Postproverbials in Yoruba (Nigeria)

Curator(s)

Prof. Aderemi Raji-Oyelade

University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Postproverbial: Àgbò tó tà’dí m’ẹ́yìn, ó fẹ́ lọ ṣubú sí gọ́tà ni.
Translation: The ram that charges backward, prepares to fall in the ditch.
Proverb: Àgbò tó tà’dí m’ẹ́yìn, agbára ló lọ mú wá.
Translation: The ram that charges backward, readies itself for another onslaught.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
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Postproverbial: Olè tó gbé kàkàkí Ọba, olórí olè ni.
Translation: The thief that stole the king’s trumpet, is the master of thieves.
Proverb: Olè tó gbé kàkàkí Ọba, níbo ni yó ti fọ́n?
Translation: The thief that stole the king’s trumpet, where would he blow it?
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
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Postproverbial: Èké d’áyé, áásà d’Ápòmù.
Translation: Deceit becomes the world, dry tobacco reaches Apomu town.
Proverb: Èké d’áyé, áásà d’àpòmu.
Translation: Deceit becomes the world, dry tobacco becomes the drinker’s concoction.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
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Postproverbial: Ọmọ tó ní ìyá òun kò ní sùn, à á fún un ní “Valium”.
Translation: A child who will not allow his mother to rest should be administered with valium.
Proverb: Ọmọ tó ní ìyá òun kò ní sùn, òun náà kò ní fi ojú kan oorun.
Translation: A child who will not allow his mother to rest will himself stay awake.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
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Postproverbial: Ọmọ tó ní ìyá òun kò ní sùn, orun ni kò kùn ún.
Translation: A child who will not allow his mother to rest must be insomniac.
Proverb: Ọmọ tó ní ìyá òun kò ní sùn, òun náà kò ní fi ojú kan oorun.
Translation: A child who will not allow his mother to rest will himself stay awake.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
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Postproverbial: Òkèlè àkọ́bù, ń máa ń gbóná gan an.
Translation: The first bolus of a meal, is usually steamy hot.
Proverb: Òkèlè àkọ́bù, kìí r’áùn ọbẹ̀.
Translation: The first bolus of a meal, does not lack the full recompense of stew.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
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Postproverbial: Òkèlè àkọ́bù,ní í sọ̀gangan ilé ìmí
Translation: The first bolus of a meal goes straight to the anus.
Proverb: Òkèlè àkọ́bù, kìí r’áùn ọbẹ̀.
Translation: The first bolus of a meal, does not lack the full recompense of stew.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
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Postproverbial: Tí a bá fi ọwọ́ ọ̀tún b’ọ́mọ wí, a fi t’òsì gbá a l’ójú.
Translation: When we admonish the child with the right hand, we must slap him with the left.
Proverb: Tí a bá fi ọwọ́ ọ̀tún b’ọ́mọ wí, a fi t’òsì fà á mọ́ra
Translation: When we admonish the child with the right hand, we must embrace him with the left.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
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Postproverbial: Sàn-án là á rìn, bí a bá m’ọ̀nà.
Translation: Life’s journey requires forthrightness; if we know the route.
Proverb: Sàn-án là á rìn, ajé ní í mú ni pẹkọrọ.
Translation: Life’s journey requires forthrightness; it is the race for riches that causes crookedness.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
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Postproverbial: Òwú ìyá gbọ̀n, yóó fi hun’ṣọ ni.
Translation: The wool that mother makes out of the cotton, is what she will weave herself.
Proverb: Òwú ìyá gbọ̀n, lọmọ ó ran an.
Translation: The wool that mother makes out of the cotton, is what her child will sew.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
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