Postproverbials in Yoruba (Nigeria)

Curator(s)

Prof. Aderemi Raji-Oyelade

remraj1@gmail.com

University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Postproverbial: Bí wọ́n bá ń tàn mí, mi o nì tan àbẹ́là.
Translation: Should people deceive me, I won’t light a candle.
Proverb: Bí wọ́n bá ń tàn mí, mi ò ní tan ara mi.
Translation: Should people deceive me, I won’t deceive myself.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
Read more
Postproverbial: Bí òkété bá dàgbà tán, ó ti tó yí láta.
Translation: Once a rodent gets old, it’s good enough to roast as food.
Proverb: Bí òkété bá dàgbà tán, omú ọmọ rẹ̀ ní í mu.
Translation: Once a rodent gets old, it sucks its child’s breasts.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
Read more
Postproverbial: Bí òkété bá dàgbà tán, kíkú ní í kú.
Translation: Once a rodent gets old, it dies.
Proverb: Bí òkété bá dàgbà tán, omú ọmọ rẹ̀ ní í mu.
Translation: Once a rodent gets old, it sucks its child’s breasts.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
Read more
Postproverbial: Bí òkété bá dàgbà tán, inú ihò rẹ ní í jòkóó sí.
Translation: Once a rodent gets old, it stays in its hole.
Proverb: Bí òkété bá dàgbà tán, omú ọmọ rẹ̀ ní í mu.
Translation: Once a rodent gets old, it sucks its child’s breasts.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
Read more
Postproverbial: : Bí òkété bá dàgbà tán, èkùrọ́ tó ti tọ́jú ní í máa jẹ
Translation: Once a rodent is old, it eats its own reserved palm kernels.
Proverb: Bí òkété bá dàgbà tán, omú ọmọ rẹ̀ ní í mu.
Translation: Once a rodent gets old, it sucks its child’s breasts.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
Read more
Postproverbial: Bí òkété bá dàgbà tán, á d’arúgbó.
Translation: Once a rodent is old, it grows older.
Proverb: Bí òkété bá dàgbà tán, omú ọmọ rẹ̀ ní í mu.
Translation: Once a rodent gets old, it sucks its child’s breasts.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
Read more
Postproverbial: Bí olóko bá jágbọ́n ẹsẹ̀ bíbù, olè a sì wọ bàtà.
Translation: If the farmer learns how to find the footprints of the thief, the thief thus goes by footwear.
Proverb: Bí olóko bá jágbọ́n ẹsẹ̀ bíbù, olè a sì bá inú omi lọ.
Translation: If the farmer learns how to find the footprints of the thief, the thief makes escape through the swamp.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
Read more
Postproverbial: Bí ènìyàn kò bá ṣubú, aṣọ rẹ̀ kò ní dọ̀tí.
Translation: If a person does not stumble, his/her dress will not be soiled.
Proverb: Bí ènìyàn kò bá ṣubú, kò ní mọ ẹrù ú rù.
Translation: If a person does not stumble, she/he will not know how well to carry the load.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
Read more
Postproverbial: Bí Adìyẹ bá dàmí l’óògùn nù, màá pa á yányán.
Translation: If a fowl scatters and destroys my herbs, I will kill it outright.
Proverb: Bí Adìyẹ bá dàmí l’óògùn nù, màá fọ́ ọ l’ẹ́yin.
Translation: If a fowl scatters and destroys my herbs, I will break its eggs.
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
Read more
Postproverbial: Báwo l’ọ̀bọ ṣe s’orí tí ìnàkí ò ṣe? Ọ̀bo pá l’órí, ìnàkí náà pá ní ìdí.
Translation: What is the difference between the head of a monkey and the head of a gorilla? The monkey is bald in the head, and the gorilla is bald in the bottom.
Proverb: Báwo l’ọ̀bọ ṣe s’orí tí ìnàkí ò ṣe?
Translation: What is the difference between the head of a monkey and the head of a gorilla?
Language - Region: Yoruba (Nigeria)
Read more