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proVERBS

9 Translations / English

Carreg a dreigla, ni fwsoga

Translation:
A rolling stone gathers no moss

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

Edrych yn llygad ceffyl benthyg

Translation:
To look a gift horse in the mouth

Equivalent:
Look not a gift horse in the mouth

Meaning:
You should accept gifts willingly and without highlighting their shortcomings

Equivalents in other languages

Romance language family

[LAT]Noli equi dentes inspicere donati
Don't inspect the teeth of a horse that's been given to you

[FRE]À cheval donné on ne regarde pas a la bouche
One does not look in the mouth of a horse that's given

[ITA]A caval donato non si guarda in bocca
Do not look in the mouth of a horse tha has been given

[SPA]A caballo regalado, no le mires el diente
Do not look at the tooth of a horse that's been given

[Rom]Peretii au urechi si strazile ochi
Don't search the horse that's been given to you in the teeth

[Cat]A cavall donat/regalat no li miris el dentat

[PRO]A chivau donat fau pas agachar lei dents
One should not inspect the teeth of a horse that's given

[POR]A cavalo dado, não se olha o dente
Do not look at the teeth of a gift horse

Germanic language family

[GER]Einem geschenkten Gaul sieht man nicht ins Maul
A gift horse in the mouth can not be seen

[DUT](Moenie) ’n gegewe perd (nie) in die bek kyk nie

[Fri]?
Help!

[DAN]Man skal ikke skue given hest i munden

[Swe]Given häst ska man inte skåda i munnen

[Nor]Ein skal ’kje skoda gjeven gamp på tennene

Slavic language family

[Slk]Darovanému koňovi nenačím do očí hľadieť

[POL]Darowanemu koniowi nie patrzy się w zęby
Beggars are not looking at teeth

[CES]Darovanému koni na zuby nekoukej!
Beggars can not be choosers!

Finno-Ugric language family

[FIN]Ei lahjahevosen suuhun ole katsomista
You do not look in the mouth of a gift horse

[EST]Kes kingitud hobuse suhu vaatab?
Who looks into the mouth of a gift horse?

[HUN]Ajándék lónak ne nézd a fogát!
Do not look at the teeth of a horse that has been given

Baltic language family

[Ltv]Dāvātam zirgam zobos neskatās

[Lit]Dovanų žirgui į dantis neveizi

Celtic language family

[Iri]Ná féachtar fiacla an chapaill a bronntar

[Wel]Edrych yn llygad ceffyl benthyg
To look a gift horse in the mouth

Maltese (an Arabic language)

[Mal]Jekk taqla’ żiemel tħarisx lejn ix-xedaq

Gan y gwirion y ceir y gwir

Translation:
It is from the innocent that truth will be had

Equivalent:
Children and fools speak the truth

Meaning:
People unable to think or conceal their feelings, either because of youth or mental infirmity, speak out loud what they feel and see.

Equivalents in other languages

Romance language family

[LAT]Stultus puerque vera dicunt
A fool and a child speak the truth

[FRE]Enfants et fous disent la vérité
Children and fools tell the truth

[ITA]I fanciulli e i pazzi dicono la verità
Children and madmen speak the truth

[SPA]Los niños y los locos dicen la verdad
Children and madmen speak the truth

[Rom]Peretii au urechi si strazile ochi
He who does not work shall not eat

[POR]As crianças e os loucos dizem a verdade
Children and fools tell the truth

[PRO]?
He who can, should beware of a child and a fool

[Cat]Infants i orats diuen les veritats

Germanic language family

[Nor]Av bonn og galne folk får ein høyre sanninga

[DUT]Die mond van ’n dronk man/mens praat die waarheid

[Fri]We need help in translating these proverbs
Children and fools tell the truth

[Swe]I vinet kommer sanningen fram

[DAN]Børn, narre og drukne sige sandhed

[GER]Kinder und Narren sagen die Wahrheit
Children and fools speak the truth

Slavic language family

[Slk]Vo víne pravda prebýva

[CES]Ne vše zlato co se svítí; ne vše svato, co se vidí
If you want to discover a secret or truth; a fool, a child or a drunken man can tell about it

[POL]Pijany a dziecię prawdę rychlej powie
The drunk and the child tell the truth sooner

[CRO]Djeca, budale i pijani pravdu govore

Finno-Ugric language family

[HUN]Gyermek, részeg, bolond mondják az igazat
Children, drunkards and fools tell the truth

[FIN]Lasten ja humalaisten suusta kuulee totuuden
Children and drunken mouth to hear the truth

[EST]Ega lapse suu ei valeta

Celtic language family

[Bre]We need help in translating these proverbs
Never confide your secrets to a drunken man, as what he knows, all the world knows

[Gae]Cha dean cridhe misgeach briag
Help!

[Wel]Gan y gwirion y ceir y gwir
It is from the innocent that truth will be had

Language isolates

[Bas]Aufetik eta erotik egia

Gwell aderyn mewn llaw na dau mewn llwyn

Translation:
Better a bird in the hand than two in the bush

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.

Equivalents in other languages

Romance language family

[LAT]Sola avis in cavea melior quam mille volantes
A single bird in a cage is better than a thousand that are flying

[FRE]Moineau à la main vaut mieux que grue qui vole
A sparrow in the hand is worth more than the crane that flies

[ITA]È meglio un uccello in gabbia che cento fuori
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]Más vale un pájaro en mano que ciento volando
A bird in the hand is worth more than a hundred flying

[Rom]Peretii au urechi si strazile ochi
You can't serve two masters at the same time

[PRO]?
One in the bag is worth more than three in flight

[Cat]Val mès un aucèll la mà que una áliga en l'aire

[POR]Um pássaro na mão do que dois no mato
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

Germanic language family

[Nor]Betre ein fugl i handa enn tie på take

[Swe]Bättre en sparv i handen än trana på stranden

[DAN]Én fugl i hånden er bedre end ti på taget

[Fri]We need help in translating these proverbs
A bird in the pan is better than many in the air

[DUT]Een voël in die hand is beter as tien in die lug

[GER]Besser ein Sperling in der Hand als eine Taube auf dem Dach
Better a sparrow in the hand than a pigeon on the roof

Slavic language family

[POL]Lepszy wróbel w garści, niż kanarek na dachu
Better a sparrow in the hand than the canary on the roof

[Slk]Lepší dnes vrabec, ako zajtrá moriak
Better a sparrow today than a turkey tomorrow

[CES]Lepší sýkora v ruce, než jeřáb pod nebem
Better a sparrow in the hand than the crane in the air

[CRO]Bolje danas kos nego sutra gusak

Finno-Ugric language family

[FIN]Parempi pyy pivossa kuin kymmenen oksalla
A hazel hen in the hand is better than ten hazel hens in a branch

[EST]Parem täna pool muna kui homme terve kana
Better half an egg today than a whole hen tomorrow

[HUN]Jobb ma egy veréb, mint holnap egy túzok
Better a sparrow today than a bustard tomorrow

Baltic language family

[Lit]Geriau žvirblis rankoj negu briedis girioj.

[Ltv]Labāk zīle rokā nekā mednis kokā

Celtic language family

[Iri]Is fearr éan 'sa‘ láimh ná beirt ar a‘ chraobhóig

[Bre]We need help in translating these proverbs
One hare caught is better than three running

[Wel]Gwell aderyn mewn llaw na dau mewn llwyn
Better a bird in the hand than two in the bush

Maltese (an Arabic language)

[Mal]Għasfur fil-gaġġa jiswa aktar minn mija fl-ajru

Language isolates

[Bas]Aireko txoriarentzat eskukoa ez utz
For a sparrow in the air do not give one in the hand

Lle bo mwg y bydd tan

Translation:
Where there is smoke, there is fire

Equivalent:
No smoke without some fire

Meaning:
If you see the effect of something, somewhere will be the thing that caused it

Equivalents in other languages

Romance language family

[LAT]Fumus ergo ignis
If there is smoke, then there is fire

[FRE]Il n'y a pas de fumée sans feu
There is no smoke without fire

[ITA]Non c'è fumo senza fuoco
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]Donde fuego se hace, humo sale
Where is fire, smoke leaves

[Rom]Peretii au urechi si strazile ochi
Without smoke no fire exits

[PRO]Onte i a de fum i a de fuèc
Where there is smoke there is fire

[Cat]Alla on hi ha foc surt fum

[POR]Não fumo sem um poco de fogo
No smoke without a little fire

Germanic language family

[Nor]Ingen røyk utan eld

[Swe]Ingen rök utan eld

[Fri]Where there is smoke, there is also fire
Where there is smoke, there is also fire

[DAN]Der er ingen ild, som jo haver nogen smøg

[GER]Kein Rauch ohne Feuer
No smoke without fire

[DUT]Daar is nooit ’n rook/rokie sonder ‘n vuur (tjie) nie

Slavic language family

[Slk]Kde je dym, tam i oheň byť musí

[CRO]Gdje se god puši, ondje vatre ima

[POL]Nie ma dymu bez ognia
There is no smoke without fire

[CES]Plamen nebyvá daleko od dymu

Finno-Ugric language family

[HUN]Ahol füst van, ott tűz is van.
Where there is smoke there is fire also

[EST]Kus tuli põleb, sialt suits tõuseb
Where fire burns, there smoke rises

[FIN]Ei savua ilman tulta
No smoke without fire

Baltic language family

[Lit]Dümai be ugnies negimsta.

[Ltv]Kur uguns, tur dūmi

Celtic language family

[Iri]Ní bhí deatach gan teinidh
Where there is smoke, there is fire

[Gae]Far am bi ceò bidh teine
Where there is smoke, there is fire

[Bre]We need help in translating these proverbs
A chimney rarely smokes if thereis no fire in the hearth

[Wel]Lle bo mwg y bydd tan
Where there is smoke, there is fire

Maltese (an Arabic language)

[Mal]M’hemmx duħħan fejn ma hemmx nar
There is no smoke where there is no fire

Language isolates

[Bas]Sua dagon lekuan, keea; surik eztan lekuan, kerik ez [Where there is fire, there is smoke; where there is no smoke, there is no fire]

Llon llygod lle ni bo cath

Translation:
When the cat is away from home the mice keep house

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

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

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

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

Germanic language family

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

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

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

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

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

[Fri]?
?

Slavic language family

[CRO]Kad nije mačke, miši kolo vode

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

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

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

Finno-Ugric language family

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

[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

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

Nid aur yw popeth melyn

Translation:
Everything yellow is not gold

Equivalent:
All is not gold that glitters

Meaning:
Be wary of appearances, because not everything that looks good really is so

Equivalents in other languages

Romance language family

[LAT]Non omne est aurum quod splendet
Not everything that glistens is gold

[FRE]Tout ce qui reluit n'est pas or
All that glistens

[ITA]Non è oro tutto quel che luce
e-mail per discutere la traduzione di questi venti proverbi

[SPA]No es oro todo lo que reluce
All that shines is not gold

[Rom]Peretii au urechi si strazile ochi
The fence has eyes and the wall has ears ears

[Cat]Tot el que llueix no es or

[POR]Nem tudo que reluz é ouro
Not everything that gleams is gold

[PRO]Tot çò que lusis es pas d'aur
All that shines is not gold

Germanic language family

[Nor]D'er ‘kje gull alt som glimer, og ikkje massing alt som skin [Ít is not all brass that shines]

[GER]Es ist nicht alles Gold, was glänzt
All is not gold that glitters

[Fri]?
It is not all gold, that which shines

[Swe]Det är inte guld allt som glimmar

[DUT]Dis nie alles goud wat blink nie

[DAN]Det er ei elt guld som glimrer; eller filsben som skinner, eller meel som er hvidt

Slavic language family

[Slk]"Nie je všetko zlato, čo sa blyští "

[CES]Ne vše zlato co se svítí; ne vše svato, co se vidí
All are not saints who look like that

[POL]Nie wszystko złoto, co się świeci
Not all gold that glitters

Finno-Ugric language family

[EST]Kõik ei ole kuld, mis hiilgab, ega kõik asi nii suur, kui kiidetakse

[FIN]Ei kaikki kultaa mikä kiiltää
All that glitters is not gold

[HUN]Nem mind arany, ami fénylik
Not all that glitters is gold

Baltic language family

[Ltv]Ne viss ir zelts, kas spīd; ne viss ir ļauns, ko nīd
It is not all bad that you hate

[Lit]Ne viskas auksas, kas žiba, ne viskas smala, kas kiba

Celtic language family

[Wel]Nid aur yw popeth melyn
Everything yellow is not gold

[Iri]Ní (h)ór gach a sorchuigheann
Everything that shines is not gold

[Gae]Chan e òr a h-uile rud buidhe
Every yellow thing is not gold

[Bre]We need help in translating these proverbs
Help!

Maltese (an Arabic language)

[Mal]Mhux kull ma jleqq deheb

Nid yw’r ci sy‘n cyfarth yn brathu

Translation:
A barking dog does not bite

Equivalent:
Barking dogs seldom bite

Meaning:
The people who threaten you angrily are often just blustering

Equivalents in other languages

Romance language family

[LAT]Canes qui plurimum latrant perraro mordent
Dogs that bark most bite least often

[FRE]Chien qui aboie ne mord pas
A barking dog does not bite

[ITA]Can che abbaia, non morde
The dog that barks does not bite

[SPA]Perro que ladra, no muerde
The dog that barks does not bite

[Rom]Peretii au urechi si strazile ochi
The dog that barks much never bites

[Cat]Gos/Ca que lladra, no mossega

[POR]Cão que ladra não morde
A dog that barks does not bite

[PRO]Tot chin que japa mossega pas
Every dog that barks does not bite

Germanic language family

[Swe]Tigande hund biter snarast

[DUT]Blaffende honden bijten niet

[GER]Ein Hund, der bellt, beisst nicht
A barking dog does not bite

[Nor]Den hunden som gjør, biter sjelden

[DAN]Den hund der gør, bider ikke

[Fri]?
Dogs that bark don't bite

Slavic language family

[Slk]Pes, ktorý šteká nehryzie

[POL]Krowa, która dużo ryczy, mało mleka daje
The cow, which has a lot of bells, gives little milk

[CRO]Čuva’ se psa ki ne laje

[CES]Pes bázlivý víc štěká než kouše

Finno-Ugric language family

[FIN]Haukkuva koira ei pure
Barking dog does not bite

[EST]Haukuja peni ei hammusta

[HUN]Amelyik kutya ugat, az nem harap.
The dog that barks does not bite

Baltic language family

[Lit]Ne to šunio bijok, kuris garsiai loja, tik to, kuris iš pasalu kanda
Do not be afraid that dog which barks loudly, but that bites from ambush

[Ltv]Suņi, kuri daudz rej, nekož

Celtic language family

[Wel]Nid yw’r ci sy‘n cyfarth yn brathu
A barking dog does not bite

[Bre]We need help in translating these proverbs
A man who doesnot speak, a dog that does not bark, do not trust these two ones

[Iri]An madadh bhíos ag tamhaint ní hé bhaineas greim asad
The dog which barks is not the one which bites you

Language isolates

[Bas]Txakur ausilaria ezta aginkaria

Peidiwch byth a gohirio tan yfory yr hyn y gellwch ei wneud heddiw

Translation:
Do not put off till tomorrow what you can do today

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)