Irish Language Proverbs
Seanfhocail na Gaeilge
Proverbs are wise sayings that have been passed down and refined by generations of Irish speakers. Proverbs reflect who we are, what is important to us, and how we see the world. For such simple phrases, they do a lot of hard work: they teach us about our culture, give us advice, teach us right and wrong, help us solve problems, understand things better, and make people feel better.
Learn the stories behind some of our proverbs
Latest Additions
Dáltaí na Gaeilge (USA) has worked for many years creating an expansive collection of proverbs, with background details and reordings. If you are interested in proverbs, we highly recommend giving their site a visit as well:
Virtues
Is den ghlóire an ghlaine — Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
Is fiach má ghealltar — A promise is a debt.
An ceart roimh an bhféile — Justice before generosity.
Filleann an feall ar an bhfeallaire — The evil deed returns on the evil doer.
Ní uasal ná íseal ach thuas seal agus thíos — There isn’t nobility or ignobility but up a while and down a while.
Mar a chuirfeas tú bainfidh tú — As you sow, so shall you reap.
Gheobhaidh foighne forthacht — All comes to him who waits.
Is den tsuáilce an fhoighne — Patience is a virtue.
Is binn béal ina thost — A silent mouth is sweet.
Focal airgead - ciúine ór! — Speech is silver- silence is gold.
Is fearr clú ná conách — Reputation is better than wealth.
Life and Death
Is iomaí cor sa tsaol — There are many twists (unexpected events) in life
Níl sa saol seo ach gaoth agus toit — This life is only wind and smoke
Is milis an rud an saol — Life is sweet
Ní beatha go dul ar neamh — There’s no life until we go to heaven
Glac an saol mar a thig sé leat! — Take life as it comes!
Is buaine bláth ná beatha — Fame is more enduring than life
Is fearr an tsláinte ná an táinte — Health is better than wealth
Tabhartas Dé guile folláin — A healthy appetite is a gift from god
Is maith an lia an t-am — Time heals
Bíonn an bás mar leigheas ar an saol — Death is the cure for life.
Is iomaí lá sa reilig orainne — Many’s a day in the graveyard upon us!
Lia gach boicht bás — Every poor mans healer is death
Bíonn súil le muir ach ní bhíonn súil le huaigh — There is hope with the sea but there is no hope with the grave.
Bua na beatha an bás — The victory of life is death.
Síleann do namhaid agus do chara nach bhfaighidh tú bás choíche — Both your enemy and your friend think you will never die.
Ní sonas seanaois ní bainis bás — Old age isn’t happiness and death isn’t a wedding.
Ní thabharfaidh tú do chóta chun na huaighe — You will not bring your coat to the grave.
Cothaíonn grain bás — Hatred Kills.
Deartháir don bhás an codladh — Sleep is a brother to death.
Is mairg an té a fhaigheann bás san fhearthainn mar tagann an ghrian amach ina diaidh — Woe to him who dies in the rain because the sun comes out afterwards.
Is trom an rud cearc i bhfad — Give it up / lighten up
Is olc an ghaoth nach séideann do dhuine éigin — It’s an evil wind that doesn’t blow good for some one
Work
Ní féidir le aon duine a bheith ag feadaíl agus ag ithe míne — You can’t do two things at once
Mian amadáin an díomhaointeas — Laziness is a fool’s desire
Ní hé lá na gaoithe lá na scoilb — The windy day isn’t the day for thatching
Tús maith leath na hoibre — Good start is half the work
Ina dhiaidh a chéile a tógadh na caisleáin — Rome wasn’t built in a day
Ná cuir gnó an lae inniu go dtí amarach — Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today
Déanann gach moch a ghnó — An early riser gets through his business
Buail an t-iarann fad is atá sé te — Strike while the iron is hot
Is é an ceannaí moch a dhéanann an margadh — It is the early merchant that clinches the deal
Tá dhá lá san earrach níos fearr ná deich lá san fhómhar — Two days in spring are better than ten days in autumn
An té nach gcuireann san earrach ní bhainneann sé san fhómhar — The one who doesn’t sow in the spring will not reap in the autumn
Ní fhánann uain ná taoide le haon dhuine — opportunity or the tide waits for no man
Cruthú na putóige a hithe — The proof of the pudding is in the eating
Ní féidir an dá thrá a fhreastal — You can’t be in two places at the same time
Tamall gan treoir- tamall na ndeor — Time without direction is a time of tears
Nuair a bíonn a cat amuigh bíonn na luchóg’ ag rince — When the cat’s away the mice play
Is fusa scaipeadh ná cruinniú — Scattering is easier than gathering
Molann an obair an fear — anything worth doing is worth doing well
Relations
An rud nach féidir a leigheas is í an fhoighne is fearr — The thing that cannot be cured must be endured
Is treise nádúr ná oiliúint — Nature is stronger than nurture
Ní fheiceann duine a lochtanna féin — A person doesn’t see their own faults
Is minic a bhí gránna greannmhar agus daoi dathúil — It is often that ugly was fun and handsome was glum
Ná tabhair taobh le fear fala — Do not trust a spiteful man
Ní mór don fhear beag bheith glic — The little man must be cunning.
Ní heolas go haontíos — You never know someone until you live with them.
Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile — One beatle recognises another.
Briseann an dúchas trí shúile an chait — The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
Beagán a rá agus a rá go maith — Say a little and say it well
D’fhear cogaidh comhaltar síocháin — Prepare for war to keep the peace
Is fearr rith maith ná drochsheasamh! — A good run is better than a bad stand.
An té atá thuas óltar deoch dó an té atá thíos buailtear cos faoi — The man who is doing well receives a toast, the man who is down is kicked
Is fearr an troid ná an t-uaigneas — Fighting is better than loneliness
Is minic a bhris béal duine a shron — It’s often that someone’s mouth broke their nose
Is minic ciúin ciontach — The silent one is usually the guilty one.
Sionnach i gcraiceann an uain — A fox in a lamb’s skin (wolf in sheep’s clothing)
Is minic cuma aingeal ar an Diabhal féin — a wolf in sheep’s clothing
Níor bhris deafhocal béal éinne riamh — A kind word never broke anyone’s mouth
An uair a bhíonn an deoch istigh bíonn an chiall amuigh — When drink is in, sense is out
Beag an sochar ón síor-mheisce — There is little profit from being constantly drunk
Is ionann meisceoir agus pótaire — A drunkard is the same as a drunk
Love and Friendship
Folaíonn grá gráin — Love is blind
Níl aon leigheas ar an ghrá ach pósadh — There’s no cure for love except marriage
Capall an tsaoil an grá — Love makes the world go around
Maireann lá go ruaig ach maireann an grá go huaigh — A day lasts until it’s chased away but love lasts until the grave
Nochtann grá gnaoi — Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Pós bean oileáin agus pósfaidh tú an t-oileán ar fad — Marry an island woman and you marry the whole island
An té nach bpósann níl ach uaigneas dilte dósan — He who does not marry will be lonely
Mairg nach ndéanann comhairle deamhná — Woe to him who does not have the counsel of a good wife
(toast) Sliocht sleachta ar sliocht bhur sleachta! — May you have children and your children have children
(proposal) An luífeása le mo mhuintirse? — Would you like to be buried with my people
Ní slua neach ina aonar — One man on his own doesn’t make an army
Is fearr seanfhiacha ná seanfhala — Old debts are better than old grudges
Aithnítear cara i gcruatan — A friend in need is a friend indeed
Is maith an scáthán súil charad — A friends eye is a good mirror
Is é dán na gcairde scaradh — Friends must part
Is maol gualainn gan bhráthair — It’s a bare shoulder without a friend
Wisdom
Is deacair cleas nua a mhúineadh do sheanmhadra — It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks
Namhaid ceird mura gcleachtar — Practice makes perfect
Is trom an t-ualach aineolas — Ignorance is a heavy burden
Ní bhíonn saoi gan locht — There isn’t a wise man without flaws
Aithníonn óinseach amadán — A foolish woman recognises a fool
Éist le fuaim na habhainn agus gheobhaidh tú breac — Listen to the sound of the stream and you will get a trout
Ocht radharc- ocht gcuimhne — Eight observations- eight recollections
Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí — Praise youth and it will prosper
Ní thagann an óige faoi dhó choíche — You’re only young once
Ní feidir ceann críonna a chur ar ghualain óig — You can’t put a wise head on a young shoulder
Chomh glic le sionnach — Clever as a fox
Is maith an scéalaí an aimsir — Time will tell
Ní mar a síltear a bítear — Things are not as they are imagined
Ní thagann ciall roimh aois — Experience is the best teacher
Truth
Bíonn dhá chos ar bhréag ach ní bhíonn ach leathchos ar an fhírinne — A lie has two feet but the truth walks lame
Is cuairteoir déanach an fhírinne ach tiocfaidh gan gó — The truth is a late visitor but arrives eventually
Imíonn bréag ach fanann an fhírinne — A lie passes away but the truth remains
Bia an bhoicht bréag — A lie is food for the poor
Is minic gur searbh an fhírinne ach is milis an bhréag bheag ar uaire — Truth is often bitter and a small lie can sometimes be sweet
Mór í an fhírinne agus buafaidh sí — The truth is great and will prevail
Is é an clúmhilleadh an t-olc is measa — Slander is the worst evil
Dúirt bean liom go ndúirt bean léi — Don’t believe everything you hear
Sceitheann fíon fírinne — Wine releases the truth
Want
Is maith an t-anlann an t-ocras — Hunger is the best sauce
Is buí le bocht an beagán — Beggars can’t be choosers
Ná bac le mac an bhacaigh agus ní bhacfaidh mac an bhacaigh leat — Don’t bother the beggar’s son and the beggar’s son won’t bother you
Déan taise le déirceach is déanfaidh Dia taise leat — Have pity on the beggar and God will have pity on you
Múineann gá seift — Necessity is the mother of invention
Is é croí na féile fáilte chaoin — The heart of generosity is a kind welcome
Ní mhaireann na bráithre ar bhriartha — Monks don’t live on words ( i.e. Be Generous!)
Níor ordaigh Dia riamh béal gan bia — God never ordained a mouth to be without food
Is é a locht a laghad — It’s only defect is that there isn’t enough of it
Is fusa sparán amadáin a scaoileadh — A fool and his money is easily parted
An rud is annamh is iontaí the thing that is rare is wonderful — Ní minic a bhíos bocht greannmhar a poor man’s jokes are seldom appreciated
Ní naire an bhochtannacht — Poverty is not shame
Bailíonn brobh beart — Every little counts
Is mór na beaganna i dteannta a chéile — All the little things add up
Is é cosaint na pingine a chruachas na puint — Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves
Tíos na pingine agus cur amú na scillinge — Penny-wise and shilling-wasteful
Ná bí caifeach agus ní bheidh tú gann — Don’t be wasteful and you will want not
Ó loisc tú an choinneal, loisc an t-orlach — Since you lit the candle, (might as well) burn the inch
Ní thuigeann saibhir bocht — A rich man never understands a poor man
Sparán trom- croi éadrom — A heavy purse makes for a light heart
Is minic a bhíonn saibhir bocht — It is often the wealthy are poor
Is binn blas ar an mbeagán — Small amounts are sweet
Is fearr breac sa láimh ná bradán sa linn — A trout in the hand is worth a salmon in the pool
Ní tread caora — One sheep is not a flock
An rud is annamh is iontaí — The rare thing is a thing of wonder
Ní sheasann sac folamh — An empty sack doesn’t stand
Gheibheann pingin pingin eile — money comes to money
Is searbh an t-arán ite — Eaten bread is soon forgotten
Is fearr buíochas brothallach ná féirín fuar — Warm gratitude is better than a cold present
Is gear blas an díomuíochais — It is bitter the taste of ingratitude
Travel
Is glas iad na cnoic i bhfad uainn — The hills far from home look green
Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin — No fireside like your own
Giorraíonn beirt bother — Two shorten the road
Bíonn adharca móra ar na buaibh tharr lear — The grass is always greener on the other side
Ballaí bána roimh thuras fada — White walls before a long journey (make sure everything is tidy before you set off)