured.

Postproverbial: A kìí gbé’lé ẹni ká f'ọrùn rọ́, òwe kòró kọ́. F’ọwọ́ ẹ!
Translation: One cannot stay at home and get injured, no such proverb in corona time. Wash your hands!

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Proverb: Tí ará ilé ẹni bá ń’jẹ kòkòrò burúkú, tí kò bá r’ẹ́ni sọ fún un, hùrùhẹrẹ rẹ̀ kò ní jẹ́ kí ará ilé gbádùn.
Translation: When one’s relation feeds on a forbidden insect without being warned, his restive reaction will not allow the neighbours to rest.

Postproverbial: Tí ará China bá ń’jẹ kòkòrò burúkú, tí kò bá r’ẹ́ni sọ fún un, kòró kò ní jẹ́ kí gbogbo àgbáyé gbádùn.
Translation: When the Chinese feeds on forbidden animals without being warned, the coronavirus will not allow the whole world to rest.

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Proverb: F’ọ̀tún w’òsì, f’òsì w’ọ̀tún, lọwọ́ fi ńmọ́.
Translation: Washing the left with the right, washing the right with the left, makes the hand clean.

Postproverbial: F’ọ̀tún w’òsì, f’òsì w’ọ̀tún, ló ń’lé kòró lọ.
Translation: Washing the left with the right, washing the right with the left, lays off the coronavirus.

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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.

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Proverb: Ẹni éégún ńlé, kó máa r’ọ́jú; bó ti ń’rẹ ará ayé náà ló ń’rẹ ará ọ̀run.
Translation: He who is pursued by the masquerade should endure; as the human tires so does the spirit tire.

Postproverbial: Ẹni éégún kòró ńlé, kó máa r’ọ́jú, bó ti ń’rẹ ará ayé náà ló ń’rẹ ará ọ̀run.
Translation: He who is pursued by the corona masquerade should endure; as the human tires so does the spirit tire.

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Proverb: Nala kungheko iquhude liyasa.
Translation: Even when the rooster is not present, the day breaks.

Postproverbial: Nala Ukorona ekhona, usuku liyasa.
Translation: Even when the corona is present, the day breaks.

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Proverb: Uwar kishiya, kwadon kulle mai yawon banza.
Translation: The mother (matriarch) of co-wives is a padlock for the restless wanderer.

Postproverbial: Korona, kwadon kulle ma yawon banza.
Translation: Corona, the padlock that keeps the restless wanderer at home.

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Proverb: Òkùnkùn kò m’ẹni ọ̀wọ̀.
Translation: Darkness does not recognize the noble person.

Postproverbial: Òkùnkùn kò m’ẹni ọ̀wọ̀, kòró lẹ̀ ń’ké sí.
Translation: Darkness does not recognize the noble person, the praise-name of coronavirus.

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Proverb: Girman kai rawanin tsiya.
Translation: Pride is the turban of trouble.

Postproverbial: Girman kai rawanin mai karyata korona.
Translation: Pride is the turban of a corona denier.

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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.

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Proverb: Ong ole kojuwa hwume gen gen ka gba chu gbei.
Translation: Whatever is making the bush to shake must come to the road by and by.

Postproverbial: Okumu nyi koro ole kowe hume gen gen aka dai lo gba chu gbei ka.
Translation: The corona masquerade that is shaking the bush must eventually appear on the road.

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Proverb: Oun tó wà l’ẹ́yìn Ọ̀fà, ó ju Òjé lọ.
Translation: What is after the border of Ofa is more than the encampment of Oje.

Postproverbial: Oun tó wà l’ẹ́yìn kòró, ó ju ikọ́ lọ.
Translation: What comes after the coronavirus is more than coughing.

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Proverb: Ó jọ gáte, kò jọ gàté, ó fi ẹsẹ̀ méjì lé lẹ̀ gáte-gàte!
Translation: So steadily, so unsteadily, the matter plants its feet wobbly on the ground!

Postproverbial: Ó jọ gáte, kò jọ gàté, kòró má ǹ'fi ẹsẹ̀ mú lẹ̀!
Translation: So steadily, so unsteadily, the coronavirus is planting its feet solidly in the land!

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Proverb: Igi gogoro má gùn míi lójú, àtòkèrè la tí ǹ'wó.
Translation: That we may not be blinded by the tall, pointed tree, one must watch it from afar.

Postproverbial: Igi kòró má gùn míi lójú, àtòkèrè la tí ń'júbà.
Translation: That we may not be blinded by the tall, corona tree, it takes a salute from a distance.

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Proverb: Òde kìí yá aláṣọ rè.
Translation: Partying never tires the dresser.

Postproverbial: Òde kìí yá aláṣọ rè, l’áyé kòró kọ́.
Translation: Partying never tires the dresser, not in the time of coronavirus.

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Proverb: Ìsúnmọ́ni, là á mọ̀ ṣe ẹni.
Translation: Close association brings understanding.

Postproverbial: Ìsúnmọ́ni, àrùn níí dá sára.
Translation: Close association breeds illness.

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Proverb: Ara kìí sá f’ára, bíí ti kúrúnà kọ́.
Translation: Bodies do not run from bodies, not with scabies infection.

Postproverbial: Ara kìí sá f’ára, bíí ti kórónà kọ́.
Translation: Bodies do not run from bodies, not with coronavirus infection.

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Proverb: Ká rìn ká pọ̀, yíyẹ níí yẹni.
Translation: Moving in unison brings honour and respect.

Postproverbial: Ká rìn ká pọ̀, pípa níí pani.
Translation: Moving in unison brings death.

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Proverb: Ukwu n’aga wam wam wam marakwa na anya n’aga wam wam wam na eleya.
Translation: The leg that walks about should know that the eye that looks around is watching it.

Postproverbial: Ukwu n’aga wam wam wam mara kwa na COVID-19 na eche ya.
Translation: The leg that walks about should know that COVID-19 is waiting for it.

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Proverb: Akpa sangha isang isi diagha se mbon ufok edia.
Translation: The one who walks about does not eat what those at home consume.

Postproverbial: Akpa sangha isang abi m^m COVID-19.
Translation: It is the one who walks about that will contract COVID-19.

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Proverb: Ibi orí dá’ni sí làá gbé.
Translation: A man’s origin is where he should reside.

Postproverbial: Ibi orí dá’ni sí làá gbé, níí gba’ni l'ọ́wọ́ọ àtànkálẹ̀ kòró.
Translation: A man’s origin is where he should reside. Thus, one is saved from the spread of coronavirus.

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Proverb: Ahụhụ anaghị enye ọbara.
Translation: Suffering does not give blood.

Postproverbial: Ahụhụ n’enye ọbara.
Translation: Suffering gives blood.

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Proverb: Nwata kwọchaa aka ya, o soro ndi ogaranya rie ihe.
Translation: A child who washes his hands clean dines with the noble and the wealthy.

Postproverbial: Nwata kpata ego, o soro ndi ogaranya rie ihe.
Translation: A child who makes money dines with the noble and the wealthy.

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Proverb: Awayi tọba ụtọ, a bacha wa nye kwuoji.
Translation: When the sauce becomes tastier, more yam would be added to it.

Postproverbial: Ara tọba ụtọ, ọ gụba ndị isi dị mma iyipụ akwa.
Translation: When madness becomes sweet, the sane would crave to strip naked.

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Proverb: Agha akara aka adighi eri ngworo.
Translation: A war foretold does not kill the lame.

Postproverbial: Agha adimbu kaa adighi eri ngworo.
Translation: A war that has happened earlier does not kill the lame.

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Proverb: Okuko nti ike nanu ihe n’ite ofe.
Translation: A stubborn chicken will hear it in the pot of soup.

Postproverbial: Okuko adighi anu ihe ganu ya n’ite ofe.
Translation: A chicken that does not hear word will hear it in the pot of soup.

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Proverb: Bá ò kú, ìṣe ò tán.
Translation: When there is life, activity does not end.

Postproverbial: Bá ò kú, ìṣekúṣe ò tán.
Translation: When there is life, obscenity does not end.

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Proverb: Àgbà kìí wà lọ́jà, k’órí ọmọ tuntun wọ́.
Translation: An elder cannot be in the market, and the child’s neck be bent.

Postproverbial: : Àgbà kìí wà lọ́jà, k’ó má ri ẹran gidi rà wá’lé.
Translation: An elder cannot be in the market, and fail to buy the good meat.

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Proverb: Bọ́mọdé ò kú, àgbà ní ń’dà.
Translation: If a child does not die, it becomes an adult.

Postproverbial: Bọ́mọdé ò kú, yóò ṣe ‘baide’ ni.
Translation: If a child does not die, s/he will celebrate birthday.

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Proverb: Ilé tí a bá f'itọ́ mọ, ìrì ni yóò wo.
Translation: The home that is built with saliva, will crumble to the morning dew.

Postproverbial: Ilé tí ènìyàn bá f’irọ́ kọ́, ìrì ló máa wo.
Translation: The home that man builds with lies, will crumble to the morning dew.

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Proverb: Ọgbọ́n ọdún yìí, wèrè ẹ̀ẹ́mì.
Translation: The wisdom of this season, is the madness of another season.

Postproverbial: Ọgbọn ọdun yìí, òmùgọ̀ ẹ̀ẹ́mì.
Translation: The wisdom of this season, is the foolishness of another season.

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Proverb: Èmi ò rírú Ọlọ́run Ọba, bí dúdú ni, bí àyínrin ni, èmi ò rírú Ọlọ́run Ọba.
Translation: I have never seen the likes of God, be it in black, be it in colourful grace, I have not seen the likes of God.

Postproverbial: Èmi ò rírú Ọlọ́run Ọba, bí Ṣókótó ni, bí Kàfànchàn ni, èmi ò rírú Ọlọ́run Ọba.
Translation: I have never seen the likes of God, whether in Sokoto, whether in Kafanchan, I have not see the likes of God.

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Proverb: Ọgwụ dị ire, ọgwụ adịghị ire, nwadibịa ga-ala.
Translation: Whether the medicine is potent or not potent, the medicine man will go.

Postproverbial: Ncha gbọọ ncha agbọghị, nwa Miisi ga-asarịrị ahụ.
Translation: Whether the soap foams or not, a Miss must take her bath.

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Proverb: A ma ka ọchịchịrị agbala, utu ga-ahụrịrị etu o siri ba n’ọtụ.
Translation: No matter how dark the night may get, penis must find its way into the vagina.

Postproverbial: A ma ka ọkọchị adịla, ọtụ ga na-asarịrị utu ahụ.
Translation: No matter how severe the dry season may get, the vagina must bathe the penis.

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Proverb: Ọ bụghị e lee anya n’agwụ, mmiri ezobe.
Translation: It is not the moment the rain deity is gazed upon, that it begins to rain.

Postproverbial: Ọ bụghị e pushuo, a nụba ozigbo.
Translation: It is not the moment one is pushed, that a fight ensues.

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Proverb: A gba nsị nkịtị ọ na-esi.
Translation: When faeces is ignored, it keeps stinking.

Postproverbial: A gba ego nkịtị, ọ na-akparị onwe ya.
Translation: When money is ignored, it keeps insulting itself.

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