Hungarian proverbs

Hungarian proverbs are short expressions of popular wisdom from Hungary.

A, Á

• Addig nyújtózkodj, amíg a takaród ér.
  • Translation: Only stretch as far as your blanket reaches.
  • Meaning: Don't give yourself more tasks than you can handle.
  • English equivalent: Don't have too many irons in the fire.
  • Hegedüs, Rita (2005). Magyar mozaik 4: Nyelvkönyv. Akademiai Kiado. p. 126. ISBN 963058221X. 

• Amilyen az anya, olyan a lánya.
  • 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 rarely.
  • Source for meaning and proverb: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 137. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Amilyen az apa, olyan a fia.
  • Translation: Such father, such son.
  • English equivalent: Like father, like son.
  • Meaning: Sons may look and behave like their fathers. 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. p. 137. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• A falnak is füle van.
  • Translation: Even walls have ears.
  • Meaning: You should be careful with your words; someone may listening/eavesdropping and can use your words against you. Generally this is used when the person is convinced and knows that someone really listens.
  • Tudományos Akadémia, Magyar (2007). Acta ethnographica Hungarica, Volym 52, Utgåva 1–2. Akadémiai Kiadó. 

• A fösvény anélkül is szűkölködik, amije van, anélkül is, amjee nincs.
  • Idiomatic translation: The covetous man is good to none and worst to himself.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 83. ISBN 0415096243. 

• A nagy hal mëgëszi a kis halat.
  • 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 and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 420. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• A nyavalya lóháton jön, gyalog megy el.
  • Idiomatic translation: Misfortune comes on horseback and goes away on foot.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 52. ISBN 0415096243. 

• A hazug embert hamarabb utolérik, mint a sánta kutyát.
  • Variant: Hamarabb utolérik a hazug embert, mint a sánta kutyát.
  • Translation: They catch up with a liar sooner than with a limping dog.
  • Meaning: Do not lie because your lies will come to light sooner than you think.
  • Tudományos Akadémia, Magyar (2007). Acta ethnographica Hungarica, Volym 52, Utgåva 1. Akademiai Kiado. 

• A szép almákban is vannak savanyuk.
  • Idiomatic translation: A fair face and a foul heart.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 34. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Ajándék lónak ne nézd a fogát|Ajándék lónak ne nézd a fogát!
  • Translation: Don't look at the tooth of a gift horse.
  • English equivalent: Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
  • Zoltán, Kövecses (2006). English-Hungarian Dictionary. Akademiai Kiado. p. 126. 

• Ki korán kel, aranyat lel|Aki korán kel, aranyat lel.
  • Translation: Who gets up early finds gold.
  • English equivalent: The early bird catches the worm.
  • Tudományos Akadémia, Magyar (2007). Acta ethnographica Hungarica, Volym 52, Utgåva 1. Akademiai Kiado. 

• Amelyik kutya ugat, az nem harap|Amelyik kutya ugat, az nem harap.
  • Translation: The dog that barks doesn't bite.
  • English equivalent: Barking dogs seldom bite.
  • Meaning: People who say they are going to do something bad to us usually do nothing.
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 5. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Amilyen az adjonisten, olyan a fogadjisten.
  • Translation: The way you greet someone determines how he will welcome you.
  • Meaning: How you treat others, they will treat you in the same way.
  • Tudományos Akadémia, Magyar (2007). Acta ethnographica Hungarica, Volym 52, Utgåva 1. Akademiai Kiado. p. 52. 

• Amit ma megtehetsz, ne halaszd holnapra!
  • Translation: What you can do today don't put off to tomorrow.
  • Tudományos Akadémia, Magyar (2007). Acta ethnographica Hungarica, Volym 52, Utgåva 1. Akademiai Kiado. p. 142. 

• Aki ket nyulat hajt egyet se ver.
  • Idiomatic translation: Grasp all, lose all
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 886. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Aki másnak vermet ás, maga esik bele.
  • Translation: Whoever digs a hole for someone else, will fall in it themselves.
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 653. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Addig üsd a vasat, amíg meleg.
  • Translation: Strike the iron while it is warm.
  • English equivalent: Strike while the iron is hot;Make hay while the sun shines.
  • Meaning: Seize the opportunity while you have it.
  • Rounds, Carol H. (2002). Hungarian: An Essential Grammar. Routledge. p. 229. ISBN 0203465199. 

• A baj nem jár egyedül.
  • Translation: A problem does not come alone.
  • English equivalent: Misery loves company.
  • Jókai, Mór (1895). Összes művei, Volym 36. Révai Testvérek Kiadása. p. 111. ISBN 0738710830. 

C

• Csöbörből vödörbe / Cseberből vederbe.
  • Translation: From the can into the bucket.
  • English equivalent: Out of the frying pan into the fire.
  • Meaning: While trying to avoid a a bad situation one might end up in an even worse situation.
  • Kövecses (2006). English-Hungarian Dictionary. Akadémiai Kiadó. p. 253. ISBN 9630583577. 

E

• Egy fecske nem csinál nyarat.
  • Translation: One swallow does not make a summer.
  • Meaning: Don't draw deep conclusions just because of one experience/result.
  • Forgács, Tamás (2003). Magyar szólások és közmondások szótára: mai nyelvünk állandósult szókapcsolatai példákkal szemléltetve. Tinta Könyvkiadó. p. 175. ISBN 9639372668. 

• Elássa a csatabárdot.
  • Translation: Bury the hatchet.
  • Meaning: Forgive the enemy and cease the fight.
  • English equivalent: Forgive and forget.
  • Zoltán, Kövecses (2006). English-Hungarian Dictionary. Akademiai Kiado. p. 284. 

• Ember tervez, Isten végez.
  • Translation: Man plans, God executes.
  • English equivalent: Man proposes, God disposes.
  • Emese Budapest, Zsuzsanna (2007). Summoning the Fates: A Guide to Destiny and Sacred Transformation. Llewellyn Worldwide. p. 2. ISBN 0738710830. 

F

• Fejétol bűzlik a hal.
  • Translation: The fish stinks from the head.
  • Meaning: When you suffer mentally you might also suffer physically.
  • English equivalent: When the head is sick, the whole body is sick.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1117. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Festi az ördögöt a falra.
  • Translation: Painting the devil onto the wall.
  • Meaning: Don't assume something will go wrong when it is not certain.
  • Example use of this imagery: "You'll be the death of me"
  • English nautical analog: "Don't bring the devil aboard!"
  • Forgács, Tamás (2003). Magyar szólások és közmondások szótára: mai nyelvünk állandósult szókapcsolatai példákkal szemléltetve Volym 6 of Magyar nyelv kézikönyvei. Tinta Könyvkiadó. p. 170. 

G

• Gyermëk, részëg, bolond mondják az igazat.
  • Idiomatic translation: Children, fools and drunken men tell the truth.
  • Meaning: Children and fools have no inhibition, and alcohol consumed removes the inhibition against telling the truth that occasionally one would like to keep secret.
  • Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 272. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Gyümölcséről lëhet megismerni a fát.
  • 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.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 488. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Source for meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 259. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

H

• A hazug embert hamarabb utolérik, mint a sánta kutyát.
  • Translation: The liar and the lame dog are quickly caught.
  • The original goes more like this: "A hazug embert hamarabb utolérik, mint a sánta kutyát"
  • Translation: A liar is caught quicker (easier/sooner) than a lame dog.
  • Translation: Do not lie.
  • Forgács, Tamás (2003). Magyar szólások és közmondások szótára: mai nyelvünk állandósult szókapcsolatai példákkal szemléltetve Volym 6 of Magyar nyelv kézikönyvei. Tinta Könyvkiadó. p. 151. 

I

• Ismétlés a tudás anyja.
  • Translation: Repetition is the mother of knowdledge.
  • G√°bor, H. T√∂rt√©nelem k√∂zeln√©zetb≈ël - A k√©pvisel≈ë napl√≥ja.

J

• Jó a vén eb ugatására kitekinteni.
  • Idiomatic translation: An old dog barks not in vain.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 55. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Jó bornak nem kell cégér.
  • Translation: Good wine needs no label.
  • Note: Originally It was customary since early times to hang a grapevine, ivy or other greenery over the door of a tavern or way stop to advertise the availability of drink within.
  • English equivalent: Good wine needs no bush.
  • Meaning: If something is really good, it needs no advertising.
  • Margalits, Ede (1897). Magyar közmondások és közmondásszerü szólások. Kókai L.. p. 77. 

K

• Ki mint vet, úgy arat. also "Amit tessz, azt aratsz"
  • As you sow, so shall you reap.
  • Translation: They way you live, they way you die.
  • Halász, Előd (2006). Német-magyar kisszótár. Akademiai Kiado. p. xxiv. 

• Kivétel erősíti a szabályt.
  • Translation: Exceptions make the rule stronger.
  • English equivalent: The exception proves the rule.
  • Teichmann, Peter (2004). Kutyák. Tessloff-Babilon. p. 22. ISBN 963944653X. 

L

• Lónak négy a lába, mégis megbotlik.
  • Idiomatic translation: A good marksman may miss.
  • Meaning: Even the wisest and most competent man might make mistakes.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 57. ISBN 0415160502. 

M

• Más kárán tanul az okos.
  • Translation: The smart one will learn from the mistakes of others.
  • English equivalent: Wise men learn by other men's mistakes, fools by their own.
  • Margalits, Ede (1897). Magyar közmondások és közmondásszerü szólások. Kókai L. p. 389. ISBN 963944653X. 

• Mikor az isten nyulat teremtett, a bokorról is gondoskodott.
  • Idiomatic translation: Each day brings it own bread.
  • Meaning: Try not to worry so much about the future.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 757. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Mindenki a maga szerencséjének kovácsa.
  • Translation: Everyone's the blacksmith of their own fate.
  • Meaning: In shaping one's own fortune one shouldt not rely on the help of others, as they are also concerned mainly about their owwn matters.
  • Hegedüs, Rita (2005). Magyar mozaik 4: Nyelvkönyv. Akademiai Kiado. p. 173. ISBN 963058221X. 
  • Source for meaning: ** Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 388. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

N

• Ne csinálj szúnyogból elefántot.
  • Translation: Don't make an elephant out of a mosquito.
  • English equivalent: Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.
  • Meaning: Don't make something momentous out of a trifle.
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 409. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Néha a vak is patkóra talál.
  • Idiomatic translation: A blind may sometimes hit the mark.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 36. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Nëm esik messze az alma a fájától.
  • 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 proverbs and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 259. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Nem látja a fától az erdőt.
  • Translation: Can't see the forest from the trees.
  • Meaning: A minor detail blinds him to see the big picture. / He misses the point.
  • English equivalent: Cannot see the wood for the trees.
  • Bizottság, Nyelvművelő (1899). Magyar nyelvőr. Akadémiai Kiadó. 

• Nem kell belesírni a kiömlött tejbe
  • Translation: Don't cry over the spilled milk.
  • Bizottság, Nyelvművelő (1972). Hid, Utgåva 7–12. Fórum Lapkiadó Vállalat. p. 1874. 

• Nëm këll a tűzre olajat önteni.
  • Translation: You should not add oil to the fire.
  • English equivalent: Don't add fuel to the fire.
  • Meaning: One should not make a bad situation even worse by an improper remark.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 338. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Nem mind arany, ami fénylik.
  • Translation: Not all that glitters is gold.
  • Meaning: Not everything is as it seems.
  • Bizottság, Ferencz (1886). English-Hungarian dictionary Volume 1. Franklin-társulat. p. 1874. 

• Nem zörög a haraszt, ha a szél nem fújja.
  • Translation: The bushes don't rattle if there's no wind.
  • English equivalent: There's no smoke without fire.
  • Meaning: There is a reason for everything that happens.
  • Other meaning: A rumour contains some truth.
  • O. Nagy, Gábor (1999). Magyar szólások és közmondások. Talentum. p. 269. ISBN 9636450811. 

• Nem repül a sült galamb a szádba.
  • Translation: The fried dove/pigeon (or chicken) will not fly into your mouth
  • Meaning: Very few major problems are going to solve themselves. The only thing you can do is to work yourself to get rid of them.
  • O. Nagy, Gábor (1999). Magyar szólások és közmondások. Talentum. p. 230. ISBN 9636450811. 

• Ne igyál előre a medve bőrére.
  • Translation: Don't drink ahead to the bear's hide
  • English equivalent: Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
  • Alternate translation: Don't waste your favours before you get them (also works with money)
  • Sinor, Denis (1969). Inner Asia. Routledge. p. 10. ISBN 0700703802. 

• Nincs drágább az idönél.
  • Translation: There is nothing more precious than time.
  • English equivalent: Time is precious.
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 428. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

O, Ó, Ö

• Olcsó húsnak híg a leve.
  • Translation: Cheap meat produces thin broth.
  • Meaning: Usually the price of an item predicts its quality (cheap means worse materials were used)
  • English equivalent: "If you buy quality you only cry once." and "If you buy cheaply you pay dearly."
  • Tudományos Akadémia, Magyar (2000). Acta ethnographica Hungarica, Volym 45, Utgåva 3–4. Akadémiai Kiadó. p. 286. ISBN 0700703802. 

S

• Segíts magadon, (és) az Isten is megsegít.
  • Translation: Help yourself and God will help you also.
  • English Analog: God helps those who help themselves.
  • Meaning: When in trouble first of all every one himself should do his best to improve his condition.
  • Source for meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 150. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
  • Tapon, Francis (2012). The Hidden Europe: What Eastern Europeans Can Teach Us. SonicTrek, Inc.. p. 249. ISBN 0976581221. 

• Szëgény ëgér, melynek csak egy lyuka van.
  • 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. 

U,Ú

• Új seprű jól seper.
  • Translation: A new broom sweeps clean.
  • Meaning: Newcomers are the most ambitious.
  • Zoltán, Kövecses (2006). English-Hungarian Dictionary. Akademiai Kiado. p. 80. ISBN 9630583577. 

• Üres hasnak nem elég a szép szó, hanem a czipó.
  • Translation: Fine words are not enough for the empty stomach, it needs bread.
  • English equivalent: Fine words butter no parsnips.
  • Meaning: Merely talking about a problem will not solve it.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. IOI. ISBN 0415096243. 

V

• Vak tyúk is talál szemet.
  • Translation: Even the blind chicken finds grains.
  • English equivalent: A broken watch is right two times a day.
  • Meaning: Even an incompetent person will eventually be right about something.
  • Makai, Mihály (2004). Merre vagy szellem napvilága?: a megismerés rögös útjai. Typotex Kft. p. 116. ISBN 9639548197. 

• Vária, míg szájába repül a sült galamb.
  • Idiomatic translation: 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. p. 455. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 171. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Vizet hord a Dunába.
  • Translation: He is taking water to the Danube.
  • English equivalent: It's like bringing coal to Newcastle.
  • Meaning: He is doing something pointless or superfluous; Don't do things in a needlessly laborious way.
  • Országh (1960). Angol-magyar Szótár. Akadémiai Kiadó. p. 106. 

Ö

• Ökörtül tanulá a tinó.
  • Translation: What kind of parents, such children.
  • Meaning: Children will become like older generations.
  • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 138. ISBN 0415160502.