Tiv proverbs from the archive with their English translations — part 4 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.
Shift a bit let me also sit does not entail taking over one's seat.
Generosity
- Meaning
- Sharing with someone does not mean losing your ownership.
- When it is said
- Used to encourage generosity and sharing without fear of loss.
A male goat looks for food, not to feed a sheep
- Meaning
- People primarily act in their own interest.
Something does not end well with hesitations.
Idiom
Slow slow is better than rush.
- Meaning
- Slow and steady wins the race.
The tortoise knows the width of its anus; that is why it swallows stones.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba hembe õron injakwagh ne u pasen ishimataver. Ka u vande gbilen kwar a shima you cii ve u hii kwagh ye. Shi ka u tesen er or a vande nengen agee a nan man nan a hii kwagh ye.
Everything beginning has an ending.
Idiom
Tackle issues right at the beginning.
Idiom
Running away cannot bring a matter to an end.
Courage
- Meaning
- Problems should be faced and resolved, not avoided.
- When it is said
- Used to encourage confronting problems directly.
Something may last long but shall surely be over some day.
Hope
- Meaning
- No conflict lasts forever.
- When it is said
- Used to give hope during prolonged difficulties.
The issue has become heated (difficult to resolve).
Idiom
Don’t make the same mistake twice.
Idiom
A wise woman covers her thighs even when she is alone, not only when men are around.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba ôron injakwagh ne u tesen iyol-kôron-tsaha. Tese er or a vande sõron ya u nan cii ve vanya un a va ye. Ka u tesen er, we u vande karen iyol sha hanma kwagh cii ve u gba ami tembe ye. Ka u vanden lun a ago a wan iyol sha er kwagh un a bur u a bur ga yô.
It is the strength of the rump that determines the speed of a bicycle.
- Meaning
- Success is a result of hard work.
- When it is said
- The proverb emphasizes effort and productivity. The humorous use of rump suggests physical exertion.
Ignorance renders the penis impotent more than witchcraft.
- Meaning
- Ignorance is more damaging than external forces like witchcraft.
I have seized the bull by its horns, for you to press it's breast.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwah ne u pasen er, orgen ngu yan ican, orgen ngu zuan a mtsera sha ican la. Shie gen or za kem kwase orgen ngu tsan amin. Kwase ugen ngu hulan sule kwase ugen ngu timen iyogh yan.
I am roofing your house, yet you are below trying to pick my testicles.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u tesen u yiman or ve nana mem wegh a we yô. Tese er m ngu wasen we, we u ngu henen kwagh sha mo u bo. Kaha ga er utsõngo or, nan hide ker u kwase.
Those for whom God has made a bridge do not crawl across Gardenia erubescens.
- Meaning
- Ibohogh ka kon u ka u nongo u lun hen kpe uaghee yô. Ka ki nôngo u nguran kpishi nahan ashie gbing ka i kôr wegh sha mi i per uagh zum u tsar u lu ga yô. Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u pasen er mba Aôndo a ne ve ikyôr yô ve a ya ican keng man ve a zua a kwagh ga.
They do not butcher the world with the sharpest knife.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u pasen er doo u fankwagh been ga. Shiegen ka u nungwa ibumegh sha mi keng ve tar u doo ye. Shiegen u fa kwaghje kpa u de or wa u kwagh ve i doo ye.
One does not cover up running in a cloth.
Humility
- Meaning
- Let go of pride and allow peace to happen.
- When it is said
- Used to encourage humility and reconciliation.
A snuffbox is not opened by striking it with a cane; it is opened with a finger.
- Meaning
- Zum u mba mankuretaav ka ve a soo u bughun Ishegh yô, ka ve kema ihyowe sha kughur na la tsetse sha er taav la, un a lu sha kur na kpa un a hide a kohol shimi yô. Tiv mba er kwagh ne sha u kaan er ka u ôron kwagh sha agee shin sha utaha ve ior a ungwa ga. Shin ka u ôron gbem ve or ongo kwaghwan ga.
You do not tell an elder to move away from the smoke.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u pasen er saa a wa orkaven-ishigh kwagh sha aeren a cuku ga Organden ka nan fa kwagh u nan a er hanma shie u kwagh a tser nan yô.
You do not climb onto the food before you eat it. Step aside.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba hembe öron kwagh ne u wan kwagh. Sa u kporom u sosum ken kwagh ve u nenge ga U tile ken ca kpa u kure kwagh. U kaa a kaa imo tseegh kpa ia za kure kwagh. Saa u za iyol you ga
They do not put salt on saliva before swallowing it.
When they are grinding medicine for peace, they do not add pepper to it.
Peace
- Meaning
- Peace talks should avoid hurtful words and blame.
- When it is said
- Used during reconciliation or peace negotiations.
They do not praise only one calf.
A dry tree cannot be ben
- Meaning
- It is difficult to change someone who is already set in their ways.
Ignorance is darker than darkness.
- Meaning
- Lack of knowledge is more dangerous than physical darkness.
You can dip into your savings when it becomes necessary.
Idiom
Honesty is better than collateral
- Meaning
- Integrity is more valuable than material security.
I tied the mouth of an aardvark-skin bag and dropped it into the stream. The one who is up will show the bubbles.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba hembe ôron injakwagh ne u pasen er, ve ve nôngo kwagh ne sha mnenge ve, kwagh un a shi yô orgen nan a mase kuren. Ka u tesen er nan fa bee ga, shin nan shar ve, orgen nan a mase kôngor.
Show sadness.
Idiom
It’s better to try than to remain idle.
Idiom
Hot water does not burn a house.
Patience
- Meaning
- Insults alone should not push a person into violent reaction.
- When it is said
- Used to counsel patience in the face of provocation.
Water does not just smell unless something dies inside it.
Wisdom
- Meaning
- Every problem has a cause.
- When it is said
- Used when investigating the root cause of a problem.
I went hunting with a man suffering from tuberculosis; that is why I returned without any game.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u tesen ndor wan u dedoo ga ka u va a ikyôrbo. Tese er ka we a dondo ya vea ormbaiv yo u zua a mtsera ga, shin shimavihin. Shi injakwagh la tese er ka we a ya ijende vea orfyer yô we kpa i henen er u ngu orfyer, nahan mtsera a bunden we u zuan a mi sha dondo wou la.
I have removed my teeth, but not to stop my people from farming bambara nuts.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u pasen myange u iyuhwe. Ka u vendan iyuhwe hen ityō. Inja na yô a u wase õnov mba iorov shin alu lu u mar ga kpa sha makeranta u kimbin kpaa. Tese er wea lu a kwagh ga kpa taver mba ve lu a kwagh la ishima
I swallowed stones without consulting my anus; now I am in trouble.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba hembe oron injakwagh ne er ka afanyő a vaan nahan. U tesen er or vande wan iyol sha zayol ga tso zayol va tser nan. Shi tese er mbamtaver mba ve va tser u la we a vande fan yô, ma u we iyol sha mi.
It is not all corn that must pop before popcorn becomes edible.
Wisdom
- Meaning
- Not everybody has to speak before an issue can be settled.
- When it is said
- Used to caution against unnecessary contributions in conflict resolution.
Tom Brown does not bubble before it is cooked.
- Meaning
- Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u tesen er, saa ior awa zwa sha kwagh cii man ve a kure ga. Shin saa ior ve a lu hen kwagh cica man a hii ilyam ga. Shin saa ior ve a fa kwagh hen ya cica man ya un a doo ga.
Attempt to shake off unwanted acts one is surrounded with.
Idiom
