Using two hands in lifting an idol is an honor to it. (Two hands used in lifting an idol is an honor to it.)

When a woman gets up early before her husband, the thing that was waiting for her husband [the husband’s fate] seizes her. (When the woman wakes early before her husband, the husband’s enemies seize her.)

A palm tree climber is not expected to tell everything he sees from up above.

When the eyes are blinded, the eyelids take over the seeing. (When there are no eyes, the eye-lids use the sight.)

Learn Igbo Language Cartoon

When the dog enters the bush with a bag, there will be no excreta left in the bush.(When the dog enters the bush with a bag, excreta will finish in the bush.) [Some dogs eat excreta.]

Igbo Language Alphabet (Abidii)

Staying idle causes evil deeds. (Idleness causes evil doing.)

One who says he wants to avoid tradition–does he come “out of the blue”? (He who wants the custom, is he a stranger.)

Swinging the arms is a pleasurable display. (Swinging the arms is a pleasure.)

A poor person does not have rich friends. (A poor man does not have rich friends.)

When the goat is trampled to death, its owner comes out. (When the sick goat is killed, the owner comes.)

A woman calls ” master” when she sees meat. (An ill-natured woman calls master when she sees meat.)
When the pot is put on the fire, the mouth rejoices. (when there is something cooking, the mouth rejoices.)

A wayward woman is like the weaver bird. She uses her perch on one tree to scout other trees.

One who is accused of poisoning should not show off his skill in sorcery. (He who is suspected of poison should not do magic.)

The old woman who says that she will not run– if the goat takes her smoking equipment, she will be forced to run. (An old woman who dreads running runs by force when the goat takes her tobacco container.)

Igbo sayings Quotes and Proverbs