Igbo proverbs
81
Osọndu anaghị agwụ ike.
- Literal translation
- People don't get tired when running for their lives
- Meaning
- When struggling for survival, you don't quit
82
Ọtachara akị tufuo nkume, ocheere na akị agaghị agụzị ya ọzọ?
- Literal translation
- He who throws away the stone after cracking kernels, does he think he would never get hungry again?
- Meaning
- Don't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs
83
Otu aka rụta mmanụ, o jezuo ọha
- Literal translation
- When one finger touches oil, it spreads to the rest
- Meaning
- One person's bad behaviour can result to misfortune of his friends/colleagues
84
Otu mkpụrụ akwụ adịghị efu n'ọkụ
- Literal translation
- A lone palm kernel does not get lost in the fire
- Meaning
- People don't get careless with something when it is all they have
85
ọzụ shiwe ishi, enyi ka nwanne a laa
- Literal translation
- When the corpse begins to ooze, 'the friend greater than a brother' would take his leave
- Meaning
- It is only family that will never forsake you
86
Tụpụrụ nkịta ọkpụkpụ n'ezi hapụziere ya ọgụ ya na ndi mmụọ
- Literal translation
- Throw out the bone to the dog, and forget about how he is going to wrestle with the spirits over it
- Meaning
- Do your part and leave the rest. Don't withold a good deed because you think other people will not make the best of it
87
Ubochi ọgụ abụghi ụbọchi ikpe.
- Literal translation
- The day of battle is not the day for peace discussions
- Meaning
- There is a time for everything
88
Ukpana okpoko gburu bụ nti chiri ya.
- Literal translation
- The grasshopper killed by the stork bird was probably deaf
- Meaning
- People who fall into calamity after ignoring danger signs will theirselves to blame
89
Ụsakụsa rie ogwumagana ọ kwụsị iri anụ
- Literal translation
- When the glutton eats the chameleon, he would stop eating meat
- Meaning
- A bad habit changes fast once it brings real consequences