Gaelic Proverb Archive

A record of the proverb-of-the-day selections

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2026-03-17
Anail a Ghaidheil, air a mhullach!
The Gael's breathing place‚on the summit!
2026-03-16
Cha sheas càirdeas air a lèth-chois.
Friendship will not stand on one leg.
2026-03-15
Am boll 'air an sgillinn Is gun an sgillinn ann.
The boll (of meal) at a penny and no penny in hand.
2026-03-14
Cha'n eil ùaill an aghaidh tairbh.
Pride is not against profit.
2026-03-13
A sgaoladh na'n sguab 's a trusadh na'n siobag.
Scattering the sheaves and gathering the straws.
2026-03-12
A h-uile rud ach an rud bu choir.
Everything but the right thing.
2026-03-11
An rud a thèid fad o'n t-sùil thèid e fad o'n chridhe.
What goes far from the eye will go far from the heart.
2026-03-10
Air gnothaich na cuthaig.
On the cuckoo's business.
2026-03-09
Air rèir do mheas ort fhèin 's ann a mheasas càch thu.
According as thou esteemest thyself others will esteem thee.
2026-03-08
Cha toir an uaisle goil air a phoit.
Gentility will not boil the pot
2026-03-07
Cha'n eil bàs fir gun ghràs fir.
There is no man's death without another mans gain.
2026-03-06
Cha'n fheum an ti a shealbhaicheas an toradh am blàth a mhilleadh.
He who would enjoy the fruit must not spoil the blossom.
2026-03-05
A cheud sgeul air fear an taiglie, Is sgeul gu lath' air an aoidh.
The first story from the host, And tales till morning from the guest.
2026-03-04
An car a h' anns an t-seana mliaide, Is duilich a thoirt as.
Straightening the bend in old wood Is a difficult job.
2026-03-03
Be sin an conadh a chuir do 'n choille.
That were sending fuel to the wood. (Sending coals to Newcastle, sand to a Arab etc)
2026-03-02
A bhò is miosa 'th' anns a bhuaile 'Si is cruaidh ni gèum.
The worst cow in the fold Lows the loudest.
2026-03-01
Cha'n eil mòran lochd 's an crldh a bhios a gabhail òran.
There is not much guile in the heart that is aye singing songs.
2026-02-28
Cha'n i a mhiuc is sàimliche Is lugh a dh'itheas de'n drabh.
It is not the quietest sow that eats the least.
2026-02-27
Abair ach beagan is abair gu math e.
Say but little and say it well.
2026-02-26
A taomadh na mara le cliabh.
Bailing the sea with a creel.
2026-02-25
An ceòl air feadh na fidhle
The music throughout the fiddle.
2026-02-24
A mheud 'sa gheibh thu gu math, Se'n lughad a gheibh thu de 'n olc.
The more you get of what's good, The less you will get of what's bad.
2026-02-23
Bithidh sonas an lorg na caitheamh.
Felicity follows generosity.
2026-02-22
A chuid de Fhlaitheanas dha.
His share of Paradise to him.
2026-02-21
Ceud mile fàilte.
A hundred thousand welcomes.
2026-02-20
An rud is fhiach a ghabhail, 's fhiach e iarraidh.
If it is worth taking, it is worth asking for.
2026-02-19
A bhliadhn' is gainne a mhin, Dean fuine mhòr aineamh.
During the year when meal is scarce Let big bakings be few.
2026-02-18
A h-uile cùair a chù choimheach.
All dogs down on the strange dog.
2026-02-17
An neach nach cinn 'n a chadal, cha chinn e 'n a fhaireachadh.
He that grows not in his sleep, will not grow when he's awake.
2026-02-16
B'fhearr gun tòiseachadh na sguir gun chriochnachadh.
Better not to begin than stop without finishing.
2026-02-15
Am fear a bhios fad aig an aiseig Gheibh e thairis uaireigin.
He that waits long at the Ferry Will get across sometime.
2026-02-14
Aithnichear an leomhan air scriob de iongann.
The lion is known hy the scratch of his claw.
2026-02-13
An ràthad fada glan, ‘s an ràthad goirid salach.
The long clean road, and the short dirty road.
2026-02-12
Beiridh am beag trie air a mhòr ainmig.
The little frequent will overtake the infrequent large.
2026-02-11
Bheir an èigin air rud-eigin a dheanamh.
Necessity will get something done.
2026-02-10
Cha'n fhiach gille gun char, 'S cha'n fhiach gille nan ear.
The man without a turn is worthless, And the man of many turns is worthless.
2026-02-09
An ràmh is fhaisg air laimh, iomair leis.
The oar that's nearest at hand, row with it.
2026-02-08
An uair a chluinneas tu sgeul gun dreach na creid i.
When you hear a tale that is not pleasant, do not believe it.
2026-02-07
Bithidh cron duine cho mòr ri beinn mas leir dha fhèin e.
A mans faults will be as large as a mountain ere he himself sees them.
2026-02-06
Chaidh theab le creag, Is theab nach deachaidh.
" Almost " went over a rock, And almost didn't.
2026-02-05
Bidh an ùbhal is fhearr air a mheangan is àirde.
The best apple will be on the highest bough.
2026-02-04
Biodh earlas meirleach agad air gach neach, Ach na dean meirleach de neach idir.
Have the caution of a thief over every one, But make no one a thief.
2026-02-03
Adhaircean fada air a chrodh a bhios anns a cheò.
Long horns on the cattle that are seen through the mist.
2026-02-02
An rud nach gabh leasachadh, 'S fheudar cur suas leis.
What cannot be helped Must be put up with.
2026-02-01
Cha bhi luathas agus grinneas an cuideachd a' chèile.
Quick and fine don't combine.
2026-01-31
Bu mhath an sgàthan sùil caraid.
A friend's eye is a good looking-glass.
2026-01-30
An rud a nithear gu math, chithear a bhuil.
What is well done will be shown by results
2026-01-29
An triuir nach fuiling an cniodachadh, Seann bhean, cearc, agus caora.
Three that won't bear caressing, An old woman, a hen, and a sheep.
2026-01-28
An làmh a bheir 'si a gheibh, Mar a d'thugar do dhroch dhuin' e.
The hand that gives is the hand that will receive, Except when given to a bad man.
2026-01-27
A mire ri cuilein, cha sgur e gus an sgal e.
Playing with a pup ends in a howl.
2026-01-26
Am fear is fhaide chaidh bho'n bhaile, Chual e'n ceòl bu mhilse leis nuair thill e dhachaidh.
Who farthest away e'er did roam Heard the sweetest music on returning home.
2026-01-25
Bithidh bean-mhuinntir aig an fheannaig 's an Fhogha.
The crow shall have her maid-servant at harvest time.
2026-01-24
Abair sin, nuair a chaitheas tu cruach mhòine comhla ris.
Say that, when you have spent a stack of peats along with it.
2026-01-23
Am fear nach gheidh na h-airm 'nam na sith, Cha bhi iad aige 'n am a chogaidh.
Who keeps not his arms in times of peace, Will have no arms in times of war.
2026-01-22
Am fear is fliuche, rachadh e do'n tobair.
He who is wettest, let him go to the well.
2026-01-21
Cha robh naigheachd mhòr riamh nach robh na chall do dhuin'-eigin.
There never was great news but was a loss to somebody.