“Abanyam kar a kar zende kpa ihuma bee ga.”
Even small acts of goodness bring rewards.
Idiom
Tiv proverbs from the archive with their English translations — part 1 of 6, 232 proverbs in all, in alphabetical order of the Tiv text. Where the archive records them, each proverb is followed by its deeper meaning and the situations in which it is used.
“Ahi nga hie orapirashe atsenge ahar ga. Similar: once beaten, twice shy.”
Don’t make the same mistake twice.
Idiom
“Akor a ngô Ivyo nga nduur Kpev yav ga.”
The horns of a doe (she-goat) do not hurt the buck (he-goat).
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er inja kwagh ne u tesen er kwagh ka un a doo u ishima yô u nengen a iyolnyoon ga. Dooshima tesen avav ga. Dooshima hidi jime sha ican kpaa ga.
“Akpa u kenden sha yange m-ande u ihyev ga.”
The raising of sticks does not stop a rat from running out.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u tesen er kwagh u igbe a pe un a er yô un a er, shin alu sha ishima yase ga kpaa. We a ker u yangen nan nan kpa un a er.
“Akuzwa doon hodon iombor ga, ka i mir an-mnger keng.”
A moustache is not good to be shaved when it is dry; wet it first.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u tesen er naagh ku de yinan we ga. U nan ga la hemba vihin. Voogh er u kende an-mnger sha ice i sha zwa ga u kember a nyoon we nahan.
“Alabar tee gbough ga.”
News spread unhindered.
Idiom
“Alu bagu hii yongo yo ikyarakya kpa i a zende ga.”
If bamboo seeks trouble, even monkeys will not be allowed to move freely.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u tesen mgem u iyongo sha anngbyan man boki. Shie genegh angou ka un a zua kwagh vea or nan a va nenge a we kpa i bee nan er ka or la nahan. Bagu man Ikyarakya ka tsombor môm, taver u fan mkposo.
“Alu u kur a ishima i ker ityev u lôhô angbian ruam ga.”
If you consider the stress on the farm, you will not invite a brother to eat your food.
Generosity
- Meaning
- No matter how much you suffered to gain wealth or success, you should still care about others and not become selfish.
- When it is said
- Used to caution against selfishness after achieving success.
“Aluer abanyam a kpe yô, or a kera tema hen ya la ga a kuma inyom.”
The rewards of much goodness are immeasurable.
Idiom
“Aluer anhyev va ake yé, a seer a seer ankpatema nyam.”
If a mouse develops a swollen scrotum, it means more meat for the cat.
- Meaning
- One person’s misfortune may benefit another.
“Aluer iyongo i angbianev uhar ngi kuren ga yô, orvanya ka nan ya ve idyako.”
When two brothers fight without end, a stranger snatches their inheritance.
Unity
- Meaning
- Long conflict destroys families and allows outsiders to benefit.
- When it is said
- Used to warn brothers or close people against prolonged conflicts.
“Amar nga a due mba kera yeren imo ga.”
Important matters cannot be kept secret.
- Meaning
- Important matters cannot be kept secret.
“Ambe ye ishuzwaa ga.”
What is close to you becomes yours.
- Meaning
- What is close to you becomes yours.
“Ambi ka a lu a va ga yo tswar u neer iyar”
When it is not yet time to defecate, the buttocks still parade themselves.
- Meaning
- Wrongdoers often act confidently until they are exposed.
“Angbian doon ken ikyôngo”
A brother is good in the wilderness
- Meaning
- Family bonds are resilient; minor flaws or disagreements among siblings do not destroy the core relationship.
“Aniwa ka er, “kareghaa yo gudaun tswar ndiar”
A dog would rather lick its anus than go completely hungry.
- Meaning
- Half is better than none; be content with what you have
“Aniywa gema ku orya kpa 'sha'.”
When a dog is on the verge of death, even its owner knows.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u tesen er for ve paregh kwagh u a lu u ve shie u a za zou a mzayol yo. Ka u pasen er orumace nyiman or shie u kwagh a tser nan yô.
“Anjande ú ágbeityő a nyer ken kungô ifi lun a akambe tseegh ga anshuuv kpa ka ve lu. Tiv mba er kwagh ne, u tesen er kwagh banen wan shin anngbyan u Tor ga. Or u nan we ndor a ornyar cii kwagh un a ban nan ga.”
A stream that flows into a river has not only crabs but fish as well.
“Anngbian ka nan a lu sha ipyungwa u ya i eregh.”
When a sibling is in power, they should remember their kin.
- Meaning
- When a sibling is in power, they should remember their kin.
“Annyon u a lu vinen amar hen gbenda, ka a yer ior mba ityoulugh nav ken toho.”
A bird that dances by the roadside keeps its drummers in the bush.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u pasen myerenem ma or uma. Ka u tesen er alu or ngu suen num a ikpilaior yô fa wer nan yel mba nôngon num shin gbenda Shin a lu wanye za tuhwa igyanden or yö alaghga orvesen u gen tindi nan er nan a za hii iyongo nan ngu her. Aluer or ngu suen kwagh yô nan ngu a ishuur.
“Annyon u a tem imiongo sha kor, lanen amar a korogh ga.”
A bird that perches on a rope knows the dance of the rope.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er kwagh ne u kaan er hanma kwagh u u we ave yô u lanen ayom na ga. Shin or ka nan a zaan ikyua a kwagh je tsô nan lanen inja i kwagh la ga.
“Anyi vea nombor je kpa mba zehe.”
Even the teeth and the tongue do quarrel sometimes.
Conflict
- Meaning
- Conflict can happen even between close people.
- When it is said
- Used to normalize disagreements even among close relations.
“Anyigôr u atem ya ken Mngishi vaan ijen ga. Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u tesen er anye u alu ya sha agbur tolugh ga. Tese er u ngu ken ato u kwagh nahan kwagh un a ban u ga.”
A worm that builds its home inside a garden egg never cries from hunger.
“Aondo nyiaa, atii due”
When God flashes, hidden things are revealed.
- Meaning
- Truth will eventually come to light.
“Aondo tsar wan la ashano ken ityő a nenge tar yem ca.”
God has lit a match in the boy's head; he sees far beyond others.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er kwagh ne sha u tesen er mfe u wan la ka u marami, ka sagh a tsaha wan la ye. Kwaghfan la ka Aôndo iyol Na a ne ye, ka or ga.
“Aôndo u a hee u kpesa la un a nau akuur a aan.”
The God who gives you an itch will also give you fingernails to scratch it.
- Meaning
- Kpesa ka avav a cuku-cuku. Ka a agher kpishi. Tiv mba er kwagh on tesen er Aondo un a nau ican yô, un a hide at a gbenda u wasen we ican shon, shin yiman we.
“Atsem u esen kpishi vihin kôngo utyo.”
A razor that is too sharp is likely to wound the scalp.
- Meaning
- Heen kpa Tiv mba kaan er, kwaghfan-tsoron ka kwagh bo. Ka we a tese wer u fa kwagh tswen u va kar jindi kwagh. Tese er se fa kwagh kpa se hide a iyol jime, tar a hemba hômon.
“Atseree wua alom”
Trickery killed the hare.
- Meaning
- Deception leads to downfall.
“Avange u a undu Haa yô, kera ngu wanye ga. Tiv mba soon u tesen ken injakwagh ne er, we a lu cuku kpa ityő a kende a we sha yõ ieren you i de tesen yev ga. Tor u ityo you i neu la we u tsev a kua ken shima.”
A lizard that climbs a mahogany tree is no longer a baby.
“Avange u pirinashe yô Aôndo koson un iyolna.”
It is God who feeds a blind lizard.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwagh ne sha u tesen ishima i wan sha akaa. Tese er ka we a amber sha akaa ga u va zua a kwagh. Or u a lu a iniôngon iyol ga kpaa gbenda u waren ka u lu.
“Ave tema gbirin aa tswar.”
Idle hands will scratch the buttocks.
- Meaning
- Idleness leads to undesirable behavior.
“Ayôôso a ken kasua nga yangen ivyo ngeren ga. Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u tesen er mjirim ma yangen tom ga. Mzeyol shin mbamtaver ve de yangen we kwagh u u soo u eren ga.”
The noise in the market square does not stop a goat from drinking water.
“Aza gbidye an-iywa ken won tso un a fa iyou.”
Beat the dog outside, and it will know its home.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u wan kwagh hen mba ve umbur ityö shin mba ve umbur pe ve dugh ga yo Shi u kaan er tar ka ua doo or nan umbur ityo shin anngbyanev mba nan ga saa ka nana za gba ikyaa. Ka we yaan wea umbur ior ou ga, man kwagh un a za tser u wea za va hen ior ou yo, Tiv ve ör injakwagh ne.
“Bagu gema tuhwa wan na er ‘inyéndu’”
The monkey turned around and accused its young one of having a big rump.
- Meaning
- People who are guilty of wrongdoing often accuse others of the same faults.
“Bagu u a ye ikyuleke ikô, ngu a ityôndousu shin gbor.”
A monkey that eats raw maize carries fire in its stomach.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba kaan er cii man u hii kwagh yô u vande wan iyol sha uzayol mba ve a va due ken kwagh la yô. Ka u kaan er hanma ieren ngi a icigh ki sôron i.
“Bua u alu a tsa ga Aôndo hur un iji iyolna.”
A cow without a tail has God to drive away the flies for it.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u tesen er or u nan lua orwasen nan ga, shin nan mar wan ga, shin nan gbe iywan, Aôndo un a wase nan.
“Bugh ken mtu cir ken igongu.”
exchange one thing with another.
Idiom
“Daar ka un a yôhôl yô, ankpuukpu kpa a ya wua.”
When there is abundance, everyone benefits.
- Meaning
- When there is abundance, everyone benefits.
“De de ka cigh.”
Obeying calls to avoid unwanted behaviour is healthful.
Idiom
- Meaning
- saying “stop, stop” is medicine.
“Doo iyol ga.”
Not feeling well.
Idiom