Proverbs from Wales - Animals

Animals have always played an important part in culture. People revere some animals. Others are pets we love and view as family members. Some we gaze at from afar in their wild habitats. Still others are raised or hunted for food and some are used to help ease a man's workload. Here is a selection of animal related proverbs as they were written in Welsh. I have included the English translation.

Ceffyl da yw ewyllys. Determination is a good horse

Yr oen dysgu'r ddafad I bori. The lamb teaches the ewe to graze

Gellir diddanheddu'r blaidd ond ni ellir ei ddinaturio. A wolf's teeth may removed but not his nature.

Ci yn udo noson ole, newydd drwg ddaw yn y bore. A baying dog on a moonlit night; mournful news at morning bright

Er heddwch nac er rhyfel, gwenynen farw ni chasgl fel. Not in war nor in peace will a dead bee gather honey

A elo yn hwch I Rydychen, yn hwch y daw yn ol. A sow that goes to Oxford will still be a sow when she returns

Cyfaill blaidd, bugail diog. A wolf's friend, an idle shepherd

Ni chwyn yr iar fod y gwalch yn glaf. The hen does not complain because the hawk is sick

Hy pob ceiliog ar ei domen. Every cock is bold on his own dung heap

Digrif gan bob aderyn ei lais ei hun. Every bird delights in his own voice

Y mae dafad ddu ym mhob praidd. Every flock has its black sheep

Ffordd yr a ci ydd a I gymffon. As the dog goes so goes his tail.

"Tin du!" meddai'r fran wrth yr wylan. "Black arse!" said the crow to the seagull

Glew a fydd llew hyd yn llwyd. A lion wil be valiant to the end

Ni wna'r llygoden ei nyth yn llosgwrn y gath. A mouse does not build its nest in the cat's tail

Gwell asyn a'm dyco na march a'm tawlo. Better an ass that beats me than a stallion that throws me

Godrir buwch o'I phen. A cow is milked from its head

Mae hen gof gan hen gi. An old dog has an old memory

Na sang ar droed ci chwerw. Tread not on an angry dog's foot.

Lle crafa'r iar piga'r cyw. When the hen scrapes the chick peels

Gwell cariad y ci na'I gas. Better a dog's love than his hatred

Anodd tynnu cast o hen geffyl. It is difficult to cure an old horse of a bad habit

Baun ar farch, baun I'r arch. Swift on his horse, swift to his coffin

Ofer cadw ci a chyfarth fy hunan. It is futile to keep a dog and do the barking yourself