Proverbs

Relationships / Dealing With Others

Ná bris do loirgín ar stól nach bhfuil i do shlí.
Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.
Ná nocht d’fhiacla go bhféadair an greim do bhreith.
Don't bare your teeth until you can bite.
Bhí clog sa chill is níor bhinn clog é. Ach tháinig clog eile ‘on cill is rinne clog binn den…
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.
Fóireann spallaí do bhallaí chomh maith le clocha móra.
Walls require spalls as well as large stones.
An té nach bhfuil láidir ní folair dó a bheith glic.
Whoever is not strong must be clever.
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.
Ni théann cuileog san mbéal a bhíos dúnta.
A fly will not go into a mouth that is closed.
An rud nach mbaineann duit ná bain dó.
Don't interfere with [any] thing that doesn't concern you.
Déan an fál nó iocfaidh tú foghail.
Make the fence or you will pay the plundering.
Is minic a ghearr teanga duine a scornach.
It is often that a person's tongue cut his throat.
Is minic a bhris beál duine a shrón.
It is often that a person's mouth broke his nose.

Go bhfága Dia do shláinte agat.
May God spare you your health.
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.
Dia linn is deoch is ní raibh mé riamh bocht.
God with us and a drink, and may I never be poor.
Sláinte chuig na fir agus go maire na mná go deo!
Health to the men and may the women live forever!

Chíonn beirt rud nach bhfeiceann duine amháin.
Two people see a thing that an individual does not see.
Ní neart go cur le chéile.
There is no strength without unity.
Ní bhíonn an rath, ach mara mbíonn an smacht.
There is no prosperity unless there is discipline.

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 minic ubh bhán ag cearc dhubh.
A black hen often has a white egg.
Is folamh fuar é teach gan bean.
A house without a woman is empty [and] cold.
Is fearr beagán den ghaol ná mórán den charthanas.
A little kinship is better than a lot of charity.
Mol an páiste agus molann tú an mháthair.
Praise the child and you praise the mother.
An mháthair leis an mac agus an iníon leis an athair.
The mother (sides) with the son, and the daughter with the father.
Bíonn caora dhubh ar an tréad is gile.
There tends to be a black sheep (even) in the whitest flock.
Níl aon tóin tinn mar do thóin tinn féin.
There's no sore ass like your own sore ass.
Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin.
There's no hearth like your own hearth.
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.

Lá Nollaig go péacach is Lá Féile na Stiofáin ag iarraidh déirce.
A showy Christmas Day and begging on the Feast of St. Stephen.
Is í an eorna nua tú a fheiceáil.
Seeing you is like seeing the new (season's) barley.
Síleann do chara agus do namhaid nach bhfaighidh tú bás choíce.
[Both] your friend and your enemy think you will never die.
Is maith an scáthán súil charad.
A friend's eye is a good mirror.
Aithnítear cara i gcruatán.
A friend is known in hardship.
Giorraíonn beirt bóthar.
Two people shorten a road.
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).
Maireann na daoine ar scáil a chéile.
The people live in one another's shadows.

Folaíonn grá gráin.
Love veils ugliness.
Is geal leis an bhfiach dubh a ghearrcach féin.
The raven thinks its own nestling fair.
Níl aon leigheas ar an ngrá ach pósadh.
There is no cure for love but marriage.
(The only cure for love is marriage.).

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.
Ná gabh bean gan locht.
Do not take a wife without fault.
Ní féasta go rósta, ‘is ní céasta go pósta.
There is no feast like a roast, and no torment like a marriage.