Estonian proverbs

Proverbs from all Estonian speaking parts of the world. __NOTOC__ A Aeg annab head nõu Time heals the wounds but leaves the scars. Armastusel on paari silmi peas. (EVS) Love has twenty pairs of eyes. Au maksab raha. (EVS) Dud]] [[tuoeugi ]]. E Ega suu sarvest ole. (EVS) Mouth is not made of horn. Ega vana koer valet ei haugu. Translation and English equivalent: An old dog barks not in vain. Strauss Emanuel Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=sm96Wlt8Ql0C&pg=PT141 24 November 2013 I 1994 Routledge 978-1-136-78978-6 190 197 Ela ise, lase teisi ka elada. (EVS) Live yourself, let others live also. English equivalent: Live and let live. Ema pilli tantsib pere. (EVS) The family dances to the mother's tune. H Hea laps kasvab vitsata. (EVS) Good child grows up without caning. Hea laps, kes hästi tantsib, parem veel, kes paigal seisab. (EVS) Good is the child who dances well, even better who's at a standstill. Hirmul on suured silmad. (EVS) Fear has big eyes. Hommikune töö kuld, õhtune muld. (EVS) Morning work gold, evening work soil. Hunt hunti ei murra. A wolf will not break a wolf. English equivalent: Crows do not pick out crows eyes. Hungarian Equivalent: Varjú nem vájja ki varjúnak a szemét. "One belonging to a group having common interests is not likely to act against or find fault with another member of the same group. Solidarity may prevail over law, justice or truth." Paczolay Gyula 1997 European Proverbs in 55 languages DeProverbio.com 96 527 1-875943-44-7 Strauss Emanuel Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=sm96Wlt8Ql0C&pg=PT148 24 November 2013 I 1994 Routledge 978-1-136-78978-6 106 107 Hunt murrab ka loetud lambad. The wolf breaks the counted sheep. Strauss Emanuel Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=sm96Wlt8Ql0C&pg=PT148 24 November 2013 II 1994 Routledge 978-1-136-78978-6 640 738 I Inimene on loodud tööd tegema, lind laulma. (EVS) Human is made to work, bird to sing. Inimene õpib niikaua kui elab. (EVS) Human learns as long as lives. Isa , pea kübar peas, kuni elad laste seas! (EVS) Father, put the hat on your head when you are among the children! J Jaan viskab kuuma kivi merre, Jaak jahe ja Mihkel külma. (EVS) Jaan throws the hot stone into the sea, Jaak the cool and Mihkel the cold one. K Kel püksid jalas, küll see naise saab. (EVS) Who wears trousers will get a woman for sure. Kes ei tööta, see ei söö. (EVS) Who doesn't work shall not eat. Kes viimasena naerab, naerab paremini. (EVS) Who laughs last laughs better. Kes võib ilmasuu ja rahva keel kinni panna? (EVS) Who could shut up folks' expression and language? Quand celui à qui l'on parle ne comprend pas et celui qui parle ne se comprend pas, c'est de la métaphysique. Kotkas kärbseid ei püüä. English equivalent: Eagles don't catch flies. Meaning: "People of high rank are considered – or consider themselves – too important to deal with trivial things or lowly folk." Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=fgaUQc8NbTYC&pg=PA66 25 August 2013 2007 Infobase Publishing 978-0-8160-6673-5 66 Strauss Emanuel Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=sm96Wlt8Ql0C&pg=PT565 1994 Routledge 978-1-136-78978-6 216 230 Kõik ei ole kuld, mis hiilgab. Translation and English equivalent: All that glimmers is not gold. Variant translations: Liberality consists rather in giving seasonably than much. Generosity lies less in giving much than in giving at the right moment. Source: Strauss Emmanuel 1998 Dictionary of European Proverbs Routledge 89 0415160502 Kõik pilved ei anna vett. (EVS) All clouds don't give water. Kui kassid kodus ei ole, siis hiired tantsivad. English equivalent: If the cat is away, the mice play. Meaning: "In the absence of the person in authority those under his control will often neglect the duties/rules imposed on them." Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=fgaUQc8NbTYC 8 September 2013 2007 Infobase Publishing 978-0-8160-6673-5 114 Kuidas ema, nõnda tütar. Translation: Such mother, such daughter. English equivalent: Like mother, like daughter. Meaning: "Daughters may look and behave like their mothers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily." Source for meaning and proverb: Paczolay Gyula 1997 European Proverbs in 55 languages DeProverbio.com 137 527 1-875943-44-7 Kus saun, seal eestlased. (EVS) Where's sauna, there are the Estonians. L Lubaja hea mees, pidaja veel parem. (EVS) Promiser a good man, who keeps the promise even better. Lõpeb üks töö, algab teine töö. (EVS) When one work ends, begins another. M Ma tahan sind kiita tühjas kirikus ja kuivas kõrtsis (EVS) I want to thank you in an empty church and dry saloon. Magaja kassi suhu hiir ei jookse. Translation: No dreaming cat catches mice. English equivalent: Birds fly not into our mouth ready roasted. Meaning: "One cannot (or should not) expect to benefit without making some effort." Source for meaning: Paczolay Gyula 1997 European Proverbs in 55 languages DeProverbio.com 455 527 1-875943-44-7 Strauss Emanuel Volume 2 1994 Dictionary of European proverbs Routledge 171 2200 0415096243 Mida kõrtsis kõneled, seda külas kuuled. (EVS) What you talk in the pub you'll hear in the village. Mida varem, seda parem. (EVS) The sooner, the better. N Naine on maja lukk. (EVS) Woman is the lock of the house. Naist ära vali silmadega, vaid kõrvadega! (EVS) Don't choose a woman by eyes but ears! Neli silma näevad rohkem kui kaks. (EVS) Four eyes see more than two. Nälg on kõige parem kokk. (EVS) Hunger is the best cook. O Oma maa maasikas, võõras maa mustikas. (EVS) Own land is strawberry, other land blueberry. Oma silm on kuningas. (EVS) Own eye is king. English equivalent: Seeing is believing. "If one tells the truth, one is sure, sooner or later, to be found out." Oscar Wilde, "Phrases and Philosophies for the use of the young", in The Chameleon (December 1894). Oma tuba, oma luba. (EVS) Own house, own permission. Finnish equivalent: Oma tupa, oma lupa. Oras ei kasva külvamata. English equivalent: What you reap is what you sow. Strauss 1998 Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs Routledge 394 0415160502 Õun ei kuku iial puust kaugele. The apple never falls far from the tree. English equivalent: The apple does not fall far from the tree. Meaning: "Children observe daily and — in their behaviour — often follow the example of their parents." Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay Gyula European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese http://books.google.com/books?id=JiXzAAAAMAAJ 1997 Veszprémi Nyomda 1-875943-44-7 259 48 P Paha mees, parem õnn. (EVS) Bad man, better luck. Parem elav väeti laps kui surnud kuningas. (EVS) A living weak child is better than a dead king. Parem pool muna kui tühi koor. (EVS) Half an egg is better than an empty shell. Parem päeva kuumus kui vihma vilu. (EVS) The heat of the day is better than the coldness of rain. Parem sõna hammaste taga kui keele peal. (EVS) Better word behind teeth than on the tongue. Piip ligem kui naine. (EVS) Pipe is nearer to woman. Pisuke kala on suurema söömaeg. Translation: A little fish is supper for a large fish. English equivalent: Men are like fish; the great ones devour the small. Meaning: "Small organizations or insignificant people tend to be swallowed up or destroyed by those that are greater and more powerful." Source for meaning: Martin H. Manser The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs http://books.google.com/books?id=fgaUQc8NbTYC&pg=PA358 1 July 2013 2007 Infobase Publishing 978-0-8160-6673-5 27 Paczolay Gyula 1997 European Proverbs in 55 languages DeProverbio.com 420 527 1-875943-44-7 Puhas suu, puhas käsi käib kõige maailma läbi. (EVS) The clean mouth, the clean hand travel through all the world. Puusepa naine tõlvata, sepa naine kirveta. Translation: The carpenter's wife has no batler, the smith's wife has no hatchet. English equivalent: The cobbler's wife is the worst shod. Meaning: "Working hard for others one may neglect one's own needs or the needs of those closest to him." Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay Gyula European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese http://books.google.com/books?id=JiXzAAAAMAAJ 1997 Veszprémi Nyomda 1-875943-44-7 65 7 S Seisev vesi läheb haisema. (EVS) Standing water begins to smell. Silm kuningas, käsi tegija. (EVS) Eye is king, hand the worker. Silmad näevad enam kui silm. (EVS) Eyes see more than an eye. Sogases vees on hea kalu püüda. English equivalent: It is good fishing in troubled waters. Meaning: "In taking advantage of chaotic conditions one can easily serve one's own purposes." Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay Gyula 1997 European Proverbs in 55 languages DeProverbio.com 391 527 1-875943-44-7 Surm jala all iga päev. (EVS) Death is under the feet every day. Suu on südame tulk (mõõt). (EVS) Mouth is heart's interpreter. Suu suurem kui mees ise. (EVS) The mouth is bigger than the man himself. Suvel silmad, talvel hambad. (EVS) Summer has eyes, winter teeth. Suvine tund enam kui talvine päev. (EVS) An hour in summer is more than a day in winter. T Täna kuld, homme muld. (EVS) Gold today, soil tomorrow. Täna kümme paari härgi, homme ei ühtki. (EVS) Ten pairs of oxen today, not a single one tomorrow. Täna mulle, homme sulle. (EVS) For me today , for you tomorrow. U Unustamine parem kui kättemaksmine. (EVS) To forget is better than to seek revenge. V Vana arm ei kustu. English equivalent: Old love does not rust. Strauss Emanuel Volume 2 1994 Dictionary of European proverbs Routledge 825 2200 0415096243 Vana hobune, varsa mõtted. English equivalent: Wisdom goes not always by years. Strauss Emanuel Abbreviated 1998 Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs Routledge 39 504 0415160502 Valel on lühikesed jalad. Translation: A lie has short legs. Strauss 1998 Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs Routledge 73 0415160502 Valgus naerab pimeduse tööd. (EVS) Light laughs to the works of darkness. Vanasõnad on kuldsed sõnad. (EVS) Proverbs are the golden words. Viinaklaasi upub enam inimesi kui merre. (EVS) Glass of booze drowns more people than sea. Viinapudel põrgu pass. (EVS) A bottle of booze is the passport to hell. Ü Üks käsi ei pese üksi. (EVS) A hand doesn't wash alone. Ä Ära enne solgivett maha viska, kui puhas käes on. English equivalent: Cast no dirt into the well that gives you water. Strauss Emanuel Volume 2 1994 Dictionary of European proverbs Routledge 634 2200 0415096243 Ära kanna vett merre! (EVS) Don't carry water to the sea! Ära karu nahka enne ära müü, kui karu käes on. English equivalent: Sell not the bear's skin before you have caught him. Strauss Emanuel Volume 2 1994 Dictionary of European proverbs Routledge 641 2200 0415096243 Ära tee sääsest härga. Translation: Don't make an ox out of a fly. English equivalent: Don't make a mountain out of a molehill. Paczolay Gyula 1997 European Proverbs in 55 languages DeProverbio.com 409 527 1-875943-44-7 Ö Öö ees, surm selja taga. (EVS) Night ahead, death behind back. Öö ei ole kellegi sõber. (EVS) Night is nobody's friend. Öö on varga vari.'' (EVS) Night is the shadow of the thief. EVS = Eesti vanasõnad, suurest korjandusest kokku põiminud M. J. Eisen, Eesti Kirjanduse Seltsi kirjastus Tartus, 1929, üle 2 500 eesti vanasõna, e-raamat, järjestanud Risto Rekola 2021 (ISBN 978-952-804-9807). External links Estonian world - how Estonians see it Category:Proverbs by language Category:Estonia