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Gaelic Proverbs

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Tricia

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Gaelic Proverbs

PostThu Jul 17, 2014 1:19 pm

Gaelic proverbs



An nì chì na big, ‘s e nì na big.
What the little ones see, the little ones do.

Cha deoch-slàint, i gun a tràghadh.
It’s no health if the glass is not emptied.

Cha bhi fios aire math an tobair gus an tràigh e.
The value of the well is not known until it goes dry.

Cha dèan ‘Tapadh leis an fhìdhlear’ am fìdhlear a phàigheadh.
A ‘thank you’ doesn’t pay the fiddler.

Cha b’e là na gaoithe là nan sgolb.
The windy day is not the day for thatch-wattles.

Bidh an t-ubhal as fheàrr air a’mheangan as àirde.
The best apple is on the highest bough.

Ge milis am fìon, tha e searbh ri dhìol.
The wine is sweet, the paying bitter.

Fear sam bith a loisgeas a mhàs, ‘s e fhèin a dh’fheumas suidhe air.
Whoever burns his backside must himself sit upon it.

Gluais faicilleach le cupan làn.
Go carefully with a full cup.

Is e ‘n t-ionnsachadh òg an t-ionnsachadh bòidheach.
The learning in youth is the pretty learning.

An làmb a bheir, ‘s i a gheibh.
The hand that gives is the hand that gets.

Chan ann leis a’chiad bhuille thuiteas a’chraobh.
It is not with the first stroke that the tree falls.

Bidh mìr a’ ghill’ èasgaidh air gach mèis.
The smart fellow’s share is on every dish.

Cha bhi fios aire math an tobair gus an tràigh e.
The value of the well is not known until it goes dry.

Chan fhiach cuirm gun a còmhradh.
A feast is no use without good talk.

Cha tuit caoran à cliabh falamh.
Peats don’t fall from empty creels.

Cha toir a’bhòidhchead goil air a’ phoit.
Beauty won’t boil the pot.

Far an taine ‘n abhainn, ‘s ann as mò a fuaim.
Where the stream is shallowest, it is noisiest.

Na toilich do mhiann gus am feuch thu do sporan.
Check your purse before you please yourself.

Is uaisle am breid na toll.
A patch is better than a hole.

Tachraidh na daoine, ach cha tachair na cnuic.
Men will meet, but the hills will not.

Dùnan math innearach, màthair na ciste-mine.
A good dungheap is mother to the meal chest.

Am feur a thig a-mach sa Mhàrt, thèid e staigh sa Ghiblean.
The grass that grows in March disappears in April.

Bàthaidh uisge teth teine.
Hot water will quench fire.

Cha robh dithis riamh a’ fadadh teine nach do las eatarra.
Two never kindled a fire but it lit between them.

Chan eil deathach an taigh na h-uiseig.
There is no smoke in a lark’s house.

Cha chinn feur air an rathad mhòr.
Grass does not grow on the high road.

Cha d’dhùin doras nach d’fhosgail doras.
No door ever closed, but another opened.

Cùm do chù ri leigeadh.
Hold back your dog till the deer falls.

Cha dèan cas làidir nach ith brù mhòr.
The strong foot will not find more than the big belly will devour.

Cha d’fhuair sùil ghionach riamh cunnradh math.
A covetous eye never got a good bargain.

Cha do bhrist fear riamh a bhogha nach d’fheum fear eile ‘n t-sreang.
No man ever broke his bow but another man found a use for the string.

Chan iongnadh boladh nan sgadan a bhith den t-soitheach sam bi iad.
No wonder the cast smells of the herrings that it holds.

Cha tèid nì sam bith san dòrn dùinte.
Nothing can get into a closed fist.

Ge milis a’ mhil, cò dh’imlicheadh o bhàrr dri i?
Honey may be sweet, but no-one licks it off a briar.

Gabhaidh an connadh fliuch, ach cha ghabh a’ chlach.
Wet fuel may kindle, but a stone never will.

Is sleamhainn leac doras an taigh mhòir.
The chief’s house has a slippery doorstep.

Ge b’e thig gun chuireadh, suidhidh e gun iarraidh.
Who comes uninvited will sit down unbidden.

Is truagh a’bhantrach a’ phiob.
Poor is the bagpipe when widowed.

Is fheàrr teine beag a gharas na teine mòr a loisgeas.
The little fire that warms is better than the big fire that burns.

Is àrd ceann an fhèidh sa chreachann.
Lofty is the deer’s head on the top of the mountain.

Is luath fear doimeig air fàire, latha fuar Earraich.
Swift is the slut’s husband over the hill, on a bleak day in Spring.
My ipad controls my spellings not me so apologies from it in advance :) lol

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