Scottish Gaelic proverbs Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Scots Gaelic proverbs are the folkloric sayings of the Gaels of Scotland, deriving from folkwisdom, pre-Christian myth, and other sources. The following is a small collection of proverbs. They are, of course, in the Scots Gaelic language. The Scottish Gaelic word for proverbs is seanfhaclan, which means "old words".
- Cha d'fhag claidheamh Fhinn riamh fuigheall beuma.
- Fingal's sword never had to cut twice.
- Fingal's sword never had to cut twice.
- Is fhearr fheuchainn na bhith san duil.
- It's better to try than to hope.
- It's better to try than to hope.
- Chan eil tuil air nach tig traoghadh.
- Every flood will have an ebb.
- Every flood will have an ebb.
- Is e 'n cadal fada ni 'n t-iomradh teth.
- Long sleep makes hot rowing.
- Long sleep makes hot rowing.
- Na abair do sheanfhacal gus an toir thu do long gu caladh.
- Don't quote your proverb 'til you bring your ship to port.
- Don't quote your proverb 'til you bring your ship to port.
- Aon bho a bhristeas an garradh, 's a dha dheug a leumas
- One cow breaks the fence, and a dozen leap it.
- One cow breaks the fence, and a dozen leap it.
- Is leor luathas na h-earba gun na coin a chur rithe.
- The roe is swift enough without setting the dogs on her.
- The roe is swift enough without setting the dogs on her.
- Mhealladh e 'n t-ugh bhon chorra-ghlais, ged bhiodh a da shuil a' coimhead air.
- He would cheat the heron of her egg, though her two eyes were fixed on him.
- He would cheat the heron of her egg, though her two eyes were fixed on him.
- Is duilich burn glan a thoirt a tobar salach.
- It's difficult to draw pure water from a dirty well.
- It's difficult to draw pure water from a dirty well.
- Is fhearr an t-olc a chluinntinn na fhaicinn.
- Better to hear the evil than see it.
- Better to hear the evil than see it.
- Dh'aithnichinn air do sheirc do thabhartas.
- I would know your gift by your graciousness.
- I would know your gift by your graciousness.
- Far an taine 'n abhainn, 's ann as mo a fuaim.
- Where the stream is shallowest, greatest is its noise.
- Where the stream is shallowest, greatest is its noise.
- An car a bhios san t-seana mhaide, 's duilich a thoirt as.
- The crook in the old stick is ill to take out.
- The crook in the old stick is ill to take out.
- Is bior gach srabh san oidhche.
- Every straw is a thorn at night.
- Every straw is a thorn at night.
- Is iomadh urchair tha dol san fhraoch.
- Many a shot goes into the heather.
- Many a shot goes into the heather.
- Is fad' an abhainn air nach fhaighear ceann.
- It's a long river whose head can't be found.
- It's a long river whose head can't be found.
- Gheibh righ feachd, 's gheibh domhan daoine.
- Kings will find armies, and the world men.
- Kings will find armies, and the world men.
- Ge cruaidh sgarachdainn, cha robh dithis gun dealachadh.
- Though separation be hard, two never met but had to part.
- Though separation be hard, two never met but had to part.
- Ruigidh an ro-ghiullachd air an ro-ghalar.
- The best of nursing may overcome the worst disease.
- The best of nursing may overcome the worst disease.
- Eisd ri gaoth nam beann gus an traoigh na h-uisgeachan.
- Listen to the mountain wind, 'til the streams abate.
- Listen to the mountain wind, 'til the streams abate.
- Chan eil gach iuchair san tir an crochadh ri aon chrios.
- All the keys in the land do not hang from one girdle.
- All the keys in the land do not hang from one girdle.
- Mas olc am fitheach, chan fhearr a chomann.
- If bad be the raven, his company is no better.
- If bad be the raven, his company is no better.
- Cuir do lamh sa chliabh, 's thoir do rogha leabaig as.
- Put your hand into the creel, and take your choice of flounders.
- Put your hand into the creel, and take your choice of flounders.
- Cho corrach ri ugh air droll.
- As unsteady as an egg on a stick.
- As unsteady as an egg on a stick.
- Is fhurasda caisteal gun seisdeadh a ghleidheach.
- It's easy to keep a castle that's not besieged.
- It's easy to keep a castle that's not besieged.
- Ge fagas clach don lar, is faisge na sin Choibhi.
- Though near be the stone to the ground, closer is the help of Coivi.
- Though near be the stone to the ground, closer is the help of Coivi.
- Mar lus an Domhnaich, gun mhath, gun dolaidh
- Like the herb plucked on Sunday, it does neither good nor ill.
- Like the herb plucked on Sunday, it does neither good nor ill.
- Is i chuileag bhuidhe bhuachair as airde srann.
- The yellow dung-fly makes the loudest hum.
- The yellow dung-fly makes the loudest hum.
- Is minig a bha claidheamh math an droch thruaill.
- Good sword has often been in poor scabbard.
- Good sword has often been in poor scabbard.
- Ma bheir thu Muile dhiom, cha toir thu muir is tir dhiom
- You may take Mull from me, but you can't take sea and land from me.
- You may take Mull from me, but you can't take sea and land from me.
- Is minig a thainig comhairle ghlic a ceann amadain.
- Often has wise counsel comes from a fool's head.
- Often has wise counsel comes from a fool's head.
- Is trom snighe air taigh gun tughadh.
- Raindrops come heavy on a house unthatched.
- Raindrops come heavy on a house unthatched.
- Na geill do ghis, cha gheill gis dhut.
- Don't give in to spells, they won't give in to you.
- Don't give in to spells, they won't give in to you.
- Gabh eolas Rubh' a' Bhaird air.
- Take it like the Bard's Point.
- Take it like the Bard's Point.
- Is i an dias as truime as isle chromas a ceann.
- The heaviest ear of corn bends its head lowest.
- The heaviest ear of corn bends its head lowest.
- Is tric as daoir' a' chomain na 'n dubh-cheannach.
- A favour often costs more than what's hard-bought.
- A favour often costs more than what's hard-bought.
- Cha bhi suaimhneas aig eucoir, no seasamh aig droch-bheairt.
- Wrong cannot rest, nor ill deed stand.
- Wrong cannot rest, nor ill deed stand.
- Is ann a tha 'n cairdeas mar a chumar e.
- Friendship is as it's kept.
- Friendship is as it's kept.
- Am fear nach gleidh na h-airm san t-sith, cha bhi iad aige 'n am a' chogaidh.
- He that keeps not his arms in time of peace will have none in time of war.
- (IE: If you want peace, prepare for war. Cf. Latin and French proverbs.)
- Cha tig muir mhor tron chaolas chumhann.
- A great sea comes not through a narrow strait.
- A great sea comes not through a narrow strait.
- Tha fios fithich agad.
- You have a raven's knowledge.
- You have a raven's knowledge.
- Cha tuig an t-og aimbeart, 's cha tuig amadan aimhleas.
- Youth foresees not poverty, nor the fool his mischief.
- Youth foresees not poverty, nor the fool his mischief.
- Chan e ciad sgeul an t-sagairt bu choir a chreidsinn.
- It is not the priest's first story that should be believed.
- It is not the priest's first story that should be believed.
- An uair as laine 'n cupan, 's ann as dorr' a ghiulan.
- When the cup is fullest it is most difficult to carry.
- When the cup is fullest it is most difficult to carry.
- Is mios' an t-eagal na 'n cogadh.
- Fear is worse than fighting.
- Fear is worse than fighting.
- Bidh gach fear a' tarraing uisge gu mhuileann fhein.
- Each draws water to his own mill.
- Each draws water to his own mill.
- Bheir duine beath' air eiginn, ach cha toir e rath air eiginn.
- A man may force a livelihood, but cannot force fortune.
- A man may force a livelihood, but cannot force fortune.
- Dean maorach fhad 's a bhios an traigh ann.
- Get bait while the tide is out.
- Get bait while the tide is out.
- Is uaine feur na faiche as fasaiche.
- Green is the grass of the least trodden field.
- Green is the grass of the least trodden field.
- Ma tha Dia ann, 's chan eil fhios a bheil, fag eadar sinn fhein 's na biodagan!
- If there be a God, and no one knows whether there be, leave it between ourselves and the dirks!
- If there be a God, and no one knows whether there be, leave it between ourselves and the dirks!
- Is minig a bha an fhirinn searbh ri h-innse.
- Truth is often harsh to tell.
- Truth is often harsh to tell.
- Is buaine bladh na saoghal.
- Renown is more lasting than life.
- Renown is more lasting than life.
- Na tarraing mi gun adhbhar, 's na pill mi gun chliu.
- Neither draw me without cause, nor return me without honour.
- (A sword inscription.)
- Is cruaidh a leonar an leanabh nach innis a ghearan.
- The child is sadly hurt that doesn't tell his illness.
- The child is sadly hurt that doesn't tell his illness.
- Caidlidh duine air gach cneadh ach a chneadh fhein.
- A man can sleep on every hurt but his own.
- A man can sleep on every hurt but his own.
- Is fhearr na 'n t-or sgeul innse air choir.
- Better than gold is a tale rightly told.
- Better than gold is a tale rightly told.
- Chan or a h-uile rud buidhe, 's chan uighean a h-uile rud ban.
- All that's yellow is not gold, and all white things are not eggs.
- All that's yellow is not gold, and all white things are not eggs.
- Tha chomhachag ri bron, thig tuiltean oirinn.
- The owl is mourning, rain is coming.
- The owl is mourning, rain is coming.
- Fialachd don fhogarrach, 's cnaimhean briste don eucorach!
- Hospitality to the exile, and broken bones to the oppressor!
- Hospitality to the exile, and broken bones to the oppressor!
- Ruithidh an taigeis fhein le bruthaich.
- Even a haggis will run downhill.
- Even a haggis will run downhill.
- Is ioma doigh a th' air cu a mharbhadh gun a thachdadh le ìm.
- There are many ways of killing a dog without choking him with butter.
- There are many ways of killing a dog without choking him with butter.
- Is mor toirm cuilce gun dol troimhpe.
- The storm of reeds is loud till you go through them.
- The storm of reeds is loud till you go through them.
- Is lugha na fride mathair a' chonnsachaidh.
- The mother of dissension is smaller than a mite.'
- The mother of dissension is smaller than a mite.'
- Mar a theid an t-eun o dhuilleag gu duilleag, theid am meanan o dhuine gu duine.
- As the bird goes from leaf to leaf, the yawn goes from man to man.
- As the bird goes from leaf to leaf, the yawn goes from man to man.
- Moran sgalan, 's beagan ollainn, mun dubhairt Muisean 's e lomairt na muice.
- Great cry and little wool, as the Devil said when he sheared the sow.
- Great cry and little wool, as the Devil said when he sheared the sow.
- Na innis do run do d'charaide gorach, no do d'namhaid glic.
- Tell not thy mind to thy foolish friend, nor to thy wise enemy.
- Tell not thy mind to thy foolish friend, nor to thy wise enemy.
- Ithear cruach 'na breacagan.
- A stack can be eaten in cakes.
- A stack can be eaten in cakes.
- Chan e gogadh nan ceann a ni an t-iomradh.
- It is not the nodding of heads that does the rowing.
- It is not the nodding of heads that does the rowing.
- Is math an sgathan suil caraide.
- A friend's eye is a good looking-glass.
- A friend's eye is a good looking-glass.
- Is fhearr deagh chainnt na h-asail na droch fhacal faidh.
- The good speech of an ass is better than the bad word of a prophet.
- The good speech of an ass is better than the bad word of a prophet.
- Shaoil leis gum bu leis fhein an cuan fo gheasaibh.
- He thought the ocean his own under his spells.
- He thought the ocean his own under his spells.
- Is binn gach eun 'na dhoire fhein.
- Sweet sings each bird in his own grove.
- Sweet sings each bird in his own grove.
- An rud a nitear sa chuil, thig e dh'ionnsaigh an teine.
- What's done in the corner will come to the hearth.
- What's done in the corner will come to the hearth.
This is an Article on Scottish Gaelic proverbs. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Scottish Gaelic proverbs See also
External links