Seanfhocail
Nádúr & An Saol
An rud is annamh, is iontach
– What is rare is strangest.
Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile
– It takes one to know one.
Bíonn blas ar an mbeagán
– A little tastes well.
Eochair feasa foghlaim
– Learning is the key to knowledge.
Giorraíonn beirt bóthar
– Two shorten the road
Is binn béal ina thost
– Silence is golden.
Tagann cruatan i ndiaidh an chaite
– Waste not, want not.
Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine
– People live in one another’s shadow.
Uireasa a mhéadaíonn cumha.
– Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Is breá an ní an óige, ach ní thagann sí faoi dhó.
– Youth is a fine thing, but it does not come twice.
Níor bhris focal maith fiacail riamh.
– A good word never broke a tooth.
Ní bhíonn in aon rud ach seal.
– Nothing lasts for ever.
Is minic ciúin ciontach.
– The quiet ones are often guilty.
Críonnacht & Gaolta
Imíonn an tuirse is fanann an tairbhe.
– Tiredness goes away and the benefit remains.
Maireann croí éadrom i bhfad
– A light heart lives longest.
Ní féidir an dubh a chur ina gheal, ach seal
– You can only deny the truth, for a while.
Ní neart go cur le chéile.
– There is no strength without unity.
Níl aon leigheas ar an ngrá, ach pósadh.
– The only cure for love is marriage.
Is maith an scéalaí an aimsir.
– Time is a good messenger.
Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam.
– A country without a language, is a country without a soul.
Beatha teanga í a labhairt.
– The life of a language is to speak it.
Is fearr cara sa chúirt, ná punt sa sparán.
– Better a friend in court, than a pound in the purse.
An té nach bhfuil láidir, ní mór dó a bheith glic.
– He who is weak needs to be clever.
Buail an t-iarann te.
– Strike when the iron is hot.
Múineann gá seift.
– Necessity is the mother of invention.
Is binn béal ina thost.
– Silence is golden.
Am & Athrú
Ag tuileadh agus ag trá a chaitheann an fharraige an lá.
– The tide spends the day going in and out.
Ar scáth a chéile a mhairimid.
– We all exist in each others’ shadow.
Is maith an scáthán súil charad
– A friend’s eye is a good mirror.
Moladh luath agus cáineadh mall
– Early praise and delayed criticism.
Éist le fuaim na habhann agus gheobhaidh tú breac
– Listen to the sound of the river and you will get a trout
Faigheann an tseanbhróg an tseanstoca
– The old shoe gets the old stocking.
Is ait an mac an saol
– Life is strange.
Is fearr an tsláinte ná an táinte
– Health is better than wealth.
Is glas iad na cnoic i bhfad uainn
– Faraway hills are green.
An té nach gcuirfidh san earrach, ní bhainfidh sé san fhómhar.
– He who does not sow in spring, will not reap in the autumn.
Beidh lá eile ag an bPaorach.
– Power will have another day.
Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin.
– There is no place like home.
Machnamh & Breithiúnas
Tarraingíonn scéal scéal eile.
– One story leads on to another.
Ní dhéanfaidh an saol capall rása d’asal.
– The world would not make a donkey a racehorse.
I ndiaidh a chéile a thógtar na caisleáin.
– Rome was not built in a day.
Aithnítear cara i gcruatan.
– It is in hardship that a friend is recognised.
Ní bhíonn uasal ná íseal, ach thuas seal thíos seal
– Noble and poor are both up and down a while.
Ní mar a shíltear a bhítear.
– Things are not always as they seem.
Ní thagann ciall roimh aois
– Sense does not come before age.
Soitheach folamh is mó torann
– Empty vessels make the most noise.
Taithí a dhéanann máistreacht.
– Experience brings perfection.
Tús maith leath na hoibre.
– A good start is half the work / well begun half done.
An té a bhíonn siúlach, bíonn sé scéalach.
– Travellers have tales to tell.
Ní sheasann sac folamh.
– An empty sack will not stand.
Ná mol agus ná cáin tú féin.
– Neither praise nor criticise yourself.
Ní thagann ciall roimh aois.
– Sense doesn’t come before age.
Ní fhanann trá le héinne.
– Time and tide awaits no man.
Ná tabhair breith ar an chéad scéal.
– Never judge on first opinions.
Oíche aerach is maidin bhrónach.
– A lively night and a sad morning.
Go n-éirí an bóthar leat is do chosán cóngair.
– May your journey, long or short be a success.