Irish Language Proverbs

Proverb 1: "Tús maith leath na hoibre" (pronounced "toos my lat nah hib-brah") is an old Irish proverb that literally means "A good start is half the work".

Proverb 2: "Dúirt bean liom go ndúirt bean léi" (pronounced "do-irt ban lum gu du-irt ban lay") is an old Irish proverb that literally means "A woman said to me that a woman said to her" - a saying that observes the unreliability of gossip. The best equivalent saying in English is: "A little bird told me".

Proverb 3: "Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin" (pronouced "neel ay-on teen-tawn mar doh hin-tawn fay-n") is an old Irish proverb that literally means "There's no hearth like your own hearth". The best equivalent saying in English is: "There's no place like home".

Proverb 4: "Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile" (pronounced "ah-th-neen kee-uh-rohg kee-uh-rohg ella") is an old Irish proverb that literally means "One beetle knows another beetle" in the Irish language. The best equivalent saying in English is: "It takes one to know one".

Proverb 5: "Go n-éirí an t-ádh leat" means "Good luck" in the Irish language, and is pronounced "guh nah-ree on taah-laht".

Proverb 6: "Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí" (pronounced "mull on oh-igga uggus chuck-ig she") is an old Irish proverb that means "Encourage the young and they will flourish".

Proverb 7: "Briseann an dúchas trí shúile an chait" (pronounced "brish-in an doo-khas tree hoola an kitch") is an old Irish proverb that literally means "Heredity breaks out in the eyes of the cat". The best equivalent saying in English is: "The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree".

Proverb 8: "Go n-éirí an bóthar leat" (pronounced "guh nay-ree un boh-hur lat") is an old Irish proverb that literally means "May the road rise to meet you" - which is a blessing for a traveler. The best equivalent saying is in French: "Bon voyage".