Igbo Proverbs

There is a saying that goes this way: "when an Igbo man dies, a library of books have been burnt." The implication is that Igbo elders are considered an embodiment of wisdom. Most of this wisdom is found in idioms, proverbs, figurative expressions, and myths.

Proverbs are viewed as the oil Igbo people eat words (mmanụ nd'Igbo ji eri okwu). Every Igbo speaks in proverbs, idioms and figurative expressions. When an Igbo speaks, every Igbo is expected to understand it otherwise, the person who cannot understand it is viewed as someone who cannot pay the money paid to marry their mother (kwụọ ụgwọ e ji lụ nne ya). Below are some Igbo proverbs and their English translation or meaning.

Ilu Igbo	Igbo Proverbs
A na-esi na ntụtụ ụkwa amata onye na-esi ajọ ite.	You can find out who is an inefficient cook as they sort the seeds of breadfruits. This means you know someone by their character.
Adịghị agba aka ahụ nwata eze.	When visiting a child king or a child with a set of teeth, you do not go empty-handed.
Adịghị eji otu mgbu mma egbuji aka.	You cannot cut off your hand with one strike. This means that gradually or repeatedly an action becomes a problem.
Agụgọ onye amụ ibi bụ tọpụ akwa.	Someone who denies that he has scrotal swelling should remove his pants. This means that there are things you cannot hide.
Ahụ ihe karịrị ubi, eree ọba.	You can sell your barn when you see what is greater than your farm. This means that nothing is indispensable.
Akụ nwata jiri gbagbuo nza, bụ okenye pịrị ya.	The arrow that a child used to kill a sparrow was prepared by an adult. This means that a child learns from their elders.
Asị na agwọ otu onye hụrụ n'aghọ eke.	A snake seen by one person is often described as a python. This means that people add their descriptions to stories and other tales.
Asị na etuto toro ogbu opi n'onu anaghị egwusa ya egwu.	A flutist who has a boil in his throat does not enjoy it. This means that an ailment or any misfortune can prevent someone from making a living or being happy.
Asị na izuzu too ogologo, onye nti chiri amara ihe a na-ekwu.	If deliberation takes too long, a deaf person will understand what is discussed. Apologies to any with disability reading this. This proverb may be viewed as offensive to people with hearing impairment. It may sound discriminatory. However, Igbos use this proverb in the sense that long deliberations waste time, and resources, and are fruitless. Igbos are efficient people.
Asị na nkịta nya ikpo n'olu wee na-eri nsị, dị ka ọ na-arịọ biko biko.	A dog with a bell on its neck as it eats feces, appears if the dog is making pleading.
Asị na nne mụrụ nkapị gaa bee ya ọnụ.	A mother that gives birth to a shrew should cut its mouth. This means that if you create a problem, you try and solve it.
Asị na onye isi nyụọ nsị nyụchie ya ụzọ, o jiri ụkwụ ya zọrọ ya.	A blind person who defecates at the entrance will step on it. Apologies to any with disability reading this. This proverb may be viewed as offensive to people with hearing impairment. It may sound discriminatory. The Igbos use such proverbs to advise their community to do things correctly.
Asị na-awayị dị ụtọ abachanye ji.	If yam porridge is delicious, more yams will be added. This means that when something is working well, you keep the momentum going.
Asị na-emee ngwa ngwa, e meghara ọdachi.	If you do something quickly, you will avoid death.
Asị na a n'aghị ewere na anụ dị ụkọ nwanyị e wee tee ofe ụchịcha.	You cannot use the pretext that meat is scarce and make cockroach soup. This means that the right thing must be done no matter how hard things are.
Asị n'agwa na-aka mma, ma-ọbụrụ eke tụrụ ya.	Multi-colours are better on a python. This means to model yourself according to who you are and not according to other people.
Asị n'onye ejighi ukwu gba egwu, o kwee n'isi.	If you cannot dance, you nod your head. This means that participation is according to your strength.
Bụrụ ọgaranya taa, nwụọ echi adịghị mma.	Becoming rich today and dying tomorrow is not worth it. This means that getting rich quickly is not advisable.
Ekele nwanyị na ibe ya bụ n'ibi ọma.	A woman greets her fellow woman with an embrace. This means that there is a concord between two people.
Ewu dina n'ala, dina n'elu akpụkpọ ya.	A goat lying down is lying on its skin. This means that everything depends on the individual. If someone wants to make a change, they must decide for themselves.
Ihe akpatara n'akụkụ ite, na-aga n'akụkụ ọnụ.	Food that is collected from the pan’s sides ends up on the side of the mouth.
Ikuku kuo ahụ ike ọkụkọ.	When the wind blows, the chicken’s vent is revealed. This means that nothing is hidden forever, or everything will be revealed in its own time.
Isi ka e ji ekwe ụka a kpara akpa.	With a nod you accept an agreement.
Mkpụrụ onye kụrụ ka ọ ga-aghọ.	The seed you plant that you will reap.
Ngwere nile bụ mmakpu mmakpu, nke na amaghị nke afọ na-arụ.	All lizards are lying prostrate, it is difficult to dictate which has a stomachache. This means that it is difficult to distinguish between many identical situations.
Nkịta hụrụ ikpo nsị n'ụzọ na-eme e jee e chighaa azụ.	A dog that sees huge feces on the road, moves forth and back. This means that when you see what you like, you go after it.
Nkịta na-ata arụ, anaghị agbọ ụja.	A dog that bites does not bark.
Ntị na-anụ ihe ahaghị ka okpu ata.	An ear that hears is not as big as a bamboo hat. This means that a word is enough for the wise.
Nwata anaghị akụ azụ na mmiri riri nna ya.	A child does not fish in the same river that drowned his father. This means that you do not go to the same place where you have misfortune.
Nwata nna ya zigara ohi, na-eji ukwu agbọwa ụzọ.	A child who was sent to steal by his father breaks the door with his leg. This means that when you are right, you speak with authority. Or if you have authority, you act as one.
Nwata nne ya gara ahịa, anya na-atọ ya n'ụzọ.	A child expecting his mother to come back from the market, watches the doorway. This means that when you are expecting someone or something, you remain restless.
O gbu agwọ na-azọ ndụ ya, agwọ na-azọkwa ndụ nke ya.	A snake killer wants to save his life, likewise the snake. This means that everyone is exposed to the same danger.
O ji akwa asa ahụ, mara onwe ya.	Someone who baths while wearing clothes must know themselves. This means that you know the evil you have done.
Ochie dibịa chụọ aja, ọ dị ka o nyere ndị mmụọ n'ọnụ.	When an old medicine man offers sacrifice, it appears he feeds the spirits in their mouths. This means that experience is a better preference.
Okwu hụrụ nwanyị gbaba n'ohịa, hụkwazịrị dimkpa nwoke o si n'ọhịa gbapụta.	The deliberation that sees a woman and runs into the forest, sees a man and runs out of the forest. This means that the deliberation was better handled by the male-folk than the female-folk.
Onye a na-ekwu maka ya, nwere ihe ọ na-eme.	You call on someone because they are known for good results.
Onye aghụghọ nwụọ, onye aghụghọ ibe ya elie ya.	If a sly person dies, a fellow sly person buries them. This means that the measure you give will be the measure you will get.
Onye isi nkwọcha anaghị aga ọgụ a na-eke ọkpọ n'isi.	A bald person does not go to a fight for a knock on the head. This means that you act from your advantage point.
Onye nwee ndidi, ọ taa azụ ukpo.	If you have patience, you eat the fattest fish. This proverb encourages the need to exercise patience in everything.
Onye ọ na-eme omume omume, na-eme obube obube.	He who wears the shoe knows where it hurts.
Onye zụtara egbe ọhụrụ na-eji ya aga akwa onye toro afọ.	Someone who buys a new gun goes to bed with a person suffering from a bloated stomach.
Otu onye si debe akwa ya, ka ọ ga-esi edina na ya.	As you made your bed, you lie on it.
Otu ụbọchi nkata aghaghị ikpudo onye aghụghọ.	One day, a sly person will be caught.
Ọ gini mere ede ji bee nwịị?	What makes cocoyam cry? This asks questions about the current situations, conditions, misfortunes, and more.
Ọchọ ihe ukwu ga-ahụ agba enyi.	Someone who looks for something great will find an elephant’s jaw. This means you should not go after things beyond your strength.
Ọchị nkịta bụ ma o riwe nri dị ọkụ.	A dog laughs when it eats a hot meal.
Ọkọ kọba mmadụ, mmadụ ibe ya akọo ya, ma ọkọ kọwa anụmanụ ọ gaa n'ukwu osisi.	Only human beings scratch themselves. Animals scratch their backs on trees. This means that human beings can support one another or collaborate on projects.
Ọkwa abalị mere atụrụ ọ dị ka o nwere mpi.	Nightfall makes a sheep grow horns. This means that you can see things that are not there.
Ụbọchi niile bụ nke onye ohi, ma otu ụbọchi bụ nke onye nwe ụlọ.	Every day for the thief, but one day for the owner.
Ụbọchị nta ka chụọ n'owere nchi.	On the day of hunting, let us hunt on the animal's paths. This means that every discussion or deliberation should be as proposed.
Ụkpara okpoko gburu bụ ntị chiri ya.	A grasshopper that was carried by a hornbill is deaf. The bird, the hornbill, makes a lot of noise and as such, if any animal is preyed on by a hornbill, that animal is foolish.