Gaeilge
Béarla
Ag
duine féin is fearr a fhios cá luíonn an bhróg air.
A person best
knows where the shoe troubles him
Aithníonn
ciaróg ciaróg eile.
It takes one to know one
Aithnítear
cara i gcruatan.
It is in hardship that
a friend is recognised
An gad
is giorra don scornach is túisce is ceart a scaoileadh.
The knot nearest the throat
is the the one to release first
An lao
ite i mbolg na bó.
Don't count your chickens
before they're hatched
An luibh
ná faightear is í a fhóireann.
The herb that can't be
found is the very one which works
An rud
a chíonn an leanbh is é a níonn an leanbh.
What the child sees the
child does
An rud
a scríobhann an púca, léann sé féin é.
What the ghost writes,
the ghost reads
An rud
a théann i bhfad téann sé i bhfuaire.
What goes on for a long
time loses its attractiveness
An rud
is annamh is iontach.
What's seldom is wonderful
An rud
is measa le duine ar domhan n'fheadair sé nach é lár a leasa é.
The very thing a person
dreads most in the world could be the best thing for him
An rud
nach bhfuil leigheas air caithfear cur suas leis.
What can't be cured must
be endured
An rud
nach féidir ní féidir é.
The impossible cannot be
done
An t-uan
ag múineadh méilí dá mháthair.
The lamb teaching its mother
how to bleat
An tslat
nuair a chruann le haois is deacair í a shníomh ina gad.
When the rod hardens with
age it's difficult to bend it
An
té a bhfuil builín aige gheobhaidh sé scian lena ghearradh.
The man who has a loaf
will get a knife to cut it
An
té a bhíonn amuigh fuarann a chuid.
The one who is out, his
share gets cold
An té
a bhíonn siúlach bíonn sé scéalach.
Travellers have tales
An té
a bhíonn thuas óltar deoch air.
When you're up, they drink
to you
An té
a bhíonn thíos buailtear cos air.
When you're down, they
kick you
An té
a dtéann teist na mochóirí amach air ní cás dó codladh go headra.
The person who gains the
reputation of getting up early can sleep late
An té
a mbíonn an rath ar maidin air bíonn sé air tráthnóna.
He who is lucky in the
morning tends to be luck in the evening too
An té
nach bhfuil láidir ní foláir dó bheith glic.
He who is not strong has
to be clever
An té
nach mbeireann ar an ngnó beireann an gnó air.
He who does not get a grip
on the job, the job gets a grip on him
An té
nach nglacann comhairle glacfaidh sé comhrac.
Whoever will not accept
advice must accept strife
An té
nach trua leis do chás, ná déan do ghearán leis.
He who does not sympathise
with your plight, don't make your complaint to him
Ar mhaithe
leis féin a níos an cat crónán.
The cat purrs to please
itself
Ar
scath a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.
People live in one another's
shadow
Bailíonn
brobh beart.
A little gathers to a lot
Beart
gan leigheas, foighne is fearr dó.
Patience is the best thing
for an incurable situation
Beatha
duine a thoil
Everyone to his own tastes
Beatha
teanga í a labhairt.
It's the life of a language
to speak it
Beidh
lá eile ag an bPaorach.
Power will have another
day
Bliain
le duine agus bliain ina choinne.
One year with you, one
against you
Breithnigh
an abhainn sara dtéir ina cuilithe.
Observe the river before
you venture into its currents
Briseann
an dúchas trí shúile an chait.
Nature breaks out through
the eyes of the cat
Bíonn
adharca fada ar na buaibh thar lear.
Faraway cows have long
horns
Bíonn
an fhírinne searbh.
Truth is often bitter
Bíonn
blas ar an mbeagán.
A little of anything is
tasty
Bíonn
blas milis ar phraiseach na gcomharsan.
The neighbours gruel tastes
sweet
Bíonn
caora dhubh ar an tréad is gile
Even the whitest flock
has a black sheep
Bíonn
cead cainte ag fear caillte na himeartha.
The man who has lost the
match has permission to talk
Bíonn
dhá insint ar gach aon scéal.
There are two sides to
every story
Bíonn
gach tosú lag.
Every beginning is weak
Bíonn
súil le muir ach ní bhíonn súil le huaigh.
There is hope of coming
back from the sea but none of coming back from the dead
Cad
a dhéanfadh mac an chait ach luch a mharú.
Like father like son
Cailín
ag Móir is Móir ag iarraidh déirce.
Mór has a servant
girl while she herself is out begging
Caora
mhór an t-uan i bhfad.
The lamb becomes a big
heavy sheep over distance
Chonaic
mé cheana thú, arsa an cat leis an mbainne te.
I saw you before, as the
cat said to the warm milk...
Ciall
agus míchiall - dís ná gabhann le chéile.
Sense and nonsense - two
which do not go together
Cuir
an breac san eangach sula gcuire tú sa phota é.
Put the trout in the net
before you put it in the pot
Cuir
síoda ar ghabhar - is gabhar fós é.
Put silk on a goat, it's
still a goat
D'ordaigh
Dia cúnamh.
God helps those who help
themselves
Doras
feasa fiafraí.
The door to wisdom is to
ask questions
Dá dhonacht
é Séamas ba mheasa bheith ina éagmais.
However bad Séamas
is it would be worse to be without him
Dá fhad
lá tagann oíche.
However long the day, night
comes
Dá mbeadh
soineann go Samhain bheadh breall ar dhuine éigin.
If it was fine till Halloween
someone would be unhappy
éire
i bpáirt, éire ar lár.
Ireland divided is Ireland
laid low
éist
le fuaim na habhann agus gheobhair breac.
Listen to the sound of
the river and you will catch a trout
Fear
na bó faoina heireaball.
The cows owner must go
under her tail
Feileann
spallaí do bhallaí chomh maith le clocha móra.
Small shards suit as well
as big stones for building walls
Filleann
an feall ar an bhfeallaire.
The evil deed returns to
the evildoer
Gach
dalta mar oiltear.
Every pupil is as he is
trained
Galar
gan náire an tart.
Thirst is a shameless disease
Giorraíonn
beirt bóthar.
Two people shorten the
road
Glacann
fear críonna comhairle.
A wise man accepts advice
I dtosach
na haicíde is fusa í a leigheas.
It's at the beginning of
the disease it is easiest to cure
Is i dtús
an mhála is ceart a bheith tíosach.
It's at the beginning of
the bag that one must be economical
I ndiaidh
a chéile a thógtar na caisleáin.
Rome wasn't built in a
day
Imíonn
an tuirse is fanann an tairbhe.
Tiredness goes away and
the benefit remains
Iomad
den aithne a mhéadaíonn an tarcaisne.
Familiarity breeds contempt
Is ait
an mac an saol.
Life is strange
Is beo
duine tar éis a bhuailte ach ní beo é tar éis a cháinte.
A person is alive after
being beaten but not after his good name is taken
Is binn
béal ina thost.
Sweet to hear is a mouth
which is silent
Is breá
an ní an óige ach ní thagann sí faoi dhó.
Youth is a fine thing but
it does not come twice
Is báidhiúil
iad lucht aoncheirde.
Birds of a feather flock
together
Is cuma
nó muc duine gan seift.
A shiftless person is the
same as a pig
Is deacair
ceann críonna a chur ar cholainn óg.
It's hard to put a wise
head on young shoulders
Is deacair
rogha a bhaint as dhá dhíogha
It's hard to choose between
two evils
Is
dána gach madra i ndoras a thí féin.
Every dog is bold in his
own doorway
Is dóigh
le fear na buile gurb é féin fear na céille.
The crazy man reckons he
is the sensible one
Is fada
an bóthar nach bhfuil casadh ann.
It's a long road that has
no turning
Is
fada siar a théann iarsma an drochbhirt.
The trail of a bad deed
goes a long way
Is fearr
a bheith díomhaoin ná droch-ghnóthach.
Better to be idle than
up to no good
Is
fearr an t-imreas ná an t-uaigneas.
Arguing is better than
loneliness
Is fearr
an tsláinte ná na táinte.
Health is better than wealth
Is fearr
beagán den ghaol ná mórán den charthanas.
A little relationship is
better than a lot of charity
Is fearr
cara sa chúirt ná punt sa sparán.
Better a friend in court
than a pound in the purse
Is fearr
go mall ná go brách.
Better late than never
Is fearr
leath ná meath .
Half is better than nothing
(literally; decaying)
Is fearr
lán doirn de cheird ná lán mála d'ór.
A fistful of a trade is
better than a bagful of gold
Is fearr
mac le himirt ná mac le hól.
Better to have a son mad
for sport than mad for drink
Is fearr
marcaíocht ar ghabhar ná coisíocht dá fheabhas.
Better to ride on a goat
than the finest walking
Is fearr
rith maith ná drochsheasamh.
A good run is better than
a bad stand
Is fearr
súil le glas ná súil le huaigh.
Better to look forward
to prison than to the grave
Is fearr
súil romhat ná dhá shúil i do dhiaidh.
Better one look before
you than two behind
Is furasta
fuineadh in aice na mine.
It's easy to knead next
to the mill
Is
gaire cabhair Dé ná an doras.
God's help is nearer than
the door
Is geal
gach nua agus is searbh gach gnáth.
Every novelty is great
and every commonplace is bitter
Is
geal leis an bhfiach dubh a ghearrcach féin.
The black raven thinks
its own offspring is bright
Is
geall le scíth malairt oibre.
A change of work is as
good as a rest
Is
glas iad na cnoic i bhfad uainn.
Faraway hills are green
Is
iad na muca ciúine a itheann an mhin.
It's the quiet pigs who
eat the meal.
Is
in ithe na putóige a bhíonn a tástáil.
The proof of the pudding
is in the eating
Is
iomaí cor a chuireann an saol de.
Life goes through many
twists and turns
Is
leor nod don eolach.
A nod is enough to the
wise
Is leor
ó Mhór a dícheall.
All anyone can do is his
best
Is
lia gach othar i ndiaidh a leighis.
Every patient is a surgeon
after he is cured
Is
lú ná fríd máthair an oilc.
It takes very little to
cause trouble
Is
mairg a dheanann deimhin dá dhóchas.
Woe to he who checks out
what he hopes to be true
Is
mairg a dhéanann an t-olc is a bhíonn bocht ina dhiaidh.
Woe to the one who does
evil and does not profit by it
Is
maith an scáthán súil charad.
A friend's eye is a good
mirror
Is maith
an scéalaí an aimsir.
Time will tell
Is
maith an t-anlann an t-ocras.
Hunger is a good sauce
Is
maith an t-iománaí an té a bhíonn ar an gclaí.
The hurler on the ditch
is a great fellow
Is
maith le Dia féin cúnamh.
God himself likes a bit
of help
Is
maol gualainn gan bhráthair.
A shoulder without a friend
is undefended
Is
minic a bhris béal duine a shrón.
It's often a person's mouth
broke his nose
Is
minic a bhí cú mhall sona.
It's often a slow hound
was content
Is minic
a gheall tailliúir is ná tiocfadh sé.
It's often a tailor promised
to come and did not
Is
minic ciúin ciontach.
The quiet ones are often
guilty
Is
mór é luach na foighne.
Patience is worth a lot
Is olc
an chearc nach scríobann di féin.
It's a poor hen won't scratch
for itself
Is olc
an ghaoth nach séideann do dhuine éigin.
It's an ill wind blows
nobody any good
Is sleamhain
an leac ag doras duine uasail.
The flagstone is slippery
at the door of a decent man
Is treise
dúchas ná oiliúint.
Nature is stronger than
training
Is trom
cearc i bhfad.
A small burden grows heavier
with distance
Is túisce
deoch ná scéal.
First a drink, then your
news
Is
í an chiall cheannaigh an chiall is fearr.
Sense bought dearly is
the best kind
Is í
an dias is troime is ísle a chromann a ceann.
It is the heaviest ear
of corn which bows its head lowest
Mair
a chapaill is gheobhair féar.
Live horse and you will
get hay
Maireann
an chraobh ar an bhfál ach ní mhaireann an lámh a chuir.
The branch lives on the
fence but not the hand that planted it
Maireann
croí éadrom i bhfad.
Light heart lives long
Marbh
le tae agus marbh gan é.
Can't live with it, can't
live without it
Mian
mic a shúil.
A child wants everything
he sees
Mol
an óige agus tiocfaidh sí.
Praise youth and youth
will respond
Mol
gort is ná mol geamhar.
Don't count your chickens
before they are hatched
Mura
gcuirfidh tú san Earrach ní bhainfidh tú sa bhFómhar.
If you don't sow in Spring
you won't reap in Autumn
Mura
mbeadh agat ach pocán gabhair bí i lár an aonaigh leis.
Even if you have only a
puck goat to sell be in the middle of the fair with it
Más
cam díreach an ród is é an bóthar mór an t-aicearra.
Be it crooked or straight,
it's the main road is the shortest way
Más
maith leat do mholadh faigh bás; más maith leat do cháineadh pós.
If you want to be praised,
die; if you want to be criticized, marry
Más
olc maol is measa mullach.
If it's bad on the flat
it's worse at the summit
Múineann
gá seift.
Necessity teaches resourcefulness
Namhaid
an cheird gan í a fhoghlaim.
If you don't learn your
trade, it becomes your enemy
Nuair
a bheidh do lámh i mbéal na con tarraing go réidh í.
When your hand is in the
hound's mouth withdraw it gently
Nuair
a bhíonn an cat amuigh bíonn na lucha ag rince.
When the cat's away the
mice dance
Nuair
is crua don chailleach caithfidh sí rith.
When it's tough for the
hag she has to run
Nuair
is gann é an bia is fial é a roinnt.
When the food is scarce
it's generous to share it
Ná bac
le mac an bhacaigh is ní bhacfaidh mac an bhacaigh leat.
Mind your own business
Ná cuir
do leas ar cairde.
Don't procrastinate
Ná déan
nós is ná bris nós.
Don't make a custom and
don't break a custom
Ná tabhair
breith ar an gcéad scéal.
Hear both sides before
judgement
Ní bheathaíonn
na breithre na braithre.
Words alone won't feed
the brothers
Ní bhfuair
minic onóir.
Familiarity breeds contempt
Ní bhíonn
an rath ach mar a mbíonn an smacht.
No success without discipline
Ní bhíonn
fear náireach éadálach.
A shy man won't be rich
Ní bhíonn
in aon rud ach seal.
Nothing lasts for ever
Ní bhíonn
tréan buan.
The strong don't prevail
for ever
Ní breac
é go raibh sé ar an bport.
Don't count your fish till
it's landed
Ní dhéanfadh
an saol capall ráis d'asal.
The world won't make a
racehorse out of a donkey
Ní dhéanfaidh
smaoineamh an treabhadh duit.
Thinking will not do the
ploughing for you
Ní fhaigheann
lámh iata ach dorn dúnta.
A closed hand gets nothing
but a closed fist
Ní fiú
bheith ag seanchas agus an anachain déanta.
No point in talking when
the damage is done
Ní féasta
go rósta is ní céasta go pósta.
It's not a feast without
a roast and true suffering comes with marriage
Ní féidir
bheith ag feadaíl is ag ithe mine.
You can't whistle and eat
meal at the same time
Ní féidir
leis an ngobadán an dá thrá a fhreastal.
You can't be two places
at once
Ní féidir
é a bheith ina ghruth is ina mheadhg agat.
You can't have it both
ways
Ní haithne
go haontíos.
You want to know me, come
live with me
Ní heaspa
go díth carad.
There is no lack so bad
as the lack of a friend
Ní hé
lá na gaoithe lá na scolb.
The windy day is not the
day for thatching
Ní ionann
dul go tigh an rí agus teacht as.
It's not the same thing
to go to the king's house and to come out of it
Ní lia
duine ná tuairim.
People are not more numerous
than opinions
Ní lia
tír ná gnás.
There are not more countries
than there are customs
Ní mar
a shíltear a bhítear.
Things aren't always what
they seem
Ní mhealltar
an sionnach faoi dhó.
You won't fool the fox
a second time
Ní neart
go cur le chéile.
There is no strength like
co-operation
Ní sia
gob an ghé na gob an ghandail.
The goose's beak is no
longer than the gander's
Ní thagann
ciall roimh aois.
Sense does not come before
age
Ní théann
dlí ar riachtanas.
Necessity overrides the
law
Ní troimide
an loch an lacha.
The lake is not heavier
for having the duck on it
Níl
aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin.
No place like home
Níl
leigheas ar an gcathú ach é a mharú le foighne.
There is no cure for regret
but to kill it with patience
Níl
luibh ná leigheas in aghaidh an bháis.
There is no herb or cure
for death
Níl
saoi gan locht ná daoi gan tréith.
There is no wise man without
a fault nor any fool without a good feature
Níl
sprid ná puca nach bhfuil fios a chúise aige.
There is no spirit nor
ghost doesn't know his own business
Níl
tuile dá mhéad nach dtránn.
There is no flood, however
great, that does not ebb away
Níl
íseal ná uasal ach thíos seal agus thuas seal.
There is neither low not
high but down for a while and up for a while.
Níor
bhris focal maith fiacail riamh.
A good word never broke
a tooth
Níor
chaill fear an mhisnigh riamh é.
The man of courage never
lost it
Níor
líon beannacht bolg riamh.
A blessing never filled
a belly
Pós
bean ón sliabh agus pósfaidh tú an sliabh ar fad.
Marry a woman from the
mountain and you will marry the entire mountain
Ritheann
fear buile trí thuile go dána, ach is minic thug tuile fear buile le fána.
A crazy man runs through
a flood boldly, but it's often a flood swept a crazy man away
Sciúrdann
éan as gach ealta.
A bird flies out of every
flock
Seachnaíonn
súil an ní ná feiceann.
An eye disregards what
it does not see
Síoda
ar Shiobhán is na preabáin ar a hathair.
Silk on Siobhán
and her father in rags
Súil
le breis a chailleann an cearrbhach.
Hoping to beats the odds
is what ruins the gambler
Tabhair
rogha don bhodach agus is é an díogha a thoghfaidh sé.
Give a choice to the buffoon
and it's the worst he will pick
Tagann
gach maith le cairde.
No grace comes singly
Taithí
a dhéanann máistreacht.
Practice makes perfect
Tar
éis a thuigtear gach beart.
Hindsight is a great thing
Tarraingíonn
scéal scéal eile.
One story leads on to another
Tosach
sláinte codladh ; deireadh sláinte osna.
The beginning of health
is sleep; the end of health is a sigh
Tuigeann
Tadhg Taidhgín.
Like understands like
Tír
gan teanga tír gan anam.
A country without a language
is a country without a soul
Tús
maith leath na hoibre.
A good start is half the
work
