Igbo proverbs that explain life better than a TED Talk

Who needs a self-help book when you can learn Igbo? The Igbo language is rich with proverbs that could rival any TED Talk — witty, wise, and straight to the point. From lessons on resilience to reminders to stay humble, these sayings prove that Igbo elders were the original life coaches.

Here are some of our favourite Igbo proverbs and the meanings behind them:

On life…

Ewu nwa ogbenye bu chi ya.
Translation: A poor man’s goat is his cow.
Meaning: Contentment is key. Cherish what you have.

Ogbughi ka akilu na adan onu ka o si ato.
Translation: The sound of the bite of bitter kola doesn’t correspond with its taste.
Meaning: All that glitters isn’t gold.

Choo ewu ojii ka chi di.
Translation: The search for a black goat should start before nightfall.
Meaning: Best to take advantage of a situation when it’s favourable to you.

Ejii ro ututu amanjo afia.
Translation: You can't judge that a market would be bad in the morning.
Meaning: Ones future can't be determined by a bad start.

Nkụ onye kpara n’ọkọchị ka ọna anya n’udu mmiri.
Translation: One’s actions today will determine his position in the future
Meaning: Good or bad; today’s acts may either come back to bless or to haunt.

On human nature…

Odili nwa ologbo mma olaba tea.
Translation: When a cat hits a fortune he start drinking tea.
Meaning: When a person makes an unexpected amount of success they do strange things.

A chuo aja ma a hughi udele, a mara na ihe mere be ndi mmuo.
Translation: If the vulture fails to hover at the end of a sacrifice, then you know that something happened in the land of spirits.
Meaning: The regulars must be around otherwise something is amiss.

Agwo emeghi nke o jiri buru agwo, umuaka achiri ya hie nku. 
Translation: If a snake fails to show its venom, little kids will use it in tying firewood. 
Meaning: There are times when one defends one's capability.

Ready to learn Igbo the fun way? Explore our Igbo Talking Flashcards, the perfect tool for parents and kids to discover Igbo words together. Reconnect with your roots and bring the beauty of Igbo wisdom to life, one word at a time.

If you like this, read What native language rules Afrobeats? Yoruba, Pidgin, Twi, or Igbo?