Postproverbials in Yoruba (Nigeria)

Curator(s)

Prof. Aderemi Raji-Oyelade

remraj1@gmail.com

University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Postproverbial: Kò sí ẹni tí kìí rẹ̀, àyàfi Ọlọ́run.
Translation: There is no one who is never exhausted, except God.
Proverb: Kò sí ẹni tí kìí rẹ̀.
Translation: There is no one who is never exhausted.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
Read more
Postproverbial: K’ójú má ríbi, gbogbo ara loògùn rẹ̀.
Translation: That the eyes may not witness calamity, the whole body is its solution.
Proverb: K’ójú má ríbi, ẹsẹ̀ loògùn un rẹ̀.
Translation: That the eyes may not witness calamity, the leg is its solution.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
Read more
Postproverbial: Ìyàwó ọlẹ là á gbà, a kìí gba ìyàwó alágbára.
Translation: It is only the wife of the lazy man that can be taken, no one can claim the wife of a powerful man.
Proverb: Ìyàwó ọlẹ là á gbà, kò sẹ́ni tó lè gba ọmọ ọlẹ.
Translation: It is only the wife of the lazy man that can be taken, no one can claim the child of the lazy man.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
Read more
Postproverbial: Ìyàwó ọlẹ là á gbà, tó bá wuni.
Translation: It is (only) the wife of the lazy man that can be taken, if one fancies her.
Proverb: Ìyàwó ọlẹ là á gbà, kò sẹ́ni tó lè gba ọmọ ọlẹ.
Translation: It is only the wife of the lazy man that can be taken, no one can claim the child of the lazy man.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
Read more
Postproverbial: Ẹwà n’ìwà lọ́dọ̀ t’èmi.
Translation: Beauty is character to me.
Proverb: Ìwà l’ẹwà lọ́dọ̀ t’èmi.
Translation: Character is beauty to me.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
Read more
Postproverbial: Irà á pé, ìranù ni kò suwọ̀n; tí í mú arúgbó wọ lẹ̀ggínsì.
Translation: Vanity may pay, vagabondage is not proper; such that makes an old woman wear leggings.
Proverb: Ìrà á pé, ìranù ni kò suwọ̀n.
Translation: Vanity may pay, vagabondage is not proper
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
Read more
Postproverbial: Ilé Ọba tó jó, wọ́n da “pẹtiróòlù” sí i ni.
Translation: The palace that is burnt must have been doused with petrol.
Proverb: Ilé Ọba tó jó, ẹwà ló bù kún un.
Translation: The palace that is burnt will make a more magnificent edifice.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
Read more
Postproverbial: Ile oba to jo, aini fire extinguisher lo fa.
Translation: The palace that is burnt must have been caused for lack of fire extinguisher.
Proverb: Ilé Ọba tó jó, ẹwà ló bù kún un.
Translation: The palace that is burnt will make a more magnificent edifice.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
Read more
Postproverbial: Igi gogoro má gún mi lójú, ma yáa dọ́ọ̀jì rẹ̀.
Translation: So that I may not be blinded by the tall, pointed tree, I will dodge it.
Proverb: Igi gogoro má gún mi lójú, àtòkèrè latí n wòó.
Translation: So that we may not be blinded by the tall, pointed tree, one must watch it from afar.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
Read more
Postproverbial: Ibi góńgó ni a ti ń mú ọ̀ọ̀lẹ̀ jẹ.
Translation: It is from the apex that one eats a beans pudding.
Proverb: Ibi pẹlẹbẹ ni a ti ń mú ọ̀ọ̀lẹ̀ jẹ.
Translation: It is from the base that one eats a beans pudding.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
Read more