{ "license": "CC BY 4.0", "source": "https://oweyoruba.org", "count": 10, "entries": [ { "slug": "agba-ki-wa-loja-kori-wo", "text_yoruba": "Àgbà kì í wà l'ójà, kí orí ọmọ tuntun wọ́", "text_phonetic": "", "literal_translation": "An elder cannot be in the market and allow a baby's neck to bend", "figurative_meaning": "It is the responsibility of leaders and older people to guide, protect, and correct the younger generation so they do not make mistakes", "usage_context": "When an adult steps in to discipline, advise, or stop a child or teenager from doing something dangerous or immoral, even if that child is not theirs.", "usage_marker": "current", "dialect": "standard", "themes": [ "effort" ], "situations": [ "encourage" ], "source_attribution": "Contributor: personal knowledge", "see_also": "", "featured": true, "status": "published", "restricted": false, "added": "2026-07-18T00:00:00.000Z", "text_yoruba_ascii": "Agba ki i wa l'oja, ki ori omo tuntun wo" }, { "slug": "ba-mi-na-omo-mi", "text_yoruba": "Bá mí náà ọmọ mí kò d'enú ọlọ́mọ", "text_phonetic": "", "literal_translation": "Help me discipline my child did not reach the bottom of the parent's heart", "figurative_meaning": "A parent's approval for someone else to punish their child does not usually come from the depth of their heart due to the love affection they have for the child", "usage_context": "Said to caution an individual against going too far in correcting someone else's child", "usage_marker": "current", "dialect": "standard", "themes": [ "caution" ], "situations": [ "warn" ], "source_attribution": "Contributor: personal knowledge", "see_also": "", "featured": true, "status": "published", "restricted": false, "added": "2026-07-18T00:00:00.000Z", "text_yoruba_ascii": "Ba mi naa omo mi ko d'enu olomo" }, { "slug": "bi-ori-ba-penle-a-dire", "text_yoruba": "Bí orí bá pẹ́ nílẹ̀, a dìre", "text_phonetic": "", "literal_translation": "If the head stays long on the ground, it turns to blessings", "figurative_meaning": "It implies that if you can survive the toughest seasons without giving up, your time on earth will inevitably pivot toward prosperity.", "usage_context": "Used to encourage someone to stay patient and resilient during hard times, assuring them that endurance brings success.", "usage_marker": "current", "dialect": "standard", "themes": [ "effort", "patience" ], "situations": [ "encourage" ], "source_attribution": "Contributor: personal knowledge", "see_also": "", "featured": true, "status": "published", "restricted": false, "added": "2026-07-20T00:00:00.000Z", "text_yoruba_ascii": "Bi ori ba pe nile, a dire" }, { "slug": "gbogbo-alangba-danu-dele", "text_yoruba": "Gbogbo alángbá lo da ikùn délẹ̀, a kò mọ èyí tí inú n run", "text_phonetic": "", "literal_translation": "All lizards have their bellies on the ground, but we do not know which one has stomach ache", "figurative_meaning": "You never can tell what is going on in someone else's life or what they are going through, even if they seem fine on the outside", "usage_context": "Used when advising someone not to judge others based on appearance or to remind people that everyone has hidden struggles", "usage_marker": "current", "dialect": "standard", "themes": [ "caution" ], "situations": [ "advise" ], "source_attribution": "Contributor: personal knowledge", "see_also": "", "featured": true, "status": "published", "restricted": false, "added": "2026-07-20T00:00:00.000Z", "text_yoruba_ascii": "Gbogbo alangba lo da ikun dele, a ko mo eyi ti inu n run" }, { "slug": "ile-oba-to-jo", "text_yoruba": "Ilé ọba tó jó, ẹwà ló bùsí", "text_phonetic": "", "literal_translation": "The palace that burns down has only beautified it", "figurative_meaning": "Beautiful things can come out of bad situations if you learn and rebuild from them", "usage_context": "When a terrible situation happens to a person and bounced back to become better than what they were before", "usage_marker": "current", "dialect": "standard", "themes": [ "effort" ], "situations": [ "encourage" ], "source_attribution": "Contributor: personal knowledge", "see_also": "", "featured": true, "status": "published", "restricted": false, "added": "2026-07-18T00:00:00.000Z", "text_yoruba_ascii": "Ile oba to jo, ewa lo busi" }, { "slug": "kaka-ki-agbo-ke-agbo-aku", "text_yoruba": "Kàkà kí àgbò ké, àgbò a kú", "text_phonetic": "", "literal_translation": "Rather the goat cries, the goat dies", "figurative_meaning": "It is better to die with dignity than to live in shame", "usage_context": "It is invoked when a person decides that maintaining their good name and principles is far more important than surviving through disgraceful means", "usage_marker": "current", "dialect": "standard", "themes": [ "effort" ], "situations": [ "encourage" ], "source_attribution": "Contributor: personal knowledge", "see_also": "", "featured": true, "status": "published", "restricted": false, "added": "2026-07-20T00:00:00.000Z", "text_yoruba_ascii": "Kaka ki agbo ke, agbo a ku" }, { "slug": "ko-rorun-lati-ri-bi-eni-ti-soro", "text_yoruba": "Kò rọ̀rùn láti rí, bí ẹni tí ń sọ̀rọ̀", "text_phonetic": "", "literal_translation": "It is not easy to see, like the one who is speaking", "figurative_meaning": "It implies that it is difficult to understand or judge a situation or a person's actions without being in their position or experiencing what they are going through.", "usage_context": "Used to check someone who is being overly critical of another person's difficult work or performance", "usage_marker": "current", "dialect": "standard", "themes": [ "caution" ], "situations": [ "advise" ], "source_attribution": "Contributor: personal knowledge", "see_also": "", "featured": true, "status": "published", "restricted": false, "added": "2026-07-20T00:00:00.000Z", "text_yoruba_ascii": "Ko rorun lati ri, bi eni ti n soro" }, { "slug": "oju-mewa-ko-jo-oju-eni", "text_yoruba": "Ojú mẹ́wàá kò jọ ojú ẹni", "text_phonetic": "", "literal_translation": "Ten eyes is not the same as one's eyes", "figurative_meaning": "It implies that no matter how many people are involved in a situation, each person has their own perspective and understanding, which may differ from others.", "usage_context": "Used when advising someone to verify information firsthand rather than acting blindly on gossip or hearsay", "usage_marker": "current", "dialect": "standard", "themes": [ "caution", "wisdom" ], "situations": [ "advise" ], "source_attribution": "Contributor: personal knowledge", "see_also": "", "featured": true, "status": "published", "restricted": false, "added": "2026-07-20T00:00:00.000Z", "text_yoruba_ascii": "Oju mewaa ko jo oju eni" }, { "slug": "oro-ni-a-so-fun-ologbon", "text_yoruba": "Ọ̀rọ̀ ni a sọ fún ọlọ́gbọ́n, òwe ni a ń sọ fún ọmọlúwàbí", "text_phonetic": "", "literal_translation": "A word is said to a wise man, a proverb is said to a well-mannered person", "figurative_meaning": "Wise people can understand and learn from simple instructions, while well-mannered people can understand and learn from proverbs", "usage_context": "When a younger person quickly reads between the lines during a delicate situation and acts perfectly without needing explicit instructions.", "usage_marker": "current", "dialect": "standard", "themes": [ "effort" ], "situations": [ "encourage" ], "source_attribution": "Contributor: personal knowledge", "see_also": "", "featured": true, "status": "published", "restricted": false, "added": "2026-07-18T00:00:00.000Z", "text_yoruba_ascii": "Oro ni a so fun ologbon, owe ni a n so fun omoluwabi" }, { "slug": "tomode-ba-mowo-we", "text_yoruba": "Tí ọmọdé bá mọ ọwọ́ wẹ yóò bá àgbà jẹun", "text_phonetic": "", "literal_translation": "If a child knows how to wash their hands, they will dine with the elder", "figurative_meaning": "An individual who is well-mannered will be respected and accepted by the elders", "usage_context": "Said to encourage good manners which will lead to access and acceptance by superiors/leaders/experts in a field giving an elevated opportunity to evolve above their peers", "usage_marker": "current", "dialect": "standard", "themes": [ "wisdom" ], "situations": [ "encourage" ], "source_attribution": "Contributor: personal knowledge", "see_also": "", "featured": true, "status": "published", "restricted": false, "added": "2026-07-18T00:00:00.000Z", "text_yoruba_ascii": "Ti omode ba mo owo we yoo ba agba jeun" } ] }