Yorùbá/Inglês
1 - Òwe : Aláǹgbá kì í lérí àti pa ejò
Àtúmọ̀ : A lizard does not boast that it will kill a snake
Ìtumọ̀ :
2 - Òwe : A kì í pa igún, a kì í jẹ igún, a kì í fi igún bọrí.
Àtúmọ̀ : Nobody kills a vulture; nobody eats a vulture; nobody offers a vulture for someone's head.
Ìtumọ̀ : Certain behaviors are beyond the pale.
3 - Òwe : A kì í bá ọba pàlà kí ọkọ́ ọba má ṣàn-ánni lẹ́sẹ̀.
Àtúmọ̀ : One does not share a farm boundary with a king without getting one's feet gashed by the king's hoe.
Ìtumọ̀ : One should be cautious in dealing with people in authority.
4 - Òwe : A ò lóbìnrin à ńdá ọọ́yọ́ sí; bí a bá dá ọọ́yọ́ sí ewúrẹ́ ni yó jẹ ẹ́
Àtúmọ̀ : Without having a wife a person spares ọọ́yọ́ to grow; if it flourishes it is destined to be food for goats.
Ìtumọ̀ : The vegetable is used in stews, and stews are for wives to cook
5 - Òwe : Ahọnn ni ìpínlẹ̀ ẹnu.
Àtúmọ̀ : The tongue is the border of the mouth.
Ìtumọ̀ : There is a limit to everything.
6 - Òwe : A fi ọ́ jọba ò ńṣàwúre o fẹ́ jẹ Ọlọ́run ni?
Àtúmọ̀ : You have been crowned a king, and yet you make good-luck charms; would you be crowned God?
Ìtumọ̀ : Being crowned a king is about the best fortune a mortal could hope for
7 - Òwe : Afínjú ní ńjẹ iwọ; ọ̀mọ̀ràn ní ńjẹ obì; màrí-màjẹ ní ńjẹ awùsá.
Àtúmọ̀ : It is a finicky person that eats iwọ; it is a sagacious person that eats kolanut; it is someone not squeamish about what he eats that eats awùsá.
Ìtumọ̀ : People are what they eat; each to his/her own taste.
8 - Òwe : Afínjú wọ ọjà ó rìn gbẹndẹ́kẹ ọ̀bún wọ ọjà ó rìn sùẹ̀sùẹ̀ ọ̀bùn ní ó ru ẹrù afínjú relé.
Àtúmọ̀ : The fashionable person enters the market and walks in a leisurely manner; the filthy person enters the market and walks in a sluggish manner; it is the filthy person that will carry the fashionable person's load to the house for him or her.
Ìtumọ̀ : Good breeding confers great advantages.
9 - Òwe : Ahọ̣̀́n ni ìpínnlẹ́ ẹnu.
Àtúmọ̀ : The tongue is the border of the mouth.
Ìtumọ̀ : There is a limit to everything.
10 - Òwe : Àpárá ńlá, ìjà ní ńdà.
Àtúmọ̀ : Excessive friction unfailingly leads to a fight.
Ìtumọ̀ : Jokes should know limits.
11 - Òwe : Àbá alágẹmọ lòrìṣà ńgbà
Àtúmọ̀ : The gods heed what chameleon proposes.
Ìtumọ̀ : One should heed the advice of trusted friends and advisers.
12 - Òwe : Àyàn ò gbẹdùn.
Àtúmọ̀ : The àyàn tree does not accept an axe.
Ìtumọ̀ : Certain approaches one must reject as improper.
13 - Òwe : Àgbàrá bá ọ̀nà jẹ́, ó rò pé òún tún ọ̀nà ṣe
Àtúmọ̀ : The rain flood ruins the path believing that it is repairing it.
Ìtumọ̀ : Ignorance or incompetence in tackling a task often leads to unintended results.
14 - Òwe : Àkó balẹ̀, ó fi gbogbo ara kígbe
Àtúmọ̀ : Àko hit the ground and cried out with its whole body.
Ìtumọ̀ : A person who needs help should not be coy in asking.
15 - Òwe : Àmọ̀tẹ́kùn-ún fara jọ ẹkùn, kò lè ṣe bí ẹkùn
Àtúmọ̀ : The àmọ̀tẹ́kùn looks like a tiger, but it cannot do what a tiger can do.
Ìtumọ̀ : Looking a part does not indicate an ability to play the part.
16 - Òwe : Bí ẹnú bá jẹ, ojú á tì.
Àtúmọ̀ : If the mouth has eaten, the eyes shut down.
Ìtumọ̀ : If one has received some favor from a person, one's eyes will be closed to the person's faults.
17 - Òwe : Bí ọmọdé bá ri oyin, a ju àkàrà nù.
Àtúmọ̀ : When a child sees honey, he throws away bean fritters.
Ìtumọ̀ : The inconstant person's concern is limited to the latest attraction.
18 - Òwe : Bí ọgbọ́n bá tán nínú, a tún òmíràn dá.
Àtúmọ̀ : When an elder has exhausted all his wisdom, he turns to another wisdom.
Ìtumọ̀ : An elder is never at a loss for what to do.
19 - Òwe : Bí ojú bá rí, ẹnu a dákẹ́.
Àtúmọ̀ : When the eyes see, the mouth remains quiet.
Ìtumọ̀ : The mouth does not reveal everything the eyes see
20 - Òwe : Bí ojú kò bá rí, ẹnu kì í sọ nǹkan.
Àtúmọ̀ : If the eye does not see, the mouth says nothing.
Ìtumọ̀ : The mouth can tell only what the eye sees.
21 - Òwe : Bí Ọya ńkọ lọ́run, bí Ṣàngó ńjó láyé, kò níí burú fún baba kó ní ó dọwọ́ ọmọ òun lọ́run.
Àtúmọ̀ : Even if the goddess Ọya sings in heaven and the god Ṣango sings on earth, matters cannot be so bad for the father that he will say it is all up to his dead child in heaven.
Ìtumọ̀ : Even in suffering one should never disgrace oneself.
22 - Òwe : Etí gbọ ekeji, ki ó tó dájọ
Àtúmọ̀ : Ear, hear the other (side of the question) before you decide
Ìtumọ̀ :
23 - Òwe : Ẹyẹ ò sọ fún ẹyẹ pé òkò ḿbọ̀
Àtúmọ̀ : A bird does not tell a bird that a stone is on its way.
Ìtumọ̀ :
24 - Òwe : Ẹsẹ̀ kì í wúwo kí ẹlésẹ̀ má lè gbé e
Àtúmọ̀ : The feet are never so heavy that the owner cannot lift them.
Ìtumọ̀ :
25 - Òwe : Eegun àjànàkú: ó há ìkokò lẹ́nu.
Àtúmọ̀ : An elephant's bone: it sticks in the wolf's mouth.
Ìtumọ̀ : A person has overreached him/herself and is paying the price of folly.
26 - Òwe : Ewúrẹ̀ ò lè rí ewé ọdán òkè fi ṣe nǹkan.
Àtúmọ̀ : A goat can in no wise take the fig tree's leaves aloft for any purpose.
Ìtumọ̀ : Certain people are beyond the reach of some people's machinations.
27 - Òwe : Ewúro ò fi tojo korò.
Àtúmọ̀ : The bitter-leaf did not become bitter as a result of cowardice.
Ìtumọ̀ : One does what one must, regardless of the actions or wishes of others.
28 - Òwe : Èèyàn ò rí'bi sùn, ajá ńhanrun.
Àtúmọ̀ : Humans have no place to sleep, and a dog is anoring
Ìtumọ̀ : A Lowly person lays claim to what his/her better lack
29 - Òwe : Èébú kì í so.
Àtúmọ̀ : Insults do not attach to one's body like pods.
Ìtumọ̀ : Insult ignored is insult defused.
30 - Òwe : Ẹ̀bìtì ẹnu ò tàsé.
Àtúmọ̀ : The mouth-trap never misses.
Ìtumọ̀ : The mouth easily accomplishes even impossible feats.
31 - Òwe : ẹ̀tẹ̀ bá ọ̀lẹ.
Àtúmọ̀ : Disgrace comes upon the shiftless.
Ìtumọ̀ : Disgrace attends shiftlessness.
32 - Òwe : ẹ̀sọ̣̀ ẹ̀sọ̀ ni ìgbín fi ńgbà gun igi
Àtúmọ̀ : Slowly slowly is the way a snail climbs a tree.
Ìtumọ̀ :
33 - Òwe : Ẹyẹlé fi ẹ́sín-in rẹ́ pamọ̀ ó ńṣe ẹ́sín adìẹ.
Àtúmọ̀ : The pigeon hides its own disgrace and goes ridiculing the chicken.
Ìtumọ̀ : A person full of flaws insists on finding fault with others.
34 - Òwe : Gbogbo ọ̀rọ̀ ní ńṣojú èké
Àtúmọ̀ : The busybody is privy to all matters
Ìtumọ̀ : There is nothing the busybody will say he/she does not know about
35 - Òwe : Igbó lẹranko ńgbé.
Àtúmọ̀ : The forest is the home for animals to live in.
Ìtumọ̀ : Everything in its proper place.
36 - Òwe : Ìyàwó jẹ ọkà jẹ igbá.
Àtúmọ̀ : The wife ate the yam-flour meal and ate the calabash with it.
Ìtumọ̀ : One should show consideration, and exercise care, in using others' property
37 - Òwe : Ìgbà ara là ḿbúra.
Àtúmọ̀ : One swears when it is time to swear.
Ìtumọ̀ : Everything in its proper time.
38 - Òwe : Ìpẹ̀ta lọṣẹ àpọ́n.
Àtúmọ̀ : The sap of the violet tree is what the bachelor uses for soap.
Ìtumọ̀ : A person who lacks the means to provide properly for himself or herself must be resourceful at making do.
39 - Òwe : Ìyàwó tó na ọmọ ọbàkan, ọ̀rọ̀ ló fẹ́ gbọ́
Àtúmọ̀ : The wife who whips a relative of her husband is asking for stern rebuke
Ìtumọ̀ : One should not engage in inappropriate actions
40 - Òwe : Ìrókò tó bá gbàbọ̀dè, bíbẹ́ ni.
Àtúmọ̀ : Whichever ìrókò tree becomes involved in treachery gets felled.
Ìtumọ̀ : Whoever engages in treachery will be destroyed, no matter his or her status
41 - Òwe : Kò rà, kò lówó lówó, ó ńwú tutu níwájú onítumpulu.
Àtúmọ̀ : He does not buy, he has no money, yet he sits sulkily before the seller of bean fritters.
Ìtumọ̀ : Said of people reluctant to accept the fact that they cannot have what they wish
42 - Òwe : Kò sí kò sí, bẹ́ẹ̀ni ọmọ wọn ńyó.
Àtúmọ̀ : We have nothing, we have nothing! Yet their children always have full stomachs
Ìtumọ̀ : Said of people who are too tight-fisted to help others
43 - Òwe : Kò sí ohun tí Ṣàngó lè ṣe kó jà lẹ́ẹ̀rùn.
Àtúmọ̀ : There is nothing Ṣango can do to enable itself to rage in a drought.
Ìtumọ̀ : One cannot transcend one's nature.
44 - Òwe : Kò sí òriṣà tó ju Olóde lọ
Àtúmọ̀ : There is no orisha greather than Olóde.
Ìtumọ̀ : Certain forces are more potent than others.
45 - Òwe : Kò sí òriṣà tó lé ṣe bí Ògún lágbẹ̀dẹ
Àtúmọ̀ : There is no orisha that can do as Ògún lágbẹ̀dẹ.
Ìtumọ̀ : No one else can attempt the feats that the person referred to can accomplish.
46 - Òwe : Kò sí ohun tí Ṣàngó lè ṣe kó jà lẹ́ẹ̀rùn
Àtúmọ̀ : There is nothing Ṣango can do to enable itself to rage in a drought
Ìtumọ̀ : One cannot transcend one's nature
47 - Òwe : Màlúù ò lè lérí níwájú ẹṣin
Àtúmọ̀ : A cow may not boast in the presence of a horse
Ìtumọ̀ :
48 - Òwe : Mànàmáná ò ṣéé sun iṣu
Àtúmọ̀ : Lightning is no good for roasting yams
Ìtumọ̀ :
49 - Òwe : Oko ni gbégbé ńgbé.
Àtúmọ̀ : The farm is where gbégbé belongs.
Ìtumọ̀ : Everything in its proper place.
50 - Òwe : Obì kékeré kọjá òkúta ńla.
Àtúmọ̀ : A small kolanut is superior to a large stone.
Ìtumọ̀ : A small gift is better than none at all.
51 - Òwe : O jẹbẹ, o mubẹ, o babẹ jẹ́.
Àtúmọ̀ : There you ate, there you drank, and there you fouled.
Ìtumọ̀ : One should not besmirch a place that has been good to one.
52 - Òwe : Ó ḿbọ̀, ó ḿbọ̀! la fi ńdẹ́rù ba ọmọdé; bó bá dé tán ẹ̀rù a tán
Àtúmọ̀ : It's coming! It's coming! is what one says to frighten a child; after it has arrived it loses all its terror.
Ìtumọ̀ : Looming problems often cause consternation out of all proportion to their real damaging force.
53 - Òwe : Ọ̀ràn ńlá-ńlá ní mbá àpá, ọ̀ràn ṣẹkú-ṣẹkú ní mbá oṣè,
Àtúmọ̀ : Only huge problems befall the mahogany tree; only minor problems befall the baobab tree.
Ìtumọ̀ : Different people have different levels of vulnerability.
54 - Òwe : Ọ̀nà ìgbàlẹ̀ a máa já sọ́run
Àtúmọ̀ : The road to the secret grove of the egúngún cult may lead to heaven.
Ìtumọ̀ : People who do the forbidden may pay dearly for their temerity
55 - Òwe : Ọlọ́dẹ kì í torí atẹ́gún yìnbọn.
Àtúmọ̀ : A hunter does not fire off his gun because of the wind.
Ìtumọ̀ : One should be deliberate and attentive in pursuing one's profession.
56 - Òwe : Ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ ḿbàjẹ́, a ní ó ńpọ́n.
Àtúmọ̀ : The banana is rotting, people say it is ripening.
Ìtumọ̀ : It does not help to rationalize a brat's behavior with silly explanations.
57 - Òwe : Ọgbọ́n ju agbára.
Àtúmọ̀ : Wisdom is greater than strength.
Ìtumọ̀ : Always prefer wisdom to strength.
58 - Òwe : Ọgbọ́n kì í tán.
Àtúmọ̀ : Wisdom is never used up.
Ìtumọ̀ : There will always be a place and some use for wisdom.
59 - Òwe : Sàráà bàbá ẹbọ.
Àtúmọ̀ : Alms is the father of sacrifice.
Ìtumọ̀ : Alms are the ultimate sacrifice.
60 - Òwe : Ṣìgìdì tí ò sọ̀rọ̀, a ò mẹni ti ńgbè.
Àtúmọ̀ : Since the earten idol does not speak, no one knows whose side it is on.
Ìtumọ̀ : No can ascribe any position to a person who is cagey.
61 - Òwe : Ṣìkà-ṣìkà ò jẹ́ pe ara ẹ̀ níkà.
Àtúmọ̀ : The wicked person will never describe himself as wicked.
Ìtumọ̀ : The wicked always strive to appear as decent, kind people.
62 - Òwe : Ṣìkà-ṣìkà-á gbàgbé àjọbí, adánilóró gbàgbé ọ̀la.
Àtúmọ̀ : The wicked forgets kinship; the person who hurts others forgets tomorrow.
Ìtumọ̀ : People who inflict injury on others forget that the gods of kinship will inflict punishment on them, and that they too might be at the receiving end in the future.
63 - Òwe : Ṣẹ̀gàn-ṣẹ̀gàn ò láṣọ méjì; pé-ń-pé laṣọ abúni ḿmọ.
Àtúmọ̀ : The detractor of others does not possess a change of clothing; the garment of the insulter of people is always skimpy.
Ìtumọ̀ : People who make a habit of cutting others down never prosper either.
64 - Òwe : Tẹ̀tẹ̀ kì í tẹ́
Àtúmọ̀ : Spinach is never disgraced.
Ìtumọ̀ : Can anyone say that has never known disgrace.
65 - Òwe : Tòlótòló mọ ẹni tó ńyìnbọn ìdí sí.
Àtúmọ̀ : The turkey knows towards whom it farts.
Ìtumọ̀ : People must be careful how to choose the people they presume to approach with familiarity.
66 - Òwe : Ta ní mọ̀dí òjò, bí kò sẹ Ṣangó?
Àtúmọ̀ : Who can know the secret of the rain if not sango
Ìtumọ̀ : Only those privity to mysteries can explain mysterious events