List of major owe Yoruba, more than 50 Yoruba proverbs and meaning. Yoruba is hands-down one of the most populous ethnic groups in Nigeria. And this ethnic group not only happens to be a highly populous one, it’s also one of the major ethnic groups in the country. Wherever you go in Nigeria, you can’t ignore the Yoruba ethnic group, as well as their proverbs we’d be discussing in this article.

It’s a great privilege to a Yoruba man or woman. And if learning some of its proverbs, is what brought you here, you have come to the right place. In this article, we’d be providing 50 Yoruba proverbs. And not only shall we be providing them, we’d also be providing their interpretations. It is also worthwhile stating that the proverbs we’d be discussing in this article, are popular known proverbs. In other words, when you speak them to most Yorubas, they’d understand. So here we go with our list of owe Yoruba, 50 Yoruba proverbs and their meanings.

50+ Yoruba Proverbs And Their Meanings

  • 1. Kò sí ęni tí ó ma gùn ęşin tí kò ní ju ìpàkó. Bí kò fę ju ìpàkó, ęşin tí ó ngùn á ję kojū

    • Meaning: Your attitude towards your peers, is determined by your status in life.

  • 2. Bi Ēēgun nla ba ni ohùn o ri gontò, gontò na a ni ohùn o ri Ēēgun nla

    • Meaning: Less important men would not accord respect to a man who doesn’t respect them.

  • 3. A ti kekee e ti p’eitan u’oko i, do ba d’agba tan e i du ka ma

    • Meaning: To train a child successfully, training has to begin from a very young age.

  • 4. Uun yi agbalagba ri n’oiho joko, omoiton le ri un n’oiho uduo

    • Translation: An elderly person can always see things a younger person can’t.

  • 5. Uun yi wo ba a gbe oun wa ka i, we le gbe ila du o ka koko

    • Meaning: You reap what you sow.

  • 6. Gbogbo alangba lo d’anu dele, a ko mo eyi t’inu nrun

    • Meaning: Things may look the same from the outside, but you can’t tell what’s going on inside of them all.

  • 7. Igi so so o y’a a ghonen ‘ju, a to ke iye e ti ho i

    • Meaning: To be forewarned, is to be forearmed.

  • 8. Ubee eese l’use, onen yo gbe jake oun o se l’use i

    • Meaning: Anyone who perseveres to the end, would get rewarded

  • 9. Onen ma nen a’e do fi ghon n’onen, uya a a je pa i

    • Meaning: Anyone who chooses not to help themself, but depend on others, would suffer

  • 10. Iy’o wu mi e wue, oun e m’omaiye meji jeun ototo i

    • Meaning: Every human has a trait that makes them unique.

  • 11. Ohun pele, o yo obi n’ apo; ohun lile yo uda n’ako

    • Meaning: The tongue is a two-edged sword.

  • 12. Di l’ejo ba a ma ejo n’ebi e ni i pe n’oiho ukonle

    • Meaning: If you accept full responsibility, you have tried to tried to put things right, and you may be granted mercy.

  • 13. Di ulu be e don panen panen, a ka jo ni melo melo

    • Meaning: Stay away from doing things with serious consequences.

  • 14. D’iaye ba a s’oko s’oja, o le la a ba ia l’onen

    • Meaning: Stay away from doing things with serious consequences.

  • 15. Oiho buuk’ e ka koolo bi s’upekun da le da ma

    • Meaning: Appearance can be deceiving

  • 16. Oju ya a b’onen t’ale e e m’owuo kutu s’ipen

    • Meaning: It takes early planing and preparedness to succeed at a venture.

  • 17. Eewu bę loko Longę, Longę fun ara rę eewu ni

    • Meaning: You should be very careful, when it comes to things that have proven dangerous.

  • 18. Onen e n’oogun adoado ee gb’ ayinyan win

    • Meaning: You should avoid things that cause a negative impact on oneself.

  • 19. Aja e e j, ogungun ya gbe ko ghon o ‘on 

    • Meaning: Whatever is entrusted with someone, is expected to be taken good care of.

Owe Yoruba, Yoruba Proverbs And Meaning

  • 20. Agba ki wa loja, ki ori omo titun o wo 

    • Meaning: You have to behave maturely, to have bad reputation.

  • 21. Onen p’ aoko s’ oja oun oja p’ aoko si

    • Meaning: One who gives would also receive.

  • 22. Bí abá so òkò sójà ará ilé eni ní bá 

    • Meaning: Be careful of what you do to others, as things you do might also affect you.

  • 23. Omi yi iay’ a mon ee san gb’onen ee

    • Meaning: You’d inevitably achieve whatever you have been destined.

  • 24. O so si ko du ka, o wo si ko du see

    • Meaning: The problem seems unsolvable.

  • 25. À ń pe gbẹ́nàgbẹ́nà ẹyẹ àkókó ń yọjú 

    • Meaning: Avoid thinking too highly of yourself.

  • 26. Die e je ma n’aja o siwin ku i

    • Meaning: There should be some restraint, as thing should not be overdone.

  • 27. Díẹ̀ díẹ̀ nimú ẹlẹ́dẹ̀ẹ́ fi ń wọgbà

    • Meaning: Small problems should be treated before getting out of hands.

  • 28. Adìẹ funfun kò mọ ara rẹ̀lágbà 

    • Meaning: Respect yourself.

  • 29. A pę ko to jęun, ki ję ibaję 

    • Meaning: It pays to spend more time working a durable solution, than rushing to accept an inferior solution.

  • 30. Ile oba t’o jo, ewa lo busi 

    • Meaning: Adversity has its advantages.

  • 31. Ile la ti n ko eso re ode 

    • Meaning: One’s behaviour is a reflection of their background.

  • 32. Ilé ọba tójó ẹwà ló bùsi 

    • Meaning: Adversity has its advantages.

  • 33. Ọbẹ̀ kìí gbé inú àgbà mì 

    • Meaning: You should be capable of keeping secrets.

  • 34. Ijo je o we yon i 

    • Meaning: There’s a lot of joy in worked together.

  • 35. Se s’ale oun e je Seike i 

    • Meaning: Benevolence leaves a lasting impression.

  • 36. Aja e e gbagbe l’oiye owuo 

    • Meaning: It’s a good deed to show appreciation.

  • 37. Oj’ ole igbad’e gbo i 

    • Meaning: He who doesn’t work shouldn’t eat.

  • 38. Li suu e fon wa’a keneun i 

    • Meaning: Having patience can help carry out any task.

  • 39. Igbe ‘a ga o we s’ugwaju ipa’uun

    • Meaning: Pride goes before a fall.

  • 40. Ko omo e do le mu usimi ko e

    • Meaning: Train your child, to prevent them from giving your problem.

  • 41. Den a’a e n’awo yo gba e 

    • Meaning: Cut your coat according to your size.

  • 42. E e m’oiho Ade gwole

    • Meaning: A crowned person isn’t disrespected.

  • 43. Li t’onen e e h’oi osan da m’aipan

    • Meaning: An influential person should try to help his relations.

  • 44. A’a e e wowo di l’otu e m a le gbe un

    • Meaning: One must own up to their responsibilities.

  • 45. E e do da ma ja, sugbon aja i gb’uha o so o i

    • Meaning: Close people would sometimes have disagreements, and they should learn how to resolve conflicts among themselves.

  • 46. Omi yi iay’a a mon e e san gb’onen e

    • Meaning: God’s timing is always perfect.

  • 47. Esin e e da onen da ma ton gun

    • Meaning: Never give up.

  • 48. Ole yo ji kakaki oba, o ku boon ti a fon

    • Meaning: It’s only a matter of time before a wrongdoer is caught.

  • 49. Inon ukoko didun oun eko fifun ti jade i

    • Meaning: A book should not be judged by its cover.

  • 50. O nukan je nukan pawo ma

    • Meaning A selfish person.

That’s all about the 50 Yoruba Proverbs and their meanings.

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