Romanian proverbs

Proverbs from all Romanian speaking parts of the world.

A

• Adevărul se spune glumind.
  • Idiomatic translation: Many a true words are spoken in jest.
  • Kelly, Walter Keating (1859). Proverbs of all nations. W. Kent & co. (late D. Bogue). p. 57. 

• Pe o ureche intra si pe alta iese.
  • 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. 

• Apa linǎ este adâncă.
  • Idiomatic translation: Still waters run deep.
  • Meaning: He who is taciturn might be that because his head is filled with ambitious thoughts.
  • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 70. 

• Asteaptā murgule, să paşti iarbă verde.
  • Idiomatic translation: While the grass grows the steed starves.
  • Meaning: Dreams or expectations may be realized too late.
  • Mrs Mawr, E B (2005). Analogous Proverbs In Ten Languages (reprint ed.). Kessinger Publishing. p. 96. ISBN 1417964677. 

C

• Calul bun se vinde în grajd.
  • Idiomatic translation: Good wine needs no bush.
  • Meaning: Good products and services do not need advertisement.
  • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 34. 

• Care ascultǎ la uşa, Isǐ aude defaima.
  • Idiomatic translation: Eavesdroppers hear no good of themselves.
  • Kelly, Walter Keating (1859). Proverbs of all nations (W. Kent & co. (late D. Bogue) ed.). p. 51. 

• Care vrea miezul sa sparga nuca.
  • Idiomatic translation: No pain, no gain.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 680. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Ce fel e tata e şi fiul.
  • 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. 

• Cine aleargã dupã doi iepuri nu prinde nici unul.
  • Idiomatic tranlation: You must not run after two hares at the same time.
  • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 102. 

• Cine de îndatǎ, da de donĭ ori.
  • Idiomatic translation: He gives twice, who gives in a trice.
  • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 38. 

• Cine nu face cand póte, nu face cand vrea.
  • Idiomatic translation: He that will not when he may, when he will shall then have nay!
  • Kelly, Walter Keating (1859). Proverbs of all nations. W. Kent & co. (late D. Bogue). p. 41. 

• Cine sapa groapa altuia cade singur in ea.
  • Translation: He who digs a pit for others, will fall in it himself.
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 651. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Cine se lauda singur, sa ocarasce pe sine.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't blow your own horn.
  • Meaning: Don't praise yourself.
  • Mrs Mawr, E B (2005). Analogous Proverbs In Ten Languages (reprint ed.). Kessinger Publishing. p. 71. ISBN 1417964677. 

• Cine se scoală de dimineaţă, departe ajunge.
  • Translation: He who rises early goes far.
  • English equivalent: Eary to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
  • University, Vermont, bi-Yerushalayim (1986). Proverbium. Ohio State University in cooperation with the University of Vermont and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 

• Cine tace, nu se căieste.
  • Idiomatic translation: Least said, soonest mended.
  • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 53. 

• Câinele moare de drum lung şi prostul de grija altuia.
  • Translation: A dog dies from too much walking, a fool from worrying about other's business.
  • Meaning: Mind your own business.
  • Sîrbu. Adio, Europa! - vol I. Asociatia LiterNet. ISBN 9738475600. 

• Copii, nebunii şi bețivii spun adevărul.
  • 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. 

• Cu vênturǐ nu se vopsesc ouale rosiĭ.
  • Idiomatic translation: Fine words butter no parsnips.
  • Meaning: Merely talking about a problem will not solve it.
  • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 31. 

• Cu mortea tote diferentile dispartǔ.
  • Translation: In a hundred years we will be dead anyway.
  • English equivalent: It will all be the same a hundred years hence.
  • Meaning: So what if you embarrass yourself?
  • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 48. 

• Cum e mama, e şi fata.
  • 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 proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 179. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

D

• Da-i doamne, mintea Románului din urma.
  • Idiomatic translation: Second thoughts are the best.
  • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 73. 

• De nevoie n'aī ce face.
  • Idiomatic translation: Needs must when the devil drives.
  • Meaning: It is acceptable to break rules in times of need
  • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 60. 

• Din donĕ rele s'alegĩ pe cel maǐ mic.
  • Idiomatic translation: Of two evils choose the least.
  • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 5. 

• Drumul spre iad e pavat cu intenţii bune.
  • Translation: The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
  • Republica PopularăRomînă, Republica SocialistăRomânia (1981). Viața românească: revistăa Uniunii Scriitorilor din R.P.R.. Uniunea Scriitorilor. p. 54. 

E

• Esemplele rele stricã moravurile bune.
  • Idiomatic translation: Example is better than precept.
  • Mrs Mawr, E B (2005). Analogous Proverbs In Ten Languages (reprint ed.). Kessinger Publishing. p. 28. ISBN 1417964677. 

F

• Fa mê mama împeratu, se me miru ce m'a gasitu.
  • Idiomatic translation: Set a thief to catch a thief.
  • Mrs Mawr, E B (2005). Analogous Proverbs In Ten Languages (reprint ed.). Kessinger Publishing. p. 74. ISBN 1417964677. 

• Fa mê mama se ti semenu.
  • Idiomatic translation: As the old cock crows, so crows the young.
  • Meaning: Children will become like older generations.
  • Mrs Mawr, E B (2005). Analogous Proverbs In Ten Languages (reprint ed.). Kessinger Publishing. p. 6. ISBN 1417964677. 

• Fieşi care cu gustulŭ suŭ.
  • Idiomatic translation: There is no accounting for taste.
  • Mrs Mawr, E B (2005). Analogous Proverbs In Ten Languages (reprint ed.). Kessinger Publishing. p. 25. ISBN 1417964677. 

• Fiî dupǎ cum te arétǎ chipulǔ.
  • Idiomatic translation: Handsome is that handsome does.
  • Meaning: Being pleasant is more important than good looks.
  • Mrs Mawr, E B (2005). Analogous Proverbs In Ten Languages (reprint ed.). Kessinger Publishing. p. 39. ISBN 1417964677. 

• Fructul nu cade departe de pom.
  • 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. 
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 488. ISBN 0415096243. 

L

• Lup în piele de oaie.
  • Idiomatic translation: Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly, they are ravening wolves.
  • Meaning: The seemingly most respectable people are quiet often in fact scoundrels.
  • From The Bible, Matthew 7:15. Specified as a proverb in: Mrs Mawr, E B (2005). Analogous Proverbs In Ten Languages (reprint ed.). Kessinger Publishing. p. 8. ISBN 1417964677. 

M

• Maǐ bine putinŭ cu dreptate, De eâtǔ multǔ cu strâmbǎtate.
  • Idiomatic translation: Honesty is the best policy.
  • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 42. 

• Maï multe muşce ead in miere de cât în oțet.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can catch more flies with a drop of honey than with a barrel of vinegar.
  • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 100. 

• Mǎrul nu cade departe de pom.
  • 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. 

• Mincinosulǔ eu d'asila, face musca câtǔ camila.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.
  • Kelly, Walter Keating (1859). Proverbs of all nations (W. Kent & co. (late D. Bogue) ed.). p. 58. 

N

• NimenĨ nu scie pari maî bine undi 'I strǐnge bine unde I strǐnge cisma, de cât cel ce o pórtǎ.
  • Idiomatic translation: No one knows where the shoe pinches, but he who wears it.
  • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 4. 

• Nu da vrabia din mână pe cioara de pe gard.
  • Translation: Don't give the sparrow in the hand for the crow on the fence.
  • English equivalent: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
  • Bulzan. Itinerarii Traianee - Baetica Romana. Editura Mica Valahie. p. 156. ISBN 9737858522. 

• Nu iese fum fără foc.
  • Translation: There is no smoke without fire.
  • English equivalent: Also There is no smoke without fire.
  • Meaning: Everything happens for a reason.
  • Other meaning: A rumour contains some truth.
  • Bulzan. Itinerarii Traianee - Baetica Romana. Editura Mica Valahie. p. 158. ISBN 9737858522. 

• Nu lăsa pe mâine ce poti face azi.
  • Idiomatic translation: There is danger in delay.
  • Mrs Mawr, E B (2005). Analogous Proverbs In Ten Languages (reprint ed.). Kessinger Publishing. p. 23. ISBN 1417964677. 

• Nu ațîța foc peste foc.
  • 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. 

• Nu vinde pielea ursului din pădure.
  • Translation: Don't sell the skin of the bear from the forest.
  • English equivalent: Don't sell the skin till you have caught the bear.
  • Macrea, Lingvisticădin Bucureşti (1958). Dicţionarul limbii romîne moderne. Editura Academiei Republicii Populare Romîne. p. 961. 

• Nu lăsa pe mâine ce poţi face azi.
  • Translation: Don't leave for tomorrow what you can do today.
  • Salzer (2007). Lehrbuch der rumänischen Sprache. Buske Helmut Verlag GmbH. p. 191. ISBN 1. 

• Nu te amesteca nepoftit în vorba altora.
  • Idiomatic translation: Give neither salt nor counsel till you are asked for it.
  • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 60. 

O

• Ochii care nu se văd se uită.
  • Translation: The eyes which don't see each other, forget each other.
  • English equivalent: Out of sight, out of mind.
  • Viata romineasca; revista literara si stiintifica. 1907. p. 438. 

R

• Rana daca se dischide, anevoe se'nchide.
  • Idiomatic translation: It is not wise to open old wounds.
  • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 45. 

S

• Sare din lac în puț.
  • Idiomatic translation: 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 one.
  • Kelly, Walter Keating (1859). Proverbs of all nations. W. Kent & co. (late D. Bogue). p. X. 

• Scote banǔ din pétrǎ.
  • Idiomatic translation: All is fish that comes to the net.
  • Meaning: We can make use of everything that happens yo us: good and bad.
  • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 4. 

V

• Voia este In tine.
  • Idiomatic translation: Where there is a will, there is a way.
  • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 95.