Ireland is a land of storytelling, wit and wisdom, and this is clear to see from our many seanfhocail (proverbs).

These short phrases that are full of wisdom have been passed down through generations. They encapsulate the heart of Irish culture, offer us guidance and point us in the right direction when it comes to life, death and unique ways to view the world.

Whether you're looking for encouragement or a bit of humour, there's an Irish proverb for every occasion.

Life is unpredictable, but Irish seanfhocail often have the answers to even the biggest dilemmas.

To give you some motivation, we have compiled a list of 100 seanfhocal that covers all aspects of life.

We’ve given an English translation for every seanfhocal on the list and, while they may convey the meaning, we at Gaelchultúr think they’re much better in Irish! What’s your favourite Irish seanfhocal?

If you enjoyed these seanfhocail, you may be interested in beginning or continuing your Irish-language learning journey. You’ll no longer have any difficulty understanding seanfhocail as Gaeilge!

Register for an Irish language course with Gaelchultúr today! With eight levels available, we have courses to suit every learner, from beginners to grammar experts.

Or you might like to learn more about Irish folklore, oral traditions and customs? If so, register today for aFolklore Course with Gaelchultúr.

Críonnacht agus an saol

Wisdom and life

1. Glacann fear críonna comhairle

A wise man accepts advice

2. Ná bac le mac an bhacaigh is ní bhacfaidh mac an bhacaigh leat

Don’t trouble trouble and it won’t trouble you. (Mind your own business)

3. Ná bris do loirgín ar stól nach bhfuil i do shlí

Don’t break your shin on a stool that’s not in your way (Mind your own business)

4. Ní thagann ciall roimh aois

Sense doesn't come before age

5. Is minic a bhris béal duine a shrón

It's often a person's mouth broke their nose

6. Is ait an mac an saol

Life is strange / such is life

7. Dá fhada an lá, tagann an tráthnóna

No matter how long the day, the evening will come

8. Bíonn siúlach scéalach

Those who travel have tales to tell

9. Fileann an feall ar an bhfeallaire

What goes around comes around

10. An rud is annamh is iontach

What is seldom is wonderful

11. Ceannaigh an drochrud agus bí gan aon rud

Buy a bad thing and be left with nothing

12. An té nach bhfuil láidir ní mór dó bheith glic

He who is not strong must be clever

13. Bíonn gach tús lag

Every beginning is weak

14. Is binn béal ina thost

Silence is golden

15. Is fearr lúbadh ná briseadh

It's better to bend than to break

16. Tús maith leath na hoibre

A good start is half the work

17. Bíonn cluasa ar na claíocha

Fences have ears (walls have ears)

18. Is fearr go mall ná go brách.

Better late than never

19. Bíonn an fhírinne searbh.

The truth hurts

20. Is fada an bóthar nach bhfuil casadh ann.

It's a long road that has no turning

21. Is leor nod don eolach.

A word to the wise is sufficient

22. Is minic ciúin ciontach!

The quiet ones are often guilty!

23. Múineann gá seift.

Necessity is the mother of invention

24. Níl saoi gan locht.

There's no wise man without fault (No one is perfect)

25. Ní íseal ná uasal ach thíos seal agus thuas seal.

There is no nobility or ignobility, but down for a while and up for a while (Everyone has their ups and downs)

26. Níor bhris focal maith fiacail riamh.

A good word never broke a tooth.

27. De réir a chéile a thógtar na caisleáin.

Castles are built gradually (Rome wasn't built in a day)

28. Ní bhíonn in aon rud ach seal.

Nothing lasts forever

29. Doras feasa fiafraí.

Asking is the door to knowledge

30. Cleachtadh a dhéanann máistreacht.

Practice makes perfect

31. Is minic bréag ar aonach.

There is often a lie at the fair

32. 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

33. Chomh díomhaoin le laidhricín píobaire.

As idle as a piper's little finger

34. Chomh glan leis an fhíoruisce.

As pure as spring water

35. Is é buille an phinn an buille is fealltaí.

The pen's blow is the most treacherous

An Óige

Youth

36. Is breá an ní an óige ach ní thagann sí faoi dhó.

Youth is a fine thing, but it doesn't come twice

37. Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí.

Praise the youth and it will flourish

38. Bíonn ceann caol ar an óige.

Youth has a thin head; you can’t put an old head on young shoulders

39. Is cuma leis an óige cá leagann sí a cos.

Youth does not care where it sets its foot

40. An té a bhíonn díomhaoin óg, bíonn sé buan críonna.

He who is single in youth, is forever wise

Sláinte

Health

41. Beart gan leigheas, foighne is fearr air.

What can't be cured must be endured (Patience is the best thing for an incurable situation)

42. Is fearr an sláinte ná na táinte.

Your health is your wealth

43. Maireann croí éadrom i bhfad.

A light heart lives long

44. Dochtúir na sláinte an codladh.

Sleep is health's doctor

Nádúr, ainmhithe agus an aimsir

Nature and animals

45. Éist le fuaim na habhann agus gheobhaidh tú breac.

Listen to the sound of a river and you will catch a trout

46. Is olc an ghaoth nach séideann maitheas do dhuine éigin.

It's an ill wind that blows no good

47. Ní hé lá na gaoithe lá na scolb.

A windy day isn’t the day for thatching

48. Ní hé lá na báistí lá na bpáistí.

A rainy day is not the day for children

49. Is leis an mochóirí an lá.

The early bird catches the worm

50. Ní dhéanfadh an saol capall rasa d'asal.

You can't make a racehorse out of a donkey

51. Cuir síoda ar ghabhar agus is gabhar i gcónaí é.

Put silk on a goat, and it’s still a goat

52. Bíonn súil le muir (ach ní bhíonn súil le tír?).

Hope springs eternal / There is hope in the sea, but not in the land (grave)

53. Níl tuile dá mhéad nach dtránn.

There is no flood, however big, that does not subside

54. Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile.

One beetle recognises another beetle (it takes one to know one)

55. Ar mhaithe leis féin a bhíonn an cat ag crónán.

The cat purrs for itself

56. Cad é a dhéanfadh mac an chait ach luch a mharú?

What would the cat’s son do but kill mice? (Like father, like son)

57. Ní chronaítear an t-uisce go dtriomaítear an tobar.

The water isn't missed until the well dries up

58. Ní thagann caonach ar chloch reatha.

A rolling stone gathers no moss

59. Briseann an dúchas trí shúile an chait.

What's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh

60. Bíonn caora dhubh ar an tréad is gile.

Even the whitest flock has a black sheep

61. Is dána gach madra i ndoras a thí féin.

Every dog is daring on his own doorstep

62. Is maith an scéalaí an aimsir.

Time will tell

63. Nuair a bhíonn an cat amuigh bíonn na lucha ag rince.

When the cat's away, the mice will play

64. Cuir an breac san eangach sula gcuire tú sa phota é.

Put the trout in the net before you put it in the pot

65. Go n-ithe an cat thú is go n-ithe an diabhal an cat.

May the cat eat you, and the devil eat the cat

66. Is leor don dreoilín a nead.

A wren only has need for its nest

67. Luigh leis an uan agus éirigh leis an éan.

Go to sleep with the lamb and rise with the bird

68. Is maith leis an chat iasc ach ní maith leis a chrúba a fhliuchadh.

The cat likes fish but he doesn’t like to get his paws wet

Cairdeas, Clann agus Grá

Friends, Family and Love

69. Ní neart go cur le chéile.

There is strength in unity

70. Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.

People live in each other's shadows

71. Giorraíonn beirt bóthar.

Two people shorten the road

72. Aithnítear cara i gcruatan.

Friendship is recognised in hardship

73. An rud a chí an leanbh is é a ní an leanbh.

A child imitates what it sees (Monkey see, monkey do)

74. Is fearr cara sa chúirt ná punt sa sparán.

A friend in court is better than a pound in the purse

75. Is treise dúchas ná oiliúint.

What's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh

76. Is maith an scáthán súil charad.

A friend's eye is a good mirror

77. Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin.

There's no place like home

78. Níl aon leigheas ar an ngrá ach pósadh.

There is no cure for love but marriage

79. Ní féasta go rósta agus ní céasta go pósta.

There’s no feast like a roast and no torment like being married

80. Sliocht sleachta ar shliocht bhur sleachta.

Blessings on your prosperity

81. Galar an grá nach leigheasann luibheanna.

Love is a disease which herbs will not cure

82. Más maith leat do cháineadh, pós.

If you like to be criticised, get married

83. Is mac do mhac go bpósfaidh sé. Ach is iníon d'iníon go dtéir i gcré.

A son is a son until he marries. A daughter is forever

84. An áit a bhfuil do chroí, is ann a thabharfas do chosa thú.

Your feet will take you where your heart is

An bás

Death

85. Níl sa saol ach gaoth agus toit.

Life is but wind and smoke

86. Is ionann an cás an t-éag is an bás.

Expiring and dying is the same thing

87. "Níl luibh ná leigheas in aghaidh an bháis."

There is no herb or medicine against death

88. Is búaine clú ná saol.

Reputation lasts longer than life

89. Is iomaí lá ag an uaigh orainn.

We spend many days in the grave (Carpe Diem)

Bia agus deoch

Food & drink

90. Is maith an t-anlann an t-ocras.

Hunger is the best sauce

91. Is é leigheas na póite ná ól arís.

The cure for a hangover is to drink again (hair of the dog)

92. Bíonn blas ar an mbeagán.

Little things are appreciated / Enough is as good as a feast

93. Capall na hoibre an bia.

Food is the horse of work (Food is what keeps you going)

94. 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

95. Is túisce deoch ná scéal.

A drink precedes a story

96. Marbh le tae agus marbh gan é.

Can't live with it, can't live without it

An teanga

Language

97. Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam.

A country without a language is a country without a soul

98. Beatha teanga í a labhairt.

The life of a language is to speak it

99. Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste.

Broken Irish is better than clever English

100. Labhair í agus mairfidh sí.

Speak it and it will live