Common Yoruba proverbs and figurative idioms with their meanings explained, for an upper-level learner. Front: the Yoruba idiom. Back: English meaning and usage note.
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- Ìwà l'ẹwà
- "Character is beauty." Good character matters more than physical looks.
- Àgbájọ ọwọ́ la fi n sọ̀yà
- "It is a clenched fist that we use to beat the chest." Unity gives strength.
- Sùúrù ni bàbá ìwà
- "Patience is the father of character." Patience is essential to good conduct.
- Ọwọ́ ọmọdé kò tó pẹpẹ, ti àgbà kò wọ abọ̀
- "A child's hand can't reach the shelf, an elder's hand can't fit the small bowl." The young and old need each other.
- Bí ọmọdé bá ṣubú a wo iwájú, bí àgbà bá ṣubú a wo ẹ̀yìn
- "When a child falls it looks ahead, when an elder falls it looks back." The young look to the future, elders reflect on causes.
- Òwe l'ẹṣin ọ̀rọ̀
- "Proverbs are the horses of speech." A well-chosen proverb carries a message swiftly.
- Ọwọ́ ọ̀tún wẹ ti òsì, tí òsì wẹ ti ọ̀tún
- "The right hand washes the left, and the left washes the right." People must help each other in turn.
- Ọgbọ́n ju agbára lọ
- "Wisdom exceeds strength." Cleverness achieves more than brute force.
- Àjọ jẹ àjọ mu kò burú
- "Eating and drinking together is not bad." Sharing and community life bring good things.
- Bí ó tilẹ̀ pẹ́ tó, ọjọ́ á mọ́
- "No matter how long the night, day will break." Hard times always come to an end.
- Inú mi dùn
- Literally "my inside is sweet." Idiom for "I am happy."
- Inú bí mi
- Literally "my inside got angry." Idiom for "I am angry."
- Ojú tì mí
- Literally "my face closed." Idiom for "I am ashamed, embarrassed."
- Ẹnu yà mí
- Literally "my mouth opened." Idiom for "I am amazed, surprised."
- Ara mi balẹ̀
- Literally "my body has settled." Idiom for "I feel calm, at peace."
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