Proverbs from around the world

What is a proverb? A proverb is a short, well-known, and memorable saying that expresses a common truth, practical experience, or piece of advice.

Sources: Cambridge Dictionary (Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus): “a short sentence, etc., usually known by many people, stating something commonly experienced or giving advice”; Wikipedia, “Proverb”: “a simple, traditional saying that expresses a perceived truth based on common sense or experience”.

49 countries so far. Each proverb is shown in its original language, with an English translation, its meaning and a link to the dictionary or collection it was taken from.

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• Afghanistan: “Man is a flightless bird.”انسان بې وزرو مرغه دی
• Argentina: “If someone is born pot-bellied, it is no use binding him with a sash.”Al que nace barrigudo es al ñudo que lo fajen.
• Bangladesh: “Too much greed ruins the weaver.”অতি লোভে তাঁতি নষ্ট
• Brazil: “Soft water on hard stone strikes so long that it bores through.”Água mole em pedra dura, tanto bate até que fura.
• China: “The old man at the frontier lost his horse; who could know it was not a blessing?”塞翁失马，焉知非福
• Colombia: “When the river makes noise, it is carrying stones.”Cuando el río suena, piedras lleva.
• DR Congo: “The bonenge tree that saved you from starvation in time of famine, do not fell it when clearing your garden.”Bonenge okoikyaki la nzala, nda lisala, ntokote.
• Egypt: “The beetle, to its mother, is a bride.”الخُنْفِسَةْ عَنْدِ أمَّهَا عَرُوسَةْ
• Ethiopia: “The egg that stays with its owner does not break.”ከባለ ቤት የዋለ ዕንቍላል አይሰበርም።
• France: “Little by little, the bird builds its nest.”Petit à petit l'oiseau fait son nid.
• Germany: “Practice makes the master.”Übung macht den Meister.
• Ghana: “No one shows a child the sky.”Obi ṅkyere̱ abofra o̱nyàmé.
• Greece: “One swallow does not bring spring.”Ένα χελιδόνι δε φέρνει την άνοιξη.
• Hungary: “Walk slowly and you will get further.”Lassan járj, tovább érsz.
• India: “As you do, so you pay.”जैसी करनी वैसी भरनी
• Indonesia: “Rafting upstream first, then swimming to the shore.”Berakit-rakit ke hulu, berenang-renang ke tepian.
• Iran: “The apple, before it comes to the ground, turns a thousand somersaults.”سیب تا فرود آمدن هزار چرخ می‌زند
• Iraq: “Enter the village through its gate!”ادخل القرية من بابها!
• Ireland: “There is no strength without working together.”Ní neart go cur le chéile.
• Israel: “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”מַעֲנֶה־רַּךְ יָשִׁיב חֵמָה וּדְבַר־עֶצֶב יַעֲלֶה־אָף׃
• Italy: “Whoever goes slowly goes safely and goes far.”Chi va piano, va sano e va lontano.
• Japan: “Even monkeys fall from trees.”猿も木から落ちる
• Kenya: “A few and a few fills up the measure.”Haba na haba hujaza kibaba.
• Malaysia: “Have your umbrella ready before it rains.”Sedia payung sebelum hujan.
• Mexico: “He who is a parakeet is green wherever he goes, and he who is a blockhead loses wherever he goes.”El que es perico, dondequiera es verde, y el que es tarugo, dondequiera pierde.
• Morocco: “An old monkey does not learn dancing.”القرد الشارف ما يتعلّم الشطيح
• Nepal: “Whoever extracts the honey licks the hand.”जसले मह काढ्छ, उसले हात चाट्छ।
• Netherlands: “Even if a monkey wears a gold ring, it is and remains an ugly thing.”Al draagt een aap een gouden ring, het is en blijft een lelijk ding.
• Nigeria: “A calabash receives the sediment of water.”Agbè ni ijẹ egbin omi.
• Pakistan: “What need of a mirror to see a bracelet?”ہاتھ کنگن کو آرسی کیا
• Peru: “Every owl in its own hut.”Cada corancho en su rancho.
• Philippines: “If the blanket is short, learn to curl up.”Kung maiklî ang kúmot, matutong mamaluktot.
• Poland: “Where there are six cooks, there is nothing to eat.”Gdzie kucharek sześć, tam nie ma co jeść.
• Portugal: “Mouth of honey, heart of gall.”Boca de mel, coração de fel.
• Russia: “A kind greeting is dear even to a cat.”Добрый привет и кошке люб.
• Saudi Arabia: “In the summer you wasted the milk.”الصيفَ ضَيَّعْتِ اللبنَ
• South Africa: “The one who sits in one place ate the skin-scrapings.”Isihlalandawonye sadhla amajwabu.
• South Korea: “Only if the words you send out are kind will the words that come back be kind.”가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다
• Spain: “A bird in the hand is worth more than a vulture flying.”Más vale pájaro en mano que buitre volando.
• Sri Lanka: “Like the frog in a well.”ළිඳේ ඉන්න ගෙම්බා වගෙයි.
• Sweden: “Away is good, but home is best.”Borta bra, men hemma bäst.
• Tanzania: “Haste, haste, has no blessing.”Haraka, haraka, haina mbaraka.
• Thailand: “When the water rises, hurry to scoop it up.”น้ำขึ้นให้รีบตัก
• Türkiye: “Drop by drop, a lake forms.”Damlaya damlaya göl olur.
• Uganda: “The stick which is at your friend’s house will not drive away the leopard.”Oguli omwa muno tegugoba ngo.
• Ukraine: “Whoever works hard does not grieve.”Хто трудиться, той не журиться.
• United Kingdom: “Make hay while the sun shines.”Make hay while the sun shines.
• United States: “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.”The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
• Vietnam: “If you keep grinding an iron bar, one day it becomes a needle.”Có công mài sắt, có ngày nên kim.

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