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

yoruba stringlengths 10 249	english stringlengths 1 405
Àgbà kì í fàárọ̀ họ ìdí kó má kan funfun.	A grown person does not scratch his buttocks in the early morning without showing some whiteness.
Àgbà kì í ṣerée kí-ló-bá-yìí-wá?	An elderly person does not engage in the type of play that provokes the comment, “What brought all this about?”
Àgbà kì í ṣorò bí èwe.	An elderly person does not perform rituals like a youth.
Àgbà kì í wà lọ́jà kórí ọmọ titun wọ́.	An elder is not present at a market and permit a child's head to rest askew.
Àgbá òfìfo ní ńpariwo; àpò tó kún fówó kì í dún.	It is an empty barrel that is noisy; a sack full of money makes no sound.
Àgbà tí kò lẹ́sẹ̀ nílẹ̀ a lọ́gbọ́n nínú.	An elder that has no substance should have cunning.
Àgbà tí kò mọ ìwọ̀n ara-a rẹ̀ lodò ńgbé lọ́.	It is an elder who does not know his limitations that is washed away by a river.
Àgbà tí kò nítìjú, ojú kan ni ìbá ní; ojú kan náà a wà lọ́gangan iwájú-u rẹ̀.	An elder without self-respect might as well have only one eye, that one eye being in the center of his forehead.
Àgbà tí yó tẹ̀ẹ́, bó fárí tán, a ní ó ku járá ẹnu.	An elder courting disgrace, after his head has been shaved he says, “Now, how about shaving the beard (as a gratuity)?”
Àgbà tó bú ọmọdé fi èébú-u rẹ̀ tọrọ.	An elder who insults a youth makes a present of his own insult.
Àgbà tó fi ara-a rẹ̀ féwe lèwe ḿbú.	It is an elder who delivers himself unto youths that the youth will insult.
Àgbà tó mọ ìtìjú kì í folè ṣeré.	An elder who is wary of disgrace will not play at stealing.
Àgbà tó torí ogójì wọ ìyẹ̀wù; igbawó ò tó ohun à-mú-ṣèyẹ.	The elder who escapes into his inner chamber because of forty cowries: two hundred cowries are not enough for casual spending.
À-gbàbọ̀-ọ ṣòkòtò, bí kò fúnni lẹ́sẹ̀ a ṣoni; rẹ́múrẹ́mú ni ohun ẹni ḿbani mu.	Borrowed trousers: if they are not too tight around the legs, they will be too loose; one's own things fit one exactly.
Àgbààgbà ìlú ò lè péjọ kí wọn ó jẹ ìfun òkété, àfi iyán àná.	The elders of the town will not assemble and eat the intestines of a bush-rat, only stale pounded yams.
Àgbà-ìyà tí ńmùkọ ọ̀níní, ó ní nítorí omi gbígbóná orí-i rẹ̀ ni.	Worthless elderly person who is eating corn gruel worth one tenth of a penny, he says he only wants the hot water on top of it.
Àgbàlagbà akàn tó kó sí garawa yègèdè, ojú tì í.	The elderly crab that enters into a bucket; it is thoroughly disgraced.
Àgbàlagbà kì í ṣe lágbalàgba.	An elder should not behave in an unbecoming manner.
Àgbàlagbà kì í wẹwọ́ tán kó ní òun ó jẹ si.	An elder does not wash his hand and then decide to eat more.
Àgbàlagbà kì í yọ ayọ̀-ọ kí-ló-báyìí-wá?	An elder does not rejoice in a manner that would provoke, “What brought all this about?”
Àgbàlagbà tí ò kí Ààrẹ ńfi okùn sin ara-a rẹ̀.	An elder who does not greet the Ààrẹ tries a “hanging” rope for size.
Àgbàlagbà tó ńgun ọ̀pẹ, bó bá já lulẹ̀ ó dọ̀run.	An elder who climbs palm-trees: if he crashes from the tree he will find himself in heaven.
Àgbàlagbà tó wẹ̀wù àṣejù, ẹ̀tẹ́ ni yó fi rí.	An elder who wears the garment of immoderation will find disgrace because of it.
Àgbàrá ba ọ̀nà jẹ́, ó rò pé òún tún ọ̀nà ṣe.	The rain flood ruins the path believing that it is repairing it.
Agbára wo ló wà lọ́wọ́ igbá tó fẹ́ fi gbọ́n omi òkun?	What strength does the calabash have at its disposal that makes it attempt to scoop up all the water in the ocean?
Àgbéré àwòdì ní ńní òun ó jẹ ìgbín.	It is an overreaching kite that proposes to eat snails.
Àgbéré laáyán gbé tó ní òun ó jòó láàárín adìẹ.	The cockroach overreaches itself when it says it will dance in the company of chickens.
Àgbéré lẹyẹ ńgbé; kò lè mu omi inú àgbọn	The bird only attempts the impossible; it cannot drink the milk in a coconut.
Àgbéré-e ṣìgìdì tó ní ká gbé òun sójò; bí apá ti ńya nitan ńya; kidiri orí ò lè dá dúró.	The overreaching mud idol that asked to be put in the rain; as the arms fell off, so did the thighs; the rounded head could not support itself.
Ahọ́n ni ìpínnlẹ̀ ẹnu.	The tongue is the border of the mouth.
Àì-jọnilójú lọ́sàn-án ní ḿmúni jarunpá luni lóru.	Lack of regard for a person during the day makes one kick the person during the night as one tosses restlessly in sleep.
Àì-kúkú-joye, ó sàn ju, “Ẹnuù mi ò ká ìlú” lọ.	Not-assuming-the-position-of-ruler-at-all is far better than, “My word is not heeded by the people.”
Àì-lápá làdá ò mú; bí a bá lápá, ọmọ owú to-o gégi.	It is a deficiency of biceps that blunts the machete; if one has strong biceps one can cut trees with a cudgel.
Àì-lè-jà ni à ńsọ pé “Ojúde baba-à mi ò dé ìhín.”	It is inability to fight that prompts one to say, “My father's front yard does not extend this far.”
Àì-mọ̀-kan, àì-mọ̀-kàn ní ḿmú èkúté-ilé pe ológbò níjà.	It is severe ignorance that prompts a mouse to challenge a cat to a fight.
Àìsí èèyàn lóko là ḿbá ajá sọ̀rọ̀.	It is the absence of people on the farm that brings one to conversing with a dog.
Àìsí-ńlé ẹkùn, ajá ńgbó.	The leopard being away from home, the dog barks.
Àìsí-ńlé ológbò, ilé dilé èkúté.	The cat being away from home, the house becomes a domain for mice.
Àìso àbà ló mẹ́yẹ wá jẹ̀gbá; ẹyẹ kì í jẹ̀gbá.	The failure of the àbà tree to fruit brought the bird to eating garden egg; ordinarily birds would not eat bitter tomato.
Ajá kì í gbó níbojì ẹkùn.	A dog does not bark in the leopard's lair.
Ajá kì í lọ ságinjù lọ ṣọdẹ ẹkùn.	A dog does not go into the wild to hunt a leopard.
Ajá kì í rorò kó ṣọ́ ojúlé méjì.	A dog is never so fierce that it can guard two doorways.
Ajá mọ ìgbẹ́; ẹlẹ́dẹ̀-ẹ́ mọ àfọ̀; tòlótòló mọ ẹni tí yó yìnbọn ìdí sí.	A dog knows excrement; a pig knows a mud pit; a turkey knows to whom to direct its fart.
Ajá ò gbọdọ̀ dé mọ́ṣáláṣí ìkókò ṣàlùwàlá.	A dog dares not go to a wolf's mosque to make ablutions.
Ajá rí epo kò lá; ìyá-a rẹ̀ẹ́ ṣu ihá bí.?	The dog sees palm-oil but does not lick it; did its mother excrete palm-nut pericarp?
Ajá tó ńlépa ẹkùn, ìyọnu ló ńwá.	A dog that chases a leopard is seeking trouble.
Ajá tún padà sí èébì-i rẹ̀.	The dog returns to its vomit.
Àjàjà ṣoge àparò, abàyà kelú.	The uncharacteristically spruced up partridge swells its chest.
Àjànàkú ò tu lójú alájá; o-nígba-ajá ò gbọdọ̀ tọ́pa erin.	The elephant does not break and run at the sight of dogs; a person with two hundred dogs dares not stalk an elephant.
Àjàpá ní kò sí oun tó dà bí oun tí a mọ̀ ọ́ṣe; ó ní bí òún bá ju ẹyìn sẹ́nu, òun a tu èkùrọ́ sílẹ̀.	Tortoise says there is nothing quite like expertise in one's calling; it says if it puts a palm-fruit into its mouth, it spits out a palm-nut.
Àjàpá ní òun tí ìbá só ló sùn yí, bẹ́ẹ̀ni ẹní bá sùn kì í só.	Tortoise argues that it that might have farted is sound asleep, and, surely, those that sleep do not fart!
Àjàpá ńlọ sájò, wọ́n ní ìgbà wo ni yó dèé, ó ní ó dìgbàtí òún bá tẹ́.	Tortoise set out on a journey and it was asked when it would return; it replied that it would be after it had earned disgrace.
Àjátì àwọ̀n ní ńkọ́ òrofó lọ́gbọ́n.	It is a loosely hung net that teaches the fruit pigeon a lesson.
À-jẹ-ì-kúrò ní ńpa ẹmọ́n; à-jẹ-ì-kúrò ní ńpa àfè; à-jẹ-ì-kúrò ní ńpa máláàjú.	Feeding-without-leaving kills the Tullberg's rat; feeding-without-departing kills the spotted grass mouse; feeding-without-departing kills the máláàjú rat.
À-jẹ-pọ̀ ni tàdán.	Eating-until-vomiting is the trait of the bat.
À-jẹ-tán, à-jẹ-ì-mọra, ká fi ọwọ́ mẹ́wẹ̀ẹ̀wá jẹun ò yẹ ọmọ èèyàn.	Eating-absolutely-everything, eating-with-abandon, eating with all ten fingers is unworthy of human beings.
À-jókòó-àì-dìde, à-sọ̀rọ̀-àì-gbèsì, ká sinni títí ká má padà sílé, àì-sunwọ̀n ní ńgbẹ̀hìn-in rẹ̀.	Sitting-without-getting-up, speaking-without-waiting-for-responses, walking people on their way and not turning back, unpleasantness is what they breed.
Aaka ò gbé ọ̀dàn; igbó ní ńgbé.	The hedgehog does not live in the grassland, only in the forest.
Àkàtàm̀pò ò tó ìjà-á jà; ta ní tó mú igi wá kò ó lójú?	The bow cannot fight, but who dares confront it with a stick?
Àkíìjẹ́ mú òrìṣà níyì.	Refusal-to-acknowledge-salutations enhances the god's dignity.
Àkísà-á mọ ìwọ̀n ara-a rẹ̀, ó gbé párá jẹ́.	The rag knows its place; it remains quietly on the rafters.
Àkókó inú igbó ní àwọ́n lè gbẹ́ odó; ọ̀pọ̀lọ́ lódòó ní àwọ́n lè lọ́ ìlẹ̀kẹ̀; awúrebé ní àwọ́n lè hun aṣọ.	Woodpeckers in the forest say they can carve mortars, frogs in the stream say they can string beads, and awúrebe say they can weave cloth.
Akórira ò ní ǹkan; ọ̀dùn ò sunwọ̀ fún ṣòkòtò.	An overly squeamish person owns nothing; raffia cloth is no good for trousers.
Akú, nkò ní omitooro-o rẹ̀ ẹ́ lá; àìkú, nkò níí pè é rán níṣẹ́.	Dead, I will not eat its broth; alive, I will not send it on an errand.
Àkùkọ̀ adìẹ́ fi dídájí ṣàgbà; ó fi ṣíṣu-sílẹ̀ ṣèwe.	The rooster shows its maturity by its early rising; it shows its lack of maturity by defecating on the floor.
Aládàá lo làṣẹ àro.	It is the owner of the machete who exercises authority over mutual laborers.
Aláìnítìjú lọ kú sílé àna-a rẹ̀.	A shameless person goes to die in his relative-in-laws' house.
Alákòró kì í sá fógun.	A wearer of a battle-helmet does not flee from war.
Aláǹgbá kì í lérí àti pa ejò.	A lizard does not boast that it will kill a snake.
Aláàńtètè: ó jí ní kùtùkùtù ó ní òun ó dàá yànpọ̀n-yànpọ̀n sílẹ̀.	The cricket arises in the morning and vows to perform wonders.
Aláṣejù ajá ní ńlépa ẹkùn.	It is an overreaching dog that chases leopards.
Aláṣejù, baba ojo.	The immoderate person, greatest of cowards.
Aláṣejù ní ńgbẹ́bọ kọjá ìdí èṣù; a-gbé-sàráà-kọjá-a-mọ́ṣáláṣí.	It is an immoderate person who carries his offering past Èṣù's shrine; one-who-carries-his-alms-past-the-mosque.
Aláṣejù, pẹ̀rẹ̀ ní ńtẹ́; àṣéjù, baba àṣetẹ́.	The immoderate person easily finds disgrace; immoderation is the father of disgrace.
Aláṣejù tí ńpọkọ ní baba.	Overzealous wife that calls her husband “father.”
Aláṣọ àlà kì í jókòó sísọ̀ elépo.	A person dressed in white does not sit at the stall of a palm-oil seller.
Aláṣọ-kan kì í ná ànárẹ.	A person who has only one set of clothing does not bargain until he is wet.
Aláṣọ-kan kì í ṣeré òjò.	A person who has only one set of clothing does not play in the rain.
Alátiṣe ní ḿmọ àtiṣe ara-a rẹ̀.	The person who must settle his/her affair knows best how he/she plans to go about doing so.
Àlejò kì í lọ kó mú onílé dání.	The visitor does not take his/her leave and take the host along.
Àlejò kì í pìtàn ìlú fónílé.	The visitor does not recount the history of the town for the host.
Àlémú ò yẹ àgbà; àgbà kì í ṣe ohun àlémú.	To be pursued does not become an elder; an elder does not cause himself to be pursued.
A-lu-dùndún kì í dárin.	The dùndún player does not lead a song.
Àmọ̀tẹ́kùn-ún fara jọ ẹkùn, kò lè ṣe bí ẹkùn.	The àmọ̀tẹ́kùn looks like a leopard, but it cannot do what a leopard can do.
Amùrín ò sunwọ̀n, ó yí sáró.	The lizard is not good-looking to start with, and it slips into indigo dye.
Ànán-mánàán ẹtú jìnfìn; oní-mónìí ẹtú jìnfìn; ẹran mìíràn ò sí nígbó lẹ́hìn ẹtu?	Yesterday the antelope was caught in a pit-trap; today the antelope is caught in a pit-trap; is there no other animal in the forest besides the antelope?
Apá èkúté-ilé ò ká awùsá; kìkìi yíyíkiri ló mọ.	The mouse cannot get a grip on the awùsá nut; all it can do is roll it around.
Àpárá ńlá, ìjà ní ńdà.	Excessive ribbing unfailingly leads to a fight.
Àpárá ńlá ni iná ńdá; iná ò lè rí omi gbéṣe.	The fire is being most overbearing; there is nothing fire can do to water.
Àpárá ńlá nikán ńdá; ikán ò lè mu òkúta.	The termite is being most overbearing; a termite cannot eat a rock.
Àpọ́nlé ni “İyá-a Káà”; ìyá kan ò sí ní káà tí kò lórúkọ.	Calling a person “Mother of the Compound” is only a mark of respect; there is no mother in the compound who does not have a name.
Àpọ́nlé ni “Fọ́maàn”; ẹnìkan ò lè ṣe èèyàn mẹ́rin.	Calling a person a foreman is only a mark of respect; nobody can be four men.
Ara okó ní òún gbọ́ fínrín fínrín; ta ló sọ fun bí kò ṣe ará ile?	The bush dweller says he heard a rumour; who told him, if it was not a town dweller?
Ara-àìbalẹ̀, olórí àrùn.	Restlessness, father of all diseases.
À-rí-ì-gbọdọ̀-wí, baálé ilé ṣu sápẹ.	Something-seen-but-unmentionable, the man of the house shits in the sauce-pan.
Àrí-ì-gbọdọ̀-wí, baálé ilé yọkun lémú.	Something-seen-but-unmentionable, the man of the house walks around with mucus dripping from his nose.
Àrífín ilé ò jẹ́ ká jẹ òròmọ adìẹ.	Fear of losing face within one's home dissuades one from eating day-old chicks.
Arọ̀lẹ̀kẹ̀ ò rọ bàtà; gbẹ́dó-gbẹ́dó ò rọ ojúgun.	The bead maker cannot fashion a shoe; the mortar carver cannot manufacture a shinbone.
Àṣá kì í rà kádìẹ gbé kòkòrò dání.	When a kite hovers, a chicken does not hang on to an insect.
A-ṣe-bọ̀rọ̀kìnní-má-kìíyè-sábíyá, gbogbo abíyá dọ́ṣẹ.	He-who-lives-in-style-but-pays-no-attention-to-his-armpits, both armpits are taken over with foamy filth.

Àgbà kì í fàárọ̀ họ ìdí kó má kan funfun.

A grown person does not scratch his buttocks in the early morning without showing some whiteness.

Àgbà kì í ṣerée kí-ló-bá-yìí-wá?

An elderly person does not engage in the type of play that provokes the comment, “What brought all this about?”

Àgbà kì í ṣorò bí èwe.

An elderly person does not perform rituals like a youth.

Àgbà kì í wà lọ́jà kórí ọmọ titun wọ́.

An elder is not present at a market and permit a child's head to rest askew.

Àgbá òfìfo ní ńpariwo; àpò tó kún fówó kì í dún.

It is an empty barrel that is noisy; a sack full of money makes no sound.

Àgbà tí kò lẹ́sẹ̀ nílẹ̀ a lọ́gbọ́n nínú.

An elder that has no substance should have cunning.

Àgbà tí kò mọ ìwọ̀n ara-a rẹ̀ lodò ńgbé lọ́.

It is an elder who does not know his limitations that is washed away by a river.

Àgbà tí kò nítìjú, ojú kan ni ìbá ní; ojú kan náà a wà lọ́gangan iwájú-u rẹ̀.

An elder without self-respect might as well have only one eye, that one eye being in the center of his forehead.

Àgbà tí yó tẹ̀ẹ́, bó fárí tán, a ní ó ku járá ẹnu.

An elder courting disgrace, after his head has been shaved he says, “Now, how about shaving the beard (as a gratuity)?”

Àgbà tó bú ọmọdé fi èébú-u rẹ̀ tọrọ.

An elder who insults a youth makes a present of his own insult.

Àgbà tó fi ara-a rẹ̀ féwe lèwe ḿbú.

It is an elder who delivers himself unto youths that the youth will insult.

Àgbà tó mọ ìtìjú kì í folè ṣeré.

An elder who is wary of disgrace will not play at stealing.

Àgbà tó torí ogójì wọ ìyẹ̀wù; igbawó ò tó ohun à-mú-ṣèyẹ.

The elder who escapes into his inner chamber because of forty cowries: two hundred cowries are not enough for casual spending.

À-gbàbọ̀-ọ ṣòkòtò, bí kò fúnni lẹ́sẹ̀ a ṣoni; rẹ́múrẹ́mú ni ohun ẹni ḿbani mu.

Borrowed trousers: if they are not too tight around the legs, they will be too loose; one's own things fit one exactly.

Àgbààgbà ìlú ò lè péjọ kí wọn ó jẹ ìfun òkété, àfi iyán àná.

The elders of the town will not assemble and eat the intestines of a bush-rat, only stale pounded yams.

Àgbà-ìyà tí ńmùkọ ọ̀níní, ó ní nítorí omi gbígbóná orí-i rẹ̀ ni.

Worthless elderly person who is eating corn gruel worth one tenth of a penny, he says he only wants the hot water on top of it.

Àgbàlagbà akàn tó kó sí garawa yègèdè, ojú tì í.

The elderly crab that enters into a bucket; it is thoroughly disgraced.

Àgbàlagbà kì í ṣe lágbalàgba.

An elder should not behave in an unbecoming manner.

Àgbàlagbà kì í wẹwọ́ tán kó ní òun ó jẹ si.

An elder does not wash his hand and then decide to eat more.

Àgbàlagbà kì í yọ ayọ̀-ọ kí-ló-báyìí-wá?

An elder does not rejoice in a manner that would provoke, “What brought all this about?”

Àgbàlagbà tí ò kí Ààrẹ ńfi okùn sin ara-a rẹ̀.

An elder who does not greet the Ààrẹ tries a “hanging” rope for size.

Àgbàlagbà tó ńgun ọ̀pẹ, bó bá já lulẹ̀ ó dọ̀run.

An elder who climbs palm-trees: if he crashes from the tree he will find himself in heaven.

Àgbàlagbà tó wẹ̀wù àṣejù, ẹ̀tẹ́ ni yó fi rí.

An elder who wears the garment of immoderation will find disgrace because of it.

Àgbàrá ba ọ̀nà jẹ́, ó rò pé òún tún ọ̀nà ṣe.

The rain flood ruins the path believing that it is repairing it.

Agbára wo ló wà lọ́wọ́ igbá tó fẹ́ fi gbọ́n omi òkun?

What strength does the calabash have at its disposal that makes it attempt to scoop up all the water in the ocean?

Àgbéré àwòdì ní ńní òun ó jẹ ìgbín.

It is an overreaching kite that proposes to eat snails.

Àgbéré laáyán gbé tó ní òun ó jòó láàárín adìẹ.

The cockroach overreaches itself when it says it will dance in the company of chickens.

Àgbéré lẹyẹ ńgbé; kò lè mu omi inú àgbọn

The bird only attempts the impossible; it cannot drink the milk in a coconut.

Àgbéré-e ṣìgìdì tó ní ká gbé òun sójò; bí apá ti ńya nitan ńya; kidiri orí ò lè dá dúró.

The overreaching mud idol that asked to be put in the rain; as the arms fell off, so did the thighs; the rounded head could not support itself.

Ahọ́n ni ìpínnlẹ̀ ẹnu.

The tongue is the border of the mouth.

Àì-jọnilójú lọ́sàn-án ní ḿmúni jarunpá luni lóru.

Lack of regard for a person during the day makes one kick the person during the night as one tosses restlessly in sleep.

Àì-kúkú-joye, ó sàn ju, “Ẹnuù mi ò ká ìlú” lọ.

Not-assuming-the-position-of-ruler-at-all is far better than, “My word is not heeded by the people.”

Àì-lápá làdá ò mú; bí a bá lápá, ọmọ owú to-o gégi.

It is a deficiency of biceps that blunts the machete; if one has strong biceps one can cut trees with a cudgel.

Àì-lè-jà ni à ńsọ pé “Ojúde baba-à mi ò dé ìhín.”

It is inability to fight that prompts one to say, “My father's front yard does not extend this far.”

Àì-mọ̀-kan, àì-mọ̀-kàn ní ḿmú èkúté-ilé pe ológbò níjà.

It is severe ignorance that prompts a mouse to challenge a cat to a fight.

Àìsí èèyàn lóko là ḿbá ajá sọ̀rọ̀.

It is the absence of people on the farm that brings one to conversing with a dog.

Àìsí-ńlé ẹkùn, ajá ńgbó.

The leopard being away from home, the dog barks.

Àìsí-ńlé ológbò, ilé dilé èkúté.

The cat being away from home, the house becomes a domain for mice.

Àìso àbà ló mẹ́yẹ wá jẹ̀gbá; ẹyẹ kì í jẹ̀gbá.

The failure of the àbà tree to fruit brought the bird to eating garden egg; ordinarily birds would not eat bitter tomato.

Ajá kì í gbó níbojì ẹkùn.

A dog does not bark in the leopard's lair.

Ajá kì í lọ ságinjù lọ ṣọdẹ ẹkùn.

A dog does not go into the wild to hunt a leopard.

Ajá kì í rorò kó ṣọ́ ojúlé méjì.

A dog is never so fierce that it can guard two doorways.

Ajá mọ ìgbẹ́; ẹlẹ́dẹ̀-ẹ́ mọ àfọ̀; tòlótòló mọ ẹni tí yó yìnbọn ìdí sí.

A dog knows excrement; a pig knows a mud pit; a turkey knows to whom to direct its fart.

Ajá ò gbọdọ̀ dé mọ́ṣáláṣí ìkókò ṣàlùwàlá.

A dog dares not go to a wolf's mosque to make ablutions.

Ajá rí epo kò lá; ìyá-a rẹ̀ẹ́ ṣu ihá bí.?

The dog sees palm-oil but does not lick it; did its mother excrete palm-nut pericarp?

Ajá tó ńlépa ẹkùn, ìyọnu ló ńwá.

A dog that chases a leopard is seeking trouble.

Ajá tún padà sí èébì-i rẹ̀.

The dog returns to its vomit.

Àjàjà ṣoge àparò, abàyà kelú.

The uncharacteristically spruced up partridge swells its chest.

Àjànàkú ò tu lójú alájá; o-nígba-ajá ò gbọdọ̀ tọ́pa erin.

The elephant does not break and run at the sight of dogs; a person with two hundred dogs dares not stalk an elephant.

Àjàpá ní kò sí oun tó dà bí oun tí a mọ̀ ọ́ṣe; ó ní bí òún bá ju ẹyìn sẹ́nu, òun a tu èkùrọ́ sílẹ̀.

Tortoise says there is nothing quite like expertise in one's calling; it says if it puts a palm-fruit into its mouth, it spits out a palm-nut.

Àjàpá ní òun tí ìbá só ló sùn yí, bẹ́ẹ̀ni ẹní bá sùn kì í só.

Tortoise argues that it that might have farted is sound asleep, and, surely, those that sleep do not fart!

Àjàpá ńlọ sájò, wọ́n ní ìgbà wo ni yó dèé, ó ní ó dìgbàtí òún bá tẹ́.

Tortoise set out on a journey and it was asked when it would return; it replied that it would be after it had earned disgrace.

Àjátì àwọ̀n ní ńkọ́ òrofó lọ́gbọ́n.

It is a loosely hung net that teaches the fruit pigeon a lesson.

À-jẹ-ì-kúrò ní ńpa ẹmọ́n; à-jẹ-ì-kúrò ní ńpa àfè; à-jẹ-ì-kúrò ní ńpa máláàjú.

Feeding-without-leaving kills the Tullberg's rat; feeding-without-departing kills the spotted grass mouse; feeding-without-departing kills the máláàjú rat.

À-jẹ-pọ̀ ni tàdán.

Eating-until-vomiting is the trait of the bat.

À-jẹ-tán, à-jẹ-ì-mọra, ká fi ọwọ́ mẹ́wẹ̀ẹ̀wá jẹun ò yẹ ọmọ èèyàn.

Eating-absolutely-everything, eating-with-abandon, eating with all ten fingers is unworthy of human beings.

À-jókòó-àì-dìde, à-sọ̀rọ̀-àì-gbèsì, ká sinni títí ká má padà sílé, àì-sunwọ̀n ní ńgbẹ̀hìn-in rẹ̀.

Sitting-without-getting-up, speaking-without-waiting-for-responses, walking people on their way and not turning back, unpleasantness is what they breed.

Aaka ò gbé ọ̀dàn; igbó ní ńgbé.

The hedgehog does not live in the grassland, only in the forest.

Àkàtàm̀pò ò tó ìjà-á jà; ta ní tó mú igi wá kò ó lójú?

The bow cannot fight, but who dares confront it with a stick?

Àkíìjẹ́ mú òrìṣà níyì.

Refusal-to-acknowledge-salutations enhances the god's dignity.

Àkísà-á mọ ìwọ̀n ara-a rẹ̀, ó gbé párá jẹ́.

The rag knows its place; it remains quietly on the rafters.

Àkókó inú igbó ní àwọ́n lè gbẹ́ odó; ọ̀pọ̀lọ́ lódòó ní àwọ́n lè lọ́ ìlẹ̀kẹ̀; awúrebé ní àwọ́n lè hun aṣọ.

Woodpeckers in the forest say they can carve mortars, frogs in the stream say they can string beads, and awúrebe say they can weave cloth.

Akórira ò ní ǹkan; ọ̀dùn ò sunwọ̀ fún ṣòkòtò.

An overly squeamish person owns nothing; raffia cloth is no good for trousers.

Akú, nkò ní omitooro-o rẹ̀ ẹ́ lá; àìkú, nkò níí pè é rán níṣẹ́.

Dead, I will not eat its broth; alive, I will not send it on an errand.

Àkùkọ̀ adìẹ́ fi dídájí ṣàgbà; ó fi ṣíṣu-sílẹ̀ ṣèwe.

The rooster shows its maturity by its early rising; it shows its lack of maturity by defecating on the floor.

Aládàá lo làṣẹ àro.

It is the owner of the machete who exercises authority over mutual laborers.

Aláìnítìjú lọ kú sílé àna-a rẹ̀.

A shameless person goes to die in his relative-in-laws' house.

Alákòró kì í sá fógun.

A wearer of a battle-helmet does not flee from war.

Aláǹgbá kì í lérí àti pa ejò.

A lizard does not boast that it will kill a snake.

Aláàńtètè: ó jí ní kùtùkùtù ó ní òun ó dàá yànpọ̀n-yànpọ̀n sílẹ̀.

The cricket arises in the morning and vows to perform wonders.

Aláṣejù ajá ní ńlépa ẹkùn.

It is an overreaching dog that chases leopards.

Aláṣejù, baba ojo.

The immoderate person, greatest of cowards.

Aláṣejù ní ńgbẹ́bọ kọjá ìdí èṣù; a-gbé-sàráà-kọjá-a-mọ́ṣáláṣí.

It is an immoderate person who carries his offering past Èṣù's shrine; one-who-carries-his-alms-past-the-mosque.

Aláṣejù, pẹ̀rẹ̀ ní ńtẹ́; àṣéjù, baba àṣetẹ́.

The immoderate person easily finds disgrace; immoderation is the father of disgrace.

Aláṣejù tí ńpọkọ ní baba.

Overzealous wife that calls her husband “father.”

Aláṣọ àlà kì í jókòó sísọ̀ elépo.

A person dressed in white does not sit at the stall of a palm-oil seller.

Aláṣọ-kan kì í ná ànárẹ.

A person who has only one set of clothing does not bargain until he is wet.

Aláṣọ-kan kì í ṣeré òjò.

A person who has only one set of clothing does not play in the rain.

Alátiṣe ní ḿmọ àtiṣe ara-a rẹ̀.

The person who must settle his/her affair knows best how he/she plans to go about doing so.

Àlejò kì í lọ kó mú onílé dání.

The visitor does not take his/her leave and take the host along.

Àlejò kì í pìtàn ìlú fónílé.

The visitor does not recount the history of the town for the host.

Àlémú ò yẹ àgbà; àgbà kì í ṣe ohun àlémú.

To be pursued does not become an elder; an elder does not cause himself to be pursued.

A-lu-dùndún kì í dárin.

The dùndún player does not lead a song.

Àmọ̀tẹ́kùn-ún fara jọ ẹkùn, kò lè ṣe bí ẹkùn.

The àmọ̀tẹ́kùn looks like a leopard, but it cannot do what a leopard can do.

Amùrín ò sunwọ̀n, ó yí sáró.

The lizard is not good-looking to start with, and it slips into indigo dye.

Ànán-mánàán ẹtú jìnfìn; oní-mónìí ẹtú jìnfìn; ẹran mìíràn ò sí nígbó lẹ́hìn ẹtu?

Yesterday the antelope was caught in a pit-trap; today the antelope is caught in a pit-trap; is there no other animal in the forest besides the antelope?

Apá èkúté-ilé ò ká awùsá; kìkìi yíyíkiri ló mọ.

The mouse cannot get a grip on the awùsá nut; all it can do is roll it around.

Àpárá ńlá, ìjà ní ńdà.

Excessive ribbing unfailingly leads to a fight.

Àpárá ńlá ni iná ńdá; iná ò lè rí omi gbéṣe.

The fire is being most overbearing; there is nothing fire can do to water.

Àpárá ńlá nikán ńdá; ikán ò lè mu òkúta.

The termite is being most overbearing; a termite cannot eat a rock.

Àpọ́nlé ni “İyá-a Káà”; ìyá kan ò sí ní káà tí kò lórúkọ.

Calling a person “Mother of the Compound” is only a mark of respect; there is no mother in the compound who does not have a name.

Àpọ́nlé ni “Fọ́maàn”; ẹnìkan ò lè ṣe èèyàn mẹ́rin.

Calling a person a foreman is only a mark of respect; nobody can be four men.

Ara okó ní òún gbọ́ fínrín fínrín; ta ló sọ fun bí kò ṣe ará ile?

The bush dweller says he heard a rumour; who told him, if it was not a town dweller?

Ara-àìbalẹ̀, olórí àrùn.

Restlessness, father of all diseases.

À-rí-ì-gbọdọ̀-wí, baálé ilé ṣu sápẹ.

Something-seen-but-unmentionable, the man of the house shits in the sauce-pan.

Àrí-ì-gbọdọ̀-wí, baálé ilé yọkun lémú.

Something-seen-but-unmentionable, the man of the house walks around with mucus dripping from his nose.

Àrífín ilé ò jẹ́ ká jẹ òròmọ adìẹ.

Fear of losing face within one's home dissuades one from eating day-old chicks.

Arọ̀lẹ̀kẹ̀ ò rọ bàtà; gbẹ́dó-gbẹ́dó ò rọ ojúgun.

The bead maker cannot fashion a shoe; the mortar carver cannot manufacture a shinbone.

Àṣá kì í rà kádìẹ gbé kòkòrò dání.

When a kite hovers, a chicken does not hang on to an insect.

A-ṣe-bọ̀rọ̀kìnní-má-kìíyè-sábíyá, gbogbo abíyá dọ́ṣẹ.

He-who-lives-in-style-but-pays-no-attention-to-his-armpits, both armpits are taken over with foamy filth.