Scottish Gaelic proverbs

Anail na ghael am mullach

A

 * A' bhiast as mutha ag ithe na beiste as lugha.
 * Translation: Big fish eat little fish.
 * English equivalent: Men are like fish; the great ones devour the small.
 * Meaning: "Small organizations or insignificant people tend to be swallowed up or destroyed by those that are greater and more powerful."


 * A 'nighean mar a mathair.
 * Translation: Such mother, such daughter.
 * English equivalent: Like mother, like daughter.
 * "Daughters may look and behave like their mothers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily."


 * Am mac mar an t-athair.
 * English equivalent: Like father, like son.
 * "Sons may look and behave like their fathers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily."


 * Aon ghlainne, chan fheàirrde ’s cha mhiste. Dà ghlainne, ’s fheàirrde ’s cha mhiste. Trì glainneachan, ’s miste ’s chan fheàirrde.
 * Translation: One glass, not the better of it and not the worse of it. Two glasses, the better of it and not the worse of it. Three glasses, the worse of it and not the better of it.
 * Variant: Aon ghlainne, chan fheàirrde ’s cha mhiste mo chorp no m’ anam e. Dà ghlainne, ’s fheàirrde mo chorp e, ’s cha mhiste m’ anam e. Trì glainneachan, ’s miste m’ anam e, ’s chan fheàirrde mo chorp e.
 * Translation: One glass, not the better and not the worse my body or my soul of it. Two glasses, the better my body of it and not the worse my soul of it. Three glasses, the worse my soul of it and not the better my body of it.
 * Quoted in BBC's educational programme Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh (Litir 547) by Ruairidh MacIlleathain (2010).


 * A staigh air an dala cluais 's amach air a' chluais eile (or an t-eile).
 * In at one ear and out at the other.
 * English equivalent: Advice most needed are the least heeded.

B

 * Bainne nan gobhar fo chobhar ’s e blàth, ’s e chuireadh an spionnadh sna daoine a bha.
 * Translation: It is the milk of the goat foaming and warm, that gave the strength to the past generations of people.
 * Quoted by Alexander Robert Forbes in Gaelic names of beasts (Mammalia), birds, fishes, insects, reptiles, etc. in two parts (1905).

C

 * Cha bhòrd bòrd gun aran ach 's bòrd aran leis fhèin.
 * Translation: A table without bread is not a table but bread is a table on its own.
 * Quoted by Alexander Nicolson in A collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases : based on Macintosh's collection (1882).


 * Chan eil tuil air nach tig traoghadh.
 * Translation: There isn't a flood which will not subside.
 * Quoted by Colin B D Mark in The Gaelic-English dictionary, p 595 (2003).


 * Chan eil thu tuilleach 's sean airson ionnsachadh fhathast
 * English equivalent: We are to learn as long as we live.


 * Chan ith a shàth ach an cù.
 * Translation: None but a dog eats his fill.
 * Quoted by Edward Dwelly in his Scottish Gaelic-English Dictionary (1911).


 * Chan urrainn do dhuine 'sambith seirbhis a dhéanamh do dhà mhaighstir.
 * Nobody can serve two masters.
 * English equivalent: Also, Nobody can serve two masters.
 * "One cannot serve two conflicting causes simultaneously. If this is attempted neither will be served properly."


 * Chuir sin an clamhan gobhlach am measg nan cearc.
 * Translation: That put the red kite among the hens.
 * English equivalent: That put the cat among the pigeons.
 * English equivalent: That put the hawk among the chickens.
 * Quoted in BBC's educational programme Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh (Litir 480) by Ruairidh MacIlleathain (2008).


 * Coinnichidh na daoine far nach coinnich na cnuic.
 * English equivalent: A mountain never meets a mountain, but a man meets a man.
 * "There are some things/events that are impossible, like an encounter of mountains, but there is always a chance for people to meet. or Once can always find a possibility for revenge."
 * Source for proverbs and meaning:

D

 * Dail chuach am bainne ghobhar, suath ri d’ aghaidh, ’s chan eil mac rìgh air an domhan nach bi nad dhèidh.
 * Translation: With violets and goats’ milk anoint your face, and every king’s son in the world will be after you.
 * Quoted in BBC's educational programme Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh (Litir 539) by Ruairidh MacIlleathain (2009).


 * Droch bhrògan air bean greusaiche, droch cruidhean air each gobha, droch bhriogais air gille tàilleir, droch chart aig saor.
 * Bad shoes on a shoemaker's wife, bad horseshoes on a smithy's horse, bad trousers on a tailor's son, a bad cart at a jointer.
 * English equivalent: Cobblers' children are worst shod.
 * "Working hard for others one may neglect one's own needs or the needs of those closest to him."

E

 * Èist ri gaoth nam beann gus an traogh na h-uisgeachan.
 * Translation: Listen to the wind upon the hill till the waters abate.
 * Meaning: Keep a low profile until trouble passes.
 * Quoted by Sir Walter Scott in wizards of Waverley place (1884).

G

 * Ge fàgas clach don làr, is faisge na sin cobhair Choibhi.
 * Translation: Though near be the stone to the ground, closer is the help of Coivi.
 * According to Edward Dwelly in his Scottish Gaelic-English Dictionary (1911), "The fanciful “Coibhi, the Celtic archdruid,” is due to a confusion of the obsolete coimhdhe [=God, the Trinity] and the Northumbrian  Coifi of Bede".
 * Quoted by Alexander Nicolson in A collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases : based on Macintosh's collection (1882).

I

 * Innsidh na geòidh as t-fhoghar e.
 * Translation: The geese will tell it in autumn.
 * Meaning: All will be revealed in due course.
 * Quoted by Alexander Nicolson in A collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases : based on Macintosh's collection (1882); explanation from Cothrom, published by Clì Gàidhlig, issue 68 (2011), p 9


 * Is da thrian tionnsgnadh.
 * Begun is two-thirds done.
 * English equivalent: Well begun, is half done.
 * "Starting properly ensures the speedy completion of a process. A – beginning is often blocked by one or  more obstacles (potential barriers) the removal of which may ensure the  smooth course of the process."


 * Is fheàrr Gàidhlig bhriste na Gàidhlig sa chiste.
 * Translation: It is better to have broken Gaelic than dead Gaelic.''
 * Quoted in BBC's educational programme Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh (Litir 622) by Ruairidh MacIlleathain (2011).


 * Is leigheas air gach tinneas creamh is ìm a’ Mhàigh; òl am fochair siud bainne ghobhar bàn.
 * Translation: To heal all disease, take garlic and May butter; drink along with that white goats’ milk.
 * Quoted by Alexander Robert Forbes in Gaelic names of beasts (Mammalia), birds, fishes, insects, reptiles, etc. in two parts (1905).


 * Is minig a bha droch bhròg air mnaoi griasaiche.
 * Often has a shoemaker's wife had bad shoes.
 * English equivalent: The cobbler's wife is the worst shod.
 * "Working hard for others one may neglect one's own needs or the needs of those closest to him."

M

 * Mu tha thu airson a bhith buan, na teid eadar an té ruadh agus a' chreag.
 * Translation: If you want to live a life that is long, don't die (literally 'don't go between the redheaded (woman) and the cliff').

N

 * Nuair a thig air duine thig air uile.
 * Translation: When it comes on one it comes on all.
 * Quoted by Edward Dwelly in his Scottish Gaelic-English Dictionary (1911).

S

 * S ionnan tosd is aideachadh.
 * "Those who do not reply to a request or accusation, or who raise no objection to something said or done, are assumed to have accused."


 * Sheideadh e na h-adharcan de ghobhar.
 * Translation: It would blow the horns off a goat.
 * Quoted by Alexander Robert Forbes in Gaelic names of beasts (Mammalia), birds, fishes, insects, reptiles, etc. in two parts (1905).

T

 * Tha fios aig an luch nach 'eil an cat a's tigh.
 * English equivalent: If the cat is away, the mice play.
 * "In the absence of the person in authority those under his control will often neglect the duties/rules imposed on them."


 * Triùir a thig gun iarraidh – gaol, eud is eagal.
 * Translation: Three that come unbidden – love, jealousy and fear.
 * Quoted by Alexander Nicolson in A collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases : based on Macintosh's collection (1882).
 * Variant: Thig trì nithean gun iarraidh, an aois, an gaol, agus an t-siataig.
 * Translation: Three things come without being wanted, age, love, and rheumatism.
 * Quoted by Murchadh MacLeòid in Caledonian Mercury: Useful Gaelic word: Aois (2010)


 * Tuig thus’ an t-eathar, 's tuigidh an t-eathar thu.
 * Translation: Understand the boat and the boat will understand you.
 * Quoted by Alexander Nicolson in A collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases : based on Macintosh's collection (1882).