Scottish Gaelic has some fun Proverbs Here’s My Favourites
A’bhiast as mutha ag ithe na beiste as lugha (or ‘Big fish eat little fish’)
Bainne nan gobhar fo chobhar ‘s e bàlth, ‘s e chuireadh an spionnadh sna daoine a bha. (or ‘It is the milk of the goat foaming and warm, that gave strength to the past generations of people.’)
Cha bhòrd gun aran ach ‘s bòrd aran leis fhèin. (’A table without bread is not a table, but bread is a table on its own.’ If anyone can explain this one, please do.)
Cuir sin an clamhan gobhlach am measg nan cearc. (’That put the red kite among the hens’. Another one that needs explaining.)
Coinnichidh na daoine far nach coinnich na cnuic. (’The people meet each other but the hills do not.’ It means ‘There are some things/events that are impossible, like an encounter of mountains, but there is always a chance for people to meet.’)
Innsidh na geòidh as t-Fhoghar e. (’The geese will tell it in the autumn’. Meaning ‘All will be revealed in due course.’)
Is leigheas air gach tinneas creamh is ìm a’ Màigh; òl am fochair siud bainne ghobhar bàn. (’To heal all disease, take garlic and May butter; drink along with that white goats’ milk’. Explanation?)
Mu tha thu airson a bhith buan, na teid eadar an tè ruadh agus a’chreag. (or ‘If you want to live a life that is long, don’t die.’)
The fios aig an luch nach ‘eil an cat a ‘s tigh. (’If the cat is away, the mice play’.)
Triùir a thig gun iarraidh - gaol, eud is egal. (’Three things that come unbidden - love, jealousy, and fear’.)
The variant on the above: ‘Thig trì nithean gun irraidh, an ois, an gaol, agus an t-siataig.’ (’Three things come without being wanted, age, love, and rheumatism’.)
Tuig thus’ an t-eathar, ‘s tuigidh an t-eathar thu. (’Understand the boat and the boat will understand you.’ Explanation needed?)
