Yoruba people use a lot of sayings and expressions in daily life which offer advice and even sometimes have hidden meanings.
I put together this list of proverbs and quotes below to gain some insight into Yoruba beliefs and ways of thinking.
I’ve listed famous Yoruba proverbs, inspiring Yoruba quotes and common Yoruba sayings.
(My favourite is number 42 on the list.)
Famous Yoruba Proverbs & Yoruba Sayings
Here’s a bunch of the most famous Yoruba proverbs about life, love and destiny as well as some common Yoruba sayings. These are used often in day to day life.
Interestingly, in Yoruba culture the use of a Yoruba proverb by a younger person is prohibited in the presence of an older person.
This is mainly because proverbs tend to be passed down through generations to teach morals and values.
- Wúrà tó máa dán, á la iná kọjá – A piece of gold that wants to shine must pass through fire first.
This Yoruba proverb is similar to the English saying ‘no pain, no gain’.
- Tí iná bá ńjó lóko, màjàlá á ṣe òfófó – When a farm goes aflame, the flakes fly home to bear the tale.
This saying teaches that nothing can be covered up and hiding things isn’t a good idea.
- Tí òjò bá dá tán, ti abẹ́ igi kì í dá bọ́rọ́ – When the rain subsides, the dripping under trees seldom promptly cease.
This proverb teaches us that consequences far outlive actions and we should always be mindful of potential consequences.
- À ń pe gbẹ́nàgbẹ́nà ẹyẹ àkókó ń yọjú – A sculptor is summoned and the woodpecker shows up.
This Yoruba proverb teaches that we should never think too highly of ourselves.
- Orúkọ tí a bá sọ ajá ẹni lọmọ aráyé ńbá ni í pèé – Whatever name one calls one’s dog, that is the name others call it as well.
This Yoruba proverb teaches that we should always speak positively and never describe ourselves or what we do in negative terms.
- Bíbíire kò ṣeé fi owó rà – Good pedigrees cannot be bought with money.
This saying teaches that money isn’t everything.
- Ilé ọba tójó ẹwà ló bùsi – When a king’s palace burns down, the rebuilt palace turns out even more beautiful.
This Yoruba saying is similar to the English proverb ‘every cloud has a silver lining’.
- Èéfín ni ìwà; kò ṣeé fi pamọ́ – Character is like smoke, it cannot be covered up.
We cannot pretend to be who we are not for very long.
- Ẹní bá fi iṣu tí kò jinná gún’yán, o di dandan kó jẹ iyán tó lẹ́mọ – Whoever prepared pounded yam with yams that are not fully cooked, will certainly eat lumpy pounded yam.
This Yoruba proverb teaches the value of patience and that good things take time.
- Ọ̀nà kan ò wọ ọjà – Not just one route leads to the market.
This proverb teaches that alternative approaches exist so don’t be fixated on just one solution.
- Bó ti wù kí ojú kan tóbi tó, ojú méjì sàn ju ojú kan lọ – No matter how big an eye is, two eyes are better than one.
This proverb teaches that team effort is superior, it is similar to the English proverb ‘two heads are better than one’.
- A kì í pẹ̀lú ọ̀bọ já’ko – Don’t join a monkey to roam the forest.
This Yoruba saying means that you shouldn’t stoop low and instead should aim high.
- A kì í mọ iyì wúrà tí kò bá sọnù – A piece of gold is seldom appreciated until it gets lost.
We seldom appreciate what we have until we lose it. Don’t take things for granted.
- Ọwọ́ ọlọ́wọ́ ò lè yó ẹnu ẹlẹ́nu – Never expect the hands of someone else to feed you to satisfaction.
This Yoruba saying teaches that we should not depend on other people.
- Lẹ́hìn òkùnkùn biribiri, ìmọ́lẹ̀ á tàn – After a pitch-black night, the dawn always comes.
This proverb teaches that darkness doesn’t last forever and we should look forward to the coming dawn.
- Ọbẹ̀ kìí gbé inú àgbà mì – The soup does not move round in an elder’s belly.
This Yoruba proverb means that you should be able to keep secrets.
- Díẹ̀ díẹ̀ nimú ẹlẹ́dẹ̀ẹ́ fi ń wọgbà – Little by little is how the pig’s nose enters the yard.
The meaning of this Yoruba quote is that you should attend to a small problem before it gets out of control.
- Bí a bá ro dídùn ifòn á ó ọ’ra déegun – If a person only thinks of pleasure whilst having an itch on their body, they will keep scratching until they get bone.
The meaning of this proverb is that there are limits to everything in life.
- Odò tó ńṣàn kì í b’ojú w’ẹ̀hìn – A flowing stream never flows backwards.
This Yoruba proverb teaches that we should be forward thinking. Don’t worry about things that have happened in the past.
- Ẹni tó ṣe ohun tó dun’ni lóòní, lè ṣe ohun tí yóò dùn mọ́’ni lọ́la – A person who hurts someone today may still be a blessing to someone tomorrow.
This Yoruba saying indicates that we shouldn’t write anyone off because of a bad action – give people a second chance.
- Bí abá so òkò sójà ará ilé eni ní bá – He who throws a stone in the market will hit his relative.
The meaning of this Yoruba saying is be careful what you do to others because it may hurt you or someone close to you.
- Ẹni tí a ńwò kì í wò’ran – The person others are watching should not join in the watching as well.
This proverb means that you should be active and involved in what you’re doing, don’t become a spectator.
- A pẹ ko to jẹun, ki jẹ ibajẹ – The person that eats late will not eat spoiled food.
The meaning of this proverb is that it’s better to be patient and not rush into things.
- Tí ẹṣin bá dá’ni, a máa ńtun ùn gùn ni – If one is thrown by a horse, one ought to remount it again.
If you try and fail then you should try again. If you don’t give up then you will win eventually.
- Bi Ēēgun nla ba ni ohùn o ri gontò, gontò na a ni ohùn o ri Ēēgun nla – If a big masquerade claims it doesn’t see the smaller masquerade, the small one will also claim it doesn’t see the big one.
This Yoruba proverb means that if an important person doesn’t respect those less important than them, the less important people won’t respect them either.
- Ẹni tí ò fẹ́ wọ àkísà, kì í bá ajá ṣe eré e géle – Don’t play rough with a dog if you don’t want to end up in tatters.
This Yoruba proverb teaches that we should think before we act as actions come with consequences.
Motivational Yoruba Quotes & Yoruba Proverbs And Meaning
Below I’ve listed a range of motivational and inspirational Yoruba quotes as well as more beautiful Yoruba proverbs and their meanings.
- Òkè lọwọ́ afúnni ńgbé; ìsàlẹ̀ lọwọ́ ẹni tó ńgbà á ńwà – The hand of a giver is always at the top, the hand of the receiver stays underneath.
- Ojú tí yóò ròhìn ogun ò ní kú s’ógun – A warrior destined to recount war stories won’t perish in battle.
This Yourba quote is all about keeping hope alive and remembering that better days are still ahead.
- Tí èyàn ò bá tí ì dé ibi tó ńlọ, kì í dúró – If one has reached one’s destination, one should not stop.
This Yoruba quote teaches that we should always keep moving forward and not stop because we’ve achieved goals.
- Ibi tí à ńlọ là ńwò, a kì í wo ibi táa ti ṣubú – Focus on where you are going, not where you had fallen.
- A kò gbọdọ̀ torí kòkòrò kó sí’ni lójú, ká wá ki igi bọ ojú ọ̀hún – One shouldn’t poke a stick into one’s eye simply because an insect entered the eye.
This Yoruba quote indicates that we should take caution and not act fast.
- Gbólóhùn kan lè ba ọ̀rọ̀ jẹ́; gbólóhùn kan náà lè tún ọ̀rọ̀ ṣe – One sentence can mess up a discussion, one sentence can also make it better.
This quote emphasizes how powerful words can be so use them wisely.
- Ọgbọ́n ju agbára lọ – Wisdom is better than strength.
- Kòkòrò tó ńjó lẹ́ẹ̀bá ọ̀nà, onílù rẹ̀ ńbẹ nínú igbó – The insect that is dancing by the bush path has its drummer right in the bush.
This Yoruba quote teaches us to look beyond the obvious as quite often there’s more to it.
- Bí a bá dé ìlú táà léèyàn, ìwà rere làá ní – If one is a complete stranger in a town, one ought to simply be of good character.
- A kì í dámọ̀nràn àti tà’kìtì lágbàlá ọ̀bọ, nítorí ọ̀bọ fúnra’ra rẹ̀, ọba òkìtì ni – Never somersault in the vicinity of a monkey as monkeys themselves are experts at somersaulting.
This Yoruba quote tells us to be modest.
- Kò sí bí imú ṣe lè tóbi tó, kó lè gba ọ̀rọ̀ ẹnu sọ – No matter how big the nose is, it can’t take over the speaking role of the mouth.
This quote tells us that we are all unique and all have our own strengths.
- Bàtà orí àkìtàn náà re òde ìyàwó rí – Those pair of shoes on the refuse dump were once worn to a wedding.
This quote teaches that change is inevitable and nothing lasts forever.
- Òròmọadìyẹ ńbá àṣá ṣeré, ó rò pé ẹyẹ oko lásán ni – The chick gullibly plays with the hawk believing it to be an ordinary bird.
This Yoruba expression indicates that naivety can be dangerous.
- Ẹni tó ńlé nǹkan níwájú, ńfi àwọn nǹkan míràn sẹ́hìn – Whoever is pursuing something ahead is actually leaving some other things behind.
- Bí inú bá bí baba tó bá gbé ọmọ ẹ̀ jù sí inú èèrùn, bí inú ẹ̀ bá rọ̀, inú èèrùn lè má rọ̀ – If a father gets angry as to throw his child into a raid of army ants, by the time he calms down, the ants may not be.
This saying tells us not to be hasty in our anger. Avoid rashness.
- Ẹni tó bá ní kí ọ̀rẹ́ òun má jọba ni kò ní lọ̀rẹ́ ọba – Whoever blocks his friend from becoming a king won’t have a king as a friend.
This Yoruba quote teaches us to foster goodness. Those who plot evil for others often share in the evil results.
- Etí mẹ́ta ò yẹ orí; èèyàn mẹ́ta ò lè dúró ní méjì-méjì – Three ears do not suit the head, three people cannot stand in groups of twos.
This Yoruba saying means that there is always a right and wrong way to do anything and we should focus on the right way.
- Ká dúpẹ́ lọ́wọ́ ọrùn tó gbé orí dúró; ọ̀pọ̀ ẹran ló sún mọ́ orí tí ò ṣe nǹkankan – We ought to be thankful to the neck for supporting the head, many tissues are close to it, yet do nothing.
This quote means that we should be thankful even for small favors.
- Àìmọṣẹ́ kọ̀ ọmọ ajá, lọdẹ fi ńrán an níṣẹ́ ikú – Not knowing how to say no is why the dog gets sent on life-threatening errands by the hunter.
This proverb shows the importance of learning to say no so you’re not taken advantage of.
- A kì í bínú sí ẹni tí a kò rí – Do not be angry with someone you have not heard out.
- Orí bíbẹ́ kọ́ ni oògùn orí fífọ́ – Decapitation is not the antidote for a headache.
This quote tells us not to act rashly and be cautious.
- Mọ̀jà mọ̀sá ni ti akínkanjú; akínkanjú tó bá mọ̀ọ́ jà tí kò mọ̀ọ́ sá á bá ogun lọ – Warriors must know when to fight and when to retreat, a warrior who knows when to fight but not when to retreat will perish in battle.
This saying teaches us to know when to pursue, defer or quit something.
- Ẹni tó ńbẹ̀rù àti ṣubú, àti dìde á nira fún un – Whoever is scared of falling will find it hard to rise.
- Ohun tí a bá fi sílẹ̀ lẹnu ewúrẹ́ ńtó – What is left unattended is what the goat’s mouth can get to.
This Yoruba idiom means that we lose whatever we neglect.
- Tí a kò bá jẹun sẹ́hìn àwo, èèrà ò lè gun ibi ta ti ńjẹun – If you hadn’t dropped your food, ants wouldn’t be attracted to where you are eating.
This quote indicates that every problem has a cause and we should eliminate the cause to eliminate the problem.
- Ìgbà ìpọ́njú là ńm’ọ̀rẹ́; ọjọ́ tó bá burú la ńm’ẹni tó fẹ́’ni – When things are really tough is when those who truly care can be identified.
- Kì í rẹ ológbò, kó má lè ṣe ọdẹ eku – A cat cannot be too tired to hunt mice.
This proverb means that we should be persistent and resilient. Don’t quit.
- Ká panupọ̀ lé ẹlẹ́yọ́rọ́ lọ ná, kí a tó wá fàbọ̀ sí adìyẹ – We ought to come together to chase away the fox first before reverting to the hen.
This Yoruba quote indicates that it is better to handle the most pressing of two problems first rather than inefficiently attempting both problems at once.
- Ìgbín ò lè sáré bí Ajá; ìyẹn ò ní kó máà de ibi tó ńlọ – The snail cannot run as fast as the dog but that won’t stop it from getting to wherever it’s going.
This Yoruba idiom means that you should not compare yourself to others. Be persistent and you will eventually achieve what you want.
- Kí a tó dé ibi tí à ńlọ, a máa ńkọ́kọ́ dé ibi tí a kò fẹ́ – Before getting to our destination, we may have to get to where we’d rather not be.
Be focused and look ahead. You may have to go through challenges to get to where you want to be.
- Ẹni tó ńsáré tó ńwo ẹ̀hìn, ó di dandan, kó fi ẹsẹ̀ kọ – Whoever keeps looking back whilst running will certainly stumble.
This saying teaches that we should ignore distractions. Stay focused and keep moving forward.
- Ìwà kì í fi oníwà sílẹ̀ – We are inseparable from our character.
- A kì í dàgbà jù fún ohun tí a kò bá mọ̀ – One is never too old to learn what one does not know.
- Bí a ò kú, ìṣe ò tán – As long as there is life, there is no end to what one can still achieve.
Check out the videos below which feature a range of famous Yoruba quotes and well-known Yoruba sayings & proverbs.
Thanks for reading this post with a collection of the best Yoruba proverbs about life, famous Yoruba sayings and the best Yoruba quotes.
These Yoruba quotes & sayings give an interesting insight into the Yoruba beliefs and language.
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