Faroese proverbs

Faroese is a language spoken in Faroe Islands, an autonomous province of Denmark.

A

• Altíð bagir illum barni okkurt.
  • Translation: There is always something the matter with a bad child.
  • English Equivalent: A bad workman blames his tools.
  • Young, Clewer (1985). Føroysk-ensk orðabók: Faroese-English dictionary : with Faroese folk-lore and proverbs. Føroya Fróđskaparfelag. p. 26. ISBN 0907715222. 

B

• Betri er mögur forlikun, en feitur process.
  • 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. 

K

• Kráku tykir best um unga sín.
  • Translation: A chicken likes her own eggs best.
  • English Equivalent: Blood is thicker than water.
  • Hammershaimb, Jakobsen, Carlsbergfondet (Copenhagen (1891). Færøsk anthologi. S.L. Møllers bogtrykkeri. p. 317. 

I

• Ikki er alt gull, ið glitrar.
  • Translation: Not all is gold that glitters.
  • English Equivalent: All that glitters is not gold.
  • Jensen, Davidsen, Davidsen (2005). Stutt mállæra. Uppgávur til 8. flokk. Foroya Skulabokagrunnur. p. 49. ISBN 9991803947. 

O

• Ofta býr fals undir fríðum skinni.
  • Translation: There often lies falsehood beneath a pretty skin.
  • English Equivalent: Appearances can be deceiving.
  • Young, Clewer (1985). Føroysk-ensk orðabók: Faroese-English dictionary : with Faroese folk-lore and proverbs. Føroya Fróđskaparfelag. p. 66. ISBN 0907715222. 

T

• Tíðin rennur sum streymur í á.
  • Translation: Time runs like the river current.
  • Meaning: It is best to take care of the major worries you have today, because you will probably have even more major worries tomorrow.
  • English Equivalent: Time and tide wait for no man.
  • Joensen, Sofus Joensen, Sofus Joensen. Føroyskar bókmentir 3. Foroya Skulabokagrunnur. p. 89.