Sunday, August 10, 2025

Owe Yoruba | Yoruba Proverb and Its Meaning | B í a bá pé kí a bẹ́’gi a ó bẹ́ ènìyàn

 



Yoruba Proverb:

B í a bá pé kí a bẹ́’gi a ó bẹ́ ènìyàn

The audio narration is available on our YouTube page. Click: Bi a ba pe ki a be'gi a o be eniyan

Denotative meaning: In felling the trees, you may wound the people.

Connotative meaning: When the dishonest are punished, the honest may feel the blow too. A trap set for the rat may catch the hen.


Owe Yoruba | Yoruba Proverb and Its Meaning: Baálé ni ọlọ́ràn awo

 



Yoruba Proverb: Baálé ni ọlọ́ràn awo

The narration is available on our YouTube page. Click here: Baale ni oloran awo

Denotative meaning: The head of the family holds the family’s secrets

Connotative meaning: A leader should always keep the house or group in order no matter what. (Insight: leadership, trust, authority, and cultural and emotional balance).


Yoruba Proverb and Meaning (Owe Yoruba) - Ààbọ̀ ọ̀rọ̀ l’ àá sọ fún ọmọlúàbí ; tí ó bá dé inú rẹ̀ ádi odidi

 




To listen to the audio, watch our narration of this proverb on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNmrzGyC92o

Click to watch:

A word is enough for the wise in Yoruba


Yoruba Proverb:

Ààbọ̀  ọ̀rọ̀ l’ àá sọ fún ọmọlúàbí; tí ó bá dé inú rẹ̀ ádi odidi

Denotative Meaning:

A word is enough for the wise

Connotative Meaning:

A wise person only needs a hint




Tuesday, August 5, 2025

ÒWE YORÙBÁ -ITAN D' ÒWE (YORUBA PROVERB - A TALE TURNED PROVERB) : A F’ÀDÀMỌ̀ DÁ'MỌ LẸ́KUN ÀWÓWÓ

 





                                              

You can listen to the audio explanation of the proverb on our youtube page; please click the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7zpkk4L7cU 






English Interpretation:

We use a gun to silence the one who boasts about crushing us.

Story:
During the war between the people of Ibadan and Ijaye, Iseyin supported Ijaye and drove Ibadan out of their territory. Later, Saki went to war and compelled nearby towns into an alliance. As a result, Ijaye had to abandon Iseyin. In the end, Ibadan triumphed and sang songs of victory, having defeated those who once tried to oppress them.

Meaning:
This Yoruba proverb is used to caution those who oppress others. It implies that while the oppressor may seem powerful, the oppressed can rise if they gain the right advantage. Before confronting a bully, ensure you have the means, symbolised here by the “gun”, to fight back.
















Saturday, July 7, 2018

Yoruba Words and Meaning

1. Iwáró: Two people that escort a new wife to her husband's house

2. Alágbe: A person who sings and dances for money

3. Onísòwò: Someone that is into buying and selling

4. Àgbẹ̀: A farmer

5. Agbẹjọ́rò: A lawyer

6. Alágbẹ̀dẹ: A smith

7. Babaláwo: An ifa priest

8. Ọ̀tá: An enemy

9. Alápatà: A butcher

10. Pẹjapẹja: A fisher

11. Àyò: A favorite

12.  Òbùrẹwà: An ugly person

13. Aláròká: A rumour monger or talebearer

14. Onírìkísí or Ọlọ̀tẹ̀: A dilly dally person or someone that plots conspiracy or a betrayal

15.  Wọ̀bìà or Alájẹjù: A glutton

16. Alámupara: A drunkard

17. Arúfin: A defaulter

18. Ẹlẹ́wọ̀n: A prisoner

19. Alágbàtọ́: A carer or nanny

20. Alákọ́bẹ̀rẹ̀: A beginner

21. Ọlọ́pàá: Police

22. Rélùwéé: Railway

23. Mlémọlé: A builder or bricklayer

24. Gbẹ́nàgbẹ́nà: A carpenter

25. Olùgbìfọ̀: A translator

26. Alágbàfọ̀: A laundry man

27. Onígbàjamọ̀: A barber

28. Jagunjagun: A warrior

29. Oníwòsìwósì: A petty trader

30. Elébìrà: A worker or labourer

31. Alárinà: A match maker or an intermediary

32. Arẹwà: A beautiful person

33. Akọ̀wé: An educated person

34. Adájọ́: A judge

35. Ẹrú: A slave

36. Òkóbó Akúra: An impotent man

37. Orò: A masqurade festival that a woman must not see.

Yoruba Proverbs and Their Meaning

1. Ẹnu ò mẹnu, ètè ò métè ní kó ọ̀ràn bá ẹ̀rẹ̀kẹ́

Meaning: Excessive talk brings insult.

2. Ẹni t'ó yá ẹgbẹ̀fà tí kò san, o bẹ́gi dínà ẹgbàá

Meaning: A person who has defaulted on repaying 1,200 disqualifies himself or herself from a credit of 2,000 from the same source.

3. Ẹni tó sọ pé kárá ilé òun má là, ará òde ní yóò yaa lọ́fà

Meaning: He who wishes poverty for his or her relations will end up as a bond-man in the hands of strangers

4. Ẹni tó llẹ́dẹ̀ ló lẹ̀ẹ̀dẹ̀

Meaning: The owner of the pigs owns or dominates the compound.

5. Ẹni tó jogún kógún, ìtàn kítàn ni yóò máa pa

Meaning: He or she who illicitly inherits will live to tell fictitious stories to back up his or her illegal act.

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Names meaning "Abundance" are names beginning with: "Ọ̀PÁ

Names that start with Ọ̀PÁ suggest there was an abundance at the time of birth of a child. Examples of such names are:

1. Ọ̀pákúnlé: Abundance fills the house.

2. Ọ̀pálẹ́yẹ: Abundance confers dignity.

3. Ọ̀páyẹmí: Abundance suits me.

4. Ọlọ́pàádé: The one who lives in abundance is here or worshiper of the god of abundance is here

The list is endless.