Idiom/Proverb | Literal Meaning | Meaning |
Achụ cha aja, m ahụghi udele, ị mara na ihe mere bee ndi mmuọ. | If the vulture fails so show up at the place of sacrifice, you know that something is wrong in the land of the spirits. | Key figure must be present for an important function. |
Agadi nwanyị anaghị akaru nka na egwu ọ mara agba. | An old woman is never too old to perform her favorite dance step. | Experience the best teacher. |
Agadi nwanyị nwere onye na-elekọta ya anya sị na agbụrụ ya adịghị aka nka. | An old woman who has a permanent live-in helper says her lineage does not grow old. | The arrogant fails to give credit to whom it is due. |
A gbakata Eze nkịtị, ekpuru nkata n’isi gwa ya okwu. | You can only forebear a king for so long before you speak out. How be it with a basket covering your head. | People cast off restraint after much persevering. |
Agba nsị nkịtị ọ n’esi usi. | If you ignore feces it smells. | An unchecked problem grows to become a nuisance. |
Agbarụcha ngene, ekuru ngene ṅ ụa. | After polluting the Ngene river, people end up drinking from it. | Some things one despises will continue to be indispensable whether he/she likes it or not. |
Agbọghọ tochaa o chere ibe ya | After growing to puberty, a young lady waits for her peers | You don't have to struggle for everything; nature do take its course in due time |
Agwa ogbenye ihe eji aba ọgaranya, ọ sị ka ya bụrụ ọgbenye ya bụ. | If you tell a poor person what it takes to be rich, he chooses his status. | Not everyone is willing to pay the price for becoming wealthy. |
Agwọ emeghị ihe o ji bụrụ agwọ ụmụ aka ewere ya gwurie egwu. | If a snake fails to live up to it's attributes, children will play with it. | People loose respect when they fail to live up to what is expected of them. |
Ahapụ ike nyụrụ ahụru, akụọ isi ọkpọ. | The anus that farted is left alone but the head receives the knock.(beating). | An innocent person may pay for the sins of another |
Aka aja aja n’ebute ọnụ mmanụ mmanụ. | Soiled hands bring forth, oily mouth. | Hard work precedes merriment. |
Akanri kwọ aka ekpe, aka ekpe akwọ aka nri, aka n’abo adi ọcha. | If the right hand washes the left, the left hand will in turn scrub the right, both hand would be clean | One good turn deserves another. |
Akụ fecha ọ dara awọ | After flying the termite will fall to be eaten by the toad. | Whatever will be will be. |
Akwa ọkụkọ tiwaa akị, ihere emee mkpume. | If an egg cracks a kernel, the stone is put to shame. | If an egg cracks a kernel, the stone is put to shame. |
A kpara akwụ kpara akwụ, ewere nkata jee, ọ bụrụ oshi. | It is okay to help oneself with a few palm nuts, but when one goes gathering with a basket, it becomes stealing. | Do not take more than what is permissible of your neighbors belonging. |
A n’agwa ntị ma ntị anụghi, egburu isi ntị esoro | If the ear refuses to heed warning, when the head is cut off the ear goes with it. | Those that do not heed counsel are bound to have an unhappy ending. |
A na-eji anya ama ọka chara acha. | You know a fully ripe corn cub by the looks. | By their fruits you shall know them. |
A na-ekwu na ọrịa ezughị oke, ndị dara ibi ana etokwu afọ. | Where as not everyone has an equal share of sickness those with scrotal hernia are also getting bloated. | Occasionally some individuals get more than a fare share of misfortune. |
Anaghị eji na agụ ụ na-agụ elo ụkwara. | No one swallows phlegm to appease the pangs of hunger. | Nothing satisfies like the real thing. |
Anụ gbaa ajọ ọsọ, agba ya ajọ egbe. | When an animal runs badly, it gets a bad gun shot as well. | Action and reaction are equal and opposite. |
Anụ gbala taa, echi bụ nta. | If an animal escapes the hunter today, tomorrow is yet another day to hunt. | Every day offers new opportunities. |
Atụrụ n’achọ ifu mpi jee jụa ebụne ka ekwo dị ya. | A sheep that is eager to grow horn should ask the ram how its neck feels. | A sheep that is eager to grow horn should ask the ran how its neck feels. |
A tụọrọ ọ mara, ọ mara. Ma a tụọrọ ọfeke, ọfenye isi n’ọfia. | If you hint the wise they make use of it, but the fool will use it foolishly. | If you hint the wise they make use of it, but the fool will use it foolishly. |
A nyụkọ mamịrị ọnụ, ọ gba ụfụfụ. | When people urinate on the same spot it foams. | Communal effort has a multiplier effect. |