A Seanfhocal can be described in many ways. Whether it be considered a proverb, old-adage, some words of wisdom or a humorous or perhapscautionary idiom, there is generally a innate poetry and deeper meaning to a seanfhocal, whose beauty is further complimented by its brevity.
The following seanfhocail are a small sampling, and others will be added to this page in the future.
Feb 12 2016
An té a bhíos amuigh fuaraíonn a chuid.
Out of sight out of mind.
Níl maith sa seanchas nuair a bhíos an anachain déanta.
It is no use crying over spilt milk.
Níl aon mhaith sa seanchas nuair atá an anachain déanta.
What is done cannot be undone,
Aug 10 2015
Is gearr gairid an saol.
Life is very short.
An rud is giorra is géire.
Brevity is the soul of wit.
Is minic a bhí fear maith i seanbhríste.
There’s often a good man in old trousers.
Aug 09 2015
Ní déanach í an mhaith aon uair.
Good isn’t late any time.
Dhá dtrian sainte ag lucht saibhris.
The rich have two-thirds of the world’s greed.
An áit a bhuil do chroí is ann a thabharfas do chosa thú.
Your feet will bring you to where your heart is.
July 10 2015
An ní nach bhfeiceann súil ní bhrónann croí.
What the eye sees not the heart rues not.
Is minic a mhaolaigh béile maith brón.
All griefs are less with bread.
Is fearr banlámh den lá ná dhá bhanlámh den oíche.
It is better to start early than to work late.
June 24 2015
Béarfaidh bó éigin gamhain éigin lá éigin.
Someday some cow will bear some calf.
Is sleamhain í leac an tí mhóir.
The big house has a slippery threshold.
Is fearr “A Mhuire mo thrua’ ná “A Mhuire, mo náire.
Defeat is better than disgrace.
June 14 2015
Bhuafadh an imní ar an gcinniúint.
Care could overcome fate. Literally: “Accidents can be avoided with care.”
Is fearr beagán den ghaol ná mórán den charthanas.
Blood is thicker than water. Literally: “A little bit of relationship is better than a great deal of charity.)
Más deas do dhuine a chóta is deise do dhuine a léine.
Blood is thicker than water. Literally: “If one’s coat is close to him, his shirt is closer.”
June 01 2015
Is fearr deimhin ná díomá.
Better be sure than sorry. (should follow this advice myself)
Déanann na ba seasca féin an t-eadra.
(Even) dry cows take (advantage of) the milking-time (rest).
Síleann fear na buile gurb é féin fear na céille.
The madman prides himself on his good sense.
May 01 2015
Tá caint saor, agus airgead ar thobac.
Talk is free, but tobacco costs money.
Chíonn beirt rud nach bhfeiceann duine amháin.
Two people see a thing that an individual does not see.
Ná hoscail doras na hiaróige.
Let sleeping dogs lie. Don’t open troubles’ door.
Apr 02 2015
Chíonn beirt rud nach bhfeiceann duine amháin.
Two people see a thing that an individual does not see.
Ná hoscail doras na hiaróige.
Let sleeping dogs lie. Don’t open troubles’ door.
Tagann grásta Dé le foighne.
Patience wins the grace of God.
Feb 19 2015
Ceileann searc ainimh is locht.
Love conceals blemish and fault. (Love is blind.)
Dúirt bean liom go ndúirt bean léi (go ndúirt bean eile gur inis bean di).
A woman told me that a woman told her (that another woman said that a woman said to her).
Cuid den chadhain seo a chur sa chadhain (úd) eile,
Robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Feb 02 2015
An té a bhfuil uisce agus móin ar a fheirm féin tá an domhan a bhealach féin.
He who has water and peat on his own farm has the world his own way.
Do b’fhéidir do luchóig le haimsir cábla do ghearradh ar a dhó.
In time, i.e. given enough time, a mouse may bite a cable in two.
An áit a mbíonn toit bíonn tine
There is no smoke without fire.
Jan 22 2015
An té nach mbeireann ar an ngnó, beireann an gnó air.
He who doesn’t get a grip on the job, the job grips him.
Níl sa saol ach gaoth agus toit.
There is not in life but wind and smoke.
Is fusa titim ná éirí.
Easier to fall than to rise.
Jan 9 2015
An té is mó gníomh is é is lú buíochas.
Great deeds go un-thanked.
Níor chaill fear an mhisnigh riamh é.
The man of courage never lost it yet.
Ní briathra a dhearbhaíos ach gníomh.
Actions speak louder than words.
Dec 9 2014
An áit a bfhuil do chroí is ann a thabharfas do chosa thú.
Your feet will bring you to where your heart is.
Éireoidh tonn ar uisce ciúin.
A wave will rise on quiet water.
Is sia dúch an scolaire ná fuil an mhairtírigh.
A scholars ink lasts longer than a martyr’s blood.
Dec 2 2014
Binn le neach a mholadh féin.
Melodious to everyone is praise.
Is fearr bheith cinnte ná bheith caillte.
Better to be sure than to be lost.
Goid ó ghadaí, goid gan peaca.
To steal from a thief is to steal without sin.
Sep 30 2014
An ní a thainig leis an ghaoth rachaidh sé leis an bháisteach.
What comes with the wind will go with the rain.
An rud a chíonn an leanbh is é a níonn an leanbh.
What the child sees the child does
Is iomaí cor sa tsaol.
There is many a twist in life.
Sep 25 2014
Is sia dúch an scolaire ná fuil an mhairtírigh.
A scholars ink lasts longer than a martyrs blood.
Is olc an ghaoth nach séideann do dhuine éigin.
It’s an ill wind blows nobody any good
Síoda ar Shiobhán is na preabáin ar a hathair.
Silk on Siobhán and her father in rags.
Sep 18 2014
Is olc an ghaoth nach séideann do dhuine éigin.
It’s an ill wind blows nobody any good
Síoda ar Shiobhán is na preabáin ar a hathair.
Silk on Siobhán and her father in rags.
Ní hí an áilleacht a chuireann an corcán ag fiuchaidh.
(Beauty does not boil the pot)!
Sep 04 2014
Trí ghalar gan náire: grá, tochas agus tart.
Three diseases without shame: love, an itch and thirst.
Níor chaill fear an mhisnigh riamh é.
The man of courage never lost it.
Is ionann an cás an t-éag is an bás.
Expiring and dying is the same thing.
Aug 18 2014
Ná bí ag iarraidh ciall a chur ar amadán.
Don’t try to counsel a fool.
Ná díol do chearc lá fliuch.
Don’t sell your hen on a rainy day.
Níl sa saol ach gaoth is toit.
Life is only wind and vapor.
Aug 13 2014
Caithfidh gach éinne deachú na sláinte a dhíol.
Everyone must pay the tithes of health.
In am an ghátair a bhraitear an chabhair.
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Dhá dtrian sneachta ar shléibhte.
Two-thirds of snow is on the hills.
Aug 06 2014
Ciall agus míchiall – dís ná gabhann le chéile.
Sense and nonsense – two which do not go together
Bíonn dhá dtrian mioscaise ar fhear fógartha.
He who calls a quarrel must take two-thirds of the blame.
Ní bhfaigheann an lámh iata ach an dorn dúnta.
A closed hand gets nothing but a shut fist.
Jul 28 2014
Is deacair rogha a bhaint as dhá dhíogha/as dhá mhadra dalla.
It’s hard to choose between two evils/between two blind dogs
Is fearr banlámh den lá ná dhá bhanlámh den oíche.
It is better to start early than to work late.
Is fearr clú ná conách.
A good name is better than riches.
Jul 14 2014
Ní críonnacht creagaireacht.
Miserliness is not thrift.
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.
Ná tabhair breith ar an gcéad scéal.
Hear both sides before judgement.
Jul 01 2014
Is fearr amharc amháin romhat ná dhá amharc i do dhiaidh,
Better a look ahead than two looks back.
Gáire maith agus codladh fada, an dá leigheas is fearr i leabhar an dochtúra.
A good laugh and a long sleep, the two best cures in the doctor’s book.
Is minic a mhaolaigh béile maith brón.
A good meal often lessened sadness.
June 10 2014
Ina dhiaidh a thuigtear gach beart.
Afterwards everything is understood.
An rud is doilí le duine ná a bhás b’fhéidir gurb é lár a leasa é.
What one thinks to be a fate worse than death (may be a blessing in disguise.
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.
June 03 2014
Ní huaisle mac rí ná a chuid.
A prince is no nobler than what he does.
An té nach bhfuil láidir, ní mór dó bheith glic.
The person who is not strong must be shrewd.
Anáil na beatha an t-athrú.
Change is the breath of life; a change is as good as a rest.
May 27 2014
Is fearr an mhaith atá ná an dá mhaith a bhí.
Better a good that is than two that were.
Ní chronaítear an t-uisce go dtriomaítear an tobar.
The water isn’t missed until the well dries up.
Ní troime don chaora olann agus ní troime don cholainn ciall.
The sheep is no heavier for its wool and a body is no heavier for having sense.
May 15 2014
Is fearr greim de choinín ná dhá ghreim de chat.
Better to hold a rabbit than to hold two cats.
Is fearr lúbadh na briseadh.
Better to bend than break.
Mar a chéile é – dhá reul scilling.
It’s the same – 2 sixpence and a shilling
May 08 2014
Go raibh gáire do chairde mar cheol leat, a gcairdeas ceol ó Neamh.
May the laughter of your friends be your music, their friendship like music from Heaven.
Toigh do chuideachta sula raghair ag ól.
Choose your company before you go drinking.
Bí ag éisteacht, ag faire agus i do thost dá mba mhaith leat siocháin, cairdeas agus moladh.
Listen, watch and be quiet, if you want peace, friendship and praise.
May 01 2014
Ní hé lá na gaoithe lá na scoilb.
A windy day is not a day for thatching.
Ní hé lá na báistí lá na bpáistí.
A rainy day is not a day for children.
Is iomaí taghd a thagann i lá earraigh
‘Tis many a change that comes in a spring day.
Apr 28 2014
Cuir an breac san eangach sula gcuire tú sa phota é.
Put the trout in the net before you put it in the pot.
An giorria san fhásach agus an breac ar an linn.
A hare takes to the wild and a trout to the pool.
Tá breac san abhainn chomh maith is a gabhadh fós.
There are as many trout in the river as ever came out of it.
Apr 21 2014
Bia is deoch i gcomhair na Nollaig; éadach nua i gcomhair na Cásca.
Food and drnk for Christmas, new clothes for Easter.
Ná bí teasaí taghdach, mar is in ucht amadáin a lonnaíonn an fhearg.
Be not quick tempered, as it is in the breast of a fool that anger resides.
Is buaine port ná glór na n-éan, is buaine focal ná toice an tsaoil.
A tune is more lasting than the song of the birds, and a word more lasting than the wealth of the world.
Apr 14 2014
Ní fiú scéal gan údar.
There’s no worth to a story without an author.
Is fearr clú ná conách.
A good name is better than riches.
Is trom an t-ualach an t-aineaolas.
Ignorance is a heavy burden.
Apr 7 2014
Is fearr go mall ná go brách.
Better late than never.
An rud a bhíonn, bíonn se.
That which is, is.
Mar a bhíos an cú mór bíonn an coileán,
Like father like son.
Mar 31 2014
Ní baol don bhacach an gadaí.
The thief is no threat to the beggar(man).
Mura dtaga leat tar leo!
If you can’t beat them join them!
Is fearr stuaim ná neart.
Better sense than strength.
Mar 27 2014
Is buaine port ná glór na n-éan, is buaine focal ná toice an tsaoil.
A tune is more lasting than the songs of the birds, a word is more lasting than the wealth of the world.
Is maith an scáthán súil charad.
A friend’s eye is a good mirror.
An áit mbíonn an dólás bíonn an sólás ina aice.
Often translated as. ‘Every cloud has a silver lining’. Where there is sorrow, there is solace nearby.
Mar 03 2014
Is buaine an t-uanán ná an t-anraith.
More lasting (is) froth than broth. An t-uanán is the froth of milk (or beer). A cow is more valuable for her milk than her broth.
Ní buan gach ní a chaitear.
Téann caitheamh i ngach ní.
Both phrases can be loosely translated as, ‘Nothing lasts forever’
Ag caitheamh an tsaoil is an saol ár gcaitheamh.
Consuming time whilst time consumes us.
Feb 24 2014
An trí anacair is measa: cúngrach croí, cúngrach tí, is cúngrach corcáin.
The three worst afflictions: miserliness of heart, narrowness of house, and meagerness of pot.
tréidhe – triad Traditional three part form style use in some seanfhocail.
An áit a mbíonn mná bíonn caint agus an áit a mbíonn géanna bíonn callán.
Where there are women there is talk, and where there are geese there is cackling.
Is fearr amharc amháin ná dhá amharc i do dhiadh.
Is fearr súil romhat ná dhá súil i do dhiaidh.
Is fearr réchonn ná iarchonn.
While they expressed differently they all have essentially the same meaning – Foresight is better than hindsight.
Feb 17 2014
Níor líon beannacht bolg riamh.
A blessing never filled a belly.
Ní thagann an crúiscín slán ón tobar i gcónaí.
The jug doesn’t always come safely from the well.
Ní sia gob an ghé ná gob an ghandail.
The goose’s beak is no longer than the gander’s. Often said to have the same meaning as; “What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.”
However, the use of ‘gob’ may imply a meaning that men gossip as much as women.
Feb 10 2014
Buail an t-iarann te.
Often translate as, ‘Strike while the iron is hot’. It is literally, ‘Strike the hot iron’. Seize the moment.
Ní fhanann trá le héinne.
‘The tied waits for no one.’ Some things are inevitable and cannot be avoided.
Is mairg a bhaineann sólás as dólás duine eile.
Woe to he who gets pleasure from another’s trouble.
Feb 3 2014
Cumann na Gaeilge i mBoston 