Maltese proverbs

Proverbs from all Maltese speaking parts of the world.

B

• Bidu tajjeb, nofs ix-xogħol.
  • 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. 

G

• Ġebel ma' ģebel ma jiltaqa', izda wiċċ jiltaqa'.
  • Translation: Stones do not meet stones, but a face meets another face.
  • 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. 

I

• Il-ħuta l-kbira tiekol iż-żgira.
  • Translation: The big fish eat the small one.
  • 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. 

• Iż-żmien għaziz u ms jinxtarax.
  • Translation: Time is precious and cannot be bought.
  • English equivalent: Time is precious.
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 428. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

K

• Kulhadd jahbi t-travu tieghu u jara t-traba f'ghajn haddiehor.
  • Translation: Everyone conceals his own beam and notices the mote in other people's eyes.
  • Idiomatic translation: You see the splinter in another's eye but fail to see the beam in your own.
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 131. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

M

• Min ma jaħdemx ma jikolx.
  • 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. 

• Minn vaħda dieħel u minn oħra ħiereġ.
  • 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.