African oral wisdom
African proverbs & meanings
A saying holds more than its words. Explore the literal language and the meaning passed from one generation to the next.
827proverbs in Igbo · page 1 of 42
- 01Ilu bụ mmanụ ndị igbo ji eri okwuProverbs are the oil that smooths spoken words.
- 02Ụka bụ nkaSpeech is an art.
- 03Oke ọ ga-esoro ngwere maa mmiri?Will a rat play in the rain with a lizard?
- 04A naghị ekpuchi afọ ime akaA hand cannot cover a pregnant belly.
- 05Anya bewe, imi ebeweWhat happens to one person touches another.
- 06E kweghi ekwe na-ekwe n'ute ekwereA person who has never bowed to anything will soon bow to the burial mat.
- 07E mee nwata ka e mere ibe ya, obi adị ya mmaWhen a child is treated like their age-mates, they are happy.
- 08E tie dike n'ala, a nụ ụzụ yaStrike a strong man to the ground and the shout that goes up is great.
- 09Ebe onye dara ka chi ya kwaturu yaThe spot where a person falls is the spot their Chi pushed them.
- 10Egbe bere ugo bere, nke sị ibe ya ebela, nku kwaa yaLet the kite (hawk) perch, let the eagle perch; the one who tells the other not to perch, let its wings break.
- 11Eriri ma ngwugwu, ngwugwu ma onye kere yaThe rope knows the parcel, and the parcel knows who wrapped it.
- 12Gidigidi bụ ugwu ezeUnity is strength.
- 13Ihe agụ ji eme ire dị ya na mbọA leopard's fearsomeness is in its claws.
- 14Mberede nyịrị dike, mana mberede ka eji ama dikeGetting through those difficulties is what makes them a warrior.
- 15Nke onye chiri ya zereWhatever a person takes upon themselves, let them face it.
- 16Nkụ onye kpara n’ọkọchị ka ọ na-anya n’udu mmiriWhat a person does today decides where they stand tomorrow.
- 17Ọkụkọ na-abọpụta mma na-egbu yaThe fowl scratches up the blade that kills it.
- 18Okwu a na-asọ anya anaghị ebi gbooA matter put off only drags on.
- 19Onweghi ihe anya hụrụ gbaa ọbaraThere is nothing the eye will see that will make it shed blood.
- 20Onye ajụjụ anaghị efu ụzọOne who asks questions never loses their way.