Welsh proverbs

Proverbs from all Welsh speaking parts of the world.

A

• Adar o'r unlliw, ehedant i'r unlle.
  • Translation: Birds of the same colour fly to the same place.
  • English Equivalent: Birds of a feather flock together.
  • Meaning: Similar people tend to associate with each other (because it easier to assosciate with someone similar to yourself).
  • Ceiniogwerth (1849). Y Geiniogwerth. Cy. p. 306. 

• Adfyd a ddwg wybodaeth, a gwybodaeth ddoethineb.
  • Translation: Adversity brings knowledge and knowledge wisdom.
  • English equivalent: Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.
  • Roberts (1885). The proverbs of Wales: a collection of Welsh proverbs, with English Translations. T. R. Roberts. p. 6. 

C

• Cyfaill cywir mewn ing y'i gwelir.
  • Translation: A true friend will be shown in adversity.
  • Note: Another way to phrase this is with the quote "In the world you have three sorts of friends: Your friends who love you, your friends who do not care about you, and your friends who hate you." by Sébastien-Roch Nicolas
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 159. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Cynt y cyferfydd dau ddyn na dau fynydd.
  • Translation: Two men will meet sooner than two mountains.
  • Idiomatic translation: A mountain never meets a mountain, but a man meets a man.
  • Meaning: There are some things/events that are impossible, like an encounter of mountains, but there is always a chance for people to meet. or One can always find a possibility for revenge.
  • Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 213. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

F

• Fel y bo'r dyn y bydd ei lwdn.
  • Translation: Such father, such son.
  • English equivalent: Like father, like son.
  • Meaning: Sons may look and behave like their fathers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 170. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Fel y fam fel y ferch.
  • Translation: Such mother, such daughter.
  • English equivalent: Like mother, like daughter.
  • Meaning: Daughters may look and behave like their mothers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and rarely.
  • Source for meaning and proverb: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 137. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

G

• Gwna dda dros ddrwg, uffern ni'th ddwg.
  • Translation: Repay evil with good, and hell will not claim you.
  • Meaning: Make something good out of bad things that has happened to you.
  • English equivalent: If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
  • Roberts (1885). The proverbs of Wales: a collection of Welsh proverbs, with English Translations. T. R. Roberts. p. 114. 

I

• I mewn drwy un glust ac allan drwy'r llall.
  • Translation: In at one ear and out at the other.
  • English equivalent: Advice most needed are the least heeded.
  • Meaning: For various reasons a good advice or a genuine warning is often disregarded or considered of no importance.
  • Source for meaning and proverb: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 179. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

M

• Mwyaf y brys, mwyaf y rhwystr.
  • Translation: More the hurry, more the obstacles.
  • English equivalent: Make haste slowly.
  • Meaning: Progress with discretion. Acting hastily one is likely to forget/overlook something important, leading to grave errors or failure.
  • Roberts (1885). The proverbs of Wales: a collection of Welsh proverbs, with English Translations. T. R. Roberts. p. 70. 
  • Source for meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 241. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

N

• Ni all ne wasanaethu daur arglwydd.
  • Translation: Nobody can serve two masters.
  • English equivalent: Also, Nobody can serve two masters.
  • Meaning: One cannot serve two conflicting causes simultaneously. If this is attempted neither will be served properly.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 283. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Nid aur yw popeth melyn.
  • Translation: Everything that is yellow is not gold.
  • English Equivalent: All that glisters is not gold.
  • Meaning: An attractive appearance may be deceptive. It may cover or hide a much less favourable content.
  • Borsley, Tallerman, Willis (2007). The Syntax of Welsh. Cambridge University Press. p. 364. ISBN 0521836301. 
  • Source for meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 125. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

R

• Rhaid cropian cyn cerdded.
  • Translation: You must crawl before walking.
  • English equivalent: Learn to walk before you can run.
  • Meaning: Learn the basics of any subject first.
  • Source: Library Association (1969). The Library Association record. The Library Association. p. 29. 

Y

• Y sawl na weithied na fwytaed.
  • Translation: Those who not work, shall not eat.
  • English equivalent: He that will not work, shall not eat.
  • Meaning: Without due effort one is not entitled to the fruits of the work.
  • Source for proverb and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 256. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

See also

• Irish proverbs
• Scottish Gaelic proverbs
• Basque proverbs