Yoruba Idioms

Seeks to disseminate 'Àkànlò Èdè Yorùbá' (Yoruba idioms), a modest attempt at preserving this very important feature of Yoruba language.

[Yoruba Idioms @AkanloEde]

Mọ ẹyẹ tó ṣu èyàn. / Know the bird that excretes someone.
[Mọ àwọn òbí èyàn. / Know someone's parents.]

e.g. "Ó tó gẹ́ẹ́! Mi ò kúkú mọ ẹyẹ tó ṣu ú." / "It's enough! I really didn't quite know his parents."

[Yoruba Idioms @AkanloEde]

Ohun tó ńṣe epo ò ṣe ọ̀rá. /What bothers oil is of no concern to fat.
[Kí nǹkan míràn se pọnpọn fún èyàn. / To have a more pressing priority.]

e.g. "Ẹ̀bùn, kí nmá tàn ẹ́; ohun tó ńṣe epo ò ṣe ọ̀rá o." / "Ebun, if I won't fool you; I have a more pressing priority."

[Yoruba Idioms @AkanloEde]

Na pápá bora. / Cover oneself with the grasses in a field.
[Kí èyàn sálọ. / To run away or flee.]

e.g. "Àwọ ọlọ́sà náà na pápâ bora." / "The thieves ran away."

https://t.co/viYWS8LFcJ

[Yoruba Idioms @AkanloEde]

Òkú tí ẹ sin, ẹsẹ̀ rẹ̀ ti yọ síta. / The feet of the corpse you buried is sticking out.
["Àṣírí yín ti tú." / "Your secret is out in the open."]

e.g. "Yínká, ní ṣókí, òkú tẹ́ẹ sin, ẹsẹ̀ rẹ̀ ti yọ síta o." https://t.co/hJNfTaDWT4

[Yoruba Idioms @AkanloEde]

Má làágùn jìnnà. / Don't sweat 'too far'.
[Má da ara rẹ láàmú tàbí ṣe wàhálà tí kò yẹ. /Don't bother or unduly stress yourself.] 

e.g. "Má làágùn jìnnà; ọ̀rọ̀ náà yé mi yékéyéké. " / "Don't stress yourself unduly; I understand the matter clearly."
https://t.co/26iaQjr44Q

[Yoruba Idioms @AkanloEde]

Kí èyàn wẹ̀ kó yán kàn-ìn-kàn-ìn. /To bathe and fling the sponge dry.
[Ṣe àṣeyọrí tó dájú /Distinguish oneself in a task]

e.g. "Lóòótọ́, "Super Eagles" ńgbá kísà! Wọ́n ti wẹ̀, wọ́n yán kàn-ìn-kàn-ìn."/ "Truly, the Super Eagles can play! They've distinguished themselves."

[Yoruba Idioms @AkanloEde]

Yoruba Idioms (with audio) is now live on both Instagram and YouTube. Pls follow & subscribe.
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Ohun a ní là ńnáání; ẹ jẹ́ á gbé èdè Yorùbá lárugẹ.

[Yoruba Idioms @AkanloEde]

Sún kan ògiri. / To get to the wall from shifting.
[Dé òpin sùúrù tàbí ìfaradà. / To exhaust one's patience or be fed up.] 

 e.g. "Tolú, ṣé o fẹ́ òótọ́? Mo ti sún kan ògiri, báyìí." / "Tolu, do you want the truth? I'm fed up, right now."

[Yoruba Idioms @AkanloEde]

Sún kan ògiri. / To get to the wall from shifting.
[Dé òpin sùúrù tàbí ìfaradà. / To exhausts one's patience or to be fed up.] 

 e.g. "Tolú, ṣé o fẹ́ òótọ́? Mo ti sún kan ògiri, báyìí." / "Tolu, do you want the truth? I'm fed up, right now."

[Yoruba Idioms @AkanloEde]

@allibaloo For clarity, both literal and figurative interpretations are provided, along with a usage example.

[Yoruba Idioms @AkanloEde]

Pa òkúta sí ọ̀rọ̀ èyàn. / To cast stones into one's discussion.
[Kí a dá ọ̀rọ̀ mọ́ èyàn lẹ́nu. / To interrupt someone, rather rudely.] 

e.g. "Kúnlé, má pa òkúta sí ọ̀rọ̀ mi, jọ̀ọ́." / "Kunle, don't interrupt me, please."

[Yoruba Idioms @AkanloEde]

@Adamsmuyiwa Amin o.

[Yoruba Idioms @AkanloEde]

Wá wọ́rọ́kọ́ fi ṣe àdá. / Look for a crooked stick and use it as a cutlass.
[Wá nǹkan míràn ṣe, bí kò tilẹ̀ dára tó. / Consider and adopt another alternative, even if less desirable.]  

e.g. "Tádé, ni ibi táa dé yìì, wàá wá wọ́rọ́kọ́ fi ṣ'àdá, ni o."

[Yoruba Idioms @AkanloEde]

Ra ẹ̀kọ ní ibi tí agbọ̀n ti ga. / Buy corn meals where the basket (container) is out of reach.
[Ṣe àṣejù. / To dabble into what is beyond one's means]

e.g. "Olú, mo ti wá ra ẹ̀kọ ní ibi agbọ̀n ti ga, wàyí." / "Olu, I've dabbled into what is beyond my means, right now."

[Yoruba Idioms @AkanloEde]

@Ranmilowo5 @yoruba_proverbs Ẹ ṣeun ṣeun.

[Yoruba Idioms @AkanloEde]

Ní òkè míràn lẹ́hìn ọ̀run. / To have another high place beside the heavens.
[Ní ìgbẹ́kẹ̀lè míràn. / To have another source of support.]

e.g. "Akin, kò yé mi; ṣé o lókè míràn lẹ́hìn ọ̀run ni?" / "Akin, I dont understand; do you have another source of support?"

[Yoruba Idioms @AkanloEde]

Kí èyàn fi orí ṣe kó fi ọrùn ṣe. / For someone to work with both the head and the neck.
[Kí èyàn fi gbogbo ara se nnkan tabi se e takun takun. / To toil assiduosly at something.]

e.g. "Ká sòótọ́, mo forí ṣe, mo fọrùn ṣe o." / "Truth be told, I toiled assiduously."

[Yoruba Idioms @AkanloEde]

Má sọ pé ẹnu ẹnìkan ńrùn. / Not to say someone's mouth is smelling.
[Máà kó ọ̀rọ̀ ẹnìkan dànù. / Not to discount what someone says or advices.]

e.g. "Bọ́sẹ̀, má sọ pé ẹnu mi ńrùn." / "Bose, don't discount my words/advices."

[Yoruba Idioms @AkanloEde]

Ọrọ̀ kò bá ikùn gbé. /Words that does not suit the stomach.
[Ọ̀rọ̀ burúkú tó lè mú ìbínú tàbí ìbànújẹ́ wá / Unpleasant words that can annoy or sadden someone]

e.g. "Ogbẹ́ni yẹn gbọ́ ọ̀rọ̀ kò bá'kùn gbé lọ́jọ́ yẹn." / "That man heard some unpleasant words, that day."

[Yoruba Idioms @AkanloEde]

Kí èyàn fi orí gbálẹ̀ . / To knock or slam one's head on the ground.
[Kí èyàn máa ṣe gán án gàn àn gán tàbí hu ìwà aṣiwèrè. / To act stupidly or as if one is insane.]
e.g. "Dájúdájú, ọ̀gbẹ́ni náà ti fi orí gbálẹ̀." / "Certainly, the man is insane."