Wise Sayings in Nkwen Language part 3

“Ǹchə̀ ngwo dzwi nə ngwo.”

The dog’s curse is on itself. (Do not revenge)

1	fə̀li’i dzwi ndyâ.	There is smoke in the house. There is a stranger in the house.
2	Azuŋə zuma ntiŋkaŋə nunə nshye nzə boŋə məŋkhə kə a tiŋə ndəŋə, boŋə a kakə zə.	While an elder sees while sitting even if a child climbs a tree he cannot see.
3	Nchyambi moo ŋù bə ndəmə yε.	A man’s first child is his brother or sister.
4	Boŋə o ka wwò ò kakə mbàŋə bə.	If you do not fall you cannot pick a stick.
5	Boŋə fənyə tya wwo ò zə ŋwεŋwε tsətsuŋə ò khə.	If a snake bites you, you will run when you see a worm.
6	Mmi mə kwi’ifò ə̀fwò məyii.	The eyes of a Kwifor (Palace Masquerade of Authority) are the grasses.
7	Ngamə ləmətə nzεrə wwε nəkàŋə	The discussion in the house was interesting that caused the thief to laugh from the ceiling.
8	Nkabə bwo ŋù nə kakə mboŋnə.	Somebody cannot discuss with money.
9	Akòŋnə chya nkabə.	Love is important than money.
10	Abwo mo’o bikàkə nəbu’u nkwεrə.	One hand cannot tie a bundle.
11	Nkabə ŋu bə̀ bi.	A man’s money is in his people.
12	Boŋə njə̀ ka ala’a kuu bəkəmə jyə kə̀?	If there are no defaulters what will kingmakers eat? If there are no fines or penalties what will the government benefit?
13	Nəzo’o bə əkwerə ntiŋə	Marriage is perseverance.
14	Bεnə abàà zhə adi’i wuma abwo zhə bə kù’ù wə .	Hang your bag where your hand can reach.
15	Bə lεrə lεrə nshye wi .	We are only tallying in this world.
16	Azuŋə nshi’inə nə kakə nlεrətǝ .	Good things never last.
17	Fə̀lya ndə̀mǝ nə̀wwo.	Sleep is the brother/sister to death.
18	Ò təmə akù zhə a bânǝ̀ ngo’o.	If you hid your foot, let the stone break.
19	Boŋə ò zii abi boŋə o bə jyə məjyə mə moo.	If you spend your day at home, you will eat the child’s food.
20	Njwe mbə̀ŋə a zhi nshye.	A rainy day is known by the earth.
21	Ǹnà fa zanə bə zə̀ mə̀ konə̀ .	The animal that separates from the others is bound to be caught.
22	Abenə – mfò boŋə bəgwè.	The King’s dance is good for the comedians.
23	Swigərə a dzwi ma mmu maכboŋə ə tô nta’a.	Gossiping is a wild fire that can burn a hill.
24	Fə̀saŋə fəmo’o bikakə ndyâ nzi.	A single broom stick cannot sweep the house.
25	Ǹnà bika nshye nwwo mbəŋnə tə fə̀ngò’ò.	Meat cannot fall down and it’s picked up without sand.
26	Àwuŋə ǹtsə̀mə̀ boŋə nə awuŋə nkà’à.	For a hunting expedition to be successful young hunters must be present.
27	boŋǝ abarə ndya bonə mbyi noŋə̀ wǝ.	If the backyard is good goats will lie on.
28	Ntâ ti bitə bə’ənə lya səŋə kə ndarə yε.	The branch broke just when the bird was taking off.
29	Taa mbə̀ŋə̀ nə gha.	Protect yourself from the rain when it is still far off.
30	Tso’o atsə̀’ətyə nkwε maku’u wwò.	Remove your cap and take something to eat.
31	Tu’u nkyi məmə nkhe.	Carry water in a basket.
32	Kəfəmə ghǝ̀rə anyù nə anyù.	The bee is doing something for something.
33	Mayàbǝ̀ be anyu ngu’u .	Love issues are things of the past.
34	Ba wwo bə təmə nzεrə.	Make way and let the thief be caught.
35	Chyâ ndzəmə fὲrə̀ nkwurə aborə nəngùŋə.	Eat premature plantains because of the wind..
36	Ngwo tyǝnǝ a nǝ akwεǎ.	If you hear dogs fighting, there is a bone.
37	Boŋǝ ò lεrə ntenə ò chə nkwi dzwâ mfye.	If you stay out of home for long you may harvest wet wood.
38	kə alə’ərə zhə nə khə chyâ.	Don’t run faster than your shadow.
39	Mε’ε azuŋə mbə azuŋə.	Throw something to pick something.
40	ndiŋə ntsəmə dzwi nǝ taŋka yε.	Every witch/wizard has a friend.
41	Ǹna mângòŋə bikàkə ntaŋə.	Meat for many is not tough. A task for many people is never difficult.
42	Ntsǔ kwurə əkwε.	A mouth that eats bones. (empty talking)

Wise sayings in nkwen Language

More On Wise Sayings In Nkwen

Boŋə ò ka kù’u bǔ ŋù tòŋə ò kàkə̌ ǹfὲ’ὲ njya zhì zhi.

If you’ve never eaten achu’u with someone you’ll never know how he licks the soup. (If you’ve never lived with someone, you’ll never know his/her attitude.)

Wise Sayings in Nkwen Language part 3

1. Ŋùdàŋə tuŋə afəmə ŋùdàŋə̀ wu’usə mə̀gə̀’ə̀ mi.	Someone is blowing the trumpet and another is raising the jaws. *(Said when someone wants to take credits on the good acts of another.)*
2. Bə kuu nkyi kǎ məkǔ nfǝ’ǝ.	Legs are not measured when entering water. *(Meaning abilities are not the same. You do only what you are able to. You don’t need to compare yourself with others.)*
3. Àghàngà̀ŋə̀ zu’u ngaŋə̀	Only those who hear the language understand. (Said in a situation where only part of a gathering understands what is said. When a message is passed on in an idiomatic way that only particular people present could hear and understand.
5. Boŋə ò banǝ ntenə ò jwe nkwu.	If you hate a living being, then you’ll bring forth a death one. (If you refuse the truth, that is the beginning of evil or you give rise to evil.
6. Əzduŋə nshye chya tsε’ε adaŋə adaŋə.	Earthly things pass away. (Said in situations when generosity is expected or when someone refuses to be generous)
7. Ŋkyi luu a nə̀ awigə̀rə̂.	It is the runoff that makes the river full. *(Said when a crowd or a thing is needed as part of a situation just to make things move.)*
8. Ə̀̀̀̀̀nywe bənkhə tsə be mbà’ambà’à.	A young man’s cutlass is sharp only in the morning. *(The young get discouraged easily)*
9. Əbòŋnə bya-bya zoŋə a ndzèmə nzεrə.	Babbling follows a thief. *(If someone says so many things almost at the same time, then he/she is probably guilty.)*
10. Ǹghə̀ kwo məmə tὲrə̀	A calabash jar or wine gourd is broken inside the wine pot. (Said as a regret when something bad happens in a situation that blames cannot be laid on)
11. O dzwi afo nchə̀ o kə bəkwu nsəŋə.	While on a battle front don’t count the dead. *(If you’ve embarked in doing something, don’t give room to discouragement or allow difficulties to discourage you).*
12. O təmə nna o zoŋə nə̀ aliŋə.	If you’ve shot an animal, follow the blood. *(If you have started something, continue till the end.)*
13. Boŋə ntoŋə wwo tə lwε’ɛtə boŋə o bə lya ku ndyâ mə̀shà.	If you have and appetizing throat, you will enter a cult. *(If you are a power monger or long for wealth at all cause, you may frustrate your life by joining a cult before you know.)*
14. Njwe laa mə̀nyù laa.	As the day breaks, so do events. *(As we live, so do we and things that surround us change.)*
15. Azuŋə abàa wwò niŋə àkù zhə.	Something is put into your bag by your legs. *(If you have got a present somewhere you’ve been, it’s thanks to your legs that took you there.)*
16. Bə bikakə ngwu məmə nkəmə nsəŋə.	Fowls cannot be counted in a cage. (Said in connection to transparency when everybody needs to see what is presented.)
17. Ncu’u ətyə forə bə nkonə yε.	What saves the rat is its tail. *(When there is just a narrow space for one to use in order to escape danger. In a situation where you sense danger or when there is high possibility of danger, say this and leave)*
18. Njwe afò bə̀zεrə bə njwe-la’à.	A farm day for a thief is the country Sunday. *(Meaning, a thief only goes on mission when he knows no one is there to see him/her)*
19. Boŋə o kakə nkuŋə̀-tyə li’isə̀.	You cannot fool a barber. *(You can’t deceive someone who renders a more often service to you for you shall surely go back the him)*
20. Nəwo nə ŋu fəmə kii zhə la zə ŋu nkabə kii be bâdaŋə.	A poor man weeps for his dead but that of a reach man is mourned by others. *(A poor person’s pain or difficulty is not the concern of many as compared to that of a rich or popular person.)*
21. Aya afò məjyə nə ka nsaa.	The way to a food crop farm is never too far. *(We are never discouraged to go where there are rewards or benefits.)*
22. Əboo bə mbwo bikàke kù’ùtə̀.	Fingers are not the same. *(Meaning abilities are not the same. You do only what you are able to. You don’t need to compare yourself with others.)*