Irish idioms (Seanfhocail Ghaeilge)
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 |
The only cure for love is 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 |
Links
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/
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