Tijó tijó ní s'ọlọ́mọge, ọ̀rọ̀ abiyamọ ní s'adélébọ̀ .

Denotative meaning: A spinster cherishes dancing, while the heart of a married woman is in child upbringing.
Connotative meaning: We have different priorities based on our status.

Tètè gbéyàwó kóo má gbé ìyà wò, má tètè gbéyàwó kó lè ba gbé ìyà wò .

Denotative Meaning: Marry early so that you will not experience hardship; do not marry early that you may taste hardship.

Connotative Meaning: Do the right thing at the right time so that you can enjoy good benefits; do otherwise and face the consequence.

Tálágbádá yíò fi kú, yíyan la ó rò pé ó n yan.

Denotative Meaning: When a man in a big and attractive regalia is dying, people will think he is just stylish.
Connotative Meaning: People that do not take their problems seriously will not be taken seriously, till the situation gets out of hand.

Yoruba Proverb and Meaning.

Taa ní jẹ́ẹ́ ọdẹ -aperin níwájú  ọdẹ apààyàn.


Denotative Meaning: Who is the hunter who kills an elephant beside the hunter that kills human beings.
Connotative Meaning: This proverb is used when we are referring to a superior.  
   
  

Yoruba Proverb and Meaning.

-Taa ní í jẹ́ akúwárápá níwájú akúyányán?


Denotative meaning: Can we compare a person seized by epilepsy to someone that is dead?
Connotative meaning: Life challenges varies and they are in levels. Some are more complex than others. This proverb is used when we want to describe a situation as tougher than another.

Ẹní bá mọ ayé jẹ, kì í gun àgbọn.

Denotative meaning: He who wants to enjoy life will not climb the coconut tree.
Connotative meaning: He who will live long will not live a reckless life.

Ẹní bá rù ló mọ ohun tó fara ṣe

Denotative meaning: A person that loses weight knows what he or she has done with his or her body.'

The connotative meaning is that only the afflicted knows the cause of the affliction. Most times, human beings are the architect of their misfortune.

Ò nse mí, ò ngbà mí, làá se ndúpẹ́ lọ́wọ́ ẹni tó nse ni.

This means, 'we thank the hypocrite because he or she is as nice as cruel'. This wise saying is used when referring to a person that appears kind but behind the kindness is an ulterior motive. The hypocrite comes to console the victim face-to-face and as well speaks against the victim.

ẸNÌ KAN KÌ Í GBỌ́N TÁN

This proverb means, 'no-one is an island of knowledge.' We all learn one way or the other from the people around us. This is a story-turned-proverb in the Yoruba land.

          It is a story about the tortoise, who thought he was wiser than others. In his supposed wisdom, he arranged a heavy bag, and attached it to his neck in order to climb a tree. With the load in front, he could not climb the tree. He tried to climb the tree all day but could not.

          In the evening, someone came around and saw the tortoise struggling with this heavy bag as he attempted to climb the tree. The person then advised the tortoise to put the bag behind rather than in-front. The tortoise did this and it worked. From this event, the tortoise learnt that he does not have all the knowledge as he assumed earlier.

          This story turned into a proverb in the Yoruba land, and it is used to correct someone that thinks he knows it all.