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proVERBS

11 Frisian / English

Ien swel makket noch gjin simmer

:
One swallow does not make a summer

:
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

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

Dêr’t reek is, is ek fjoer

:
Where there is smoke, there is also fire

:
No smoke without some fire

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

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

[Cat]Alla on hi ha foc surt fum

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

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

Germanic language family

[GER]Kein Rauch ohne Feuer
No smoke without fire

[Nor]Ingen røyk 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

[Swe]Ingen rök utan eld

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

Slavic language family

[CRO]Gdje se god puši, ondje vatre ima

[CES]Plamen nebyvá daleko od dymu

[Slk]Kde je dym, tam i oheň byť musí

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

Finno-Ugric language family

[FIN]Ei savua ilman tulta
No smoke without fire

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

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

Baltic language family

[Ltv]Kur uguns, tur dūmi

[Lit]Dümai be ugnies negimsta.

Celtic language family

[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

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

[Iri]Ní bhí deatach gan teinidh
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]

Ean Vöggal uun a Paan as beedar üsh völlan uun a Locht

:
A bird in the pan is better than many in the air

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

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

:
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.

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

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

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

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

Germanic language family

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

[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

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

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

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

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

Slavic language family

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

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

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

[CRO]Bolje danas kos nego sutra gusak

Finno-Ugric language family

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

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

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

Baltic language family

[Ltv]Labāk zīle rokā nekā mednis kokā

[Lit]Geriau žvirblis rankoj negu briedis girioj.

Celtic language family

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

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

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

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

Fan ien slach net lizze

:
Not to fall down because of one blow

:
An oak is not felled at one stroke

:
A major project needs many things to be done before it is completed

Romance language family

[FRE]D'un seul coup ne s'abat un chêne
An oak is not brought down with a single blow

[ITA]Al primo golpo non cade l'albero
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]Un solo golpe no derriba el roble
A single blow does not bring down the oak

[Rom]Peretii au urechi si strazile ochi
Little by little you become far away

[POR]Um carvalho não é derrubado em um golpe
An oak is not felled at one stroke

[PRO]?
One needs more than one stroke to fell a tree

[Cat]Un cop de destral no fa caure un roure

Germanic language family

[DAN]Efter mange hug falder træt

[Swe]Manga hugg fälla eken

[DUT]Met veel slagen valt de boom

[Fri]We need help in translating these proverbs
Not to fall down because of one blow

[Nor]D’er mange øksarhogg, som eiki skal fella

[GER]Von einem Streiche fällt keine Eiche
From one blow falls no oak

Slavic language family

[Slk]Ani strom naraz nezotnú

[CRO]Od prvoga udarca dub ne pada

[POL]Jednym cięciem drzewa nie obalisz
With one cut the tree is not felled

[CES]Žadný strom nepadne jednou ranou

Finno-Ugric language family

[EST]Puu ei lange ühe laastuga/hoobiga

[HUN]A fát nem vágják ki egy csapásra/vágásra
The tree is not cut down with one stroke

[FIN]Ei puu ensi lyönnillä kaadu
The tree does not fall with the first stroke

Baltic language family

[Ltv]Koks nekrīt uz pirmā cirtiena

[Lit]Ne vienu kirčiu medis nukertamas

Celtic language family

[Gae]Cha ’n ann leis a' chiad bhuille 'thuiteas a' chraobh
Help!

Hunen dy’t blaffe, bite net

:
Dogs that bark don't bite

:
Barking dogs seldom bite

:
The people who threaten you angrily are often just blustering

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

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

[DAN]Den hund der gør, bider ikke

[DUT]Blaffende honden bijten niet

[Fri]?
Dogs that bark don't bite

[Nor]Den hunden som gjør, biter sjelden

[Swe]Tigande hund biter snarast

Slavic language family

[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

[Slk]Pes, ktorý šteká nehryzie

[CES]Pes bázlivý víc štěká než kouše

Finno-Ugric language family

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

[EST]Haukuja peni ei hammusta

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

Baltic language family

[Ltv]Suņi, kuri daudz rej, nekož

[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

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

Iarst fang, do fluai

:
First catch then flay

:
Don't sell the bear's skin before you have caught him

:
It is unwise to be over-optimistic and to assume that a difficult or dangerous task will be successful

Romance language family

[FRE]Vendre le peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué
To sell the bear's skin before having killed it

[ITA]Vender la pelle dell'orso prima d'averlo preso
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 hay que vender la piel del oso antes de haberlo cazado
Don't sell the bear's skin before having hunted it

[Rom]Peretii au urechi si strazile ochi
When the blind lead the blind they both fall into the pit

[Cat]No diguis oliva, fins que sigui collida
Do not say "olive" until it is collected

[POR]Não vender a pele do urso antes de tê-lo pego
Don't sell the bear's skin before you have caught him

[PRO]?
To talk about selling the skin before having the animal

Germanic language family

[Swe]Man ska inte sälja skinnet förrän björnen är skjuten

[Fri]We need help in translating these proverbs
First catch then flay

[GER]Die Bärenhaut verkaufen, bevor man den Bären ereigt hat
To sell?the bearskin before one has killed the bear

[DAN]Man skal ikke sælge sildene, for man har dem i garnet

[Nor]Ein skal inkje selja/kaupa fuglen/fisken fyrr han er fangad

[DUT]De huid verkoop voor die beer geskiet is

Slavic language family

[CRO]Prvo patku ubiti, a onde je ispeći
First kill the duck then fry it

[POL]Dzielić skórę na niedźwiedziu
Share on a bear skin

[Slk]Trhajú sa o medveďovu kožu, a medveď po horách behá

[CES]Ještě vlka nezabili, a již mu na kůži pili

Finno-Ugric language family

[FIN]Ei karhun nahkaa pidä myymän ennenkuin karhu on saatu
The bear's skin is not to be sold before the bear is caught

[HUN]Ne igyál el?re a medve b?rére
Do not drink in advance on the hide of a bear

[EST]Ära karu nahka enne ära müü, kui karu käes on

Baltic language family

[Lit]Dar lokys girioje, o jau kailį dera

[Ltv]Vilks vēl mežā, bet āda jau tiek dalīta

Celtic language family

[Gae]Na feann am fiadh gus am faigh thu e
Don’t skin the deer till you get it

[Bre]We need help in translating these proverbs
He will be misled who calculates the price of the butter before buying the cow

[Iri]Ná déan sú ar an ghearrfiadh go mbeidh sé sa phota agat
Do not make soup of the hare until you have it in the pot

Maltese (an Arabic language)

[Mal]Tagħmilx il-ħaġa ġewwa qabel tkun fidejk
Do not count anything before it is in your hand

In foks ferliest syn hier wol, mar syn aard/streken net

:
Help!

:
The wolf may lose his teeth, but never his nature

:
Someone can try and hide his true nature, but it always comes out and reveals itself, either by actions or by words

Romance language family

[LAT]Lupus pilum mutat, non mentem
A wolf changes his hide, not his mind

[FRE]Les loups peuvent perdre leurs dents, mais non leur naturel
Wolves can lose their teeth, but not their nature

[ITA]Il lupo cangia il pelo, ma non il vizio
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]Muda el lobo los dientes y no las mientes
The wolf changes its teeth but not its habits

[Rom]Peretii au urechi si strazile ochi
One hand washes the other and both wash the face

[Cat]La guineu muda del pel, però no de natura

[POR]O lobo pode perder os dentes, mas nunca a sua natureza
The wolf can lose his teeth, but never his nature

[PRO]Lo loup perd son pel, son vici jamai
The wolf may lose its fur but its vives never

Germanic language family

[GER]Der Wolf ändert das Haar und bleibt, wie er war
The wolf changes the hair and remains as it was

[Fri]?
Help!

[Swe]Ulven byter väl hår, men icke sinne

[DAN]Ræven forandrer vel sit skind, men ikke sit sind

[Nor]Ulven skifter harene, men ikke hugen/sinnet

[DUT](‘n) Jakkals verander van hare, maar nie van streke/nukke nie

Slavic language family

[CRO]Prvo patku ubiti, a onde je ispeći

[Slk]Líška srsť nie kôžu mení

[CES]Vlk změní srst, ale ne povahu

[POL]Wilcza natura do lasa ciągnie
The wolf's nature draws him to the woods

Finno-Ugric language family

[FIN]Miksipä korppi kuuraten tulee
The raven is black even if you wash it

[EST]Koer ajab karva, aga mitte viisi

[HUN]A farkas a szőrét elhányja, de a szokását nem
The wolf may change its hair, but not its nature

Baltic language family

[Ltv]Suns spalvu met, cilvēks tikumu/ieradumu nemet
A dog loses its hair, a man does not lose his custom

[Lit]Vilks plauką maino, bet savo prigimties nemaino

Celtic language family

[Bre]We need help in translating these proverbs
The fox itself has to die in its skin

Maltese (an Arabic language)

[Mal]Il-lupu jbiddel sufu u mhux għamilu

Language isolates

[Bas]Azeri zafari ulea yoan, menduak ez

Kinner un narren sggen de wârheid

:
Children and fools tell the truth

:
Children and fools speak the truth

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

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

[DAN]Børn, narre og drukne sige sandhed

[Swe]I vinet kommer sanningen fram

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

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

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

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

Slavic language family

[Slk]Vo víne pravda prebýva

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

[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

[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

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

[Gae]Cha dean cridhe misgeach briag
Help!

Language isolates

[Bas]Aufetik eta erotik egia

Lange gasten, stjonkende gasten

:
Long(-staying) guest, stinking guest

:
Fresh fish and new-come guests smell in three days

:
The prolonged stay of a guest cause annoyance and upset the rhythm of the house

Romance language family

[LAT]Post tres saepe dies vilescit piscis et hospes
A fish and a guest often go bad after three days

[FRE]L'hôte et le poisson après trois jours puent
Guest and fish stink after three days

[ITA]L'ospite e il pesce dopo tre giorni ti rincresce
You regret the guest and the fish after three days

[SPA]El huésped y el pez a tres días hiede
The guest and the fish stink after three days

[POR]O peixe fresco e recém-chegado convidados cheiro em três dias
A fresh fish and recently-arrived guests smell in three days

[Cat]L‘hoste és com el peix menut: al cap de tres dies put

Germanic language family

[Swe]Färsta dagen är man gäst, andra dagen en börda, tredje dagen en pest
One is a guest on the first day, a burden on the second, and a plague on the third

[DAN]En fisk og en gæst Iugter ilde den tredje dag

[Nor]Fisken og gjesten tek det til å lukta av når tri dagar er lidne

[DUT]Een driedaagse gast is een last

[Fri]We need help in translating these proverbs
Long(-staying) guest, stinking guest

[GER]Gast und Fisch sind nach drei Tagen nicht mehr frisch
Guest and fish are no longer fresh in three days

Slavic language family

[POL]Gość, ryba trzeciego dnia cuchnie
Guests stink of fish on the third day

[Slk]Ryba a hosť na tretí deň smrdí dosť
Fish and guests on the third day stink a lot

[CRO]Vsakoga gosta tri dni dosta
For any guest three days are enough

[CES]Host první den zlato, druhý den stříbro, a třetí měď: honem domů jeď
The guest is gold the first day, silver the next day and copper the third

Finno-Ugric language family

[HUN]Harmadnapra mind a hal, mind a vendég büdös
On the third day all fish and all guests stink

[FIN]Kalat ja vieraat alkavat haista kolmessa päivässä
Fishes and guests start smelling in three days

[EST]Kauane külaline haiseb nagu kala
A long-staying guest smells like fish

Baltic language family

[Lit]I trčéią dieną svečias ir žuvis pasmirsta

[Ltv]Zivs un ciemiņš trešajā dienā smird

Celtic language family

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

[Wel]Mae pysgod a gwesteion yn drewi ar ol tridiau

Language isolates

[Bas]Arraina eta arroza, heren egunac carazes, campora deragoza

Men moat de dei net fan h

:
Help!

:
Never put off till tomorrow what may be done today

:
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)