mxronga/yoruba-proverbs-parallel-corpora · Datasets at Hugging Face

yoruba stringlengths 10 249	english stringlengths 1 405
Lásán kọ́ là ńdé ẹtù; ó ní ẹni tórí ẹ̀ ḿbá ẹtù mu.	One does not wear ẹtù
Lékèélékèé ò yé ẹyin dúdú; funfun ni wọ́n ńyé ẹyin wọn.	Cattle egrets never lay black eggs; only white eggs do they lay.
“Ẹ fà á wọlé” ló yẹ ẹlẹ́ṣin.	“Lead it into the stable” is what becomes a horseman.
Ẹ jẹ́ ká mí, ẹ jẹ́ ká simi; èèyàn ní ńfìdí èèyàn jókòó; èèyàn ìbá ṣe bí Ọlọ́run kò níí jẹ́ ká mí.	Let us breathe, leave us in peace; the fashion is for people to sit on their behinds; were humans in the position of God they would not permit people to breathe.
“Ẹ kú-ulé” ò yẹ ará ilé; “Ẹ kú atìbà” ò yẹni tí ńtàjò bọ̀; ẹni tí ò kí ẹni, “Kú atìbà”-á pàdánù “Ẹ kú-ulé.”	“Greetings to you, house-bound ones” is improper for the house-bound to utter; “Welcome home” is not proper for the person arriving from a trip; whoever fails to give “welcome” to the person returning does himself or herself out of “greetings, house-bound.”
Ẹ̀bìtì ẹnu ò tàsé.	The mouth-trap never misses.
Ẹgbẹ́ ẹni là ńgúnyán ewùrà dè.	It is for one's peers that one makes pounded yam with ewùrà yams.
Ẹ̀gbẹ̀rì ò mọ̀ pé arẹwà kì í gbé ẹ̀kú; gbogbo ehín kin-kìn-kin lábẹ́ aṣọ.	The novice does not know that a good-looking person does not wear a masquerade; all his perfectly white teeth are concealed beneath the cloth.
Ẹ̀gbọ́n ṣíwájú ó so aṣọ kọ́; àbúrò-ó kẹ́hìn ó wẹ̀wù; bí a ò mọ̀lẹ, ọ̀lẹ ò mọ araa rẹ̀?	The elder walks in front, a loincloth draped over his shoulder; the younger walks behind, wearing a garment; if people cannot tell which one is shiftless, does he not know himself?
Ẹlẹ́ẹ̀ẹ́dẹ́ ńlọ ẹ̀ẹ́dẹ́, o ní “Ẹ̀ẹ́dẹ́gbẹ̀ta ni àbí ẹ̀ẹ́dẹ́gbẹ̀fà?”; èwo lo gbé níbẹ̀?	A person says he has lost an unspecified amount of money, and you ask if the amount is five hundred cowries or eleven hundred cowries; which amount did you steal?
Ẹlẹ́dẹ̀ ńpàfọ̀, ó rò pé òún ńṣoge.	The pig wallows in mud, but thinks it is being a dandy.
Ẹlẹ́dẹ̀ ò mẹ̀yẹ.	A pig does not know what is becoming.
Ẹlẹ́ẹ́fà kì í lọ ẹẹ́fàa rẹ̀ ká sọ pé o di ìjẹfà tí a ti jẹun.	When a person proclaims the loss of six articles, one does not respond by saying one has not eaten in six days.
Ẹni à bá fi sóko kó dàparò, ó ní òun ẹni ilé.	The person one would leave on the farm hoping he would become a partridge boasts that he is the indispensable presence of the household.
Ẹni à bá tà ká fowó-o rẹ̀ ra àdá: ó ní ìyà àdá ńjẹ òun.	A person who should be sold for money to purchase a machete bemoans his lack of a machete.
Ẹni à bá tà ká fowó-o rẹ̀ ra àtùpà: ó ní òun à-jí-tanná-wò-lóru.	A person who should be sold for money to purchase a lamp boasts that he is one-people-light-lamps-to-admire-at-night.
Ẹni à bá tà ká fowó-o rẹ̀ ra èbù: ó ní èlé òún kó ọ̀ọ́dúnrún.	A person one would sell for money to purchase quartered yams for planting: he claims that he has enough earnings to buy three hundred yam pieces.
Ẹni à ńgbé gẹ̀gẹ̀ ni yó ba ara-a rẹ̀ jẹ́.	It is the person who is revered that will disgrace himself or herself.
Ẹní bá dẹ ojú-u rẹ̀ sílẹ̀ á rímú-u rẹ̀.	Whoever gazes downwards with will see his or her nose.
Ẹní dádé ti kúrò lọ́mọdé.	The person who wears a crown has outgrown childhood.
Ẹni tí a bá ńdáṣọ fún kì í ka èèwọ̀.	The person who is clothed by others does not list what he will not wear.
Ẹni tí a fẹ́ yàtọ̀ sí ẹni tó ní kò sí irú òun.	A person one loves is different from a person who says there is no one like him/herself.
Ẹni tí a gbé gun ẹlẹ́dẹ̀, ìwọ̀n ni kó yọ̀ mọ; ẹni tó gẹṣin, ilẹ̀ ló ḿbọ̀.	The person whom people have seated on a pig should moderate his or her strutting; even a horse rider will eventually come down to earth.
Ẹni tí a lè gbé kì í dawọ́.	A person who can be lifted does not hang limp.
Ẹni tí à ńwò láwò-sunkún ńwo ara-a rẹ̀ láwò-rẹ́rìnín.	A person whose appearance moves one to tears is moved to laughter by his own appearance.
Ẹni tí a ò fẹ́, àlọ́ ò kàn án.	A person whose company is not desired gets no turn at riddling.
Ẹni tí a ò fẹ́ nílùú kì í jó lójú agbo.	A person not welcome in the town does not take a turn in the dancing circle.
Ẹni tí ìbá hùwà ipá ò hùwà ipá; ẹni tí ìbá hùwà ẹ̀lẹ̀ ò hu ẹ̀lẹ̀; ọ̀kùn tó nígba ọwọ́, tó nígba ẹsẹ̀ ńhùwà pẹ̀lẹ́.	The person one would expect to be reckless is not reckless; the person one would expect to be cautious is not cautious; the millipede with two hundred arms and two hundred legs behaves very gently.
Ẹni tí kò lè gbé eèrà, tí ńkùsà sí erin, títẹ́ ní ńtẹ́.	A person who lacks the strength to lift an ant but rushes forward to lift an elephant ends in disgrace.
Ẹni tí kò rí ayé rí ní ńsọ pé kò sẹ́ni tó gbọ́n bí òun.	It is a person with limited experience of life who thinks there is none as wise as he.
Ẹni tó tan ara-a rẹ̀ lòrìṣà òkè ńtàn: àpọń tí ò láya nílé, tó ní kí òrìṣà ó bùn un lọ́mọ.	It is the person who deceives himself that the gods above deceive: a bachelor who has no wife at home but implores the gods to grant him children.
Ẹni tí kò tó gèlètè kì í mí fìn-ìn.	A person who is not huge in stature does not breathe heavily.
Ẹni tó tijú tì í fún ara-a rẹ̀.	The person who is self-aware protects his or her own reputation thereby.
Ẹnìkan kì í jẹ́ “Àwá dé.”	Nobody is entitled to say, “Here we come.”
Ẹran kí la ò jẹ rí? Ọ̀pọ̀lọ́ báni lábàtà ó ba búrúbúrú.	What sort of meat is it, the likes of which one has never tasted? A toad comes upon one at the swamp and cowers in fright.
Ẹ̀rúkọ́ ńṣe bí ọkọ́.	The haft of the hoe is behaving like a hoe.
Ẹ̀ṣọ́ kì í gba ọfà lẹ́hìn; iwájú gangan ní ńfi-í gba ọgbẹ́.	A palace guard does not receive arrows on his back; he suffers wounds only on his front.
Ẹ̀wọ̀n tó tó ọ̀pẹ ò tó-ó dá erin dúró; ìtàkùn tó ní kí erin má ròkè ọ̀dàn, tòun terin ní ńlọ.	A chain as thick as a palm-tree cannot stop an elephant; the vine that proposes to stop the elephant from going to the grassland will go with the elephant.
Ẹ̀yá ló bí mi, ẹkùn ló wò mí dàgbà, ológìnní gbà mí tọ́; bí kò sẹ́ran lọ́bẹ̀ nkò jẹ.	I was born of a monkey; I was raised by a leopard, I was adopted by a cat; if there is no meat in the stew I will not eat it.
Ẹyẹ akòko-ó ní òún le gbẹ́ odó; ta ní jẹ́ fi odó akòko gúnyán jẹ?	The woodpecker boasts that it can carve a mortar; who ever used a mortar carved by the woodpecker to make pounded yam?
Ẹyẹ ò lè rí omi inú àgbọn bù mu.	A bird cannot get at the liquid inside a coconut to drink.
Ẹyẹ tó fi ara wé igún, ẹ̀hìn àdìrò ní ńsùn.	Whatever bird emulates the vulture will find itself behind the cooking hearth.
Dìgbòlugi-dìgbòlùùyàn ò jẹ́ ká mọ ajá tòótọ́.	The mad dog, and the person who behaves like a mad dog, both make it impossible for one to know the real dog.
Dídákẹ́ lerín dákẹ́; àjànàkú ló lẹgàn.	The elephant has only chosen to remain silent; to the elephant belongs the forest.
“Ng óò gba owó-ò mi lára ṣòkòtò yìí”; ìdí làgbàlagbà ńṣí sílẹ̀.	“I will get my money's worth out of these trousers”; the grown man only winds up exposing his bare buttocks to the world.
N:láńlá lọmọ abuké ńdá: ó ní “Ìyá, ìyá, òun ó pọ̀n.”	The humpback's child has presented a formidable dilemma: he cries, “Mother, mother, carry me on your back!”
Níbo lo forúkọ sí tí ò ńjẹ́ Làm̀bòròkí?	Where did you discard all other names and picked for yourself the name Làm̀bòròkí?
Nígbàtí à ńto ọkà a ò to ti ẹmọ́ si.	When we were stacking the corn we did not stack some for the brown rat.
Nígbàtí o mọ̀-ọ́ gùn, ẹṣin ẹ-ẹ́ ṣe ṣẹ́ orókún?	Since you claim to be a seasoned rider, how come your horse has gone lame?
Nígbàwo làpò ẹkùn-ún di ìkálá fọ́mọdé?	Since when did a tiger-hide sac become a thing a child uses to harvest okro?
Gànràn-gànràn ò yẹ ẹni a bí ire.	Unrestrained and thoughtless behavior does not befit a well-born person.
San là ńrìn; ajé ní ḿmúni pá kọ̀rọ̀.	Straight and upright is the way one would walk; it is money that forces one to sneak about.
Sesere ńdá gọ́ọ́bú; oníkamẹ́sàn-án ńgbé ṣíbí.	The insignificant thing is attempting an earth-shaking feat; the person with only nine fingers is lifting a spoon.
Sún mọ ọ̀hún, sún mọ́ ìhín! Bí a bá kan ògiri ilé-e baba ẹni, ṣe là ńdúró gbọin-gbọin.	Move away, move over here! When one moves until one is against the walls of one's father's house, one stands steadfast.
Ọbẹ̀ kì í gbé inú àgbà mì.	A stew does not slush around once inside an elder.
Ọ̀bún ríkú ọkọ tìrànmọ́; ó ní ọjọ́ tí ọkọ òún ti kú òun ò fi omi kan ara.	The filthy person takes advantage of her husband's death for blame; she says since her husband died she has not violated her person with water.
Ọ̀gà-ǹ-gà lọmọ-ọ̀ mi ńjẹ́, ẹ má pe ọmọ-ọ̀ mi ní Ògò-ǹ-gò mọ́! Èwo lorúkọ rere níbẹ̀?	My child's name is Ọ̀gàǹgà; don't you call my child Ògòǹgò any more! Which of the two is a good name.
Ọ̀gẹ̀gẹ́ ò lẹ́wà; lásán ló fara wéṣu.	The poisonous cassava has no attraction; it resembles a yam only in vain.
Ọjọ́ àgbà-á kú sàn ju ọjọ́ àgbà-á tẹ́.	The day an elder dies is far better than the day an elder is disgraced.
Ọjọ́ kan là ḿbàjẹ́, ọjọ́ gbogbo lara ńtini.	Only one day brings disgrace to a person; the shame is felt every day.
Ọjọ́ kan ṣoṣo là ńtẹ́; ojoojúmọ́ lojú ńtini.	It takes one day only for one to disgrace oneself; the shame is a daily affair.
Ọjọ́ tí alákàn-án ti ńṣepo, kò kún orùbà.	In all the days the crab has been making oil, it has not filled a pot.
“Ọjọ́ tí mo ti ḿbọ̀ ng ò rírú ẹ̀ rí”: olúwa ẹ̀-ẹ́ mọ ìwọ̀n ara ẹ̀ ni.	“In all the days I have walked this earth I have never seen the like”: that person knows his place.
Ọ̀kánjúwà àgbà ní ńsọ ara ẹ̀ dèwe.	It is an avaricious elder that turns himself into a child.
Ọ̀kánjúwà alágbaà ní ńgarùn wo eégún.	It is an insatiable chief of the masqueraders cult that stands on tiptoes to watch a performing masquerader.
Ọkùnrin kì í ké, akọ igi kì í ṣoje.	A man does not cry; hardwood does not ooze sap.
Ọlọgbọ́n kan ò ta kókó omi sáṣọ; ọ̀mọ̀ràn kan ò mọ oye erùpẹ̀ ilẹ̀.	No wise man ever ties water in a knot in his cloth; no knowledgeable person can tell the number of grains of sand on the earth.
Ọlọgbọ́n ò tẹ ara ẹ̀ nÍfá; ọ̀mọ̀ràn ò fi ara ẹ̀ joyè; abẹ tó mú ò lè gbẹ́ èkù ara ẹ̀.	The wise person does not consult the Ifá oracle for himself; the knowledgeable person does not install himself a chief; the sharp knife does not carve its own handle.
Ọmọ àì-jọbẹ̀-rí tí ńja epo sáyà.	A child new to eating stews: he shows himself by dripping palm-oil on his chest.
Ọmọ onílẹ̀ á tẹ̀ ẹ́ jẹ́jẹ́.	The owner of the earth treads gently on it.
Ọmọ ọba Ọ̀nà Ìṣokùn ńfi ehín gé ejò, ọmọ ọba kan-án ní òun kì í jẹ ẹ́; ìlú wo lọmọ ọba náà-á ti wá?	The prince of Ọ̀na Ìṣokùn is sharing out snake meat with his teeth, and another prince says he does not eat such a thing; where did that prince come from?
Ọmọdé dáwọ́tilẹ̀, ó ní òún tó ọ̀bọ; bó tó ọ̀bọ, ó tó gẹ̀gẹ̀ àyàa ẹ̀?	A child rests his hand on the earth and claims it is as big as a monkey “read chimpanzee”; even if the child is as big as a monkey, is its chest as big as the monkey's?
Ọmọdé ní ẹẹ́ta lọ́wọ́, ó ní kí Èṣù wá ká ṣeré owó; ẹẹ́ta-á ha tó Èṣùú sú epo lá?	A child has three cowries in hand and challenges Èṣù to a game played for money; will three solitary cowries suffice for Èṣù to purchase palm-oil to lick?
Ọ̀mùtí gbàgbé ìṣẹ́, alákọrí gbàgbé ọ̀la.	The drunkard ignores his misery; the ill-fated person forgets tomorrow.
Ọ̀nà ọ̀fun ò gba egungun ẹja.	The throat cannot accommodate fish-bone.
Ọ̀ràn ò dun ọmọ ẹṣin; a mú ìyá ẹ̀ so, ó ńjẹ oko kiri.	Problems make hardly any impression on the foal of a horse; its mother is tied down but it grazes nonchalantly about.
Ọ̀rọ̀ bọ̀tí-bọ̀tí ò yẹ àgbàlagbà.	Speech like drunken babble does not befit a venerable person.
Ọ̀rọ̀ ò dùn lẹ́nu ìyá olè.	Speech is not pleasant in the mouth of the mother of a thief.
Ọ̀rọ̀ wo ló wà lẹ́nu alaṣọ pípọ́n?	What sort of speech can there be in the mouth of the person whose clothes are brown from dirt?
Ọ̀sán pọ́n o ò ṣán ẹ̀kọ; oòrún kan àtàrí o ò jẹ àmàlà; àlejò-ó wà bà ọ ní ìyẹ̀tàrí oòrùn o ò rí ǹkan fún un; o ní “Njẹ́ ng ò níí tẹ́ lọ́wọ́ ẹ̀ báyìí”? O ò tíì tẹ́ lọ́wọ́ ara ẹ, ká tó ṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀ wá wípé o ó tẹ̀ẹ́ lọ́wọ́ ẹlòmíràn tàbí o ò níí tẹ́?	The sun rises and you do not eat corn meal; the sun moves directly overhead and you do not eat yam-flour meal; a visitor arrives for you when the sun is just past the overhead position and you have nothing to entertain him with; and you ask, “Am I not in danger of being disgraced in his eyes”? Aren't you already disgraced in your own eyes? Never mind whether you may be disgraced in others' eyes or not.
Ọ̀ṣìn ò lè mú àwòdì òkè; Bámidélé lọ̀ṣín lè mú.	The fish-eagle cannot catch the kite flying on high; it can only catch Bamidele.
Ọ̀ṣọ́ ọlọ́ṣọ̀ọ́ ò yẹni; ṣòkòtò àgbàbọ̀ ò yẹ́ ọmọ èèyàn.	One never looks good in other people's finery; borrowed trousers do not fit the borrower.
Ọwọ́ àìdilẹ̀ ní ńyọ koríko lójú àna ẹ̀.	Idle hands are the ones obliged to remove grass specks from their in-law's eyes.
Ọ̀wọ́n là ńra ògo, ọ̀pọ̀ là ńra ọ̀bùn, iyekíye là ńra ìmẹ́lẹ́.	Honor is always bought dear, filthiness cheap, and idleness at an indifferent price.
Ọ̀yájú-u baálé ní ńpàdé ìbòsí lọ́nà.	It is a reckless home owner who is met with alarms when he ventures outside.
Ìbàjẹ́ ọjọ́ kan ò tán bọ̀rọ̀.	The disgrace one incurs in one day does not disappear that soon.
Ibi tí a bá pè lórí, a kì í fi tẹlẹ̀.	Whatever one names as the head, one does not tread the floor with it.
Ibi tí a fi ara sí lara ńgbé.	Wherever one situates the body, there it inhabits.
Ibi tí a fi iyọ̀ sí ló ńṣomi sí.	Salt dampens only the place where it is placed.
Ibi tí a pè lórí ní ńhurun.	The part one names the head is the one that grows hair.
Ibi tí a ti mú ọ̀lẹ ò kúnná; ibi tí a ti mú alágbáraá tó oko-ó ro.	The place where a lazy person was apprehended bears no marks; the place where a powerful man was apprehended is broad enough to plant a farm.
Ibi tí a ti ńpìtàn ká tó jogún, ká mọ̀ pé ogún ibẹ̀ ò kanni.	Where one must recite genealogies in order to establish one's claim to inheritance, one should know that one really has no claim to patrimony there.
Ibi tí ayé bá ẹni ni a ti ńjẹ ẹ̀.	Where life catches up with one, there one lives it.
Ìbọ́n dídá olówó ló ní kíwọ̀fà rín rín rín kó sọ àdá nù.	It is the master's engaging in silly antics that affords the pawn the opportunity to laugh so hard that he tosses his cutlass away.
Idà ahun la fi ńpa ahun.	It is with its own sword that one kills the tortoise.
Idà ńwó ilé ara ẹ̀ ó ní òún ḿba àkọ̀ jẹ́.	The sword is destroying its own home, and it says it is ruining the scabbard.
Ìdí méjèèjìí tó olúwa rẹ̀-ẹ́ jókòó.	The two buttocks are sufficient for their owner to sit on.
Igúnnugún bà lé òrùlé; ojú tó ilé ó tó oko.	The vulture perches on the roof; its eyes see the homestead as well as the farm.
Ìgbà tí ṣìgìdìí bá fẹ́ ṣe eré ẹ̀tẹ́ a ní kí wọ́n gbé òun sójò.	When the clay statue hankers for disgrace it asks to be placed in the rain.
Ìgbà wo ni Mákùú ò níí kú? Mákùú ò mọ awo ó ḿbú ọpa; Mákùú ò mọ ìwẹ̀ ó ḿbọ́ sódò.	When will (or how can) Maku avoid the danger of dying? Maku does not know the mysteries of the cult yet he joins in its vows; Maku does not know how to swim and yet he jumps into the river.

Lásán kọ́ là ńdé ẹtù; ó ní ẹni tórí ẹ̀ ḿbá ẹtù mu.

One does not wear ẹtù

Lékèélékèé ò yé ẹyin dúdú; funfun ni wọ́n ńyé ẹyin wọn.

Cattle egrets never lay black eggs; only white eggs do they lay.

“Ẹ fà á wọlé” ló yẹ ẹlẹ́ṣin.

“Lead it into the stable” is what becomes a horseman.

Ẹ jẹ́ ká mí, ẹ jẹ́ ká simi; èèyàn ní ńfìdí èèyàn jókòó; èèyàn ìbá ṣe bí Ọlọ́run kò níí jẹ́ ká mí.

Let us breathe, leave us in peace; the fashion is for people to sit on their behinds; were humans in the position of God they would not permit people to breathe.

“Ẹ kú-ulé” ò yẹ ará ilé; “Ẹ kú atìbà” ò yẹni tí ńtàjò bọ̀; ẹni tí ò kí ẹni, “Kú atìbà”-á pàdánù “Ẹ kú-ulé.”

“Greetings to you, house-bound ones” is improper for the house-bound to utter; “Welcome home” is not proper for the person arriving from a trip; whoever fails to give “welcome” to the person returning does himself or herself out of “greetings, house-bound.”

Ẹ̀bìtì ẹnu ò tàsé.

The mouth-trap never misses.

Ẹgbẹ́ ẹni là ńgúnyán ewùrà dè.

It is for one's peers that one makes pounded yam with ewùrà yams.

Ẹ̀gbẹ̀rì ò mọ̀ pé arẹwà kì í gbé ẹ̀kú; gbogbo ehín kin-kìn-kin lábẹ́ aṣọ.

The novice does not know that a good-looking person does not wear a masquerade; all his perfectly white teeth are concealed beneath the cloth.

Ẹ̀gbọ́n ṣíwájú ó so aṣọ kọ́; àbúrò-ó kẹ́hìn ó wẹ̀wù; bí a ò mọ̀lẹ, ọ̀lẹ ò mọ araa rẹ̀?

The elder walks in front, a loincloth draped over his shoulder; the younger walks behind, wearing a garment; if people cannot tell which one is shiftless, does he not know himself?

Ẹlẹ́ẹ̀ẹ́dẹ́ ńlọ ẹ̀ẹ́dẹ́, o ní “Ẹ̀ẹ́dẹ́gbẹ̀ta ni àbí ẹ̀ẹ́dẹ́gbẹ̀fà?”; èwo lo gbé níbẹ̀?

A person says he has lost an unspecified amount of money, and you ask if the amount is five hundred cowries or eleven hundred cowries; which amount did you steal?

Ẹlẹ́dẹ̀ ńpàfọ̀, ó rò pé òún ńṣoge.

The pig wallows in mud, but thinks it is being a dandy.

Ẹlẹ́dẹ̀ ò mẹ̀yẹ.

A pig does not know what is becoming.

Ẹlẹ́ẹ́fà kì í lọ ẹẹ́fàa rẹ̀ ká sọ pé o di ìjẹfà tí a ti jẹun.

When a person proclaims the loss of six articles, one does not respond by saying one has not eaten in six days.

Ẹni à bá fi sóko kó dàparò, ó ní òun ẹni ilé.

The person one would leave on the farm hoping he would become a partridge boasts that he is the indispensable presence of the household.

Ẹni à bá tà ká fowó-o rẹ̀ ra àdá: ó ní ìyà àdá ńjẹ òun.

A person who should be sold for money to purchase a machete bemoans his lack of a machete.

Ẹni à bá tà ká fowó-o rẹ̀ ra àtùpà: ó ní òun à-jí-tanná-wò-lóru.

A person who should be sold for money to purchase a lamp boasts that he is one-people-light-lamps-to-admire-at-night.

Ẹni à bá tà ká fowó-o rẹ̀ ra èbù: ó ní èlé òún kó ọ̀ọ́dúnrún.

A person one would sell for money to purchase quartered yams for planting: he claims that he has enough earnings to buy three hundred yam pieces.

Ẹni à ńgbé gẹ̀gẹ̀ ni yó ba ara-a rẹ̀ jẹ́.

It is the person who is revered that will disgrace himself or herself.

Ẹní bá dẹ ojú-u rẹ̀ sílẹ̀ á rímú-u rẹ̀.

Whoever gazes downwards with will see his or her nose.

Ẹní dádé ti kúrò lọ́mọdé.

The person who wears a crown has outgrown childhood.

Ẹni tí a bá ńdáṣọ fún kì í ka èèwọ̀.

The person who is clothed by others does not list what he will not wear.

Ẹni tí a fẹ́ yàtọ̀ sí ẹni tó ní kò sí irú òun.

A person one loves is different from a person who says there is no one like him/herself.

Ẹni tí a gbé gun ẹlẹ́dẹ̀, ìwọ̀n ni kó yọ̀ mọ; ẹni tó gẹṣin, ilẹ̀ ló ḿbọ̀.

The person whom people have seated on a pig should moderate his or her strutting; even a horse rider will eventually come down to earth.

Ẹni tí a lè gbé kì í dawọ́.

A person who can be lifted does not hang limp.

Ẹni tí à ńwò láwò-sunkún ńwo ara-a rẹ̀ láwò-rẹ́rìnín.

A person whose appearance moves one to tears is moved to laughter by his own appearance.

Ẹni tí a ò fẹ́, àlọ́ ò kàn án.

A person whose company is not desired gets no turn at riddling.

Ẹni tí a ò fẹ́ nílùú kì í jó lójú agbo.

A person not welcome in the town does not take a turn in the dancing circle.

Ẹni tí ìbá hùwà ipá ò hùwà ipá; ẹni tí ìbá hùwà ẹ̀lẹ̀ ò hu ẹ̀lẹ̀; ọ̀kùn tó nígba ọwọ́, tó nígba ẹsẹ̀ ńhùwà pẹ̀lẹ́.

The person one would expect to be reckless is not reckless; the person one would expect to be cautious is not cautious; the millipede with two hundred arms and two hundred legs behaves very gently.

Ẹni tí kò lè gbé eèrà, tí ńkùsà sí erin, títẹ́ ní ńtẹ́.

A person who lacks the strength to lift an ant but rushes forward to lift an elephant ends in disgrace.

Ẹni tí kò rí ayé rí ní ńsọ pé kò sẹ́ni tó gbọ́n bí òun.

It is a person with limited experience of life who thinks there is none as wise as he.

Ẹni tó tan ara-a rẹ̀ lòrìṣà òkè ńtàn: àpọń tí ò láya nílé, tó ní kí òrìṣà ó bùn un lọ́mọ.

It is the person who deceives himself that the gods above deceive: a bachelor who has no wife at home but implores the gods to grant him children.

Ẹni tí kò tó gèlètè kì í mí fìn-ìn.

A person who is not huge in stature does not breathe heavily.

Ẹni tó tijú tì í fún ara-a rẹ̀.

The person who is self-aware protects his or her own reputation thereby.

Ẹnìkan kì í jẹ́ “Àwá dé.”

Nobody is entitled to say, “Here we come.”

Ẹran kí la ò jẹ rí? Ọ̀pọ̀lọ́ báni lábàtà ó ba búrúbúrú.

What sort of meat is it, the likes of which one has never tasted? A toad comes upon one at the swamp and cowers in fright.

Ẹ̀rúkọ́ ńṣe bí ọkọ́.

The haft of the hoe is behaving like a hoe.

Ẹ̀ṣọ́ kì í gba ọfà lẹ́hìn; iwájú gangan ní ńfi-í gba ọgbẹ́.

A palace guard does not receive arrows on his back; he suffers wounds only on his front.

Ẹ̀wọ̀n tó tó ọ̀pẹ ò tó-ó dá erin dúró; ìtàkùn tó ní kí erin má ròkè ọ̀dàn, tòun terin ní ńlọ.

A chain as thick as a palm-tree cannot stop an elephant; the vine that proposes to stop the elephant from going to the grassland will go with the elephant.

Ẹ̀yá ló bí mi, ẹkùn ló wò mí dàgbà, ológìnní gbà mí tọ́; bí kò sẹ́ran lọ́bẹ̀ nkò jẹ.

I was born of a monkey; I was raised by a leopard, I was adopted by a cat; if there is no meat in the stew I will not eat it.

Ẹyẹ akòko-ó ní òún le gbẹ́ odó; ta ní jẹ́ fi odó akòko gúnyán jẹ?

The woodpecker boasts that it can carve a mortar; who ever used a mortar carved by the woodpecker to make pounded yam?

Ẹyẹ ò lè rí omi inú àgbọn bù mu.

A bird cannot get at the liquid inside a coconut to drink.

Ẹyẹ tó fi ara wé igún, ẹ̀hìn àdìrò ní ńsùn.

Whatever bird emulates the vulture will find itself behind the cooking hearth.

Dìgbòlugi-dìgbòlùùyàn ò jẹ́ ká mọ ajá tòótọ́.

The mad dog, and the person who behaves like a mad dog, both make it impossible for one to know the real dog.

Dídákẹ́ lerín dákẹ́; àjànàkú ló lẹgàn.

The elephant has only chosen to remain silent; to the elephant belongs the forest.

“Ng óò gba owó-ò mi lára ṣòkòtò yìí”; ìdí làgbàlagbà ńṣí sílẹ̀.

“I will get my money's worth out of these trousers”; the grown man only winds up exposing his bare buttocks to the world.

N:láńlá lọmọ abuké ńdá: ó ní “Ìyá, ìyá, òun ó pọ̀n.”

The humpback's child has presented a formidable dilemma: he cries, “Mother, mother, carry me on your back!”

Níbo lo forúkọ sí tí ò ńjẹ́ Làm̀bòròkí?

Where did you discard all other names and picked for yourself the name Làm̀bòròkí?

Nígbàtí à ńto ọkà a ò to ti ẹmọ́ si.

When we were stacking the corn we did not stack some for the brown rat.

Nígbàtí o mọ̀-ọ́ gùn, ẹṣin ẹ-ẹ́ ṣe ṣẹ́ orókún?

Since you claim to be a seasoned rider, how come your horse has gone lame?

Nígbàwo làpò ẹkùn-ún di ìkálá fọ́mọdé?

Since when did a tiger-hide sac become a thing a child uses to harvest okro?

Gànràn-gànràn ò yẹ ẹni a bí ire.

Unrestrained and thoughtless behavior does not befit a well-born person.

San là ńrìn; ajé ní ḿmúni pá kọ̀rọ̀.

Straight and upright is the way one would walk; it is money that forces one to sneak about.

Sesere ńdá gọ́ọ́bú; oníkamẹ́sàn-án ńgbé ṣíbí.

The insignificant thing is attempting an earth-shaking feat; the person with only nine fingers is lifting a spoon.

Sún mọ ọ̀hún, sún mọ́ ìhín! Bí a bá kan ògiri ilé-e baba ẹni, ṣe là ńdúró gbọin-gbọin.

Move away, move over here! When one moves until one is against the walls of one's father's house, one stands steadfast.

Ọbẹ̀ kì í gbé inú àgbà mì.

A stew does not slush around once inside an elder.

Ọ̀bún ríkú ọkọ tìrànmọ́; ó ní ọjọ́ tí ọkọ òún ti kú òun ò fi omi kan ara.

The filthy person takes advantage of her husband's death for blame; she says since her husband died she has not violated her person with water.

Ọ̀gà-ǹ-gà lọmọ-ọ̀ mi ńjẹ́, ẹ má pe ọmọ-ọ̀ mi ní Ògò-ǹ-gò mọ́! Èwo lorúkọ rere níbẹ̀?

My child's name is Ọ̀gàǹgà; don't you call my child Ògòǹgò any more! Which of the two is a good name.

Ọ̀gẹ̀gẹ́ ò lẹ́wà; lásán ló fara wéṣu.

The poisonous cassava has no attraction; it resembles a yam only in vain.

Ọjọ́ àgbà-á kú sàn ju ọjọ́ àgbà-á tẹ́.

The day an elder dies is far better than the day an elder is disgraced.

Ọjọ́ kan là ḿbàjẹ́, ọjọ́ gbogbo lara ńtini.

Only one day brings disgrace to a person; the shame is felt every day.

Ọjọ́ kan ṣoṣo là ńtẹ́; ojoojúmọ́ lojú ńtini.

It takes one day only for one to disgrace oneself; the shame is a daily affair.

Ọjọ́ tí alákàn-án ti ńṣepo, kò kún orùbà.

In all the days the crab has been making oil, it has not filled a pot.

“Ọjọ́ tí mo ti ḿbọ̀ ng ò rírú ẹ̀ rí”: olúwa ẹ̀-ẹ́ mọ ìwọ̀n ara ẹ̀ ni.

“In all the days I have walked this earth I have never seen the like”: that person knows his place.

Ọ̀kánjúwà àgbà ní ńsọ ara ẹ̀ dèwe.

It is an avaricious elder that turns himself into a child.

Ọ̀kánjúwà alágbaà ní ńgarùn wo eégún.

It is an insatiable chief of the masqueraders cult that stands on tiptoes to watch a performing masquerader.

Ọkùnrin kì í ké, akọ igi kì í ṣoje.

A man does not cry; hardwood does not ooze sap.

Ọlọgbọ́n kan ò ta kókó omi sáṣọ; ọ̀mọ̀ràn kan ò mọ oye erùpẹ̀ ilẹ̀.

No wise man ever ties water in a knot in his cloth; no knowledgeable person can tell the number of grains of sand on the earth.

Ọlọgbọ́n ò tẹ ara ẹ̀ nÍfá; ọ̀mọ̀ràn ò fi ara ẹ̀ joyè; abẹ tó mú ò lè gbẹ́ èkù ara ẹ̀.

The wise person does not consult the Ifá oracle for himself; the knowledgeable person does not install himself a chief; the sharp knife does not carve its own handle.

Ọmọ àì-jọbẹ̀-rí tí ńja epo sáyà.

A child new to eating stews: he shows himself by dripping palm-oil on his chest.

Ọmọ onílẹ̀ á tẹ̀ ẹ́ jẹ́jẹ́.

The owner of the earth treads gently on it.

Ọmọ ọba Ọ̀nà Ìṣokùn ńfi ehín gé ejò, ọmọ ọba kan-án ní òun kì í jẹ ẹ́; ìlú wo lọmọ ọba náà-á ti wá?

The prince of Ọ̀na Ìṣokùn is sharing out snake meat with his teeth, and another prince says he does not eat such a thing; where did that prince come from?

Ọmọdé dáwọ́tilẹ̀, ó ní òún tó ọ̀bọ; bó tó ọ̀bọ, ó tó gẹ̀gẹ̀ àyàa ẹ̀?

A child rests his hand on the earth and claims it is as big as a monkey “read chimpanzee”; even if the child is as big as a monkey, is its chest as big as the monkey's?

Ọmọdé ní ẹẹ́ta lọ́wọ́, ó ní kí Èṣù wá ká ṣeré owó; ẹẹ́ta-á ha tó Èṣùú sú epo lá?

A child has three cowries in hand and challenges Èṣù to a game played for money; will three solitary cowries suffice for Èṣù to purchase palm-oil to lick?

Ọ̀mùtí gbàgbé ìṣẹ́, alákọrí gbàgbé ọ̀la.

The drunkard ignores his misery; the ill-fated person forgets tomorrow.

Ọ̀nà ọ̀fun ò gba egungun ẹja.

The throat cannot accommodate fish-bone.

Ọ̀ràn ò dun ọmọ ẹṣin; a mú ìyá ẹ̀ so, ó ńjẹ oko kiri.

Problems make hardly any impression on the foal of a horse; its mother is tied down but it grazes nonchalantly about.

Ọ̀rọ̀ bọ̀tí-bọ̀tí ò yẹ àgbàlagbà.

Speech like drunken babble does not befit a venerable person.

Ọ̀rọ̀ ò dùn lẹ́nu ìyá olè.

Speech is not pleasant in the mouth of the mother of a thief.

Ọ̀rọ̀ wo ló wà lẹ́nu alaṣọ pípọ́n?

What sort of speech can there be in the mouth of the person whose clothes are brown from dirt?

Ọ̀sán pọ́n o ò ṣán ẹ̀kọ; oòrún kan àtàrí o ò jẹ àmàlà; àlejò-ó wà bà ọ ní ìyẹ̀tàrí oòrùn o ò rí ǹkan fún un; o ní “Njẹ́ ng ò níí tẹ́ lọ́wọ́ ẹ̀ báyìí”? O ò tíì tẹ́ lọ́wọ́ ara ẹ, ká tó ṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀ wá wípé o ó tẹ̀ẹ́ lọ́wọ́ ẹlòmíràn tàbí o ò níí tẹ́?

The sun rises and you do not eat corn meal; the sun moves directly overhead and you do not eat yam-flour meal; a visitor arrives for you when the sun is just past the overhead position and you have nothing to entertain him with; and you ask, “Am I not in danger of being disgraced in his eyes”? Aren't you already disgraced in your own eyes? Never mind whether you may be disgraced in others' eyes or not.

Ọ̀ṣìn ò lè mú àwòdì òkè; Bámidélé lọ̀ṣín lè mú.

The fish-eagle cannot catch the kite flying on high; it can only catch Bamidele.

Ọ̀ṣọ́ ọlọ́ṣọ̀ọ́ ò yẹni; ṣòkòtò àgbàbọ̀ ò yẹ́ ọmọ èèyàn.

One never looks good in other people's finery; borrowed trousers do not fit the borrower.

Ọwọ́ àìdilẹ̀ ní ńyọ koríko lójú àna ẹ̀.

Idle hands are the ones obliged to remove grass specks from their in-law's eyes.

Ọ̀wọ́n là ńra ògo, ọ̀pọ̀ là ńra ọ̀bùn, iyekíye là ńra ìmẹ́lẹ́.

Honor is always bought dear, filthiness cheap, and idleness at an indifferent price.

Ọ̀yájú-u baálé ní ńpàdé ìbòsí lọ́nà.

It is a reckless home owner who is met with alarms when he ventures outside.

Ìbàjẹ́ ọjọ́ kan ò tán bọ̀rọ̀.

The disgrace one incurs in one day does not disappear that soon.

Ibi tí a bá pè lórí, a kì í fi tẹlẹ̀.

Whatever one names as the head, one does not tread the floor with it.

Ibi tí a fi ara sí lara ńgbé.

Wherever one situates the body, there it inhabits.

Ibi tí a fi iyọ̀ sí ló ńṣomi sí.

Salt dampens only the place where it is placed.

Ibi tí a pè lórí ní ńhurun.

The part one names the head is the one that grows hair.

Ibi tí a ti mú ọ̀lẹ ò kúnná; ibi tí a ti mú alágbáraá tó oko-ó ro.

The place where a lazy person was apprehended bears no marks; the place where a powerful man was apprehended is broad enough to plant a farm.

Ibi tí a ti ńpìtàn ká tó jogún, ká mọ̀ pé ogún ibẹ̀ ò kanni.

Where one must recite genealogies in order to establish one's claim to inheritance, one should know that one really has no claim to patrimony there.

Ibi tí ayé bá ẹni ni a ti ńjẹ ẹ̀.

Where life catches up with one, there one lives it.

Ìbọ́n dídá olówó ló ní kíwọ̀fà rín rín rín kó sọ àdá nù.

It is the master's engaging in silly antics that affords the pawn the opportunity to laugh so hard that he tosses his cutlass away.

Idà ahun la fi ńpa ahun.

It is with its own sword that one kills the tortoise.

Idà ńwó ilé ara ẹ̀ ó ní òún ḿba àkọ̀ jẹ́.

The sword is destroying its own home, and it says it is ruining the scabbard.

Ìdí méjèèjìí tó olúwa rẹ̀-ẹ́ jókòó.

The two buttocks are sufficient for their owner to sit on.

Igúnnugún bà lé òrùlé; ojú tó ilé ó tó oko.

The vulture perches on the roof; its eyes see the homestead as well as the farm.

Ìgbà tí ṣìgìdìí bá fẹ́ ṣe eré ẹ̀tẹ́ a ní kí wọ́n gbé òun sójò.

When the clay statue hankers for disgrace it asks to be placed in the rain.

Ìgbà wo ni Mákùú ò níí kú? Mákùú ò mọ awo ó ḿbú ọpa; Mákùú ò mọ ìwẹ̀ ó ḿbọ́ sódò.

When will (or how can) Maku avoid the danger of dying? Maku does not know the mysteries of the cult yet he joins in its vows; Maku does not know how to swim and yet he jumps into the river.