Latvian proverbs

Latvian proverbs are short expressions of popular wisdom from Latvia.

A

• Abols nekrīt tālu no ābeles.
  • 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. 

• Aiz kokiem neredzet mesu.
  • Idiomatic translation: If you do good, good will be done to you.
  • Meaning: Good acts quiet often reward themselves.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 160. ISBN 0415160502. 

C

• Cels uz elli buvets ar labiem nodomiem.
  • Translation: The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 257. ISBN 0415160502. 

D

• Dievam tris lietas patikamas.
  • Idiomatic translation: All good things are three.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 80. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Divus zakus reize kerdams nevienu nenokersi.
  • Idiomatic translation: Grasp all, lose all
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 886. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Dums tas putns, kam sava lizda nav mīla.
  • Translation: It is a stupid bird that does not like its nest.
  • 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. 

K

• Kas nestrādā, tam nav jāēd.
  • Translation: He who does not work shall not eat.
  • Idiomatic translation: He that will not work, shall not eat.
  • Meaning: Without due effort one is not entitled to the fruits of the work.
  • Source for proverb and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 256. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Kã viss dzĩvē, neatgadãs
  • Idiomatic translation: A blind may sometimes hit the mark.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 36. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Kä vecio svilpo tä jauine danco.
  • 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. 

• Kä sauc, tä atbalass skan.
  • Idiomatic translation: Just as one calls into the forest, so it echoes back.
  • Meaning: Do not expect friendly reply when being obnoxious.
  • Meaning: Bad language may have other causes than innate bad character.
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 139. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Kāda māte, tāda meita.
  • 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. 

• Kāds tēvs, tāds dēls.
  • 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. 

• Kur divi plesas, tur tresais dabu!.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't go between the tree and the bark.
  • Meaning: Do not interfere when two parts are having an argument.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 729. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Kur tevs, tur trukst.
  • Idiomatic translation: A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
  • Meaning: A group is not stronger than its weakest member.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 19. ISBN 0415160502. 

L

• Labak godigi mirt, neka negodigi dzivot.
  • Idiomatic translation: Death before dishonour.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 54. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Lai kasās tas, kam āda niež.
  • Translation: To whom it itches, scratches it.
  • English equivalent: If the shoe fits, wear it. (English, German)
  • Meaning: Accept an unflattering, yet accurate, description of yourself.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 998. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Lielā zivs mazo rij.
  • 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. 

N

• Nedod velnam mazo pirkstinu, vins panems visu roku.
  • Idiomatic translation: Give him an inch and he will take a yard.
  • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 240. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Ner viss ir zelts, kas spid.
  • Idiomatic translation: All that glimmers is not gold.
  • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 77. ISBN 0415160502. 

• No tuksam runam (valodam) veders netiek pilns.
  • Idiomatic translation: Fine words butters 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. 

P

• Pulka pat mirt nav gruti.
  • Idiomatic translation: Misery loves company.
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 187. ISBN 0415160502. 

S

• Sargi savu godu no jaunäm dienäm.
  • Translation: Old habits die hard.
  • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 1122. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Sargi savu godu no jaunam dienam.
  • Idiomatic translation: Reckless youth makes rueful age.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1151. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Sargies pats, tad sargas Dievs.
  • Idiomatic translation: 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. 
  • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 733. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Svesi dumi acus grauz.
  • Idiomatic translation: Dry bread at home is better than roast meat abroad.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 754. ISBN 0415096243. 

V

• Varna varnai acis neknabs.
  • Idiomatic translation: Crows do not pick out crows' eyes.
  • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 31. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Veca milestiba nerust.
  • Idiomatic translation: Of soup and love the first is the best.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 825. ISBN 0415096243. 

Z

• Zirgam cetras kajas ir tad vel klup.
  • 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. 

See also

• Livonian proverbs