A collection of proverbs in Irish with English equivalents and translations.
Proverbs | English versions |
---|---|
Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile | It takes one to know one (A beetle recognises another beetle) |
Bíonn adharca fada ar na buaidh thar lear | The grass is greener on the other side of the fence (Cattle in faraway lands have long horns) |
Bíonn blas milis ar phraiseach na gcomharsan | The grass is greener on the other side of the fence (The neighbour's porriage tastes sweet) |
Cleachtadh a dhéanann maistreacht | Practice makes perfect ("Practice makes mastery") |
Doras feasa fiafraí | Asking is the door to knowledge |
Giorraíonn beirt bóthar | Two people shorten a road |
Is binn béal ina thost | Silence is golden ("A silent mouth sounds sweet") |
Is maith an scáthán súil charad | A friend's eye is a good mirror |
Is minic ciúin ciontach | The quiet one is often guilty |
Is minic cú mall sona | A slow hound was often lucky |
Maireann croí éadrom i bhfad | A light heart lives longest |
Maireann na daoine ar scáil a chéile | The people live in one another's shadows |
Marbh le tae agus marbh gan é | Dead with tea and dead without it |
Moladh luath agus cáineadh mall | Early praise and delayed criticism |
Níl aon leigheas ar an ngrá ach pósadh | There's no cure for love but marriage |
Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin | There's no place like home ("There's no hearth like your own hearth") |
Níor bhris focal maith fiacail riamh | A good word never broke a tooth |
Tarraingíonn scéal scéal eile | One story leads on to another |
Other collections of Irish idioms and expressions
http://www.daltai.com/proverbs/cat02.htm%23section09/
http://talkirish.com/blogs/irishproverbaday/
http://www.gleg.ie/gaeilge-sa-ghno/seanfhocail/
Irish language | Gaelic script | Ogham alphabet | Phrases | Numbers: Modern Irish, Middle Irish, Old Irish | Colours | Family words | Terms of endearment | Time | Dates | Weather | Proverbs | Comparison of Celtic languages | Celtic cognates | Celtiadur | Tower of Babel | Tongue twisters | Songs | Learning materials | Books about Ogham | My podcast about Irish | Links
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Useful phrases | Silly phrases | Numbers | Numerals | Colours | Telling the time | Dates | Weather words | Family words | Terms of endearment | Language names | Country names | Idioms | Proverbs | Tongue twisters | Signs | Compass directions | UDHR | Tower of Babel | Songs | Omniglot | Seven dwarfs | Zodiac signs | Computer parts | Compass directions | Animal sounds
[top]
Why not share this page:
If you like this site and find it useful, you can support it by making a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or by contributing in other ways. Omniglot is how I make my living.
Note: all links on this site to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.fr are affiliate links. This means I earn a commission if you click on any of them and buy something. So by clicking on these links you can help to support this site.
Get a 30-day Free Trial of Amazon Prime (UK)
[top]