Igbo proverbs
1
A na-esi n'ulọ mara mma pụọ ama
- Literal translation
- Charity begins at home
- Meaning
- Charity begins at home
2
A naghị eji ụtụtụ ama njọ ahia
- Literal translation
- You don't know a bad sales day from the morning
- Meaning
- Be patient. Don't make rash, hasty judgement
3
Agadi wekọtachaa ọkazị ma gbajie mgbọrọgwụ ya, agụụ biara n'afọ nke mbụ ga-abịakwa ọzọ.
- Literal translation
- When the old woman breaks the okazi root after plucking its leaves, then the hunger that visited her the previous year would repeat itself this year
- Meaning
- Learn from experience
4
Agaghị m agwa agadi nwanyị zie imi makana ọbụghịm ga ata isi ya ma ọ nwụọ
- Literal translation
- I will not bother telling an old woman to blow her nose. Because I would not have to eat her head when she dies
- Meaning
- Mind your business
5
Agwọ emeghị nke o jiri buru agwọ, ụmụaka a chiri ya hie nkụ
- Literal translation
- If a snake does not behave as one, children would use it to tie firewood
- Meaning
- Too much softness causes people to ride on you
6
Ahịa ukwu amaghị na otu onye abiaghi
- Literal translation
- A big market does not notice the absence of a single person
- Meaning
- Principle of democracy. The will of the majority overrides the disapproval of an individual
7
Ahụghị nwoke na ubi, ayọọ nwanyị ji
- Literal translation
- When you see no man in the farm, you'd beg a woman for yam
- Meaning
- When the desirable is not available, the available becomes desirable
8
Aka nri kwọọ aka ekpe, aka ekpe akwọọ aka nri
- Literal translation
- When the right hand washes the left, the left reciprocates the gesture
- Meaning
- What goes around comes around
9
Akpaa akpaa arahụ n'ute
- Literal translation
- When people reach an agreement, they can sleep on the mat
- Meaning
- Dialogue makes for peaceful co-existence
10
Akwụnye anụ n'ọkụ, nwata ejee ozi esibeghị ya ezi
- Literal translation
- When they place a piece of meat on the fire, a child goes on an errand he has not yet been sent
- Meaning
- People become do their best when they forsee a future reward
11
Alụọ nwanyi ọhụụ, ọ zaa ámá chiri echi
- Literal translation
- A newly married wife sweeps even a closed path
- Meaning
- People show their best behaviour at the beginning of relationships
12
Ana agwa onye ibi ya amana aja, ọkwa ọmachaa ihe ọhụrụ o nwere
- Literal translation
- Do you have to tell the man with an enlarged scrotum not to scale a fence? After he is done, he would realize what he has done to himself
- Meaning
- The obstinate is bound to learn from bad experience
13
Ana ekwu na akpa ezighị ndị dibia ofeke ayara abụọ na akpagharị
- Literal translation
- While it is being said that bags are not enough for the native doctors, a foolish person is sighted walking about with 2 bags
- Meaning
- People who need something may lack it. While a clueless person has such coveted thing in excess
14
Anaghi ekpuchi anwụrụ ọkụ.
- Literal translation
- You don't a smoke
- Meaning
- Don't try to hide what can't be hidden
15
Anam emere onye isiukwu ebere? ọbụ mụ ga akwárá ya okpu
- Literal translation
- Do I pity a bigheaded man? Am I the one to sew his cap?
- Meaning
- Mind your business
16
Atụọ dike n’ala, anụ uzu ya.
- Literal translation
- When they throw down a warrior (in a fight) he makes a loud sound
- Meaning
- The fall of the mighty makes for big news
17
Awọ anaghị agba ọsọ ehihie n'efu
- Literal translation
- The toad does not run in the day time for nothing
- Meaning
- Unusual occurrences are not without unusual causes
18
E nenie nwaite ọ gbọnyụọ ọku
- Literal translation
- When you look down on a small pot it tends to boil over and quench the fire
- Meaning
- Do not look down on anyone
19
Ebe a na-adụ nwa nwere nne ọdụ, ka nwa na-enweghị nne na-amụta ihe.
- Literal translation
- The orphan learns from the advice being given to a child with parents
- Meaning
- Learn from the experience of others
20
Ebee ka egbugbere ọnụ jere mmiri ji ama eze
- Literal translation
- Where did the lips go, that the teeth are being beaten by the rain
- Meaning
- Take care of your responsibilities