Ilocano Proverbs and Sayings

From Carl Rubino's Ilocano Dictionary and Phrasebook (New York: Hippocrene

Books, 1998).

Ilocano is an Austronesian language spoken by nine million people in Northern

Luzon, Philippines. It is also historically the largest Philippine language spoken in
the United States. Nearly 1/5 of Hawaiian residents can claim some Ilocano
heritage. For more information see Carl Rubino's home page. If you have a proverb
in a minority Philippine language, please feel free to send it to the author.

Ti bassít a káyo nalaká a lintegén, ngem no dakkél narigáten. 

A young tree is easy to straighten, but when it's big it is difficult.

Ti táo nga mannaríta, awán ti ania nga magapuánanna. 

A man that talks too much accomplishes little.

Mabiág ti kalkalsáda, matáy ti koskosína. 

Captivating in the street, dead in the kitchen (lady who dresses beyond her means)

Ti napudpudno a gayyémmo, am-ammontó no addáka ití pelígro. 

A true friend is known in time of need.

Tay áso nga taol nga taol saán a makakagát ken makadunor. 
Barking dogs seldom bite.

Awán kas iti sursúro a sanikuá, ta daytá awán makatákaw kenká. 

Knowledge is wealth that can't be stolen.

No trabáho, gulpién, no kanén, in-inúten. 

If it's work, do it fast. If it's food, eat it little by little.

Ti táo a manákem, dína makíta ti panagdissó ti sakána ití dagá. 

Kitáenna ketdi ti sumarunó a baddekánna. 
A wise man doesn't see his foot on the ground, he watches his next step.

Ti nalaká ti pannakasápulna, nalaká met ti pannakapúkawna. 

What is easily acquired is easily lost.

Ti kukuá masapúlan ngem ti pintas saán. 

Wealth can be acquired but beauty cannot.

Ti agkuták, isú't nagitlóg. 

He who cackles laid the egg (he who talks first is the guilty party).

Uray kukuá a tawíden, no addá la ket naimbág a nákem. 

One need not inherit wealth if he inherits good manners.

No addá sabsábong, agaarák dagití kulibangbáng. 

Where there are flowers there are butterflies (young women attract young men)

Kugtár ni kabaián, ilot ni kalantangan. 

The kick of a female carabao, the massage of the male. (women can't hurt men
physically) 
Puráwto ti wáken, nangísittó diay kannawyen. 
The crow will turn white and the heron black (said to express impossibility)

Aniánto pay serbí diay rúot no natáyto met diay kabálion? 

Of what use is grass when the horse is dead? (said to misers)

Ti kamátis, di agbúnga ti manggá. 

The tomato plant doesn't grow mangos. (A good person doesn't come from a bad
family)

Ti útang mabayádan, ngem ti naimbág a nákem saán. 

A debt can be paid, but a kind act cannot.

Ti napíli makapíli ti kuggangí. 

He who is choosy often picks the worst.

Nalpás ti áni, awán ti garámi. 

After the harvest, there's no hay. (Deeds cannot be undone) 

Uray naáta tay tungo, no maisungród, sumgedtó. 

Even if the firewood is green, it will burn when lit (man and women together will
eventually be attracted to each other)

Naim-imbág ti matáy ta malipátanen ngem ti agbiág a maibabaín. 

It's better to be dead and forgotten than to live in shame.

Sasáor banbannóg no sabáli ti aglamlámot. 

Useless labor if someone else eats from it (said if another reaps benefits of your
work)

Ti madí a pagbagbagaán agturóng ití pagrigátan. 

He who refuses advice will end up in hardship.

Ti agmúla, agápit. 
He who sows, reaps.

Awan libég a di aglitnáw. 

There is no muddy water that doesn't clear (One can always change one's ways)

Di pay nalúto ti pariá simmagpáw ti karabása. 

The bittermelon is not yet cooked and the squash jumped in (who asked you to join
in?)

Aluádam no matupraan met la ta rúpam. 

Be careful that you don't spit on your own face.

Uray isubsúbomon, mateppáyto láeng. 

Even if you put it in your mouth, it can fall out (it is not unconditionally yours)

No agtúdo, matuduán ámin a táo. 

When it rains, everyone gets wet (gifts must be given to all)

Ti kabálio no bulbuloden, ti ngípenna di kitkitáen. 

When a horse is borrowed, don't look at its teeth (don't criticize what you borrow)
Ti agsíli magasángan, ket ti agiggém ti bánga maugingan. 
He who eats chili gets burned and he who touches the pot gets charcoal on his
hands.

Awán ti ngumáto a dínto bumabá. 

What goes up must come down.

Saánmo a mapadára ti awán dárana. 

You cannot squeeze blood out if there's none left. (said by a debtor)

No awán ti ánus, awán ti lámot. 

If there is no patience, there will be no food.

Matáy ti agur-úray, mabiág ti paur-úray. 

He who waits dies, he who makes others wait lives.

No sáan nga makaammó nga nangtaliáw ti naggapuánna, saán a makadánon ti

papanánna. 
He who does not look back to his origins will not reach his destination.

Yánud ti danúm ti matmatúrog nga udáng. 

A sleeping lobster is carried away by the current.

Perdisión bagás, agráman tuyo. 

Rice is wasted, even the bran. (said when everything ventured is lost)

No aniá ti imúlam, isú ti apítem. 

Whatever you sow, you reap.

Ti ubing nga matungpal amin a kayatna, awan ti nasayaat a banagna. 

A child that is given everything will rarely succeed in life.

Awan lalaki nga natured wenno nabaneg no ti babai ti sanguanan agsainnek.

No man is brave in the presence of a crying woman.

Sabali nga ili, sabali nga ugali. 

Different towns have different customs.

What are examples of Cebuano proverbs?

Ang gaba dili magsaba! - curse, karma comes anytime

Ang kalimot way gahom - everyone may forget

Bisan ang ulan may paglurang - everything has an end.

Pila'y pa'ad sa pungkol - everyone has his luck

Unaha una og silhig ang imong tugkaran, una ka manlimpyo sa uban! - get rid first
of the bad things around you before telling others to clean their mess also.

Proverbs 4
Mga Proverbio 4
1Proverbs 4:2 ^
Give ear, my sons, to the teaching of a father; give attention so that you may have
knowledge:

2Proverbs 4:3 ^
For I give you good teaching; do not give up the knowledge you are getting from
me.

3Proverbs 4:4 ^
For I was a son to my father, a gentle and an only one to my mother.

4Proverbs 4:5 ^
And he gave me teaching, saying to me, Keep my words in your heart; keep my
rules so that you may have life:

5Proverbs 4:6 ^
Get wisdom, get true knowledge; keep it in memory, do not be turned away from
the words of my mouth.

6Proverbs 4:7 ^
Do not give her up, and she will keep you; give her your love, and she will make
you safe.

7Proverbs 4:8 ^
The first sign of wisdom is to get wisdom; go, give all you have to get true
knowledge.

8Proverbs 4:9 ^
Put her in a high place, and you will be lifted up by her; she will give you honour,
when you give her your love.

9Proverbs 4:10 ^
She will put a crown of grace on your head, giving you a head-dress of glory.

10Proverbs 4:11 ^
Give ear, O my son, and let your heart be open to my sayings; and long life will be
yours.

11Proverbs 4:12 ^
I have given you teaching in the way of wisdom, guiding your steps in the straight
way.

12Proverbs 4:13 ^
When you go, your way will not be narrow, and in running you will not have a fall.

13Proverbs 4:14 ^
Take learning in your hands, do not let her go: keep her, for she is your life.

14Proverbs 4:15 ^
Do not go in the road of sinners, or be walking in the way of evil men.
15Proverbs 4:16 ^
Keep far from it, do not go near; be turned from it, and go on your way.

16Proverbs 4:17 ^
For they take no rest till they have done evil; their sleep is taken away if they have
not been the cause of someone's fall.

17Proverbs 4:18 ^
The bread of evil-doing is their food, the wine of violent acts their drink.

18Proverbs 4:19 ^
But the way of the upright is like the light of early morning, getting brighter and
brighter till the full day.

19Proverbs 4:20 ^
The way of sinners is dark; they see not the cause of their fall.

20Proverbs 4:21 ^
My son, give attention to my words; let your ear be turned to my sayings.

21Proverbs 4:22 ^
Let them not go from your eyes; keep them deep in your heart.

22Proverbs 4:23 ^
For they are life to him who gets them, and strength to all his flesh.

23Proverbs 4:24 ^
And keep watch over your heart with all care; so you will have life.

24Proverbs 4:25 ^
Put away from you an evil tongue, and let false lips be far from you.

25Proverbs 4:26 ^
Keep your eyes on what is in front of you, looking straight before you.

26Proverbs 4:27 ^
Keep a watch on your behaviour; let all your ways be rightly ordered.

27Proverbs 4:28 ^
Let there be no turning to the right or to the left, keep your feet from evil.

1Mga Proverbio 4:1 ^

Pamatia, mga anak ko, ang pahamatngon sa usa ka amahan, Ug matngoni ang
pagkahibalo sa pagsabut:

2Mga Proverbio 4:2 ^

Kay ako nagahatag kaninyo ug maayong pagtulon-an; Ayaw ninyo pagbiyai ang
akong balaod.
3Mga Proverbio 4:3 ^
Kay ako usa ka anak nga lalake sa akong amahan, Batan-on ug mao ray pinalangga
sa panan-aw sa akong inahan.

4Mga Proverbio 4:4 ^

Ug iyang gitudloan ako, ug mi-ingon kanako: Patipigi sa imong kasingkasing ang
akong mga pulong; Bantayi ang akong mga sugo, ug mabuhi ka;

5Mga Proverbio 4:5 ^

Batoni ang kaalam, batoni ang pagsabut; Ayaw hikalimti, ni pag-ayran mo ang
mga pulong nga gikan sa akong baba;

6Mga Proverbio 4:6 ^

Ayaw siya pagbiyai, ug siya magapanalipod kanimo; Higugmaa siya, ug siya
magabantay kanimo.
7Mga Proverbio 4:7 ^
Ang kaalam maoy labaw nga butang; busa batoni ang kaalam; Oo, uban sa tanan
mo nga pagatinguhaon batoni ang pagsabut.

8Mga Proverbio 4:8 ^

Ipahitaas siya, ug siya magapauswag kanimo; Siya magadala kanimo ngadto sa
kadungganan, kong ikaw mogakus kaniya.

9Mga Proverbio 4:9 ^

Siya magahatag kanimo sa usa ka purongpurong nga bulak sa gracia; Usa ka
purongpurong sa katahum iyang igahatag kanimo.

10Mga Proverbio 4:10 ^

Pamati, Oh anak ko, ug dawata ang akong mga ipamulong; Ug ang mga katuigan
sa imong kinabuhi magadaghan.

11Mga Proverbio 4:11 ^

Ako nagtudlo kanimo sa dalan sa kaalam; Ako nagmando kanimo sa mga
alagianan sa katul-iran.

12Mga Proverbio 4:12 ^

Kong ikaw magalakaw, ang imong mga lakang dili pagamub-on; Ug kong ikaw
magadalagan, dili ka mahisokamod.

13Mga Proverbio 4:13 ^

Hawiri gayud ang pagpahamangno; ayaw siya pagbuhii: Bantayi siya; kay siya
mao ang imong kinabuhi.

14Mga Proverbio 4:14 ^

Ayaw pagsulod sa alagianan sa dautan, Ug ayaw paglakat sa dalan sa mga tawong
dautan.

15Mga Proverbio 4:15 ^

Likayi kini, ayaw pag-agi haduol niini; Tumipas ka gikan niini, ug padayon.
16Mga Proverbio 4:16 ^
Kay sila dili matulog, gawas kong sila makabuhat ug dautan; Ug ang ilang
pagkatulog mawala, gawas kong sila makapahulog sa uban.

17Mga Proverbio 4:17 ^

Kay sila magakaon sa tinapay sa kadautan, Ug magainum sa vino sa pagpanlupig.

18Mga Proverbio 4:18 ^

Apan ang alagianan sa matarung ingon sa banagbanag sa kahayag, Nga
nagakasanag sa kahayag ngadto sa pagkahingpit sa adlaw.

19Mga Proverbio 4:19 ^

Ang dalan sa tawong dautan ingon sa kangitngit: Sila dili manghibalo kong usa ang
ilang napangdolan.

20Mga Proverbio 4:20 ^

Anak ko, pagmatngon sa akong mga pulong; Ikiling ang imong igdulungog sa
akong mga gipamulong.

21Mga Proverbio 4:21 ^

Ayaw sila pagpabulaga gikan sa imong mga mata; Tipigi sila sa kinataliwad-an sa
imong kasingkasing.

22Mga Proverbio 4:22 ^

Kay sila kinabuhi alang niadtong nanagpangita kanila, Ug kaayohan sa ilang
tibook nga unod.

23Mga Proverbio 4:23 ^

Ampingi ang imong kasingkasing sa tanang pagsingkamot; Kay gikan niini
magagula ang dagkung butang sa kinabuhi.

24Mga Proverbio 4:24 ^

Isalikway gikan kanimo ang usa ka masinalaagon nga baba, Ug ipahilayo gikan
kanimo ang mga ngabil nga masukihon.

25Mga Proverbio 4:25 ^

Itutok ang pagtan-aw sa imong mga mata sa unahan, Ug itutok ang imong mga
tabon-tabon sa atubangan nimo.

26Mga Proverbio 4:26 ^

Pataga ang alagianan sa imong mga tiil, Ug tukora sa matul-id gayud ang tanan
mong mga dalan.

What are some proverbs of Mindanao?

MINDANAO:
Tausug: In lasa iban uba di hikatapuk.
Tagalog: Ang pag-ibig at ubo ay hindi maitatago.
English: Love and a cough cannot be hidden.
Tausug: In ulang natutuy mada sin sug.
Tagalog: Ang natutulog na alimango ay matatangay ng agaos.
English: A sleeping crab will be carried by the current.
Tausug: Wayruun asu bang way kayu.
Tagalog: Kung walang usok, wala ring apoy.
English: There is no smoke where there is no fire.
Tausug: Atay nagduruwaruwa wayruun kasungan niya.
Tagalog: Kung ang isa ay hindi makapag disisyon, siya ay walang kinabukasan.
English: One who cannot decide will have no future.
Tausug: Ayaw mangaku daug salugay buhi.
Tagalog: (1) Huwag aaminin ang pagkatalo haggang ikaw ay nabubuhay. or
(2) Hanggang maybuhay, may pag asa.
English: Never admit defeat as long as you live.