Proverbial Sayings
Ní legand bruith omh einní.
Ní legand bruith omh einní.
(not * melts * cooking * raw * anything)
Half-cooking softens nothing.
Do·tét torcc mór do orcann…
Do·tét torcc mór do orcann is do áibill fhásas breo.
(comes * boar * big * from * piglet * and * from * spark * grows * flame)
A great boar comes from a piglet and and from a spark a flame grows.
Ní bheantar a hainm don bhairíghin.
Ní bheantar a hainm don bhairíghin.
(not * is taken * its * name * from the * loaf)
One must call a loaf of bread a loaf of bread.
Cond bó búachaill i mbánsoilsi.
Cond bó búachaill i mbánsoilsi.
(sense * of cow * cowherd * in * white-light)
A herdsman is the good sense of a cow in daylight.
Ní túalaing mór nad·fhulaing in mbec.
Ní túalaing mór nad·fhulaing in mbec.
(not * capable of * great(ness) * who does not endure * the * small)
He who cannot bear the small is not capable of the great.
Ná séit oíbell cen atúd.
Ná séit oíbell cen atúd.
(not * blow * ember * without * (power of) kindling)
Do not blow on an ember that has no fire in it.
Íarus fis, túathus cath, airthius bláth, teissius séis.
Íarus fis, túathus cath, airthius bláth, teissius séis.
(in the west * knowledge * in the north * battle * in the east * blossom * in the south * melody)
Knowledge in the west, battle in the north, prosperity in the east, music in the south.
Mairg téid a tacaib in chraind.
Mairg téid a tacaib in chraind.
(woe betide * (who) goes * from * rungs * of the * pole)
Woe to the one who slips from the rungs of the ladder.
Ní mochen nech nos·fothraic nád·ib dig.
Ní mochen nech nos·fothraic nád·ib dig.
(not * lucky * person * that bathes himself * that not drinks * drink)
Not lucky the man who takes a bath without taking a drink.
Droch do drochaib, dag do dagaib.
Droch do drochaib, dag do dagaib.
(bad * to * bad ones * good * to * good ones)
Bad to the bad, and good to the good.