“Haa mngerem sha usu.”
Quell the flaming issue.
Idiom
Tiv proverbs from the archive with their English translations — part 2 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.
“Hiar ka a hiin i hiin a igbe.”
As soon as the whirlwind starts, one starts swearing by the igbe cult emblem.
Conflict
- Meaning
- Conflict should be stopped early before it grows beyond control.
- When it is said
- Used to encourage early intervention in conflicts.
“Ibumenyon ka un a purugh hen inya a za tema sha imiôndo yô a gbidye akper je er un wundu inya.”
When a foolish bird flies from the ground to a termite mound, it flutters its feathers as though it has leaves the ground.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u yangen iyol kenden sha. Ka u tesen er or a umbur ape nan dugh ve nan va lu pe nan lu la. Ka u kaan er ape u tem la kpa Aõndo Un a kaa imo u gbajime. Ka u wan kwagh sha er we u umbur ityô, shin mba ve ne u akper u lu purugh la. A lu u umbur pe u mogh ma pe u za tem ga yô, hingir ibumegh.
“Ican woo or ga.”
You can manage poverty or lack of money or things.
Idiom
- Meaning
- Poverty does not kill.
“Idyenger ne i gôvor ka ken ityev je, ka er i kur a mi ga.”
This curled bean curled while it was still in the field, not after it was brought home.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u pasen er kwagh la vihi ka ken mgbe na je. Ka u pasen er ka or u yan nan va a kwagh la ka pe yange vihi je la. Ka pe uke ve er un daang je la.
“Iji i ílu i ape kpen ga yô, i tem sha ishuugh”
A housefly that does not want to die always sit on a broom.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba hembe õron injakwagh ne u tesen iyol paregh. Ka we a soo wer kwagh a va tseru ga yo, u wa iyol sha iyolyou. Voogh er u soo wer Agina a va hen ya wou ga yô, ka u gber iwambe, we kua ya wou cii.
“Ijua ngi a nôô kpa i hide i yav sha ake”
No matter how long an erect penis stands, it eventually rests on the scrotum.
- Meaning
- No matter one’s anger or independence, one must always return to their family or origin.
“Ikuleke via or anyishio.”
Inability to use the good thing that one has.
Idiom
“Ikyanden bua hemba ivo i kehen.”
a little is better than nothing. (No gift is too small.)
Idiom
“Ikyul kaa er ka er i tem ya i dondo aa tswar ve i kpa i hum ye.”
The vagina says it smells because it is close to the anus.
- Meaning
- People are often judged based on those they associate with.
“Indyer i tamenor ugen ka ia gba usu we di u mir i you.”
When the beard of another old man catches fire, you soak your own with water.
Wisdom
- Meaning
- Learn from another person's trouble and take precaution before the same thing reaches you.
- When it is said
- Used to encourage learning from others' experiences.
“Ishan kwagh ker inya ga.”
Expressing good health. M ngu gbang gbang, di er Ishan kwagh i ker inya ga nahan. (I’m fine, just as a grain of something does not get dirty.)
Idiom
“Ishange la mwem; ishange la mwem. Lit: flour is made by each grain producing flour.”
Success comes in bits.
Idiom
“Ishe sha ishe; inyigh sha inyigh.”
Paying one in kind.
Idiom
“Ishima i waan i ne mkom.”
Patience brings about satisfaction.
Patience
- Meaning
- Patience helps people overcome conflict well.
- When it is said
- Used to encourage patience and endurance.
“Ishimawan ine mkom”
Patience brings contentment.
- Meaning
- Endurance leads to satisfaction.
“Ishu i i shav zende i za gbe sha tar, ka i kure zende shin ikyese i orkôron ishu.”
A fish that walks onto dry land always ends up in a fisherman's basket.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba hembe ôron kwagh ne u wan gumor kwagh sha zende u daang daang. Ka u kaan er alu i saan we iyol ken tar gande yo u za kure ken ku Alu u kpen mdoom ma tar man u kera kôr iyol tsaha ga yô u za kure a doo ga. longoga ka i na u za nyór ken zayol.
“Iti idedoo hemba tungu”
A good name is better than wealth
- Meaning
- Reputation is more valuable than riches.
“Ivaan i í ker sha ada ú mimi ga, ngi te kwagh ga, ka i hide i tume zwa inya.”
An arrow not shot from a truthful bow does not hit the target.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba hembe õron injakwagh ne shie u ve lu wan wan kwagh sha inyaregh ki zuan a mi sha mimi ga yõ. Ka ve tese er, kwagh u zuan a mi sha mimi ga ka a za gwa kpishi kpa a lu gbem ga, shi m kur na a doo ga.
“Ivo i nyiman ga kpa ka wea zer a i gbem yô i nyima.”
A goat does not bite but when you maltreat it ceaselessly, it bites.
Conflict
- Meaning
- Even a peaceful person may react when pushed too far.
- When it is said
- Used to explain why calm people sometimes react strongly.
“Ivyekpekpe lan amar ga, ka er nomkwegh atil yô.”
A cockroach is not a poor dancer; it simply cannot dances in the presence of a cock.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u pasen myina u agee. Ka u tesen er shie gen ka u fa u eren a or dedoo kpa u kera lu a inyaregh ga. Shin ka or fa er nan a kaha sule ua wase tsombor u nan kpa nan lu a akôr ga.
“Iyongo i hiin a ahan zwa.”
Trouble usually starts with laughter.
Conflict
- Meaning
- A joke or insult that looks small can grow into serious conflict.
- When it is said
- Used to caution against careless jokes or words.
“Iyuhe ka mtwem”
Jealousy/envy is ashes
- Meaning
- Jealousy/envy hinders progress (both for the envied and the envious).
“Iywa i í sôôn u kpen i kera ongo myel u orywa ga.”
A dog that wishes to die does not respond to its master's call.
- Meaning
- Tiv 300 u tesen er or u alu u saan ishe yô, kera ongo kwaghwan ga. Ka nan norom sha kwagh bo. Nan ongo icintan kpaa ga.
“Iywa i ilu i ape fan ikyōr yö, i keghen hondo ga. Ka a gbilen gbuuka sha avande tsô maa i lu sha gbenda.”
A dog that wants to become a great hunter does not wait for the hunter's whistle. The moment the hunter shoulders his gun, the dog follows.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u pasen er or u nan lu a kwaghfan u marami nan keghen er i wa a wa nan kwagh man nan a er ga, ka nan a nengen ajinge tso maa nan bee shima je.
“Iywa i tee kuhwe ka i tswam igen kpishi.”
A dog carrying a bone dislikes the company of another dog.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u tesen ieren i orwanbo Ka or za kwagh keren ve a anngbyan nan a za zuan a mi yô nan gba tswamen anngbyan la. Ka pe iywa kpa ka i er je ra.
“Ka a fa amar inyumun nga kera numun ga.”
When a plan to disrupt a dance festival is uncovered, precaution should be taken to foil the plot.
Wisdom
- Meaning
- If the cause of an expected conflict is known, it should be handled early.
- When it is said
- Used when advising proactive action against known threats.
“Ka a jiidi mngerem aciin ape wan a dugh yô, аре akôngo a dugh la kpa ma za bende.”
When they press a woman in labour, the hot water reaches the place where the stool comes from as well.
- Meaning
- Ngun ka u kaan er ka we a ya ikyar vea or nana zua a kwagh we kpa kwagh a ban u ga. Ka a er a or dedoo wea lu ikyua we kpaa erdoo la a bende a we. Ka injakwagh ne imiôm Tiv ka ve kaa er "mba a kar a ku hen we, u haa mlyam ashe ye".
“Ka a kperan ikpa i ande.”
When two people struggle over a bag, it gets torn.
Conflict
- Meaning
- Endless struggle damages what both sides are fighting over.
- When it is said
- Used to encourage compromise over destructive conflict.
“Ka a teen we u kpeen ishe.”
When you are being sold out, your mar or influence the bargain.
Conflict
- Meaning
- Once you discover a harmful plan against you, act quickly to stop it.
- When it is said
- Used to urge quick action when betrayal is discovered.
“Ka a vaan kpa iyaan.”
We need not remain unhappy all the time. Show some joy even when you are unhappy.
Idiom
“Ka a zaan a za i zaan sha ijô angahar; a geman hiden i hiden a ivaa zwa.”
People tiptoe while going on a deal but on their way back wailings are heard.
Honesty
- Meaning
- Secret bad deals often become public when they fail.
- When it is said
- Used to warn against secret or dishonest dealings.
“Ka agba ape u nyia ambi a puupuu yo u ma ama gber mkure kpa u nyia puuppuu”
If your faeces are meant to be white, even if you drink a gallon of palm oil, it will remain white.
- Meaning
- Fate cannot be changed; what is destined will happen.
“Ka akor a ou ka a mee iyese i ta u ye.”
It is a person's strong appetite for meat that causes the sting of a scorpion.
Wisdom
- Meaning
- Desire or greed can lead someone into trouble.
- When it is said
- Used to warn against greed and excessive desire.
“Ka alu pe kasua un a vihi u yô, tsa vea tor-kasua kpa kpernan kasua anum sha we.”
If misfortune awaits you in the marketplace, even if you sleep in the same house as the market leader, when trouble breaks out, it will begin with you.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er kwagh ne u tesen iyol bo. Ka u kaan er ka we a lu a iyolbo yô pe nôngon a mi ngu ga. Shin wea ker gbenda nan nan kpa Aõndo A soo er kwagh la a er u yô u war ga.
“Ka ape igyo i vughur la, i ye ye.”
Where the pig ploughs, there it eats.
- Meaning
- You reap where you sow.
“Ka hen ya u orcian-kwagh ka i zua a ikonogh ki teman ôron ijir i ortaver shima ye.”
It is in the house of a coward that a seat is found to judge the fearless.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u tesen mdoom ma ivolparegh. Ka u tesen liba i mhidi u iyol jime. Mba tesen er ka we a lu nomor yo, shiegen i va nande ya wou cica, ankwagh teman kpa i zua a mi u teman ga. Shiegen i tsee kpishi u teman a tema hen ya wou kpaa. Ka i lu hen ya u or palegh ivol ne i fatyô u teman lamen sha kwagh wou ye.
“Ka hen ya u orcian-kwagh ka i zua a ikyônogh ki teman ôron ijir i ortavershima ye.”
It is in a weak man's house that they find a chair to sit and judge a strong man's case.
Humility
- Meaning
- Excessive stubbornness or force can make people unite against someone.
- When it is said
- Used to caution against arrogance and excessive pride.
“Ka ityemmiôngo mbagbera ve fa iwa ye.”
Sitting together makes Mbagbera to be crafty(Skillful/creative)
- Meaning
- Collective wisdom/discussion leads to progress
“Ka iyo i nyom Kurugh anyi sha igyundu ia vaa anyi ye.”
The snake that bites a tortoise on its shell will be the one to cry for its teeth.
- Meaning
- Injakwagh ne tese ishimataver. Ka u tesen er weu wa ikyo a ican ga, ka mba eren we ican la ve a mem ga ye. Shi ka u pasen wer, u vande taver ishima ka mba eren anger sha we la u zungu ve ve we u ngu a iyol i tseen sha kwagh môm môm ga.