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
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"Character is beauty." Good character matters more than physical looks.- Àgbájọ ọwọ́ la fi n sọ̀yà
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"It is a clenched fist that we use to beat the chest." Unity gives strength.- Sùúrù ni bàbá ìwà
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"Patience is the father of character." Patience is essential to good conduct.- Ọwọ́ ọmọdé kò tó pẹpẹ, ti àgbà kò wọ abọ̀
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"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
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"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
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"Proverbs are the horses of speech." A well-chosen proverb carries a message swiftly.- Ọwọ́ ọ̀tún wẹ ti òsì, tí òsì wẹ ti ọ̀tún
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"The right hand washes the left, and the left washes the right." People must help each other in turn.- Ọgbọ́n ju agbára lọ
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"Wisdom exceeds strength." Cleverness achieves more than brute force.- Àjọ jẹ àjọ mu kò burú
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"Eating and drinking together is not bad." Sharing and community life bring good things.- Bí ó tilẹ̀ pẹ́ tó, ọjọ́ á mọ́
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"No matter how long the night, day will break." Hard times always come to an end.- Inú mi dùn
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Literally "my inside is sweet." Idiom for "I am happy."- Inú bí mi
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Literally "my inside got angry." Idiom for "I am angry."- Ojú tì mí
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Literally "my face closed." Idiom for "I am ashamed, embarrassed."- Ẹnu yà mí
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Literally "my mouth opened." Idiom for "I am amazed, surprised."- Ara mi balẹ̀
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Literally "my body has settled." Idiom for "I feel calm, at peace."
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