Igbo proverbs
41
Nkịta nyara akpa nsi agwụ na ọhịa
- Literal translation
- When the dog carries a bad, the forest would be rid of excreta
- Meaning
- A good tool in the hand of a passionate/skillful person would only increase his efficiency
42
Nne ewu na-ata igụ, ụmụ ya a na-ele ya anya n'ọnụ.
- Literal translation
- While the she-goat eats grass, her kids watch her mouth
- Meaning
- People learn more from what we do than what we say
43
Nwa ọkụkọ gbaa olu nne ya ahapụ ya
- Literal translation
- When a chick gets too headstrong, the mother hen lets her alone
- Meaning
- Obstinacy can only drive away people who would have protected us
44
Nwanyi anaghị ama uru dị bara ruokwa mgbe ọ ghọrọ ajadụ
- Literal translation
- A woman does not know the value of a husband until when he dies
- Meaning
- People don't know the value of a thing until the thing is no more
45
Nwata hụkaria onyị nne ya, o gbuo ya mma ekwu
- Literal translation
- When a child sees his mother's lover too often, he'd attack him with a kitchen knife
- Meaning
- Familiarity breeds contempt
46
Nwata rie ihe ọ na-amụrụ anya, ụra atụọ ya
- Literal translation
- When a child eats the food he has been waiting for, he would then sleep
- Meaning
- Often used derogatively to mean: When one attracts the trouble he has been seeking for a long time, he would then become coolheaded
47
Nwata rie nri okenye, ndị mmụọ ahụwa ya ama
- Literal translation
- If a child eats a food meant for elders, the spirits take notice of him (in a bad way)
- Meaning
- Grave actions attract bad publicity
48
Ọ bụ íché ha ka ényí ka ana ama enyi
- Literal translation
- It is a stone the size of an elephant that you throw at an elephant
- Meaning
- Big problems require a big approach
49
Ọ bụghị ebe aka ewu zọrọ ka ụkwụ ya na azọ
- Literal translation
- A walking goat's fore and hindlimbs do not step on the same spots
- Meaning
- Don't force followers/children/wards to behave exactly like yourself.
50
O nweghị ihe anya hụrụ gba obara
- Literal translation
- No sight can make the eyes shed blood
- Meaning
- No situation is totally hopeless
51
O nweghị onye na-ajụ ofe azụ juputere na ya.
- Literal translation
- Nobody rejects a soup full of fish
- Meaning
- Nobody rejects a good thing
52
O re-ere bụ Eze; O zu-azụ bụ eze
- Literal translation
- The seller is king. The buyer is also king
- Meaning
- Accord everyone his due respect
53
O were onye etinyere azụ na ọnụ, ya si na ya achọghi?
- Literal translation
- Is there anyone who rejects a piece of fish put in his mouth?
- Meaning
- Everybody likes good things
54
Ọbụ oke ịgba ajị n'ị́kè na ebulata nsị n'ụlọ
- Literal translation
- Excessive anal hair is what brings home faeces (from the bush where one went to defecate)
- Meaning
- Too much of anything is bad
55
Ofeke mụta ịta atụ osisi dị na ọhịa agwụ
- Literal translation
- When the foolish learns how to use the chewing stick, he breaks every twig in the forest
- Meaning
- Too much of anything is bad
56
Ọgaranya jere mba anụ juru ala, bụ ndị ọna enye nyekwara ya
- Literal translation
- The rich man who visits a land filled with animals (meat), is receiving a reward from those he has been benevolent to
- Meaning
- Charity attracts favour
57
Ọgọ bịakarịa , e zie ya kpata nkụ
- Literal translation
- When the inlaw visits too often, he will be sent to go fetch firewood
- Meaning
- Over familiarity breeds contempt
58
Ogologo abụghị na nwam etola
- Literal translation
- Growing tall does not mean that my child has grown up
- Meaning
- Maturity is a thing of the mind
59
Ogori nuo di n’abọ ọ mara nke ka mma.
- Literal translation
- When a woman marries two husbands, she then realizes the one she prefers
- Meaning
- Experience makes for informed decision
60
Oke amakwana ụma taa akpa dibia. Dibia amakwana ụma buwe oke onu
- Literal translation
- The rat should not maliciously chew the native doctor's bag. The native doctor should not maliciously starve the rat
- Meaning
- Give everyone his due