| Gaeilge (Irish) | Bearla (English) |
| Is binn béal ina thost | Silence is golden |
| Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile. | A beetle recognises another beetle |
| Marbh le tae agus marbh gan é. | Dead with the tea and dead without it |
| Tús maith leath na hoibre. | A good start is half the work |
| Bíonn siúlach scéalach | Those who travel have tales to tell |
| Ní thagann ciall roimh aois. | Wisdom doesn't come before age |
| Pós bean ón sliabh agus pósfaidh tú an sliabh ar fad. | Marry a woman from the mountain and you will marry the entire mountain |
| Is minic a bhris béal duine a shrón. | It's often a person's mouth broke his nose |
| Aithnítear cara i gcruatan. | A friend is known in hardship |
| An rud is annamh is iontach. | What's seldom is wonderful |
| Bailíonn brobh beart. | A little gathers to a lot |
| Bíonn an fhírinne searbh. | Truth is often bitter |
| Beatha teanga í a labhairt. | It's the life of a language to speak it |
| Dá fhad lá tagann oíche. | However long the day, night comes |
| Giorraíonn beirt bóthar. | Two people shorten the road |
| Bíonn blas ar an mbeagán. | A little of anything is tasty |
| Galar gan náire an tart. | Thirst is a shameless disease |
| Is fearr an tsláinte ná na táinte. | Health is better than wealth |
| Is fearr Gaeilge briste ná Béarla cliste | Broken Irish is better than clever English |
| Tír gan teanga tír gan anam. | A country without a language is a country without a soul |
| An rud a chíonn an leanbh is é a níonn an leanbh. | What the child sees the child does |
| An rud a théann i bhfad téann sé i bhfuaire. | What goes on for a long time loses its attractiveness |
| Bíonn adharca fada ar na buaibh thar lear. | Faraway cows have long horns |
| 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 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 t-uan ag múineadh méilí dá mháthair. | The lamb teaching its mother how to bleat |
| An rud nach féidir ní féidir é. | The impossible cannot be done |
| 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 |
| Beart gan leigheas, foighne is fearr dó. | Patience is the best thing for an incurable situation |
| Bíonn blas milis ar phraiseach na gcomharsan. | The neighbours gruel tastes sweet |
| Bíonn gach tosú lag. | Every beginning is weak |
| Is glas iad na cnoic i bhfad uainn. | Faraway hills are greener |
| Nuair a bhíonn an cat amuigh bíonn na lucha ag rince. | When the cat's away the mice dance |
| Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin | There's no Fireside like your own |
| Níl aon tóin tinn mar do thóin tinn féin | There’s no sore arse like your own sore arse |
| Ag duine féin is fearr a fhios cá luíonn an bhróg air. | A person best knows where the shoe troubles him |
| 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 scríobhann an púca, léann sé féin é. | What the ghost writes, the ghost reads |
| An rud nach bhfuil leigheas air caithfear cur suas leis. | What can't be cured must be endured |
| An té a bhíonn amuigh fuarann a chuid. | The one who is out, his share gets cold |
| An té a bhíonn thuas óltar deoch air. An té a bhíonn thíos buailtear cos air. | When you're up, they drink to you. 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 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 |
| Beatha duine a thoil | Everyone to his own tastes |
| 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 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 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 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 |
| 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 |
| dtus 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 mheadaíonn 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 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 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 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 |
| 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 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 churl 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 |
| Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin | there's no fireside like your own fireside |
| Is deacair ceann críonna a chur ar cholainn óg | You can't put an old head on young shoulders |
| An tslat nuair a chruann le haois is deacair í a shníomh ina gad | when the rod hardens with age, it is difficult to bend |
| Is in ithe na putóige a bhíonn a tástáil | The proof of the pudding is in the eating |
| An té nach bhfuil láidir ní foláir dó bheith glic | He who is not strong must be wise |
| Is dána gach madra i ndoras a thí féin | Every dog is bold in his own doorway |
| An lao ite i mbolg na bó | "the calf eaten in the belly of the cow |
| Is minic a bhris béal duine a shrón | It's often a person's mouth broke their nose |
| An rud is annamh is iontach | What is seldom is wonderful |
| Aithnítear cara i gcruatan | A friend is recognized in hardship |
| An rud nach bhfuil leigheas air caithfear cur suas leis | What cannot be cured must be endured |
| Is báidhiúil iad lucht aoncheirde | "those of the same trade associate together", meaning " |
| Beatha duine a thoil | To each their own |
| Is glas iad na cnoic i bhfad uainn | "the distant hills are green", meaning "the grass is always greener on the other side". |
| Breithnigh an abhainn sara dtéir ina cuilithe | observe the river before jumping in its currents |
| Dá fhaid é an lá, tagann an oíche | However long the day, the night will come. |
| Is binn béal ina thost | "a quiet mouth is sweet", meaning "silence is golden" |
| Is breá an ní an óige ach ní thagann sí faoi dhó | Youth is a lovely thing but it does not come twice |
| Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí | praise the youth and they will flourish |
| Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine | We live in each other's shadows |
| Bheadh do shinsir bródúil as | Your ancestors would be proud |
200+ Irish Proverbs (Seanfhocail)
Here's a list of Irish Seanfhocail that I've been collecting. I'll add to it over time and curate it, there may be some duplication in the below. English translations are often literal, there may be better equivalent phrases.
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