Proverbs in yoruba-nigeria

Curator(s)

Prof. Aderemi Raji-Oyelade

University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Proverb: Orí la fi ń’mẹ́ran láwo.
Translation: With the head (luck), we pick the good meat in the stew.
Language - Region: yoruba-nigeria

Proverb: Onísàngó tó jó tí kò tà’pá, àbùkù ara rẹ̀ ló tà.
Translation: The Sango worshipper who dances without kicking the feet has diminished himself.
Language - Region: yoruba-nigeria

Proverb: Ohun tó ń’ṣe Abọ́yadé, gbogbo ọlọ́ya ní ń’ṣe.
Translation: The affliction of Aboyade, chief priest of Oya, is also the general problem of other worshippers.
Language - Region: yoruba-nigeria

Proverb: Ojú ló mọ ohun tó yó’nú.
Translation: The eye-gauge will tell which meal will be satisfying.
Language - Region: yoruba-nigeria

Proverb: Ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ dúdú kò yá bù sán, Ọmọ burúkú kò yá lù pa.
Translation: (As) the unripe plantain is not fit for consumption, (so) it is not easy to beat the irresponsible child to death.
Language - Region: yoruba-nigeria

Proverb: Ọbẹ̀ tó dùn, owó ló pa á.
Translation: The delicious stew, is made possible by cash.
Language - Region: yoruba-nigeria

Proverb: Ọbẹ̀ tí baálé ilé kìí jẹ, ìyálé ilé kìí sè é.
Translation: The stew that is forbidden to the husband, the senior wife does not cook it.
Language - Region: yoruba-nigeria

Proverb: Ọbẹ̀ kìí mì ní ikùn àgbà.
Translation: The soup does not shake in the belly of the elder.
Language - Region: yoruba-nigeria

Proverb: Mọ̀‘jà mọ̀’sá là á mọ akínkanjú; akínkanjú tó mọ̀’jà tí ò mọ̀’sá, irú wọn níí b’ógun lọ.
Translation: Attack and retreat is the stuff of a great warrior; the warrior who knows how to fight but doesn’t know when to retreat will die with the war.
Language - Region: yoruba-nigeria

Proverb: Màlúù tí kò ní’rù, Olúwa níí bá a léṣinṣin.
Translation: As for the cow that has no tail, God is its repellant against flies.
Language - Region: yoruba-nigeria