Catalan proverbs

Proverbs from all Catalan speaking parts of the world.

A

• A boca tancada, no hi entra mosca.
  • Translation: In a shut mouth, no fly will go in.
  • English equivalent: A closed mouth catches no flies.
  • Meaning: It is wise to not speak, when it is not necessary.
  • Pons (1839). Diccionario catalan-castellano. Impr. y Libr. de Pablo Riera. p. 645. 

• A vegades una gallina cega troba un gra.
  • Idiomatic translation: A blind may sometimes hit the mark.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 36. ISBN 0415096243. 

B

• Barbèr piadòs encangrena la plaga.
  • Idiomatic translation: Mild physician – putrid wounds.
  • Meaning: Telling harsh truths constructively (to yourself as well) and stern measures makes for a good figurative and literal cure.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 710. ISBN 0415096243. 

C

• Cada cabell fa sa ombra.
  • Idiomatic translation: A bad bush is better than no shelter; Every hair casts its shadow; There is no little enemy.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 4. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Com més vell més poc cervell.
  • Idiomatic translation: Wisdom goes not always by years.
  • Meaning: Age will not refrain people from acting foolish and imprudent.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 39. ISBN 0415160502. 

D

• De l'arbre dolent no esperis bon fruit.
  • Idiomatic translation: 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 meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 259. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 488. ISBN 0415096243. 

• De mica en mica s'omple la pica i de gota en gota s'omple la bota.
  • Translation: Little by little you fill the sink and drop by drop you fill the barrel.
  • English equivalent: Many a little makes a mickle.
  • Lassen (1988). Das Katalanische Sprichwort: Literarische Tradition Und Umgangssprachlicher Gebrauch. Narr. p. 105. 

E

• El gos vell quan lladra dona consell.
  • Idiomatic translation: An old dog barks not in vain.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 55. ISBN 0415160502. 

• El peixos grossos sempre es menjaran els minuts.
  • Idiomatic translation: Men are like fish; the great ones devour the small.
  • Meaning: A weak person/group/community/country can be an easy prey to an immoral, powerful one.
  • Source for meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 420. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• El treball segons el jornal.
  • Translation: What pay, such work.
  • English equivalent: You get what you pay for.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 494. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Entrar per una orella i sortir per l'altre.
  • Translation: In at one ear and out at the other.
  • English equivalent: Advice most needed are the least heeded.
  • Meaning: For various reasons a good advice or a genuine warning is often disregarded or considered of no importance.
  • Source for meaning and proverb: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 179. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• És pitjor el remei que la malaltia.
  • Translation: The remedy is worse than the disease.
  • Martínez (2011). La senda dels lladres: Bandolerisme als voltants de la serra de Mostalla (1806-1839). Publicacions de la Universitat de València. p. 108. 

L

• La paciència és la mare de la ciència.
  • Translation: With patience you go beyond knowledge.
  • English equivalent: An ounce of patience is worth a pound of brains.
  • Meaning: Patience can often do more than your wits.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 415. ISBN 0415096243. 

• L'ocasió s'ha d'agafar' pels pèls.
  • Idiomatic translation: Opportunity knocks only once.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 400. ISBN 0415096243. 

• La burla deixar-la quan més plau.
  • Idiomatic translation: Leave a jest when it pleases you best.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 863. ISBN 0415096243. 

• La paraula bona molt val i poc costa.
  • Idiomatic translation: Politeness costs little but yields much.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 70. ISBN 0415160502. 

• La persevança tot ho alança.
  • Translation: By perseverance everything reaches its target.
  • English equivalent: By perseverance the snail reached the arc.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 127. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Les fruites i els amors, els primers són els millors.
  • Idiomatic translation: True love never grows old.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1107. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Les persones es troben, que les muntanyes no.
  • Translation: The people meet each other but the hills do not.
  • Idiomatic translation: A mountain never meets a mountain, but a man meets a man.
  • Meaning: There are some things/events that are impossible, like an encounter of mountains, but there is always a chance for people to meet. or Once can always find a possibility for revenge.
  • Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 213. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

M

• Mal ocell el que s'embruta en son.
  • Idiomatic translation: It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest; Don't wash your dirty linen in public.
  • Meaning: Don't speak ill off yourself and the groups you belong to.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 466. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Molts componedrosn descomposen la nuvida.
  • Idiomatic translation: A public hall is never swept.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 70. ISBN 0415160502. 

N

• Ningú pot dir: d'aquesta aigua no en bueré.
  • Idiomatic translation: Cast no dirt into the well that gives you water.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 634. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Ningú pod servir á dos senyors.
  • Translation: Nobody can serve two masters.
  • English equivalent: Also, Nobody can serve two masters.
  • Meaning: One cannot serve two conflicting causes simultaneously. If this is attempted neither will be served properly.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 283. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• No diguis blat que no sigui al sac i ben lligat.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't count your chickens until they've hatched.
  • Diccionari UB. Anglès-Català. Publicacions i Edicions de la Universitat de Barcelona. 2008. p. 220. 

• No hi ha gloria sense enveja.
  • Idiomatic translation: Envy always shooteth at a high mark.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 766. ISBN 0415096243. 

O

• Obra començada, mig acabada.
  • Idiomatic translation: Well begun, is half done.
  • Meaning: Starting properly ensures the speedy completion of a process. A – beginning is often blocked by one or more obstacles (potential barriers) the removal of which may ensure the smooth course of the process.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 228. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

R

• Ratolí que no més coneix un forat, està atrapat.
  • Idiomatic translation: It is a poor mouse that has only one hole.
  • Meaning: It is dangerous to always depend on just one thing, because if it fails you, you will not have any alternatives.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 375. ISBN 0415096243. 

Q

• Qui estima el gos, estim el seu amo.
  • Idiomatic translation: Love me, love my dog.
  • Meaning: If you love someone, you will love everything about them.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 953. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Qui pren l'ágila per la cua i la dóna per la palabre, pot dir queres no tè.
  • Idiomatic translation: You might as well try to hold an eel by the tail.
  • Meaning: Don't take a man by his word.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 480. ISBN 0415096243. 

S

• S'atrapa abans a un mentider que a un coix.
  • Literal translation: You'll catch a liar before you'll catch a cripple.
  • Meaning: It's easier to discover a liar than to catch a cripple.
  • French equivalent: A lie has short legs.
  • Fabré (2011). Jo confesso. Proa. p. 166. 

• Segons la mesura que faràs, tal mesuras trobaràs.
  • Idiomatic translation: Whatever measure you deal out to others will be dealt back to you.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1219. ISBN 0415096243. 

V

• Val més andar sol que mal acompanyat.
  • Translation: It is better to be alone than to be in bad company.
  • English equivalent: Better be alone than in bad company.
  • Source for proverb: Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 572. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Val més mala avinença que bona sentencia.
  • Idiomatic translation: A bad compromise is better than a good lawsuit.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 68. ISBN 0415096243. 

See also

• Basque proverbs
• Spanish proverbs