Proverbs from Wales - People, Commuication and Religion

Proverbs can often tell us a great deal about the people and times from where they originated. They can give us man's view on his fellow man, his way of life and his reflection on the times. What follows is a selection of proverbs that I found fascinating.

Gwell bachgen call na brenin ffol. Better a wise lad than a foolish king

Heb ei fai, heb ei eni. He who is blameless is not yet born

Chwery mab noeth, ni chwery mab newynog. A naked lad will play, a starving lad will not

Dyfal donc a dyrr y garreg. A constant knock will break the stone

Gwr heb bwyll, llong heb angor. A man without prudence is a ship without an anchor

Tyfid maban, ni thyf ei gadachan. An infant will grow, but his swaddling clothes will not

Eilfan ywmodryb dda. A good aunt is a second mother

Cynt y cwrdd dau ddyn na dau fynydd. Sooner will two men meet than two mountains

Addo teg a una ynfyd yn llawen. Fair promises will make a fool happy

Ni ddaw cif I chwegr ei bod yn wuadd. The mother-in-law forgets that she was a daughter-in-law

Heb wraig heb ynryson. Without wife without strife

Car dy gymydog ond cadw dy glawdd. Love your neighbor but maintain your hedge

Can di bennill mwyn I'th nain, fe gan dy nain I tithau. Sing your grandmother a sweet song and she will sing to you

Language is the art of communication, through speech, music, and the written word. Proverbs not only tell of everyday life, but can give an insight on how the written and spoken word may be perceived by a culture,. I have included a selection here that not only is amusing and whimsical, but can be applied as truth to our lives today.

Gorau prinder, prinder giriau. The best economy, economy of words

Derfydd dannedd merch yn gynt na'I thafod. A girls teeth will wear out sooner than her tongue

Canu cyn borefwyd, crio cyn super. To sing before breakfast is to weep before supper

A ddywedo leiaf, hwnnw yw'r callaf. Who speaks the least, he is the wisest

Na ad I'th dafod dorri'th uddf. Let not your tongue cut your throat

Haw dywedyd "mynydd" na myned drosto. It is easier to say "mountain" than to climb one

Bedd awen gwely priodas. The marriage bed is the grave of the muse

Dywed yn dda am dy gyfaill, am dy elyn na ddywed ddim, Speak well if your friend, of your enemy say nothing

Gan y gwirion ceir y gwir. One gets the truth from the simple

Gair I gall, ffon I'r anghall. A word to the wise, a stick to the unwise

A wyr leiag a ddwed fwyaf. He who knows least talks most

Aeth y newydd ar gyrn a phibau. The news spread on horns and pipes

Religion and belief in a deity has sustained man in some form throughout the ages, and proverbs have reflected profound bits of this belief. Here is a selection of proverbs that have been prevalent in Welsh culture.

Gochel y pechod cyntaf, canys y mae lleng yn dymn wrth ei sawdl. Beware of the first sin, for there are a legion hard on its heels

Gall pechod mawr ddyfod trwy ddrws bychan. A great sin can enter by a small door

Lle bo eglwys gan Dduw bydd capel gan y diafol. Where God has a church the devil has a chapel

Da yw Duw a hir yw byth. God is good and eternity is long

Gwell aros o alltudedd nac aros o fedd. Better a waiting from exile than a waiting from the grave

Gwna dda dros ddrwg, uffern ni'th ddwg. Repay eveil with good, and hell will not claim you

Nesaf I'r eglwys, pellaf o baradwys. Nearest to the church, furthest from paradise

Melysaf y can eos, ond nid erchis Duw I'r fran dewi. Sweetest sings the nightingale, but God did not command the crow to be silent

Y cyw a fegir yn uffern, yn uffern y myn drigo. The bird reared in hell, there he will choose to dwell

Angel pen ffordd, diawl pen pentan. An angel on the highway, a devil at home

Nid twyll twyllo twyllwr. It is no deceit to deceive a deceiver