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50+ Igbo Proverbs, Quotes & Idioms + Their Meanings

Igbo people use a lot of sayings and expressions in daily life which offer advice and even sometimes have hidden meanings.

Check out these proverbs and quotes below to gain some insight into Igbo beliefs and ways of thinking. 

Below I’ve listed famous Igbo quotes, inspiring Nigerian sayings and common Igbo proverbs with their meaning. 

Famous Igbo Proverbs And Their Meanings

Below I’ve listed the most famous Igbo proverbs and their English translation as well as some common Igbo sayings. These are used often in day to day life.

  1. Adịghị ebute ozu ọdụm n’ụlọ – No one picks up a dead lion right in his compound.

This Igbo proverb teaches us that great things do not come from our comfort zones.

  1. Ugo chara acha adịghị echu echu – A mature eagle feather will forever remain pure.

This proverb means that someone who is well trained or well educated will stand the test of time.

Famous Igbo proverb which reads 'a mature eagle feather will forever remain pure'.
  1. Ụwa dika ara nne ehi, ọ gaghị agba mmiri ma ọ bụrụ na ipighị ya aka ọfuma – The world is like a cow’s udder. It does not yield any milk unless you punch and squeeze it.

This Igbo proverb means that in life, nothing comes easy. You have to work hard to accomplish things.

  1. ​​Mgbe nwoke otu ụkwụ ji ekele Chukwu bụ mgbe ọ hụrụ onye ngwụrọ – A one-legged man is seldom thankful to God until he sees a crippled person.

This Nigerian proverb teaches us to be grateful and thankful for what we have.

  1. Mgbe nnukwu anụ ji apụta n’ọhịa bụ mgbe dinta sọrọ ngọngọ ọrụ – The big meat often appears when the hunter has given up the hunt for the day.

This Igbo saying teaches us to never give up. Don’t rest until you have succeeded.

  1. Ebule laa azụ, ọ bịa ọgụ – The ram retreats before attacking an enemy.

This Igbo quote means that we should take time to assess a situation before jumping in.

  1. Mma eji egbu Ọjị taa, bụ mma ụzụ hụrụ na ọkụ ụnyaahụ – The machete that cuts down a tree today is a machete that went through the blacksmith’s forge yesterday.

This Igbo proverb about success is similar to the English saying ‘no guts, no glory’ which means we have to take risks and go through hardships to succeed at something.

  1. Onye gbochiri enyi ya ịbụ eze, agaghị enwe enyi bụ eze – Whoever hinders his friend from becoming a king won’t have a king as a friend.

This Igbo proverb about life teaches us to foster goodness. Preventing others from succeeding will only lead to a poor outcome for us.

Famous Igbo proverb which reads 'whoever hinders his friend from becoming a king won't have a king as a friend'.
  1. Onye ji mmadụ n’ani ji onwe ya – He who will hold another down in the mud must stay in the mud to keep him down.

This Igbo proverb teaches that we should not bring others down as it devalues ourselves too.

  1. Mgbe otu onye isi di mma kpọrọ ndi ara iteghete gafee, ihe anyị mara bụ na ndị ara iri gafere – When a sane person walks in the company of 9 mad people, 10 mad people walk by.

This Igbo quote means that your associates identify you. The people you associate yourself with shows your true character.

  1. Ọkụkọ na-akwa ákwá nwere mgbe ọ bụ àkwá – The cockerel that crows was once an egg.

This Igbo proverb means that we all have to start somewhere. Your time will come.

  1. Ọ nweghị ka ewu tara ahụ ga-esi maa abụba n’ụbọchị ahịa Nkwọ  – A lean goat cannot be fattened on market day.

This Nigerian saying means that good things take time. You cannot rush things if you want good results.

  1. A na-agwa ntị ma ntị anụghị, e gburu isi ntị esoro ya – If the ear refuses to heed warning, when the head is cut off, the ear goes with it.

This Nigerian proverb teaches us to always listen to advice. If we don’t take notice of good advice we shall likely fall into trouble.

  1. Azụ rahụ ụra, azụ ibe ya elo ya – If a fish sleeps, it will be eaten by another fish.

This Igbo proverb means that we should be cautious, keep pushing and be tough. Don’t be complacent. 

Famous Igbo proverb which reads 'if a fish sleeps, it will be eaten by another fish'.
  1. Ọnwụ amaghị eze; ọ na egbu onye ukwu, ọ na egbu onye nta – Death does not recognize a king, it kills both the mighty and the low.

This Igbo saying tells us that death is inevitable for everyone and nobody can escape it.

  1. Onye chọrọ ị bụ ọgaranya ga-agba mbọ, maka na ego dị n’ogwu – Whoever wants to be wealthy must be prepared to work hard because wealth resides right in the thorn.

This Nigerian proverb means that we must take risks in order to achieve our goals.

  1. Agwọ emeghi ihe o ji bụrụ agwọ, ụmụaka ewere ya kee nkụ – If a snake fails to live up to its attributes, children will use it to tie firewood thinking its a rope.

This saying means that we should defend our own capability to avoid being taken for granted.

  1. Uriom hapụ nne ya kpawa nri, egbe eburu ya – The chick that ventures to search for food alone is the one that the hawk gets to pounce on.

This proverb teaches us to be cautious and avoid things that come with big risks.

  1. Mmiri mara ugo sara ugo ahụ​​​​ – The rain fell on the eagle and also bathed the eagle.

This proverb means that sometimes unfortunate events can turn out to be blessings in disguise.

Beautiful Igbo Quotes & Nigerian Sayings

Below I’ve listed a range of famous and inspirational Igbo quotes and more Igbo Nigerian proverbs and meanings.

  1. Ka anyasị eteka, chi ga-efo – However long the night, the dawn will break.

This Igbo proverb teaches us that tough times don’t last forever. We should keep the hope alive and wait it out.

Famous Igbo proverb which reads 'however long the night, the dawn will break'.
  1. Chọọ ewu ojii ka chi dị – Make hay while the sun shines.

This quote means that we should promptly explore opportunities and not leave it too late.

  1. Ndụ dị, olileanya dị – As long as there is life, there is hope.
  1. Oge adighi eche mmadu – Time and tide wait for nobody.
  1. Ụtọ bụ eleta aghara – Willingness to overlook is what makes loving relationships endure.

This Igbo proverb about love teaches us to be tolerant as nobody is perfect.

  1. Gidi gidi bụ ugwu eze – Unity is strength.
  1. Ego dị na ogwu – Money resides right in the thorns.

This Igbo proverb means that fortune favors the brave. To get something great you may have to do something difficult.

  1. Ụbọchị tata k’anyị mara, ọ nweghị onye ma echi – Today is what we all know, no one knows tomorrow for certain.
  1. Ezi aha ka ego – A good name is better than riches.

This Igbo proverb means that being a good person with a good reputation is far more important than having a lot of money.

Famous Igbo proverb which reads 'a good name is better than riches'.
  1. Chi foo onye ngana a maa ọ́sụ – When the day breaks, a lazy man hisses.
  1. Ọdụm na-ebigbọ adịghị atagbute anụ – A roaring lion kills no prey.

This Nigerian saying means that you cannot win at life by sitting around and wishing it. You have to get up and work for your success.

  1. Onye nwere mmadụ ka onye nwere ego – A person with a robust network of people is stronger than an individual with only money.

This Nigerian proverb teaches us about the importance of building good relationships.

  1. Anụ gbala taa, echi bụ nta – If an animal escapes the hunter today, tomorrow is yet another day to hunt.

This Igbo quote means that tomorrow is a new day with new opportunities. We should keep hope alive.

  1. Ejighị akpata atụfuo aba ọgaranya – No one gets wealthy by throwing away what they have acquired.

This Igbo proverb about money teaches us that wasteful people will never become wealthy.

  1. Adịghị ajụ arụsi ihe mere ihe ji aga nkeọma – Nobody goes to a prophet to find out why they’re doing well in life.

This Igbo quote means that nobody asks questions when things are going well. We only ask questions when things go wrong.

Famous Igbo proverb which reads 'nobody goes to a prophet to find out why they're doing well in life'.
  1. Otu onye tuo izu, o gbue ochu – Knowledge is never complete: two heads are better than one.
  1. Ewu nwụrụ n’ọba ji abụghị agụ gburu ya – A goat that died in a yam barn was not killed by hunger.

This Igbo proverb means that the goat died due to it’s laziness. The goat had the means to survive but was too lazy.

  1. Obele ime-ụlọ ga-abata ndị enyi iri ma-ọbụrụ na ifunanya dị n’etiti ha – A small room is good enough for ten friends if there is love among them.

This Igbo proverb about love means that with love, anything is possible. Love conquers all. 

  1. Pam pam ka nkwụ ji eju ọgba – Drop by drop is how the palm wine fills the container.

This Nigerian saying means that little by little you can achieve big things.

Best Igbo Idioms & Igbo Expressions

Below I’ve listed the most well-known Igbo idioms and expressions. Many of these have hidden meanings. 

  1. Anya bewe, imi ebewe – When the eye cries, the nose cries too.

This Igbo idiom means that if a close friend or relative is hurt, it upsets you too.

Famous Igbo proverb which reads 'when the eye cries, the nose cries too'.
  1. Aki ga-agba mmanụ aghaghị igabiga n’ọkụ – A palm nut that wants to become palm oil must pass through fire.

This Igbo idiom teaches us that in order to succeed we must first do difficult things. Nothing good comes easy.

  1. Ọkụkọ nwa ogbenye bụ ehi ya – The poor person’s chicken is a cow.

This Igbo idiom means that we should be content with our own possessions no matter how small they may appear.

  1. Ndụ mmiri, ndụ azụ, mmiri atala azụ anwụla – Let the water live and let the fish live, the water won’t dry and the fish won’t die.

This idiom is similar to the English saying ‘live and let live’. It means that we should tolerate other people’s opinions so that they will tolerate ours.

  1. Emesia, emesia bụ ọnwụ na-egbu onye ngana – ‘Later, later’ is the death that kills a lazy person.

This Igbo saying means that procrastinating and putting things off will only prevent you from succeeding.

  1. Anụahụ agụ mara mma, ma ọ bụghị obi ya – The skin of the leopard is beautiful but not his heart.

This Igbo idiom is similar to the English saying ‘all that glitters is not gold’. It means that we should be perceptive as things are not always as they seem.

Famous Igbo proverb which reads 'the skin of the leopard is beautiful but not his heart'.
  1. Imi na ọnụ adịghị ese okwu – The nose and mouth are too close to be enemies.

This idiom means that it is unwise to harbor grudges against our neighbors, family and friends.

  1. Ugo rie awọ, mma ya arụọ – The moment an eagle decides to feed on a toad, the beauty is lost.

This Nigerian saying means that a person of honor should be careful not to bring himself into disrepute.

  1. Ọ bụrụ na ị gbara okenye ọsọ maka ajọ ume, ị gaghị enweta amamihe – If you stay away from elders because of bad breath, you will not learn wisdom.

This Igbo idiom means that small inconveniences should not deter us from acquiring knowledge. 

  1. Ọ bụ naanị nwata na-eti aki ewegara okenye ka ọ na-azọtara nkume – It is only the child that gives a cracked palm nut to an elder than enjoys his protection whenever the stone is in dispute.

This Igbo quote means that it pays to be kind.

  1. ​​Ihe ehi hụrụ gbalaba oso ka okuku huru na-atụ onu – Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

This Igbo proverb means that foolish people will not stop to think about a situation before jumping in, often leading to failure.

  1. Ígwè nile ga-eje n’ụ́zụ̀ – Every iron will go to the blacksmith’s furnace.

This Igbo proverb about death is used by Igbo people to preach that life ends in the same way for everyone – in death. 

  1. ​​Dinta chọrọ ịgbu enyi, ga-adịkwa njikere ibu ozu ya n’isi – A hunter who is prepared to kill an elephant should be prepared to carry it’s carcass on his head.

This idiom means that we should prepare for the consequences of our actions.

Check out the videos below which feature a range of famous Igbo proverbs and well-known Igbo quotes & idioms.

Thanks for reading this post on the best Igbo quotes about life, famous Nigerian sayings and fascinating Igbo proverbs.

These Igbo quotes & proverbs give an interesting insight into the Igbo beliefs and language.

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