Some expressions used in Ugwueme language

S/N

Ugwueme expression

Meaning

1

A tụgo m le nwa mkpume/Okpa elu m

An expression that shows that one is exonerating oneself from an evil committed

2

Ekwe ekwe le kwe l’isi ekwere

A stubborn fly follows the corpse to the grave

3

Agbụsị gba otune ọ mụrụ akọ

Learning from one’s own experience

4

Epete adagoro nkoro

Things have fallen apart

5

Mmiri la-agu onye Lenwe

An expression used when one is thirsty because of a superstitious belief that ụmụ nmụọ (evil spirits/ghosts) will give one water if one says he/she is thirsty

6

ọtụọ gugugu

Of something that looks fresh, beautiful and pleasant to the eyes

7

I dee pọọ

An expression used to describe someone who is looking good and refreshed

8

Onye obodobo ukunvụ

An expression used to describe a very important personality

9

Inwude nwokie abụhọ isi; ọ bụ ijikpọ ya

Starting a thing is not a big deal, the big deal is in the logical conclusion of what you have started.

10

Ngbakwụta ọsa le uze bụ l’aparị

Birds of the same flock move together

11

Mmadụ ịhị onwe ye leghi ajị ete

to unwillingly execute a task with much struggle and anger

12

Iwe l’obu ajịja l’eze

pretending that you love someone when you actually  hate him/her with passion in your heart

13

ọsụkọsụ nwa nkpi

bitterness/indignation/anger

14

ọsịsịọ ọcha agbaa ya

An expression used for someone who has suffered so much in trying to achieve a goal

15

E le etuoru  ụtara ukori etuoru

There is time for everything

16

Taghọ-nrịghọ

Movement that is not straight forward

17

Ereja bụghị ghị

Thank God for you/If not you

18

Okierie ọnwụọ

bad/tasteless food

19

Ọgba lihu Diochi

a pretender/hypocrite

20

Igbuala chukwu orido

A vulgar expression that suggests someone is a nonentity

21

Ijeji chi ghi olu

To suffer severely

22

ọchịburu ogbuo

Usually of soup, that can make someone throw up after eating fufu with it

23

ị nyụrụ rịị nyụọ pụụ

You are the cause of everything

24

Nhie e ji eji osisi nkpụcha ikie lambọ aga ịnyu nsị bụ maka gbangbalata otoro

To be doubly prepared to avoid regret/unforseen circumstances

25

Mkpụgharị mkpụgharị ka eji ere nwa nkpi

Success comes by making several efforts

26

Etikwe ghi akalekwe

Expression used to ensure that people keep a matter passed unto them very confidential

27

Okorobịa le ndụ l’ume

An expression used to describe a lively young man

28

Agbọghọbịa le ndụ l’ume

An expression used to describe a lively young woman

29

Anyụdule ye ahụ ghị

Don’t waste your word on him/ Don’t waste your energy/time replying him/her

30

Onye nvu igu ka eghu nleso

People usually follow the person who has solution to their problems. That is, someone who can help them

31

Merigarị-merigarị

An expression to show that someone is busy here and there

32

Okoro eruo ntite bịa huobeye

1. A loud shout of invitation to others to join in harvesting a specie of mushroom called ‘eruo ntite’. 2. It can also be used for inviting others where good things are happening

33

Onye agale l’ụzọ

An expression, usually a shout, used by those who visited a powerful deity called Igwekieala on there way home so that no one will see them. Usually, the return from  Igwekieala is undertaken at night

34

Dịa nda e ji edebe ukwu ja akọba ala ọrụ

An expression to see how a solution can be proffered to a complicated problem

35

Dịa nda e ji akwụọ onye ukwu nye wara awa?

An expression to see how a solution can be proffered to a complicated problem

36

kpọrọkpọtọ agba le nsi ehi

The evidence has come out clearly

37

Ngwere lile makpu amakpu male a maha nkie ahụọ nla-arụ

A look at people do not actually reveal what they are passing through

38

Mmiri ejiho eji maa ghị

This is a curse meaning that an unexpected bad thing should happen to someone

39

Ndu mmiri ndụ azụ

Live and let live

40

Isi ji gba m isi ede gba m ngwulangwu asụ le ye ọnọ

This is an expression used to show where anything/anybody can mess around with you especially when you keep quiet

41

Gbachara ji haa akịdị

Childish thing

42

Epete adagoro nkoro

Things have fallen apart

43

Igbali mmadu akpa elu

This is a believe system that somebody does not return to his/her home town after a long while as a result of some diabolic powers or enchantment against him/her

44

Atụgom le nwa nkpume

This is an expression that clearly shows that one is not part of an abomination. Literally, the person finds available stone and stays on it.

45

Agamevu adu nma l’aji

Good for nothing

46

E si le isi ahụ ama ụtọ nsị

You can predict an event based on what has happened previously

47

Hịa asaa la anya

Be very careful

48

Ichụ ichụchụ

Unhealthy competition

49

Itụ nwatakịrị l’elu

1. Usually a ritual of acceptance of a baby by his maternal uncles by throwing him/her up for a given number of times, especially the very first day the baby visits his/her maternal home.

2. An expression that used to commendation when someone has done a great and noble thing.

50

Nkịtị-nkịtị du-du

An expression to show absolute silence or snubbing from someone

51

Epete adagoro nkoro

Things have fallen apart

52

Ọkụkụ nyụọ ahụ ala achụba ya ọsọ

A thief runs when nobody is pursuing him

53

Ji nbeghi mara nbem

What goes on in your house can be an indication of what goes on in another person’s home

54

Olololo-olololo

An expression used when something wonderful and exciting happens

55

Ikie l’ụlọ

An expression used to describe someone who when it comes to trouble, he is very strong at home but runs away from trouble outside

56

Anya Itị madu

To wait and expect someone/something for a long time

57

Iritụ ọnụ

To enjoy very well

58

Taburu luo

Be calm; don’t be annoyed

59

Akpaghị esu alịla abia

If you don’t decissively deal with a small matter, it may translate to a bigger issue

60

Ịla okwu aha

Not being straight forward in making speech

61

Jeburu isi jeburu agba bụ out ehi

Many days for the thief but one day for the owner

62

Eku ori nkie nghere eghe

An expression used to refer to those who didn’t work but they are eating/enjoying

63

ịtụpịa nhie ọnụ

to conclude a thing

64

Ebuo nkọlọ ọtọnwụọ

An expression that describes the greedy and the consequences of greed

65

Iwe l’obu, ajịja l’eze

Bitter indignation against someone

66

Agbụsị gba otune ọmụrụ akọ

learning by experience

67

Ikwu l’anụ nlara okpo l’anụ

Birds of the same feather

68

Ochiri alakwịrị ọrụ

Something that is almost breaking/spoiling/dieing

69

Okokpa ghara igwudu kwobe igwudu ọhata nkọkọ nwa nmụọ

Deviation from the right path results in terrible consequences

70

Igbu nhie le chi

A sacrifice done to appease the dead mother of a young girl who is engaged before her traditional marriage