Scots Gaelic proverbs
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.
- Is fhearr fheuchainn na bhith san duil.
- It’s better to try than to hope.
- Chan eil tuil air nach tig traoghadh.
- Every flood will have an ebb.
- Is e ’n cadal fada ni ’n t–iomradh teth.
- 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.
- Aon bho a bhristeas an garradh, ’s a dha dheug a leumas
- 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.
- 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.
- Is duilich burn glan a thoirt a tobar salach.
- 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.
- Dh’aithnichinn air do sheirc do thabhartas.
- 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.
- An car a bhios san t–seana mhaide, ’s duilich a thoirt as.
- The crook in the old stick is ill to take out.
- Is bior gach srabh san oidhche.
- Every straw is a thorn at night.
- Is iomadh urchair tha dol san fhraoch.
- 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.
- Gheibh righ feachd, ’s gheibh domhan daoine.
- 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.
- Ruigidh an ro-ghiullachd air an ro-ghalar.
- 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.
- Chan eil gach iuchair san tir an crochadh ri aon chrios.
- 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.
- Cuir do lamh sa chliabh, ’s thoir do rogha leabaig as.
- 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.
- Is fhurasda caisteal gun seisdeadh a ghleidheach.
- 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.
- Mar lus an Domhnaich, gun mhath, gun dolaidh
- 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.
- Is minig a bha claidheamh math an droch thruaill.
- 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.
- Is minig a thainig comhairle ghlic a ceann amadain.
- Often has wise counsel comes from a fool’s head.
- Is trom snighe air taigh gun tughadh.
- 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.
- Gabh eolas Rubh’ a’ Bhaird air.
- 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.
- Is tric as daoir’ a’ chomain na ’n dubh-cheannach.
- 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.
- Is ann a tha ’n cairdeas mar a chumar e.
- 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.
- Tha fios fithich agad.
- 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.
- Chan e ciad sgeul an t–sagairt bu choir a chreidsinn.
- 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.
- Is mios’ an t–eagal na ’n cogadh.
- Fear is worse than fighting.
- Bidh gach fear a’ tarraing uisge gu mhuileann fhein.
- 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.
- Dean maorach fhad ’s a bhios an traigh ann.
- Get bait while the tide is out.
- Is uaine feur na faiche as fasaiche.
- 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!
- Is minig a bha an fhirinn searbh ri h–innse.
- Truth is often harsh to tell.
- Is buaine bladh na saoghal.
- 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.
- Caidlidh duine air gach cneadh ach a chneadh fhein.
- 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.
- 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.
- Tha chomhachag ri bron, thig tuiltean oirinn.
- 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!
- Ruithidh an taigeis fhein le bruthaich.
- 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.
- Is mor toirm cuilce gun dol troimhpe.
- 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.'
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Ithear cruach ’na breacagan.
- 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.
- Is math an sgathan suil caraide.
- 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.
- Shaoil leis gum bu leis fhein an cuan fo gheasaibh.
- He thought the ocean his own under his spells.
- Is binn gach eun ’na dhoire fhein.
- 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.
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