Home

proVERBS

7 Slovakian / English

Jedna lastovička este nerobí leto

Translation:
One swallow does not a summer (by Google Translate: to be improved shortly)

Equivalent:
One swallow does not make a summer

notes:
In the languages of southern Europe, the equivalent proverb usually has 'spring' rather than 'summer', because migrating swallows arrive earlier there than they do in northern Europe

Meaning:
You cannot infer a general rule or norm from just a single case

Equivalents in other languages

Kameň čo sa moc obracia machom neobrastie

Translation:
Stone as much moss turning neobrastie (by Google Translate: to be improved shortly)

Equivalent:
A rolling stone gathers no moss

Meaning:
Always moving from place to place or job to job stops a person from accumulating much
(A proverb that is of little relevance, in these days of job insecurity and short-term work contracts)

Equivalents in other languages

Romance language family

[FRE]Pierre qui roule n'amasse pas mousse
A stone that rolls amasses no moss

[ITA]Pietra mossa non fa muschio
A stone that is moved does not make moss

[SPA]Piedra movediza, nunca el moho la cobija
Moss never shelters a moving stone

[Rom]Peretii au urechi si strazile ochi
Stone which rolls from place to place does not pick up moss

[PRO]Car qui sovent sa rauba trossa, jamai non culhirà mossa
Because the stone rolls often it will never cultivate moss

[Cat]Pedra movedissa no cria molsa
Stone moss jiggly no breeding

[POR]Pedra que muito rola, não cria musgo
Moss doesn't grow on a rolling stone

Germanic language family

[DAN]Rullende sten samler ingen mos
Rolling stone gathers no moss (by Google Translate: to be improved shortly)

[Fri]?
Help!

[Nor]Der gror ikke muse på rullande stein
There does not grow mouse on a roll suitable stone (by Google Translate: to be improved shortly)

[GER]Am rollenden Stein wächst kein Moos
A rolling stone grows no moss

[Swe]Den sten som öfta vändes blir icke mossbelupen
The stone which was used often becomes non mossy (by Google Translate: to be improved shortly)

[DUT]We hebben hulp nodig bij het vertalen van dit spreekwoord
A rolling stone gathers no moss

Slavic language family

[Slk]Kameň čo sa moc obracia machom neobrastie
Stone as much moss turning neobrastie (by Google Translate: to be improved shortly)

[POL]Kamień często poruszany, mchem nie obrośnie
No moss matures on a stone often moved

[CES]Kámen často hýbaný neobroste mechem
Stone often Jarring neobroste moss (by Google Translate: to be improved shortly)

[CRO]Koji se kamen mnogo premeće, neće mahovinom obrasti
Which is a lot of turning over stones, will be overgrown with moss (by Google Translate: to be improved shortly)

Finno-Ugric language family

[HUN]Nem mohosodik az a kő meg, melyet gyakran mozgatnak
The stone that is often moved does not become moss-covered

[EST]Veereval kivil ei ole sammalt
A rolling stone does not have moss (by Google Translate: to be improved shortly)

[FIN]Vierivä kivi ei sammaloidu
A rolling stone does not gather moss

Baltic language family

[Ltv]Akmens, ko vienmēr valsta, nekad neapsūno
The stone which always Sates neapsūno (by Google Translate: to be improved shortly)

[Lit]Ir akmou, vietoj gulėdamas, apželia
And akmou, instead of lying, overgrown (by Google Translate: to be improved shortly)

Celtic language family

[Iri]Ní chruinnigheann cloch reatha caonach, ach cruinnigheann meach siubhail míl
A running stone does not gather moss, but a travelling bee gathers honey

[Gae]Cha chinn cóinneach air clach an udalain
Moss does not grow on a much turned stone

[Bre]We need help in translating these proverbs
A stone rolling or driven by a dog will never gather moss

[Wel]Carreg a dreigla, ni fwsoga
A rolling stone gathers no moss

Maltese (an Arabic language)

[Mal]Ġebla titgerbeb ma trabbix ħażiż
A rolling stone gathers no moss

Language isolates

[Bas]Harri erabiliak ez du goroldiorik izaten
The moss stone is used (by Google Translate: to be improved shortly)

Všetky cesty vedú do Ríma

Translation:
All roads lead to Rome

Equivalent:
All roads lead to Rome

notes:
In proverbs from Muslim countries, Mecca is the city to which all roads lead

Meaning:
This suggests that it is possible to achieve the same goal by different paths

Equivalents in other languages

Romance language family

[FRE]Tous les chemins mènent á Rome
All roads lead to Rome

[ITA]Tutte le strade conducono a Roma
Se si parla inglese molto bene e italiano è la tua lingua madre, invia a me, Tony Randall, una e-mail per discutere la traduzione di questi venti proverbi

[SPA]Todos los caminos llevan a Roma
All roads take you to Rome

[Cat]Tots els camins porten a Roma
All roads lead to Rome (by Google Translate: to be improved shortly)

[POR]Todos os caminhos levam a Roma
All roads lead to Rome

Germanic language family

[Swe]Alla vägar föra till Rom
All roads lead to Rome

[Nor]Alle veier fører til Rom
All roads lead to Rome (by Google Translate: to be improved shortly)

[GER]Alle Wege führen nach Rom
All roads lead to Rome

[DUT]We hebben hulp nodig bij het vertalen van dit spreekwoord
All roads lead to Rome

[DAN]Alle veje fører til Rom
All roads lead to Rome (by Google Translate: to be improved shortly)

Slavic language family

[Slk]Všetky cesty vedú do Ríma
All roads lead to Rome

[POL]Wszystkie drogi prowadzą do Rzymu
All roads lead to Rome

[CES]Všechny cesty vedou do Rima
All roads lead to Rome (by Google Translate: to be improved shortly)

[CRO]Svi putevi vode u Rim
All roads lead to Rome (by Google Translate: to be improved shortly)

Finno-Ugric language family

[FIN]Kaikki tiet vievät Roomaan
All roads lead to Rome

[EST]Iga talu öuest läheb tee Peterburki
(From the courtyard of each farm a road leads to St. Petersburg)

[HUN]Minden út Rómába vezet.
All roads lead to Rome

Baltic language family

[Lit]Visi kelai i Ryma veda
All Kelai i Ryma leads (by Google Translate: to be improved shortly)

[Ltv]Visi ceļi ved uz Romu
All roads lead to Rome

Language isolates

[Bas]Bide asko izaten dira mendi gailurrera igotzeko
There are many ways to climb to the summit of the mountain (by Google Translate: to be improved shortly)

Čo máš urobiť zajtra, urob dnes a čo máš zjesť dnes, nechaj si na zajtra

Translation:
Do today what you should do tomorrow: what you should eat today, reserve till tomorrow

Equivalent:
Never put off till tomorrow what may be done today

Meaning:
Do the jobs on today's To Do list, and don't postpone any of them till tomorrow (This proverb could also be suggesting that your today's To Do list is capable of being done today, and that it should not contain things which realistically cannot all be done today)

Equivalents in other languages

Romance language family

[FRE]Ce qu'aujourd'hui tu peux faire, au lendemain non diffère
That which you can do today, don't put off till tomorro

[ITA]Non rimandare a domani quel che puoi far oggi
Se si parla inglese molto bene e italiano è la tua lingua madre, invia a me, Tony Randall, una e-mail per discutere la traduzione di questi venti proverbi

[SPA]No dejes para mañana lo que puedes hacer hoy
Don't leave for tomorrow that which you can do today

[Rom]Peretii au urechi si strazile ochi
Don't leave till tomorrow, what you can do today

[Cat]Lo que pots fer avuy, no ho esperes fer dema

[POR]Nunca deixe para amanhã o que pode ser feito hoje
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today

Germanic language family

[DUT]Stel nie uit tot môre wat jy vandag nog kan besôre

[GER]Was du heute kannst besorgen, das verschiebe nicht auf morgen
What you can do today that do not not put off till tomorrow

[Fri]?
Help!

[Swe]Uppskjut inte/aldrig till imorgen, vad du kan göra idag

[Nor]Utsett ikke til imorgen hva du kan gjøre idag

[DAN]Opsæt ikke til i morgen, hvad du kan gøra i dag

Slavic language family

[CES]Codnes zameškaš, zítra nedohoníš

[CRO]Što se danas može u?initi, ne ostavljaj za sutra

[Slk]Čo máš urobiť zajtra, urob dnes a čo máš zjesť dnes, nechaj si na zajtra
Do today what you should do tomorrow: what you should eat today, reserve till tomorrow

[POL]Co masz zrobić jutro, zrób dziś
What you have to do tomorrow, do today

Finno-Ugric language family

[EST]Tänasida toimetusi ära viska homse varna
Do not throw today‘s work on tomorrow's rack

[FIN]Älä jätä huomiseksi sitä, minkä voit tehdä jo tänään
Do not put off till tomorrow what you might do already today

[HUN]Amit ma megtehetsz, ne halaszd holnapra.
Do not postpone till tomorrow what you can do today

Baltic language family

[Ltv]Taupi maizi/grasi, netaupi darba/darbu
Reserve bread/money, do not reserve work (for tomorrow)

[Lit]Duoną taupyk rytojui, ne darbą

Celtic language family

[Iri]Ná fág go dtí amárach an rud a thig leat a dhéanamh indiú
Do not put back until tomorrow what you can do today

[Wel]Peidiwch byth a gohirio tan yfory yr hyn y gellwch ei wneud heddiw
Do not put off till tomorrow what you can do today

Language isolates

[Bas]Gaur egin al dena ez biarko utzi

Keď kocúr nie je doma, myši majú hody

Translation:
When the cat is not at home, the mice will feast

Equivalent:
When the cat's away, the mice will play

Meaning:
This suggests that, in the absence of an organisation's superior, many liberties are taken

Equivalents in other languages

Romance language family

[FRE]Absent le chat, les souris dansent
When the cat is away the mice danse

[ITA]Dove non è la gatta, il topo balla
Se si parla inglese molto bene e italiano è la tua lingua madre, invia a me, Tony Randall, una e-mail per discutere la traduzione di questi venti proverbi

[SPA]Cuando el gato no está, los rátones bailan
When the cat isn't there, the mice dance

[Rom]Peretii au urechi si strazile ochi
When the cat is not at home, the mice play on the table

[Cat]Quan el gat no hi és, les rates ballen

[POR]Quando o gato está fora, os ratos jogar
When the cat's away, the mice play

[PRO]Quand lei cats i son pas, lei garris dançan
When the cats aren't there the mice dance

Germanic language family

[Nor]D’er godt Vera mus der det ingen katt er i hus

[Fri]?
?

[GER]Wenn die Katze fort ist, tanzen die Mäuse
When the cat\'s away, the mice dance

[DUT]Als die cat weg is, is die muise baas

[DAN]Når katten er ude, danser/spiller musene på bordet

[Swe]När katten är borta, dansar råttorna på bordet

Slavic language family

[Slk]Keď kocúr nie je doma, myši majú hody
When the cat is not at home, the mice will feast

[CRO]Kad nije mačke, miši kolo vode

[POL]Jak kota nie ma, to myszy biegają
As the cat's away, the mice run

[CES]Je-li kocour z domu, honí se myši po domu

Finno-Ugric language family

[FIN]Kun kissa on poissa, hiiret hyppivät pöydällä
When the cat is away the mice dance on the table

[HUN]Ha nincs otthon a macska, táncolnak az egerek
If the cat's away, the mice will dance

[EST]Hea on hiiri(de)l elada, kui kass(i) ei ole kodus

Baltic language family

[Ltv]Kad runcis Rigā, tad peles virs galda; kad runcis mājās, tad peles kaktā
When the cat is in Riga, the mice are on the table; when the cat is at home, the mice are in the corner

[Lit]Kai katinas išeina iš namų, pelės šoka ant suolų

Celtic language family

[Wel]Llon llygod lle ni bo cath
When the cat is away from home the mice keep house

[Gae]The fios aig an luch nach 'eil an cat a's tigh
Well knows the mouse that the cat's not in the house

Maltese (an Arabic language)

[Mal]Meta jorqod il-qattus, il-ġrieden joħorġu
When the cat goes to sleep, the mice come out

Lepší dnes vrabec, ako zajtrá moriak

Translation:
Better a sparrow today than a turkey tomorrow

Equivalent:
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

notes:
The word 'bush' has two meanings, both a small round tree and an unfarmed unpopulated area of land with many trees and bushes.

Meaning:
Something you have for certain now is of more value than something better you may get, especially if you risk losing what you have in order to get it.