Some expressions used in Ugwueme language
By Pharm. Dr. Sunday Okafor
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 |