-
Bíonn gach tosach lag.
Every beginning is weak.
-
Is fearr obair ná caint.
Work is better than talk.
-
Ní fearr bia ná ciall.
Food is not better than sense.
-
Is é do mhac do mhac inniú,
ach is í d'iníon d'iníon go deo.
Your son is your son today,
but your
daughter is your daughter forever.
-
Is é an duine an t-éadach.
The man (person) is the
clothes.
-
Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste, ná Béarla cliste.
Broken Irish is better than cleverEnglish.
-
Ní bhíonn tréan buan.
Strength is not enduring.
-
Ní bhíonn beag bog.
Little (things) tend not to be soft.
-
Bíonn an fhírinne searbh.
The truth is bitter.
-
Buail an iarann te.
Strike the hot iron.
-
Is fearr an tsláinte ná na táinte.
Health is better than wealth.
-
Is minic a bhris beál duine a shrón.
It is often that a person's mouth broke his nose.
-
Is minic a ghearr teanga duine a scornach.
It is often that a person's tongue cut
his throat.
-
Is minic cuma aingeal ar an Diabhal féin.
There is often the look of an angel on the Devil himself.
-
Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin.
There's no hearth like your own hearth.
-
Níl aon tóin tinn mar
do thóin tinn féin.
There's no sore ass like your own sore ass.
-
Bíonn caora dhubh ar an tréad is gile.
There tends to be a black sheep (even) in the whitest flock.
-
Ní fiú scéal gan údar.
There's no worth to a story without an author.
-
Ní tír gan teanga.
There is no nation without a language.
-
Ní bhíonn an rath, ach mara mbíonn an smacht.
There is no prosperity unless there is discipline.
-
Luigh leis an uan, agus éirigh leis an éan.
Lie with the lamb, and rise with the bird.
-
Nuair a bhíonn an fíon istigh, bíonn an ciall amuigh.
When the wine is in(side), the sense is out(side).
-
An mháthair leis an mac agus an iníon leis an athair.
The mother (sides) with the son,
and the daughter with the father.
-
Nuair a bhíonn an cat amuigh, bíonn an luch ag rince.
When the cat is outside, the mouse does be dancing.
-
Bíonn blás ar an mbeagán.
Little things tend to be tasty.
-
An té a bhíonn breoite, ní bhíonn feoil air.
The person who is ailing,
there does not tend to be meat on him.
-
Is fearr rith maith ná droch-sheasamh.
A good run(ning) is better than a bad stand(ing).
-
Neantóg a dhóigh mé, copóg a leigheas mé.
A nettle burns (stings) me. Dock will cure me.
-
Ní baol don bhacach an gadaí.
The thief is no threat to the beggar(man).
-
Is iomaí cor sa tsaol.
There is many a twist in life.
-
Maireann na daoine ar scáil a chéile.
The people live in one another's shadows.
-
Fearthain don lao agus grian don tsearrach;
uisce don gé agus déirc don bhacach.
Rain to the calf and sun to the foal;
water to the goose and alms to the beggar(man).
-
Mol an páiste agus molann tú an mháthair.
Praise the child and you praise the mother.
-
Molann an obair an fear.
The work praises the man.
-
Nuair a thiocas an bás ní imeoidh sé folamh.
When death will come, he won't go away empty.
-
Níl aon leigheas ar an ngrá ach pósadh.
There is no cure for love but marriage.
(The only cure for love is marriage.).
-
'Sé leigheas na póite ól arís.
It is the cure of a hangover (to) drink again.
-
Ní chaitheann an chaint an t-éadach.
(The) talk doesn't wear the clothes.
-
Castar na daoine ar a chéile,
ach ní chastar na cnoic (ná na sléibhte).
The people encounter one another,
but the hills never meet (nor the mountains).
-
Ní neart go cur le chéile.
There is no strength without unity.
-
Filleann an feall ar an bhfeallaire.
The treachery returns to the betrayer.
-
Imíonn an tuirse ach fanann an tairbhe.
The tiredness leaves but the profit remains.
-
Giorraíonn beirt bóthar.
Two people shorten a road.
-
Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile.
A beetle recognizes another beetle.
-
Aithnítear cara i gcruatán.
A friend is known in hardship.
-
Ní sheasaíonn sac folamh.
An empty sack does not stand.
-
Ní fhanann trá le fear mall.
An ebb(tide) does not wait for a slow man.
-
Gheibheann pingin pingin eile.
A penny gets another penny.
-
Gheibheann cos ar siúl rud éigin.
A moving leg gets something.
-
Déanann tart tart.
Thirst makes (for) thirst.
-
Déanann sparán trom croí éadrom.
A heavy purse makes (for) a light heart.
-
Déanann seilbh sásamh.
Possession makes (for) satisfaction.
-
Is maith sú bó, beo nó marbh.
The juice of the cow is good, alive or dead.
-
Chíonn beirt rud nach bhfeiceann duine amháin.
Two people see a thing that an individual does not see.
-
Is maith an scéalaí an aimsir.
Time is a good storyteller.
-
Ní féasta go rósta, 'is ní céasta go pósta.
There is no feast like a roast, and no torment like a marriage.
-
Claíonn neart ceart.
Power inclines/tends right.
(Might makes right.).
-
Ní thagann ciall roimh aois.
Sense does not come before age.
-
Bíonn an bás ar aghaidh an tseanduine
agus ar chúl duine óig.
Death is facing the old (person)
and behind the young (person).
-
Ní thuigeann an sách an seang.
The well-fed (person) does not understand
the slender (person).
-
Is iomaí lá sa chill orainn.
We are in the Churchyard (grave) many a day.
-
Ní huasal ná íseal
ach thuas seal agus thíos seal.
It is not upper class or lower class,
but up a while and down awhile.
-
Is maith an scáthán súil charad.
A friend's eye is a good mirror.
-
Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí.
Praise a youth and she will come.
-
Ní hé lá na gaoithe lá na scolb.
A windy day is not a day for thatching.
-
Súil le cúiteamh a mhilleas an cearrbhac.
Hoping to recoup ruins the gambler.
-
Is cum leis an óige cá leagann sí a cos.
Youth does not care where it sets its foot.
-
Ní scéal rúin é ó tá a fhios ag
triúr é.
It is not a secret after three people know it.
-
Sileann do chara agus do namhaid
nach bhfaighidh tú bás choíce.
[Both] your friend and your enemy think you will never die.
-
Is teann gach madra gearr i ndoras a thí féin.
Every terrier is bold in the door of its own house.
-
Ní heolas go haontíos.
You must live with a person to know a person.
-
Bíonn súil le muir ach ní bhíonn súil le tír.
There is hope from the sea, but
there is no hope from the land (grave).
-
Is giorra cabhair Dé ná an doras.
The help of God is closer than the door.
-
Is iad ná muca ciúine a itheas an mhin.
It is the quiet pigs that eat the meal.
-
Briseann an dúchas trí shúile an chait.
Heredity breaks out in the eyes of the cat.
-
Bíonn siúlach scéalach.
Travellers have tales to tell.
-
Is maith an t-anlann an t-ocras.
Hunger is a good sauce.
-
Má bhuaileann tú mo mhadra
buailfidh tú mé féin.
If you hit my dog, [then] you hit me.
-
Ní cheileann meisce rún.
Drunkenness hides no secret[s].
-
Déan an fál nó iocfaidh tú foghail.
Make the fence or you will pay the plundering.
-
Is ait an mac an saol.
Life is strange.
[Such is life].
-
Is fearr beagán den ghaol ná mórán den charthanas.
A little kinship is better than a lot of charity.
-
Bíonn adharca fada ar na ba i gcéin.
Long horns are [always] on the cows abroad.
-
Ní dhéanfadh an domhan capall rása d'asal.
The world would not make a race horse
out of an ass (donkey).
-
Is déirce dá chuid féin don amadán.
His own share is charity to the fool.
-
Is búaine clú ná saol.
Fame is more enduring than life.
-
-
Is í an eorna nua tú a fheiciáil.
Seeing you is like seeing the new (season's) barley.
-
Ní bhíonn saoi gan locht.
There is no wise man without fault.
-
An té a thabharfas scéal chugat
tabharfaidh sé dhá scéal uait.
Whoever will bring a story to you
will take two stories from you.
-
An rud nach mbaineann duit ná bain dó.
Don't interfere with [any] thing
that doesn't concern you.
-
Is maith an capall a tharraingíos a charr féin.
It is a good horse that pulls its own cart.
-
Is glas iad na cnoc i bhfad uainn.
Distant hills look green.
-
Is minic a rinne bromach gioblach capall cumasach.
A ragged colt often made a powerful horse.
-
Is folamh fuar é teach gan bean.
A house without a woman is empty [and] cold.
-
Is í an dias is troime is ísle a chromas a cheann.
The heaviest ear of grain bends its head the lowest.
-
Cibé cé olfhas 's é Domhnall a íocfhas.
Whoever will drink, 'tis Domhnall will pay.
-
Is buaine focal ná toice an tsaoil.
A word is more enduring than worldy wealth.
-
Seacht seachtaine ramhra ó Shamhain go Nollaig.
Seven fat weeks from Samhain to Christmas.
-
Téann an saol thart mar bheadh eiteoga air
agus cuireann gach aon Nollaig
bliain eile ar do ghualainn.
Life goes by as if it had wings,
and every Christmas puts
another year on your shoulder.
-
Is deacair a bheith ag feadaíl agus ag ithe mine.
It is hard to whistle and eat at the same time.
-
Nollaig ghlas, reilig mhéith.
A green Christmas, a fat graveyard.
-
Tuar maith don athbhliain
na píobairí teallaigh a chloisteáil Lá Nollaig.
It is a good omen for the coming year
to hear crickets on Christmas Day.
-
Is maith an athbhliain a dtig
Nollaig i dTús gealaí.
The year is good when Christmas comes
during the first phase of the moon.
-
Lá Nollaig go péacach
is Lá Féile na Stiofáin ag iarraidh déirce.
A showy Christmas Day
and begging on the Feast of St. Stephen.
-
Bia is deoch i gcomhair na Nollaig;
éadach nua i gcomhair na Cásca.
Food and drink for Christmas;
new clothes for Easter.
-
Putóga dubha na bliana ó Nollaig go Lá Fhéile Bríde.
The darkest part of the year,
from Christmas until the Feast of St. Bridgit.
-
Olc síon an sioc, is fearr sioc ná sneachta
agus is fearr sneachta ná síorbháisteach.
Frost is bad weather,[but] frost is better than snow,
and snow is better than eternal rain.
-
Níor bhris focal maith fiacail riamh.
A good word never broke a tooth.
-
Níor dhún Dia doras riamh
nár oscail Sé ceann eile.
God never closed one door without opening another.
-
Más cam nó díreach an ród,
's é an bothar mór an t-aicearra.
Whether the road is crooked or straight,
the short cut is the best way.
-
Is fearr clú ná conach.
A good name is better than riches.
-
Is minic ubh bhán ag cearc dhubh.
A black hen often has a white egg.
-
Is trom an t-ualach an t-aineaolas.
Ignorance is a heavy burden.
-
Is geal leis an bhfiach dubh a ghearrcach féin.
The raven thinks its own nestling fair.
-
Is iomaí athrú a chuireann lá Márta dhe.
There is a lot of weather in a March day.
-
Má labhríonn an chuach ar chrann gan duiliúr
díol do bhó agus ceannaigh arbhar.
If the cuckoo calls from a tree without leaves,
sell your cow and buy corn.
-
Sláinte chuig na fir agus go maire na mná go deo!
Health to the men and may the women live forever!
-
Ni théann cuileog san mbéal a bhíos dúnta.
A fly will not go into a mouth that is closed.
-
Más maith leat siocháin, cairdeas, agus moladh,
éist, feic, agus fan balbh.
If you wish for peace, friendship, and praise,
listen, look, and stay mute.
-
Ní féidir leis an ngobadán an dá thrá a fhreastal.
The sandpiper can not attend to the two beaches (ebb-tides).
-
Bíonn dhá insint ar scéal agus
dhá leagan déag ar amhrán.
There are two versions to a story and
twelve arrangements to a song.
-
Ag dul chun dlí leis an ndiabhal
is an chúirt i n-ifreann.
Going to the law with the devil
and the court is in hell.
-
Inis do Mháire i gcógar é,
is inseoidh Máire dó phóbal é.
Tell it to Mary in a whisper,
and Mary will tell it to the parish.
-
An áit a mbíonn mná bíonn caint
agus an áit a mbíonn géanna bíonn callán.
Where there are women there is talk,
and where there are geese there is cackling.
-
An té nach bhfuil láidir ní folair dó a bheith glic.
Whoever is not strong must be clever.
-
Na ceithre rud is measa amú;
ceann tinn, béal seirbh,
intinn bhuartha, agus poca folamh.
The four least useful things;
a headache, a bitter mouth,
a worried mind, and an empty pocket.
-
Tá Dia láidir is máthair mhaith aige.
God is strong and He has a good mother.
-
Is mairg a bhíonns go holc
agus a bhíonns go bocht ina dhiadh.
Woe to the one who is always very ill
and poor because of it.
-
Níor chuaigh fial riamh go hIfreann.
No generous person ever went to hell.
-
Cuid Pháidín don mheacain
an t-eireaballín caol.
The slender little end
is the smallest part of anything.
-
Cuir síoda ar ghabhar agus is gabhar i gcónaí é.
Put silk on a goat and it is still a goat.
-
Ní dhéanfaidh smaoineamh an treabhadh duit.
You'll never plough a field turning it over in your mind.
-
Is túisce deoch ná scéal.
A drink comes before a story.
-
An té atá thuas óltar deoch air.
An té atá thíos buailtear cos air.
The one who succeeds is toasted.
The one who fails is kicked.
-
Ná bíodh do theanga faoi do chrios.
Don't keep your tongue under your belt.
-
Ná comhair do chuid sicíní sula dtagann siad amach.
Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
-
Ní hé lá na báistí lá na bpáistí.
The day of rain is not the day of children.
-
Maireann croí éadrom a bhfad.
A light heart lives a long time.
-
Bíonn grásta Dé idir an diallait agus an talamh.
The grace of God is found between the saddle and the ground.
-
Dá fhada an lá tagann an tráthnóna.
However long the day, the evening will come.
-
D'áiteodh sé muc ar shagart
(is banbh ar chléireach).
He could sell a priest a pig
(and the parish clerk a piglet).
-
An t-ualach is mó ar an gcapall is míne.
The heaviest load [is] on the gentlest horse.
-
Folíonn grá gráin.
Love veils ugliness.
-
A chomhairle féin do mhac árann
's ní bhfuair sé ariamh níos measa.
It does not get worse than a dear son that pleases himself.
-
Is treise dúchas ná oiliúint.
Instinct is stronger than upbringing.
-
An rud a ghoilleas ar an gcroí
caithfidh an t-súil é a shileas.
What pains the heart
must be washed away with tears.
-
Ráithe ó Fhéile Mhichíl go Nollaig.
'Tis three months from the Feast of St. Michael to Christmas.
-
An té nach gcuireann san earrach
ní bhaineann sé san fhómhar.
Whoever does not plant in the spring
does not reap in the fall.
-
Glaonn gach coileach go dána ar a atrainn fhéin.
Every cock crows boldly in his own farmyard.
-
Fóireann spallaí do bhallaí cómh maith le clocha móra.
Walls require spalls as well as large stones.
-
Deireadh gach soiscéal an t-airgead.
[At the] end of every gospel [is] a collection.
-
Is iomaí fear fada a bhíonns lag ina lár.
Many a tall man has a weak middle.
-
Bíonn gach duine go lách
go dtéann bó ina gharraí.
Everybody is good natured
until a cow goes into his garden.
-
Is trom an rud cearc i bhfad.
A hen [carried] far is a heavy thing.
-
Is fearr filleadh as lár an áthe
ná bá sa tuile.
It is better to back out of the middle of the ford
than to be drowned in the flood.
-
Ní chruinníonn cloch reatha caonach.
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
-
Ná gabh bean gan locht.
Do not take a wife without fault.
-
Na trí cairde is fearr
agus na trí naimhde is measa:
tine, gaoth, is uisce.
The three best friends
and the three worst enemies:
fire, wind, and water.
-
Is maith an bhean í
ach níor bhain sí a broga di go foill.
She is a good wife,
but she has not taken off her shoes yet.
-
Is fearr leath builín ná bheith gan arán.
Half a loaf is better than to be without bread.
-
Niorbh a fhiú a dhath ariamh a bhfuarthas in aisgidh.
Nothing free is ever appreciated.
-
Is annamh earrach gan fuacht.
Seldom is Spring without cold.
-
Bhí clog sa chill is níor bhinn clog é.
Ach tháinig clog eile 'on cill
is rinne clog binn den chlog san.
There was a bell in the church
and it wasn't very sweet sounding.
But another bell came to the church
and made a sweet bell of the first one.
-
Ní hiad na fir mhóra a bhaineas an fomhar i gcónaí.
It is not the great men that always reap the harvest.
-
Is minic a chealg briathra míne cailín críonna.
Many a prudent girl was led astray with honeyed words.
-
Ná bí róbheag is ná bí rómhór leis an gcléir.
Don't be too small and don't be too big with the clergy.
-
Dia linn is deoch is ní ráibh mé riamh bocht.
God with us and a drink, and may I never be poor.
-
Chomh glic le sionnach.
As clever as a fox.
-
Cleachtadh a dhéanann maistreacht.
Practice makes mastery.
-
Mol an lá um thránóna.
Praise the day in the evening.
-
Is minic a lean maidin bhrónach oíche shúgach.
'Tis many a sad morning followed a merry night.
-
Marbh le tae agus marbh gan é.
Dead with tea and dead without it.
-
Fiche bliain ag teacht,
Fiche bliain go maith,
Fiche bliain ag meath, is
Fiche bliain gan rath.
Twenty years coming,
Twenty years good,
Twenty years declining, and
Twenty years useless.
-
Go ndeine an diabhal dréimire de cnámh
do dhroma ag piocadh úll i ngairdín Ifrinn.
May the devil make a ladder of your backbone [and]
pluck apples in the garden of hell.
-
Go bhfága Dia do shláinte agat.
May God spare you your health.
-
Éist le fuaim na habhann
agus gheobhfaidh tú breac.
Listen to the sound of the river
and you will get a trout.
-
Níl sa saol ach gaoth agus toit.
In life there is only wind and smoke.
-
Beagán a rá agus é a rá go maith.
Say little but say it well.
-
An té is mó a osclaíonn a bhéal
is é is lú a osclaíonn a sparán.
The one who opens his mouth the most,
'tis he who opens his purse the least.
-
Is minic a bhíonn ciúin ciontach.
The quiet one is often guilty.
-
Mórán cainte ar bheagán cúise.
Much talk with little reason.
-
Ní féidir an seanfhocal a shárú.
A proverb can not be refuted.
-
An rud a théann i bhfad, téann sé i bhfuaire.
What drags on grows cold.
-
Ná nocht d'fhiacla go bhféadair an greim do bhreith.
Don't bare your teeth until you can bite.
-
-
Seachnaíonn súil ní nach bhfeiceann.
An eye evades a thing it does not see.
-
Ná bris do loigrín ar stól nach bhfuil i do shlí.
Do not break your shin on a stool
that is not in your way.
-
Is fearr greim de choinín ná dhá ghreim de chat.
On bite of a rabbit is better than two bites of a cat.
-
Is doimhin é poll an amhrais.
Deep is the hole of doubt.
-
Is binn béal ina thost.
A silent mouth is sweet.
-
Má tá tú ag lorg cara gan locht,
beidh tú gan cara go deo.
If you are looking for a friend without fault,
you will be without a friend forever.
-
Is iomaí cor idir béal agus scéal.
It is many a twist between a story and a mouth.
Note: The phonetics used here are standard (Lárchanúint) Irish, although the speaker's voice on the sound files may have a slight regional accent. Do not let this alarm you!
