Russian proverbs

Russian proverbs and sayings

Русские пословицы и поговорки

Confirmed through Russian Proverbs and Sayings

The following phrases, sourced from the previous, unsourced version of the page, have been verified through the following book:

Mertvago, P. (1996). The comparative russian-english dictionary of russian proverbs & sayings. New York, NY: Hippocrene Books.

ISBN: 0-7818-9424-8

While there is a differentiation in Russian between Sayings and Proverbs, this is a largely academic point, and is included only for cultural reference.

"Поговорка - цветок, пословица - ягодка.

A saying is a flower, a proverb is a berry.

Thus a saying may be any widely used metaphor, simile or the like which aptly describes a specific occurrence or concept and which is admired for its charm, while a proverb is something that can, as it were, be eaten and digested"

-Peter Mertvago

А - Б - В - Г - Д - Е - Ж - З - И - К - Л - М - Н - О - П - Р - С - Т - У - Ф - Х - Ц - Ч - Ш - Щ- Э- Ю - Я

А

• Алты́нного во́ра ве́шают, а полти́нного че́ствуют.
  • Transliteration: Altynnogo vora veshayut, a poltinnovo chestvuyut.
  • Translation: One hangs the thief who stole altyn (3 kopecks), and honors the one who stole poltinnik (50 kopecks).

• Аппети́т прихо́дит во вре́мя еды́.
  • Transliteration: Appetit prikhodit vo vremya yedy
  • Translation: The appetite comes during eating
  • English version: The appetite comes with eating
  • Arany-Makkai (1996). Russian Idioms. Barron's. p. 3. 

• Арте́льный горшо́к гу́ще кипи́т.
  • Transliteration: Artelnyi gorshok gusche kipit.
  • Translation: An artel's pot boils denser
  • Moral: Working as a team produces better results.
  • English Equivalent: Many hands make light work.
  • See also: Бери́сь дру́жно, не бу́дет гру́зно.

Б

• Ба́ба с во́зу — кобы́ле ле́гче.
  • Transliteration: Baba s vozu — kobyle legche.
  • Translation: It is easier for the mare when a woman is off the cart..
  • Moral: If you want to sneak away from doing this hard part of the job, go ahead, you will only make it simpler for me. — Also: Good riddance! —
  • Modern mockery: Ба́ба с во́зу — кобы́ла в ку́рсе. (When a woman gets off the cart, the horse will notice.)

• Ба́бушка (гада́ла, да) на́двое сказа́ла ( — то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет).
  • Transliteraion: Babushka (gadala, da) nadvoye skazala ( — to li dozhdik, to li sneg, to li budet, to li net).
  • Translation: Granny (told fortunes and) said two things (— it will either rain or snow; it either will or will not).
  • Moral: The outcome is still unknown (despite all that's been said.) — Also: You seem uncertain.
  • Compare: Ви́лами на воде́ пи́сано.

• Беда́ (никогда́) не прихо́дит одна́.
  • Transliteration: Beda (nikogda) ne prikhodit odna.
  • Translation: Trouble never comes alone.
  • English version: Misery loves company.
  • Belentschikow (2009). Russisch-Deutsches Wörterbuch (RDW): O. Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 152. ISBN 3447060859. 

• Без кота́ мыша́м раздо́лье.
  • Transliteration: Bez kota mysham razdol'ye.
  • Translation: Without a cat mice feel free.
  • English version: When the cat is away, the mice will play.

• Без труда́ не вы́тащишь и ры́бку из пруда́.
  • Transliteration: Bez truda ne vytaschish y rybku iz pruda.
  • Translation: Without effort, you can't [even] pull a fish out of the pond.
  • English version: No pain, no gain.
  • Armalinskiĭ (1995). Russkie besstyzhie poslovit͡s͡y i pogovorki. M.I.P. Co.. p. 63. 

• Береги́ пла́тье сно́ву а честь смо́лоду.
  • Transliteration: Beregi plat'ye snovu, a chest' smolodu.
  • Translation: Take care of clothes since [when they are] new, take care of [your] honor since [you are] young.
  • Мокиенко, Сидоренко (2005). ШколныйсловаркрылатыхвыраженииПушкина. Нева. p. 30. ISBN 5765445403. 

• Бережёного Бог бережёт.
  • Transliteration: Berezhonogo bog berezhot.
  • Translation: God keeps those safe who keep themselves safe.
  • Closest English equivalent: Harm watch is harm catch; A fool knows himself to be a wiseman, a wiseman knows himself to be a fool.
  • Modern mockery: Бережёного Бог бережёт, а небережёного конвой стережёт. (God watches over those who are careful, and the jail wardens watch over those who were not.)
  • Meaning: Watching over something is never in excess, because the more you pay attention to something, the higher chances that everything will be OK.
  • Visson (1991). From Russian into English: an introduction to simultaneous interpretation. Ardis. p. 151. ISBN 0875010954. 

• Бери́сь дру́жно, не бу́дет гру́зно.
  • Transliteration: Beris' druzhno, ne budet gruzno.
  • Translation: [If all of us] take hold of [it] together, it won't feel heavy.
  • English version: Many hands make light work
  • See also: Арте́льный горшо́к гу́ще кипи́т.
    • Note: Mertvago translates this as "Good will and welcome are the best cheer," but the literal definition is closer to the original translation.
  • Margulis, Kholodnaya (2000). Russian-English dictionary of proverbs and sayings. McFarland. p. 22. ISBN 0786407034. 

• Близо́к локото́к, да не уку́сишь.
  • Transliteration: Blizok lokotok, da ne ukusish.
  • Translation: [Your] elbow is close, yet [you] can't bite it.
  • Moral: It only seems to be easy.
  • Nezhat, Nezhat, Nezhat (2008). Nezhat's Operative Gynecologic Laparoscopy and Hysteroscopy. Cambridge University Press. p. 2. ISBN 0521862493. 

• Бог дал, Бог и взял.
  • Transliteration: Bog dal, bog i vzyal.
  • Translation: God gave, God took back.
  • English version: The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away
  • Margulis, Kholodnaya (2000). Russian-English dictionary of proverbs and sayings. McFarland. p. 24. ISBN 0786407034. 

• Бог тро́ицу лю́бит.
  • Transliteration: Bog troitsu lyubit
  • Translation: God likes trinity.
  • English equivalent: All good comes in three.
  • Margulis, Kholodnaya (2000). Russian-English dictionary of proverbs and sayings. McFarland. p. 24. ISBN 0786407034. 

• Бодли́вой коро́ве Бог рог не даёт.
  • Transliteration: Bodlivoy korove bog rog ne dayot.
  • Translation: God does not give horns to a cow that likes to gore.
  • Moral: Overzealous people often don't have means to do what they would like to.
  • English version: A curst cow has short horns.

• Болту́н — нахо́дка для шпио́на.
  • Transliteration: Boltun — nakhodka dlya shpiona.
  • Translation: A chatterbox is a treasure for a spy.
  • English version: Loose lips sink ships.

• Большо́му кораблю́ — большо́е пла́вание.
  • Transliteration: Bol'shomu korablyu — bol'shoye plavaniye.
  • Translation: For a big ship, a big voyage.
  • Modern mockery: Большо́му кораблю́ — больша́я торпе́да. (For a big ship, a big torpedo)

• Бу́дет и на на́шей у́лице пра́здник.
  • Transliteration: Budet i na nashey ulitse prazdnik.
  • Translation: There'll be a holiday in our street too.

• Бума́га всё сте́рпит.
  • Transliteration: Bumaga vsyo sterpit.
  • Translation: Paper will endure anything.
  • Alt: Бумага без души - что угодно пиши.
  • Translation: Paper has no soul - you can put anything on it."
  • English equivalent: Paper is forbearing.
  • Latin version: Epistula non erubescit - A letter doesn't blush (Cicero)
  • Contrast: Что напи́сано перо́м — не вы́рубить топоро́м.
  • Раков, Юрий (1999). Сокровища античной и библейской мудрости: происхождение афоризмов и образных выражений. ОЛМА-Пресс. p. 30. ISBN 5765403697. 

• Была́ не была́.
  • Transliteration: Byla ne byla.
  • Translation: There was — there wasn't.
  • Moral: Whatever the consequences can be — I'll try it!
  • Compare: И́ли грудь в креста́х, и́ли голова́ в куста́х.; Дву́м смертя́м не быва́ть, одно́й не минова́ть.

В

• Вали́ на се́рого, се́рый всё свезёт.
  • Transliteration: Vali na serogo, seryy vsyo svezyot.
  • Translation: Put [everything] onto the grey [Dicks], he'll bear anything.

• В гостя́х хорошо́, а до́ма лу́чше.
  • Transliteration: V gostyakh khorosho, a doma luchshe.
  • Translation: Visiting is good, but home is better.
  • English version: East or West - home is best.

• В дождь избы́ не кро́ют, а в вёдро и сама́ не ка́плет.
  • Translitration: V dozhd' izby ne kroyut, a v vyodro i sama ne kaplet
  • Translation: When it rains one doesn't roof the cottage, and the roof is not leaking when it doesn't rain.
  • Moral: Lazy people find excuses to delay their job.

• В до́ме пове́шенного не говоря́т о верёвке.
  • Transliteration: V dome poveshennovo ne govorat o veryovke.
  • Translation: [They] don't talk about ropes in the home of the hanged person.

• Век живи́ — век учи́сь.
  • Transliteration: Vek zhivi — vek uchis'.
  • Translation: Live for a century — learn for a century.
  • English equivalent: We are to learn as long as we live.

• Вели́к те́лом, да мал де́лом.
  • Transliteration: Velik telom, da mal delom
  • Translation: Big of the body but small by his deeds.

• Видна́ пти́ца по полёту.
  • Transliteration: Vidna ptitsa po polyotu.
  • Translation: The bird is known by its flight.
  • English equivalent: A tree is known by its fruit.
  • Meaning: You can judge someone based on his surroundings. For instance, a person living in a messy house is messy.
  • Modern mockery: Видна́ пти́ца по помёту. (The bird is known by its droppings.)

• Ви́дит о́ко, да зуб неймёт.
  • Transliteration: Vidit oko, da zub neymyot.
  • Translation: The eye can see it, but the tooth can't bite it.

• Вино́ вину́ твори́т.
  • Transliteration: Vino vinu tvorit.
  • Translation: Wine causes guilt.

• В нога́х правды не́т.
  • Transliteration: V nogakh pravdy net.
  • Translation: There is no truth in feet.
  • Moral: Take a seat, please.

• Во́лка но́ги ко́рмят.
  • Transliteration: Volka nogi kormyat.
  • Translation: The feet feed the wolf.

• Воздаваң долҗное и двяволу.
  • Translation: Be fair to the devil.
  • English equivalent: Give the devil his due.
  • Meaning: Don't let a person's obnoxiousness cloud your judgment of him in other regards.
  • Flonta, Teodor (2002). God and the Devil: Proverbs in 9 Euorpean Languages. Teodor Flonta. p. 21. ISBN 1875943412. 

• Волк в ове́чьей шку́ре.
  • Transliteration: Volk v ovech'yey shkurye.
  • Translation: Wolf in sheep's pelt.
  • Compare: В ти́хом о́муте че́рти во́дятся.

• Волко́в боя́ться — в лес не ходи́ть.
  • Transliteration: Volkov boyat'sa — v les ne khodit'.
  • Translation: If you're afraid of wolves, don't go to the woods.
  • English version: If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

• Во́рон во́рону глаз не вы́клюет.
  • Transliteration: Voron voronu glaz ne vyklyuyet.
  • Translation: The raven won't peck out the eye of [another] raven.
  • English equivalent: Hawks will not pick out hawk's eyes.
  • Compare: Рука́ ру́ку мо́ет.

• Вот где соба́ка зары́та.
  • Transliteration: Vot gde sobaka zaryta
  • Translation: That's where the dog is buried
  • English version: That’s where the shoe pinches; That’s the crux (the rub).
  • See also: Вот в чём загво́здка.

• Вре́мя — лу́чший до́ктор
  • Transliteration: Vremya — luchshiy doktor.
  • Translation: Time [makes the] best healer.
  • English version: Time heals all wounds.
  • Modern mockery: Время — лучший доктор, но ужасный косметолог. (Time is the best healer, but a terrible cosmetologist.)

• В семье́ не без уро́да.
  • Transliteration: V sem'ye ne bez uroda.
  • Translation: No family has no ugly member.
  • English version: There is a black sheep in every flock.

• Всё хорошо́, что хорошо́ конча́ется.
  • Transliteration: Vsyo khorosho, chto khorosho konchayetsa.
  • Translation: All is well that ends well.
  • English version: All's well that ends well.

• Всяк кули́к своё боло́то хва́лит.
  • Transliteration: Vsyak kulik svoyo boloto khvalit.
  • Translation: Every sandpiper praises his own swamp.
  • Moral: Everybody praises one's own work (or possession), no matter how inferior it is.
  • English version: Every cook praises his own broth.

• Вся́кому о́вощу своё вре́мя.
  • Transliteration: Vsyakomu ovoshchu svoyo vremya.
  • Translation: Every vegetable has its time.
  • Moral: Unlike English version, it means: It's ok if it isn't in good shape right now. Things need time to ripen.
  • English version: Everything is good in its season.
  • Compare: Пе́рвый блин (всегда́) ко́мом.

• Всяк сверчо́к знай свой шесто́к.
  • Transliteration: Vsyak sverchok znai svoy shestok.
  • Translation: Every cricket must know its hearth
  • English version: The cobbler should stick to his last
  • Meaning: Don't talk about things you do not know anything about.

• В тесноте́, да не в оби́де.
  • Transliteration: V tesnote da ne v obide.
  • Translation: In a crush, yet without resentment.
  • Moral: Though the place is crowded, nobody will mind if you join as well. — Also: Come on in!
  • Compare: Вме́сте те́сно, а врозь ску́чно.

• В Ту́лу со свои́м самова́ром (не е́здят)
  • Transliteration: V Tulu so svoim samovarom (ne yezdyat).
  • Translation: (Do not come) to Tula with your own samovar.
  • English version: To carry coals to Newcastle
  • Modern mockery: В Тулу со своим пулемётом (To Tula with your own machine gun; Tula is center of firearms design and production).
  • Meaning: Don't do things in a needlessly laborious way.
  • 實用漢俄分類詞典. 中央圖書. 1996. p. 541. 

• В чужо́й монасты́рь со свои́м уста́вом не хо́дят.
  • Transliteration: V chuzhoy monastyr' so svoim ustavom ne khodyat.
  • Translation: Nobody goes to another monastery with one's own charter.
  • English version: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
  • Compare: В Ту́лу со свои́м самова́ром (не е́здят).

• В чужо́м глазу́ сори́нку заме́тно, а в своём — бревна́ не вида́ть.
  • Transliteration: V chuzhom glazu sorinku zametno, a v svoyom — brevna ne vidat'.
  • Translation: In another persons' eye one can notice [even] a mote, but in one's own - cannot see [even] a log.
  • Moral: People easily notice others' minor flaws, yet ignore major flaws of their own.
  • English version: Luke 6:41: And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
  • See also: Чья́ бы коро́ва мыча́ла, а твоя́ бы молча́ла; На зе́ркало не́ча пеня́ть, ко́ли ро́жа крива́.

Г

• Глаза боятся, а руки делают
  • Translation: You never know what you can do till you try.
  • Мокиенко Валерий Михайлович (2010). Большой словарь русских пословиц. ОЛМА Медиа Групп. p. 174. ISBN 978-5-373-03250-6. Retrieved on 7 June 2013. 

• Где то́нко — там и рвётся.
  • Transliteration: Gde tonko — tam i rvyotsya.
  • Translation: It will snap where it's the thinnest.
  • English version: The chain is no stronger than its weakest link.

• Гла́дко бы́ло на бума́ге, да забы́ли про овра́ги (, а по ним шага́ть).
  • Transliteration: Gladko bylo na bumage, da zabyli pro ovragi (, a po nim shagat').
  • Translation: It was smooth on paper, but [we've] forgotten about ravines (and we'll have to march [them]).
  • Moral: Obstacles that were overlooked/ignored during planning, turned out to be a major showstopper when executing the plan.

• Глаза́ боя́тся, а ру́ки де́лают.
  • Transliteration: Glaza boyatsya, a ruki delayut.
  • Translation: Eyes are (might be) afraid, but hands are doing [the job]].
  • Moral: If you're afraid of doing something, relax and and let your reflexes do the job; — Also: Don't be afraid if the amount of work seems large; it can be handled step-by-step.
  • Compare: Я́годка по я́годке - бу́дет кузово́к; У стра́ха глаза́ велики́.

• Говоря́т, что кур доя́т.
  • Transliteration: Govoryat, shto kur doyat.
  • Translation: They say that they milk the chicken.
  • Moral: Don't believe all the rumors.

• Го́лод не тётка (, пирожка́ не поднесёт).
  • Transliteration: Golod ne tyotka (, pirozhka nye podnesyot).
  • Translation: Hunger is not [your] aunt (, [it] will not bring you a pie).
  • Moral: If you are in need, help yourself and don't count on situation improving by itself. — Also: If you're in need, take what they give you, it's not time to decline offers.
  • English equivalent: Birds fly not into our mouth ready roasted.
  • Meaning: One cannot (or should not) expect to benefit without making some effort.
  • Compare: Дарёному коню́ в зу́бы не смотря́т; На безры́бье и рак — ры́ба.
  • Source for meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 455. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
  • Иванович Дал, Владимир (2002). Толковый словарь живого великорусского языка. В 2 тт. Т. 1: А—О. ОЛМА Медиа Групп. p. 345. ISBN 5224035848. 

• Го́лой овцы́ не стригу́т.
  • Transliteration: Goloy ovtsy ne strigut.
  • Translation: One doesn't shear the naked sheep.
  • English version: A beggar can never be bankrupt.

• Голь на вы́думку хитра́.
  • Transliteration: Gol' na vydumku khitra.
  • Translation: Poor people are crafty.
  • English version: Necessity is the mother of invention.

• Горба́того моги́ла испра́вит.
  • Transliteration: Gorbatogo mogila ispravit.
  • Translation: [Only] grave will cure the hunchback.
  • English version: The leopard cannot change his spots.
  • Meaning: A person can never change his character.
  • Compare: Зарека́лася лиса́ кур не ворова́ть.

• Гром не гря́нет, мужи́к не перекре́стится.
  • Transliteration: Grom ne gryanet, muzhik ne perekrestitsya
  • Translation: Unless the thunder strikes, a man won't cross himself.
  • Cultural background: Since lightning strikes were considered acts of punishment by God, it was believed that crossing oneself would prevent one from being hit by a lightning.
  • Swedish equivalent: You don't miss the cow until the barn is empty.
  • Moral: People tend to not take precautionary measures until the trouble actually happens.

• Гусь свинье́ не това́рищ.
  • Transliteration: Gus' svin'ye ne tovarisch.
  • Translation: A goose is not a pig's friend.
  • Moral: Opposite of Birds of a feather flock together; — Also: I despise you.
  • Answer: Ну, тогда я полетел.(Well, I'm flying away.)
  • Compare: Тамбо́вский волк тебе́ това́рищ.

Д

• Дай с ногото́к - попро́сит с локото́к.
  • Transliteration: Day s nogotok - poprosit s lokotok
  • Translation: Give [him] a fingernail, [he] will ask for forearm.
  • English version: Give him an inch and he'll take a yard/mile.

• Дарёному коню́ в зу́бы не смо́трят.
  • Transliteration: Daryonomu konyu v zuby ne smotryat.
  • Translation: Don't look at the teeth of a horse you've been given.
  • English version: Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
  • Moral: Don’t question a gift's value; be thankful, rather than judging something you received as a gift.
  • Background: Looking at a horse's teeth is a way to determine its age, and thus its value (a practice that also gives us the English expression “long in the tooth,” meaning old.)
  • Compare: Го́лод не тётка(, пирожка́ не поднесёт).
  • Modern mockery: Дарёному коню́ под хвост не смо́трят. (Don't check a gift horse under the tail)

• Даю́т - бери́, а бьют - беги́.
  • Transliteration: Dayut - beri, a b'yut - begi
  • Translation: If given - take it; if beaten - run away.

• Дву́м смертя́м не быва́ть, одно́й не минова́ть.
  • Trnasliteration: Dvum smertyam ne byvat, odnoy ne minovat'
  • Translation: Two deaths will not happen, [but] one is inevitable.
  • Moral: It's worthwhile to take a risk.
  • Compare: И́ли грудь в креста́х, и́ли голова́ в куста́х.; Была́ не была́.

• Дели́ть шку́ру неуби́того медве́дя.
  • Transliteration: Delit' shkuru neubitovo medvedya.
  • Translation: To divide a pelt of a bear that has not been killed yet.
  • English version: To cook a hare before catching him; Don't count your chickens before they hatch; Don't run before your horse to market; Don't put the cart before the horse.
  • Compare: Не говори́ гоп, пока́ не переско́чишь (перепры́гнешь).

• Де́ло ма́стера бои́тся.
  • Transliteration: Delo mastera boitsya.
  • Translation: Work is afraid of a skilled worker.
  • Moral: Work goes well when you know what you are doing.

• До́брое бра́тство — лу́чшее бога́тство.
  • Transliteration: Dobroye bratstvo — luchsheye bogatstvo.
  • Translation: Good brotherhood is the best wealth.
  • Compare: Не име́й сто рубле́й, а име́й сто друзе́й.

• До́брое сло́во и ко́шке прия́тно.
  • Transliteration: Dobroye slovo i koshke priyatno.
  • Translation: Even a cat appreciates kind word[s].

• Долг платежо́м кра́сен.
  • Transliteration: Dolg platezhom krasen.
  • Translation: Debt is beautiful [only] after [it is] repaid.
  • Moral: Debt is a shame until it is repaid; – Also used as a hint: It's time for you to pay me back.
  • English version: One good turn deserves another.

• До́ма и сте́ны помога́ют.
  • Transliteration: Doma i steny pomogayut.
  • Translation: [When you are] at home, even the walls help [you].

• Дорога́ ло́жка к обе́ду.
  • Transliteration: Doroga lozhka k obyedu.
  • Transalation: A spoon is valuable at dinner.
  • Moral: Things are best in their respective time.; Proper timing is everything. — Also: Things are most expensive when in high demand.
  • Compare: До́рого яи́чко ко Христо́ву дню.
  • See also: Вся́кому о́вощу своё вре́мя.
  • English version: A stitch in time saves nine.

• До́рого яи́чко ко Христо́ву дню.
  • Transliteration: Dorogo yaichko k Khristovu dnyu.
  • Translation: A spring egg is dear at the Easter day.
  • Moral: Things are best in their respective time.; Proper timing is everything. — Also: Things are most expensive when in high demand.
  • Compare: Дорога́ ло́жка к обе́ду.

• Дру́жба дру́жбой, а слу́жба слу́жбой.
  • Transliteration: Druzhba druzhboy, a sluzhba sluzhboy.
  • Translation: Friendship is friendship and service is service.
  • Moral: Friendship is one thing, business another; Nothing personal; just business.
  • Compare: Дру́жба дру́жбой, а табачо́к (де́нежки) - врозь.

• Дру́жба дру́жбой, а табачо́к (де́нежки) - врозь.
  • Transliteration: Druzhba druzhboy, a tabachok (denezhki) — vroz'.
  • Translation: Friendship is friendship, but [keep our] tobacco (money) apart.
  • Moral: You might be my friend, but it doesn't entitle you to using my assets (or not repaying my debts).
  • Compare: Дру́жба дру́жбой, а слу́жба слу́жбой.

• Друг познаётся в беде́.
  • Transliteration: Drug poznayotsa v bede.
  • Translation: [You get to really] know [your] friend when trouble [comes].
  • Moral: A friend in need's a friend indeed.

• Дурака́м зако́н не пи́сан (, е́сли пи́сан, то не чи́тан, е́сли чи́тан, то не по́нят, е́сли по́нят, то не так).
  • Transliteration: Durakam zakon ne pisan (, yesli pisan, to ne chitan, yesli chitan, to ne ponyat, yesly ponyat, to ne tak).
  • Translation: There is no law written for fools ( if it is written, it is not read, if it is read, it is not understood, if it is understood, then in wrong way).
  • English version: There is no law for fools.

• Дура́к завя́жет — и у́мный не развя́жет.
  • Transliteration: Durak zavyazhet — u umnyy ne razvyazhet.
  • Translation: [If] the fool ties [a knot], even a clever one will not be able to untie it.
  • English version: A fool may throw a stone into a well which a hundred wise men cannot pull out.

• Дурако́в не се́ют, не жнут, са́ми родя́тся.
  • Transliteration: Durakov ne seyut, ne zhnut, sami rodyatsya.
  • Translation: Fools are not sown or reaped, they appear by themselves.
  • English version: There's a sucker born every minute.

Е

• Е́дешь на́ день, хле́ба бери́ на неде́лю.
  • Transliteration: Yedesh na den', khleba beri na nedelyu.
  • Translation: If you go for a day trip, take a week supply of bread.
  • English Version: Always be prepared also, Always bring more than you need (extra)
  • Compare: Запа́с карма́н не тя́нет

• Е́сли бы да кабы́ да во рту росли́ грибы́ (бобы́)(, это был бы не рот, а огоро́д).
  • Transliteration: Yesli by da kaby da vo rtu rosli griby (boby) (, eto byl by nye rot a ogorod)
  • Translation: If and when mushrooms (beans) grew in the mouth(, that would have been not mouth but kitchen garden).
  • English version: If ifs and buts were candy and nuts; If wishes were horses, beggars might ride.; If ifs and ands were pots and pans, then we would need no tinkers.; If wishes were fishes, there'd be no room in the river for water.; If wishes were horses, we'd all be eating steak.
  • Modern mockery: Если бы у бабушки были яйца, то она была бы дедушкой (If only Grandma had balls, she would have been Grandpa)

• Если бы молодость знала, если бы старость могла.
  • Transliteration: Yesli by molodost' znala, yesli by starost' mogla.
  • Translation: If only the youth would know, if the old age would be able to.
  • Meaning: If only youth had the wisdom, and old age had the strength everything would have been much better.
  • English Version: Youth is wasted on the young

• Если бы не закон, но было бы и преступника.
  • English version: The more laws, the more offenders.

Ж

• Жизнь прожи́ть — не по́ле перейти́.
  • Transliteration: Zhizn' prozhit' — ne pole pereyti.
  • Translation: Living [your] life is not like crossing a meadow.
  • English version: Life was never meant to be easy.
  • Source note: this proverb originated as a line in Boris Pasternak's poem "Hamlet."

З

• Запретный плод сладок
  • Translation: Forbidden fruit is sweet.
  • Englih equivalent: Forbidden fruit is sweetest.
  • Школьный словарь живых русских пословиц. ОЛМА Медиа Групп. p. 320. ISBN 978-5-7654-1546-7. Retrieved on 7 June 2013. 

• Зако́н что ды́шло, куда́ повернёшь - туда́ и вы́шло.
  • Transliteration: Zakon chto dyshlo, kuda povernyosh - tuda i vyshlo.
  • Translation: Law is like a shaft of a cart, it points wherever you turn it to.
  • Alt. Translation: The law is like a shaft, no matter the way you turn it, you're shafted.
  • Moral: Powerful, rich or smart people can make the law work for them.

• Заста́вь дурака́ Бо́гу моли́ться - он (себе́) лоб расшибёт (и други́м но́ги поотшиба́ет).
  • Transliteration: Zastav' duraka Bogu molitsya - on (sebe) lob rasshibyot (i drugim nogi pootshibayet).
  • Translation: [If you] make a fool to pray to God, he will hurt (both his) forehead (and other people's toes).
  • Moral: When eagerness is coupled with lack of understanding of the task, one's efforts will be more of a hindrance than a help; Better not to follow instructions literally but understand their purpose.
  • English version: Zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse.
  • Compare: Что ни сде́лает дура́к — все он сде́лает не так; Медве́жья услу́га.

• За чем пойдёшь, то и найдёшь.
  • Transliteration: Za chem poydyosh, to i naydyosh.
  • Translation: What [you] go looking for, [you] will find.
  • Compare: Пошёл за ше́рстью, а верну́лся стри́женым; Не рой друго́му я́му, сам в неё попадёшь.

• За что купи́л, за то и продаю́ (, не лю́бо - не слу́шай, а врать не меша́й).
  • Transliteration: Za chto kupil, za to i prodayu (, ne lyubo - ne slushay, a vrat' ne meshay).
  • Translation: I sell it for what I bought it (, if you don't like it, don't listen, but don't hamper [my] lying/telling).
  • Moral: I don't endorse this message, I'm just telling you what I was told.

• Зна́ет ко́шка, чьё мя́со съе́ла.
  • Transliteration: Znayet koshka, ch'yo myaso s'yela.
  • Translation: The cat knows whose meat it has eaten.
  • Moral: The guilty mind betrays himself.
  • Compare: На во́ре и ша́пка гори́т.

И

• И волки сыты, и овцы целы.
  • Transliteration: I volki syty, i ovtsy tsely.
  • Translation: The wolves are sated, and the sheep are intact.
  • Moral: Sometimes it is impossible to get two desired thing at the same time
  • English equivalent: You must not run after two hares at the same time.
  • Compare: За двумя зайцами погонишься (, ни одного не поймаешь). Двух зайцев одной пулей.
  • Belentschikow (2009). Russisch-Deutsches Wörterbuch (RDW): O. Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 136. ISBN 3447060859. 

• Из двух зол выбира́ют ме́ньшее.
  • Transliteration: Iz dvukh zol vybirayut men'sheye.
  • Translation: [They] choose lesser of two evils.
  • Moral: If all the options are bad, choose the one that hurts the least.
  • English version: Lesser of two evils

• Из огня́ да в полымя́.
  • Transliteration: Iz ognya da v polymya.
  • Translation: From fire to flame.
  • Moral: [Got] out of trouble just to get into another trouble.
  • English equivalent: Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
  • Compare: Ме́жду мо́лотом и накова́льней.
  • Offord (1996). Using Russian: A Guide to Contemporary Usage. Cambridge University Press. p. 151. ISBN 0521457602. 

• Из пе́сни сло́ва не вы́кинешь.
  • Transliteration: Iz pesni slova ne vykinesh.
  • Translation: [You] cannot throw a word out of a song.
  • Moral: You cannot alter the information that many people know by heart. — Also: The following may contain obscene, rude or otherwise questionable content, yet it content cannot be omitted as it's an integral part of the story.
  • Compare: Сло́во – не воробе́й: вы́летит – не пойма́ешь.; Что напи́сано перо́м – не вы́рубить топоро́м.

• Искру́ туши́ до пожа́ра, беду́ отводи́ до уда́ра.
  • Transliteration: Iskru tushi do pozhara, bedu otvodi do udara.
  • Translation: Extinguish the spark before the [the house is on] fire, deflect the trouble before [its] strike.
  • English version: Prevention is better than cure.; An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

• Исподво́ль и ольху́ согнёшь.
  • Transliteration: Ispodvol' i ol'khu sognyosh'.
  • Translation: You can bend an alder-tree, if you do it gradually.
  • English version: Little strokes fell great oaks.; Time conquers all.

• Ищи́ ве́тра в по́ле.
  • Transliteration: Ishchi vetra v pole.
  • Translation: Look for wind in a field.
  • Moral: What's lost cannot be found.
  • English version: The wind cannot be caught in a net.

К

• Как ау́кнется — так и откли́кнется.
  • Transliteration: Kak auknetsya — tak i otkliknetsya.
  • Translation: How [echo] is prompted, it will bounce back.
  • Moral: Others will treat you the way you treat them.
  • English version: How one calls into the forest, so it echoes back.
  • Compare: Что посе́ешь, то пожнёшь.
• Ка́шу ма́слом не испо́ртишь.
  • Transliteration: Kashu maslom ne isportish.
  • Translation: One can't spoil porridge with butter.
  • Moral: You can’t spoil a good thing with another good thing.
  • English version: Plenty is no plague.
  • Compare: Мно́го — не ма́ло.

• Клин кли́ном вышиба́ют.
  • Transliteration: Klin klinom vyshibayut.
  • Translation: They use a wedge to knock out a wedge.
  • Meaning: Pay back with the same medicine.
  • English version: Fight fire with fire; One nail drives out another.

• Когото́к увя́з - всей пти́чке пропа́сть.
  • Transliteration: Kogotok uvyaz — vsey ptichke propast'.
  • Translation: If the claw is stuck, the whole bird is lost.
  • Moral: Trouble begins with small mistakes.
  • Compare: Пришла́ беда́ - отворя́й ворота́, Лиха́ беда́ нача́ло.

• Козла́ бо́йся спе́реди, коня́ — сза́ди, а лихо́го челове́ка — со всех сторо́н.
  • Transliteration: Kozla boysya speredi, konya — szadi, a likhogo cheloveka — so vsekh storon.
  • Translation: Beware of the goat from its front side, of the horse - from its back side, and the evil man - from any side.

• Конь о четырёх нога́х, да и тот спотыка́ется.
  • Transliteration: Kon' o chetyryokh nogakh, da i tot spotykaetsya
  • Translation: A horse has four legs, but still stumbles.
  • English equivalent: It is a good horse that never stumbles.
  • Moral: Even most experienced (or most capable) people make mistakes sometimes.

• Коней на переправе не меняют
  • Translation: Don't swap horses when crossing the stream.
  • English equivalent: Don't change horses in the midstream.
  • Мокиенко Валерий Михайлович (2010). Большой словарь русских пословиц. ОЛМА Медиа Групп. p. 26. ISBN 978-5-373-03250-6. Retrieved on 7 June 2013. 

• Копе́йка рубль бережёт (, а рубль го́лову стережёт).
  • Transliteration: Kopeyka rubl' berezhot (, a rubl' golovu sterezhot).
  • Translation: A kopeck saves the rouble (, and the rouble guards your head).
  • English version: Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves.
• Куда́ конь с копы́том, туда и рак с клешнёй.
  • Transliteration: Kuda kon' s kopytom, tuda i rak c kleshnyoy.
  • Translation: Where [goes] a horse with [its] hoof, there [goes] a crayfish with [its] pincer.

• Куда́ ни кинь, везде́ (всё, всю́ду) клин.
  • Transliteration: Kuda ni kin', vezde (vsyo,vsyudu) klin.
  • English Version: Damned if you do, damned if you don't
  • Compare: Что в лоб, что по́ лбу; Что пнём об сову, что сово́й об пень.

• Куй желе́зо, пока горячо́.
  • Transliteration: Kuy zhelezo, poka goryacho.
  • Translation: Strike while the iron is hot.
  • Moral: Do things while it's the best time to to them.
  • English version: Strike while the iron is hot; Make hay while the sun shines.
  • Modern mockery: Куй желе́зо, пока Горбачёв (Strike iron while Gorbachyov [is at power] — encouraging people to use the opportunities opened by Perestroika, as it wasn't believed at the time that they will last)

Л

• Ла́сковый телёнок двух ма́ток сосёт.
  • Transliteration: Laskovyy telyonok dvukh matok sosyot.
  • Translation: The affectionate calf sucks [udders of] two cows.
  • Moral: One can take advantage of both sides (in a dispute). Such behavior is often seen with disapproval.

• Лбом сте́нку не расшибёшь.
  • Transliteration: Lbom stenku ne rasshibyosh.
  • Translation: You cannot break a wall with your forehead.
  • Moral: Use the correct tool for the job. – Also: Don't deal with stubborn people.
  • English version: Don't kick against the pricks, meaning don't try to remove a thorn by pushing it in deeper -- don't injure yourself in an attempt to use brute force to go through/past an obstacle which requires finesse in order to pass.

• Лежа́чего не бьют.
  • Transliteration: Lezhachevo ne b'yut.
  • Translation: One shouldn't beat the one who fell.
  • English version: Don't kick a man when he's down.

• Лес ру́бят — ще́пки летя́т.
  • Transliteration: Les rubyat — schepki letyat.
  • Translation: When wood is chopped, woodchips will fly.
  • English version: You can’t make an omelette without breaking an egg.

• Лиха́ беда́ нача́ло.
  • Transliteration: Likha beda nachalo.
  • Translation: Beginning is the big trouble.
  • Moral: Starting something is the hardest part of business.
  • English version: A good beginning makes a good ending.
  • Compare: Глаза́ боя́тся, а ру́ки де́лают.

• Ло́жка дегтю по́ртит бо́чку мёда.
  • Transliteration: Lozhka dyogtya portit bochku myoda.
  • Translation: A spoonful of tar spoils a barrel of honey.
  • English version: A fly in the ointment; The rotten apple spoils the barrel.

• Лу́чшее — враг хоро́шего.
  • Transliteration: Luchsheye — vrag khoroshego.
  • Translation: Best is the enemy of good.
  • Meaning: The aim for perfection might slow down progress.
  • English version: Better is the enemy of good; If it's not broken, don't fix it

• Лу́чше оди́н раз уви́деть, чем сто раз услы́шать.
  • Transliteration: Luchshe odin raz uvidet', chem sto raz uslyshat'.
  • Translation: It's better to see once than hear a hundred times.
  • English version: Seeing is believing; One look is worth a thousand words.

• Лу́чше по́здно, чем никогда́.
  • Transliteration: Luchshe pozdno, chem nikogda.
  • Translation: Better late than never.
  • English version: Better late than never.

• Любо́вь зла́, полю́бишь и козла́.
  • Transliteration: Lyubov' zla, polyubish i kozla.
  • Translation: love's evil, you'll love even a goat.
  • English version: Love is blind.

М

• Муж в Тверь - жена в дверь
  • Transliteration: "Muzh v Tver - zhena v dver"
  • Translation: Husband [travels to the city of] Tver - wife goes out the door
  • International version: La donna é mobile

• Молоде́ц про́тив ове́ц, а про́тив молодца́ — и сам овца́.
  • Transliteration: Molodets protiv ovets, a protiv moldtsa — i sam ovtsa.
  • Translation: [He is] brave [when fighting] against sheep, and [when fighting] against a brave man [he's] a sheep himself.

• Мя́гко сте́лет, да жёстко спать.
  • Transliteration: Myaghko stelet, da zhostko spat'.
  • Translation: [He] makes the bed soft, yet [it's] hard to sleep [on].
  • Moral: Iron fist in a velvet glove. — Also: Things built without effort are hard to use.
  • English version: Iron fist in a velvet glove; Velvet paws hide sharp claws.

Н

• Не ищи беды – беда сама тебя найдет
  • Translation: Do not look for trouble - trouble will find you itself.
  • English equivalent: Don't trouble trouble until trouble troubles you.
  • Советские профсоюзы. Профиздат.. 1973. p. 45. Retrieved on 7 June 2013. 

• Не делай из мухи слона
  • Translation: Do not make mountains out of molehills.
  • English equivalent: Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.
  • Meaning: Don't make something momentous out of a trifle
  • М. А. Котова. Фразеологический словарь русского языка для школьников. Рипол Классик. p. 155. ISBN 978-5-7905-3580-2. Retrieved on 7 June 2013. 

• На безры́бье и рак — ры́ба [, на безлю́дье и си́день — челове́к].
  • Transliteration: Na bezryb'ye i rak — ryba [, na bezlyud'ye i siden' chelovek].
  • Translation: On a fishing lull, even a crayfish is fish [, at the lack people even a lazybones is a human being].
  • Moral: Maybe this is not the best choice, but it's our only option.
  • English version: Something is better than nothing.
  • See also: Из двух зол выбира́ют ме́ньшее, Го́лод не тётка (, пирожка́ не поднесёт)
  • Modern Mockery: "На безрыбье и сам раком станешь" (On a fishing lull, even you can become a crayfish.)

• На Бо́га наде́йся, а сам не плоша́й.
  • Transliteration: Na boga nadeysya, a sam ne ploshay
  • Translation: Hope for God, but do not be reliant.
  • English version: Trust in God, but lock your car.
  • Compare: Бо́гу моли́сь, а добра́-ума́ держи́сь; Бережёного Бог бережёт.

• На брю́хе шёлк, а в брю́хе щёлк.
  • Transliteration: Na bryukhe sholk, a v bryukhe scholk
  • Translation: On the belly there is silk, and in the belly - just a click.
  • English version: All hat and no cattle.

• На вкус и цвет това́рищей нет.
  • Transliteration: Na vkus i tsvet tovarischey net.
  • Translation: There are no friends in tastes and colours.
  • English equivalent: There is no accounting for taste.
  • Compare: У вся́кого Па́вла своя́ пра́вда; О вку́сах не спо́рят.
  • יוסף גורי, I. Guri (2006). On the tip of the tongue: 500 Yiddish proverbs (illustrated ed.). Hebreisher Uniṿersiṭeṭ in Yerushalayim, Opṭeyl far Rusishe limudim. p. 226. ISBN 9659025033. 

• На во́ре ша́пка гори́т.
  • Transliteration: Na vore shapka gorit.
  • Translation: A thief's hat is burning.
  • English version: A guilty mind betrays itself.

• На всех не угоди́шь
  • Transliteration: Na vsekh ne ugodish.
  • Translation: You cannot please everybody.
  • English version: He who pleased everybody died before he was born.
  • Compare: О вку́сах не спо́рят.

• На вся́кого мудреца́ дово́льно простоты́.
  • Transliteration: Na vsyakogo mudretsa dovol'no prostoty.
  • Translation: For each wise man there are plenty of fools.
  • English version: Homer sometimes nods.

• Назва́лся гру́здем — полеза́й в ку́зов.
  • Transliteration: Nazvalsya gruzdem — polezay v kuzov.
  • Translation: If you called yourself a milk-mushroom — get into the basket!
  • Moral: If you make a claim, be ready to prove it; If you made a promise, do not take it back
  • English version: In for a penny, in for a pound [?], If you undertook some thing, do it (see it through); If the shoe fits, ...; If you pledge, don't hedge.
  • Compare: Взя́лся за гуж — не говори́, что не дюж.
  • See also: Лю́бишь ката́ться, люби́ и са́ночки вози́ть.
  • Modern mockery: Назва́лся ку́зовом — принима́й гру́зди. (If you called yourself a basket — get ready to take in the milk-mushrooms)

• На кривой суд образца нет.
  • Translation: There is no example for an unjust court.

• На ловца́ и зверь бежи́т.
  • Transliteartion: Na lovtsa i zver' bezhit.
  • Translation: Prey runs into a trapper.
  • English version: Speak of the devil, and he appears.
  • Compare: Про се́рого речь, а се́рый — навстре́чь.

• На миру́ и смерть красна́.
  • Transliteration: Na miru i smert' krasna.
  • Translation: With company, even death loses its sting.

• На то и щу́ка [в мо́ре], что́бы кара́сь не дрема́л.
  • Transliteration: Na to i schuka v more, shtoby karas' ne dremal.
  • Translations: The pike in the sea is there to make the crucian to stay alert.
  • Moral: There are dangers, but don't complain about them, stay alert.

• На чужо́й карава́й рот не разева́й.
  • Transliteration: Na chuzhoy karavay rot ne razevay.
  • Translation: Don't open your mouth [to eat] other people's bread.
  • Modern Mockery (vulgar): "На чужое бухло не разевай ебло."

• Нашла́ коса́ на ка́мень.
  • Transliteration: Nashla kosa na kamen'.
  • Translation: The scythe has hit a stone.
  • English version: Diamond cut diamond, You have met your match.

• На языке́ мёд, а на се́рдце — лёд.
  • Transliteration: Na yazyke myod, a na serdtse — lyod.
  • Translation: On the tongue [there's] honey, and on the heart [there's] ice.
  • English version: A honey tongue, a heart of gall.

• Не бо́ги горшки́ обжига́ют.
  • Transliteration: Ne bogi gorshki obzhigayut.
  • Translation: [It's] not gods [who] make pots.
  • Moral: All arificial objects in the world, no matter how minute or astonishing, were made by people, so do not get overexcited.

• Не бо́йся соба́ки, что ла́ет, а бо́йся той, что молчи́т и хвосто́м виля́ет.
  • Transliteration: Ne boysya sobaki, shto layet, a bosya toy, shto molchit, da khvostom vilyayet.
  • Translation: Don't be afraid of the dog who barks, but be afraid of the one, who is silent and wags its tail.
  • English version: It's the quiet ones you gotta watch.
  • English equivalent: Barking dogs seldom bite.

• Не́ было бы сча́стья, да несча́стье помогло́.
  • Transliteration: Ne bylo by schast'ya, da neschast'ye pomoglo
  • Translation: [I] would have had no luck, if not for misfortune.
  • Moral: This particular misfortune in the end has led me to more gain than it made harm.
  • Compare: Нет ху́да без добра́.

• Не́ было у ба́бы хлопо́т, так купи́ла порося́.
  • Transliteration: Ne bylo u baby khlopot, tak kupila porosya.
  • Translation: The woman had no trouble, so she bought a piglet.
  • English version: You've asked for trouble.

• Не всё коту́ ма́сленица, бу́дет и вели́кий пост.
  • Transliteration: Ne vsyo kotu maslenitsa, budet i velikiy post.
  • Translation: Not every day is a Shrovetide, in time it will be a Lent.
  • English version: Life's not all beer and skittles; Life's not all wine and roses; I never promised you a bed of roses

• Не всё то зо́лото, что блести́т.
  • Transliteration: Ne vsyo to zoloto, chto blestit.
  • Translation: Not every glittering thing is gold.
  • English version: Not all that glitters is gold.
  • Modern mockery: Не всё то долото́, что блести́т.
  • English equivalent: All that glitters is not gold.
  • Meaning: An attractive appearance may be deceptive. It may cover or hide a much less favourable content.
  • Source for meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 114. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
  • G.K. Chesterton (January 2013). Жив-человек. Издательство Pubmix.com. p. 22. ISBN 978-5-4241-1474-8. Retrieved on 18 June 2013. 

• Не говори́ гоп, пока́ не переско́чишь (перепры́гнешь).
  • Transliteration: Ne govori gop, poka ne pereskochish (pereprygnesh).
  • Translation: Don't say "hop", until you jumped over
  • English version: Don't count your chickens before they hatch;
  • Compare: Дели́ть шку́ру неуби́того медве́дя.

• Не да́вши сло́ва — крепи́сь, а да́вши — держи́сь.
  • Transliteration: Ne davshi slova — krepis', a davshi — derzhis'.
  • Moral: Don't give promises you can't fulfil; once given, the word must be kept.
  • English version: Don't make a promise you can't keep.
  • Compare: Угово́р доро́же де́нег.

• Не за то во́лка бьют, что сер, а за то, что овцу́ съел.
  • Transliteration: Ne za to volka b'yut, shto ser, a za to, shto ovtsy s'yel.
  • Translation: The wolf is beaten not for being grey, but for having eaten a sheep.

• Не зна́я бро́ду, не су́йся в во́ду.
  • Transliteration: Ne znaya brodu, ne suysya v vodu.
  • Translation: Don't wade into a river without knowing a ford.
  • Moral: Don't rush into something without throughly studying the matter first.
  • English version: Wait for the cat to jump.

• Не име́й дру́га пота́тчика, а име́й дру́га попере́чника.
  • Transliteration: Ne imey druga potatchika, a imey druga poperechnika.
  • Translation: Don't have a friend who always agrees with you, but have a friend who argues with you.

• Не ме́сто кра́сит челове́ка, а челове́к — ме́сто.
  • Transliteration: Ne mesto krasit cheloveka, a chelovek — mesto.
  • Translations: Not the place adorns the man, but a man adorns the place.

• Не мечи́те би́сер пе́ред сви́ньями.
  • Transliteration: Ne mechite biser pered svin'yami
  • Translation: Don't cast beads before(in front of) pigs.
  • English version: Cast not your pearls before swine.

• Не ошиба́ется тот, кто ничего́ не де́лает.
  • Transliteration: Ne oshibayetsa tot, kto nichego ne delayet.
  • Translation: Only he who does nothing makes no mistakes.
  • English version: Nothing ventured, nothing gained; He that never climbed, never fell.

• Не плюй в коло́дец — пригоди́тся [воды] напи́ться.
  • Transliteration: Ne plyuy v kolodets — prigoditsya [vody] napit'sya.
  • Translation: Do not spit into a well—it may be useful to drink water.
  • English version: Actions can boomerang; Never cast dirt into that fountain of which you have sometime drunk; Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
  • Vulgar: Don't sh*t where you eat.
  • Modern mockery: Не плюй в коло́дец: вы́летит — не пойма́ешь.

• Не по́йман — не во́р.
  • Transliteration: Ne poyman — ne vor.
  • Translation: Unless caught [stealing], [one is] not a thief.
  • English version: Innocent till proven guilty.

• Не рой друго́му я́му, сам в неё попадёшь.
  • Transliteration: Ne roy drugomu yamu, sam v neyo popadyosh.
  • Translation: Don't dig a pit for somebody [to fall into], [or] you will end up in it yourself.
  • English version: Curses like chickens come home to roost.
  • Modern mockery: Не рой друго́му я́му, пусть сам ро́ет (Don't dig a pit for somebody, let him dig [it] himself)

• Не спра́шивай ста́рого, спра́шивай быва́лого.
  • Transliteration: Ne sprashivay starovo, sprashivy byvalogo.
  • Translation: Don't ask the old one, ask the experienced one.

• Нет ды́ма без огня́.
  • Transliteration: Net dyma bez ognya.
  • Translation: There is no smoke without fire.
  • English version: There is no smoke without fire.

• Нет ху́да без добра́.
  • Transliteration: Net khuda bez dobra.
  • Translation: There's no bad without the good.
  • English version: Every cloud has a silver lining.
  • Compare: Не́ было бы сча́стья, да несча́стье помогло́.

• Ни к селу́, ни к го́роду.
  • Transliteration: Ni k selu, ni k gorodu.
  • Translation: Not for village, not for town.
  • Meaning: Not useful for anything.
  • English version: Neither here nor there

• Ни ры́ба, ни мя́со [ни кафтан, ни ряса].
  • Transliteration: Ni ryba, ni myaso.
  • Translation: Neither fish nor meat.
  • Usage: A person without a strong character.
  • English version: Neither fish nor flesh.

• Но́вая метла по-но́вому метёт.
  • Transliteration: Novaya metla po-novomu metyot.
  • Translation: A new broom sweeps in a new way.
  • Moral: Newcomers are the most ambitious.
  • English version: A new broom sweeps clean.; In with the new and out with the old.

О

• Обе́щанного три го́да ждут.
  • Transliteration: Obeschannovo tri goda zhdut.
  • Translation: [They] wait three years for [what was] promised.
  • Moral: Promises aren't usually carried out immediately.

• Овчи́нка вы́делки не сто́ит.
  • Transliteration: Ovchinka vydelki ne stoit.
  • Translation: The lambskin is not worth the currying.
  • English version: The game isn’t worth the candle.

• Оди́н в по́ле [—] не во́ин.
  • Transliteration: Odin v pole ne voin.
  • Translation: Single [man] in a field is not a warrior.
  • English version: One man, no man

• Оди́н с со́шкой — се́меро с ло́жкой.
  • Transliteration: Odin s soshkoy — semero s lozhkoy.
  • Translation: [For every] one with a plow — [there're] seven with a spoon.
  • Moral: There's a lot of slackers for each productive worker.

• Оди́н сын – не сын, два сы́на – по́лсына, три сы́на – сын.
  • Transliteration: Odin syn - ne syn, dva syna - polsyna, tri syna - syn.
  • Translation: One son is not a son, two sons are half a son, three sons are a son.

• Одна́ ча́рка - на здоро́вье, друга́я - на весе́лье, тре́тья – на вздор.
  • Transliteration: Odna charka na zdorov'e, drugaya na vesel'e, tret'a na vzdor.
  • Translation: One cup (of alcohol) is for health, second one is for fun, third one is for nothing.

• От во́лка бежа́л, да на медве́дя попа́л.
  • Transliteration: Ot volka bezhal, da na medvedya popal.
  • Translation: I ran from the wolf but ran into a bear.
  • English version: Out of the frying pan and into the fire.'
  • See also: Из огня́ да в полымя́.

• От добра́ добра́ не и́щут.
  • Transliteration: Ot dobra dobra ne ishchut.
  • Translation: Do not look for [further] good from good.
  • English version: Leave well enough alone; Enough is as good as a feast.

• От добра добра не ищут
  • Translation: Leave the good enough in peace.
  • English equivalent: Leave well enough alone.
  • Мокиенко Валерий Михайлович (2010). Большой словарь русских пословиц. ОЛМА Медиа Групп. p. 278. ISBN 978-5-373-03250-6. Retrieved on 7 June 2013. 

• От трудо́в пра́ведных не наживёшь пала́т ка́менных.
  • Transliteration: Ot trudov pravednykh he hazhivyosh palat kamennykh.
  • Translation: Honest work won't let you live on the stone palace.
  • Moral: Great wealth stems from illegal activities more often than not.

• Охо́та пу́ще нево́ли.
  • Transliteration: Okhota pusche nevoli.
  • Translation: Desire is worse then compulsion.
  • Moral: Work you enjoy never feels too hard.

П

• Привычка – вторая натура
  • Translation: Habit is a second nature.
  • English equivalent: Old habits die hard.
  • Ом (January 2013). По ту сторону. Теория и практика универсального подхода. Издательство Pubmix.com. p. 321. ISBN 978-5-458-22961-6. Retrieved on 7 June 2013. 

• Пей, да де́ло разуме́й.
  • Transliteration: Pey, da delo razumey.
  • Translation: Drink (alcohol), but be an expert in your business

• Пе́рвый блин (всегда́) ко́мом.
  • Transliteration: Pervyy blin (vsegda) komom.
  • Translation: The first pancake is (always) a blob.
  • English version: Things don’t work the first time
  • Swedish equivalent: We are children in the beginning.
  • Compare: Лиха́ беда́ нача́ло.

• Пло́х тот солда́т, кото́рый не мечта́ет стать генера́лом.
  • Translation: A soldier who doesn't dream of becoming a general is a bad one.

• Пова́дился кувши́н по́ воду ходи́ть, тут ему́ и го́лову сломи́ть.
  • Transliteration: Povadilsya kuvshin po vodu kxodit', tut yemu i golovu slomit'.
  • English version: The pitcher goes often to the well but is broken at last.

• Пови́нную го́лову и меч не сечёт.
  • Transliteration: Povinnuyu golovu i mech ne sechot.
  • Translation: Even the sword doesn't cut the head of the one who confesses.
  • English version: A fault confessed is half redressed.

• Повторе́нье - мать уче́нья.
  • Transliteration: Povtoren'ye — mat' uchen'ya.
  • Translation: Repetition is a mother of learning.
  • English version: Practice makes perfect.
  • Moral: The more often you repeat your lesson, the more likely you are to memorize it.
  • Mockery: Повторе́нье - мать пита́нья (Repetition is a mother of feeding).

• Пожале́л волк кобы́лу, оста́вил хвост да гри́ву.
  • Transliteration: Pozhalel volk kobylu, ostavil khvost da grivu
  • Translation: The wolf spared the mare, left a tail and mane.

• По одёжке встреча́ют, по уму́ провожа́ют.
  • Transliteration: Po odyozhke vstrechayut, po umu provozhayut.
  • Translation: One meets/greets [people] by their clothes, and says farewell by their mind.
  • English version: Beauty may open the door, but only virtue enters.

• Посади́ свинью́ за стол — она́ и но́ги на сто́л
  • Transliteration: Posadi svin'yu za stol — ona i nogi na stol.
  • Translation: Seat the pig at the table — she'll put [her] legs on the table.
  • English version: Give one an inch, and he will take a mile.
  • See also: [Ему́] па́льца(па́лец) в рот не клади́( — (всю) ру́ку отку́сит).

• По́сле дра́ки кулака́ми не ма́шут.
  • Transliteration: Posle draki kulakami ne mashut.
  • Translation: They don't swing fists when the fight is over.
  • English version: What’s done is done; Don't lock the stable door after the horse has bolted.

• Поспеши́шь – люде́й насмеши́шь.
  • Transliteration: Pospeshish' – lyudey nasmeshish'.
  • Translation: If you rush things, you'll just make others laugh.
  • English version: Hasty climbers have sudden falls; The more haste, the less speed.; Haste makes waste

• Привы́чка — втора́я нату́ра.
  • Transliteration: Privychka — vtoraya natura.
  • Translation: Habit is a second nature.
  • English version: Old habits die hard.

• Простота́ ху́же воровства́.
  • Transliteration: Prostota khuzhe vorovstva.
  • Translation: Simplicity is worse than thievery (crime).
  • Moral: A fool can do more damage than an enemy/a criminal.

• Пу́ганая воро́на куста́ (теле́жного скри́па/со́бственной те́ни) бои́тся.
  • Transliteration: Puganaya vorona kusta (telezhnogo skripa/sobstvennoj teni) boitsya.
  • Translation: A spooked crow is afraid of a bush (a carriage [wheel's] squeak/it's own shadow).
  • English version: Once bitten, twice shy
  • Compare: Обже́гшись на молоке́, ду́ют на́ воду.

• Пья́ному мо́ре по коле́но (, а лу́жа — по́ уши).
  • Transliteration: P'yanomu more po koleno (, a luzha - po ushi).
  • Translation: For a drunken one, a sea is knee-deep (, and a puddle ear-deep).
  • Moral: Drunk people brag a lot, yet are capable of very little.

Р

• Работа не волк - в лес не убежит.
  • Transliteration: Rabota ne volk - v les ne ubezhit.
  • Translation: Work is not a wolf, it is not going away to forest.
  • English version: You can do any job later.
  • Krylov, Konstantin Arkadʹevich (1973). Russian-English Dictionary of Russian Sayings and Proverbs. C.A. Krylov. p. VII. 

• Раз на раз не прихо́дится.
  • Transliteration: Raz na raz ne prikhoditsya.
  • Translation: Each time it is different.
  • English version: You can’t expect perfection every time.

• Рука́ ру́ку мо́ет [, вор во́ра кр́оет].
  • Transliteration: Ruka ruku moyet[, vor vora kroyet].
  • Translation: Hands wash each other[, a thief covers another thief].
  • English version: You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. ; One hand washes the other.

• Ры́ба и́щет, где глу́бже, а челове́к — где лу́чше.
  • Transliteration: Ryba ischet gde glubzhe, a chelovek — gde luchshe.
  • Translation: Fish seek for a deep place, men seek for a better place.
  • Modern mockery: Ры́ба и́щет, где глу́бже, а челове́к — где ры́ба. (Fish seek for a deep place, men seek for a fishing place.)

• Рыба́к рыбака́ ви́дит издалека́.
  • Transliteration: Rybak rybaka vidit izdaleka.
  • Translation: A fisherman can tell another fisherman from afar.
  • English version: Birds of a feather flock together.
  • Mockery: Дурак дурака видит издалека. (A fool can tell another fool from afar.)

С

• С волка́ми жить, по-во́лчьи выть.
  • Transliteration: S volkami zhit', po-volch'i vyt'.
  • Translation: To live with wolves, you have to howl like a wolf.
  • English version: Who keeps company with the wolves, will learn to howl; You are like the company you keep; When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
  • Compare: С кем поведёшься, от того́ и наберёшься.

• Своя́ но́ша не тя́нет.
  • Transliteration: Svoya nosha ne tyanet.
  • Translation: [One's] own burden doesn't encumber.
  • English version: A burden of one's own choice is not felt

• Своя́ руба́шка бли́же к те́лу.
  • Transliteration: Svoya rubashka blizhe k telu.
  • Translation: [One's] own shirt [is] closer to the body.
  • Moral: One is much more likely to protect one's own property than anybody else's.
  • See also: Всяк кули`к своё боло`то хва`лит.

• Свя́то ме́сто пу́сто не быва́ет.
  • Transliteration: Svyato mesto pusto ne byvayet.
  • Translation: Holy place is never empty.
  • English version: Nature abhors a vacuum; The throne is never vacant

• С глаз доло́й — из се́рдца вон.
  • Transliteration: S glaz doloy — iz serdtsa von.
  • Translation: Out of eyesight — out of heart.
  • English version: Out of sight — out of mind.
  • Contrast: Да́льше с глаз - бли́же к се́рдцу.

• Седина́ в бо́роду, бес в ребро́.
  • Transliteration: Sedina v borodu, bes v rebro.
  • Translation: Grey hair into beard, devil into rib.
  • Moral: When a man gets elderly, he often becomes a womanizer.

• Се́меро одного́ не ждут.
  • Transliteration: Semero odnogo ne zhdut.
  • Translation: Seven [people] don't wait for one.
  • English version: For one that is missing there's no spoiling a wedding.
  • Moral: If you severely hinder others, don't be surprised when you get left behind.

• Семь бед — оди́н отве́т.
  • Transliteration: Sem' bed — odin otvet.
  • Translation: Seven troubles - one responce.
  • English version: As well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb.

• Семь вёрст до небе́с и всё ле́сом.
  • Transliteration: Sem' vyorst do nebes, i vcyo lesom.
  • Translation: Seven versts to heaven, and all the way through the forest.

• Семь раз отме́рь, оди́н отре́жь.
  • Transliteration: Sem' raz otmer', odin otrezh.
  • Translation: Measure seven times, cut once.
  • Meaning: Think before you act.
  • English version: Measure twice, cut once.
  • English equivalent: Look before you leap.
  • Howlett, Colin (1997). The Oxford Russian dictionary (2, revised ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 1252. 

Edition Publisher, Length pages

• Семь топоро́в вме́сте лежа́т, а две пря́лки врозь.
  • Transliteration: Sem' toporov vmeste lezhat, a dve pryalki vroz'.
  • Translation: Seven axes lie together, and two distaves - apart

• С кем поведёшься, от того́ и наберёшься.
  • Transliteration: S kem povedyoshsya, ot togo i naberyoshsya.
  • Translation: [You'll] learn [(in a bad way)] from those [you] hang out with.
  • English version: Those who sleep with dogs will rise with fleas; You are what your friends are.
  • Modern mockery: С кем поведёшься, с тем и наберёшься. (You'll get drunk with those you hang out with.)
  • Compare: С волка́ми жить, по-во́лчьи выть.

• Ско́лько во́лка ни корми́, он всё в лес смо́трит.
  • Transliteration: Skol'ko volka ne kormi, on vsyo v les smotrit
  • Translation: However [much, well] you feed the wolf, he still looks at the woods.
  • Compare: Горбатого могила исправит.
  • Mockery: Ско́лько во́лка не корми́, он всё жрёт и жрёт (However much you feed the wolf, he still eats and eats.)

• Ско́ро ска́зка ска́зывается, да не ско́ро де́ло де́лается.
  • Transliteration: Skoro skazka skazyvayetsya, da ne skoro delo delaetsya.
  • Translations: The tale is told quickly, but the job is done slowly.
  • English equivalent: Talk is cheap.

• Сла́вны бу́бны за гора́ми (а к нам приду́т, как луко́шко).
  • Transliteration: Slavny bubny za gorami, (a k nam pridut, kak lukoshko).
  • Translations: The tambourines are good when they are behind mountains (, and when they come to us, they become just like a basket)

• Сло́во — се́ребро, молча́ние — зо́лото.
  • Transliteration: Slovo — serebro, molchaniye — zoloto.
  • Translation: Word is silver, silence is gold.
  • English version: Talk is cheap, silence is golden.

• Слу́хом земля́ по́лнится.
  • Transliteration: Slukhom zemlya polnitsya.
  • Translation: The rumour fills the Earth.
  • English version: News spreads like wildfire; News flies fast.
  • See also: Дурна́я молва́ на кры́льях лети́т; Худы́е ве́сти не сидя́т на ме́сте.

• С ми́ру по ни́тке — го́лому руба́ха.
  • Transliteration: S miru po nitke — golomu rubakha.
  • Translation: Thread off the world — shirt for naked.
  • Moral: If many people will donate even a little bit each, it will make a huge difference for the recipient.
  • See also: Я́годка по я́годке - бу́дет кузово́к.

• Соловья́ ба́снями не ко́рмят.
  • Transliteration: Solov'ya basnyami ne kormyat.
  • Translation: The nightingale can't be fed by fables.
  • English equivalent: Fine words butter no parsnips.
  • Meaning: Merely talking about a problem will not solve it.
  • Offord, Derek (1996). Using Russian: A Guide to Contemporary Usage. Cambridge University Press. p. 156. ISBN 0521457602. 

• Сня́вши го́лову, по волоса́м не пла́чут.
  • Transliteration: Snyavshi golovu, po volosam ne plachut
  • Translation: After taking off the head one doesn't (shouldn't) bewail the hair.
  • English version: What's done is done.

• Соба́ка на се́не: и сама́ не ест, и други́м не даёт.
  • Transliteration: Sobaka na sene: i sama ne yest i drugim ne dayot.
  • Translation: A dog on the hay: will neither eat it himself, nor let others eat [it].
  • English version: A dog in the manger.

• Соро́ка на хвосте́ принесла́.
  • Transliteraton: Soroka na khvoste prinesla.
  • Translation: A magpie brought it on its tail.
  • English version: A little bird told me.

• Ста́рость - не ра́дость.
  • Transliteration: Starost' - ne radost'.
  • Translation: Old age is no fun.
  • English version: An old ape has an old eye; Old age, boy, is no joy.

• Ста́рый друг - лу́чше но́вых двух.
  • Transliteration: Staryy drug - luchshe novykh dvukh.
  • Translation: An old friend is better than two new ones.
  • Compare: За одного́ би́того двух неби́тых даю́т.

• Суженого конем не объедешь
  • Transliteration: Suzhenogo konyom ne ob"edyesh.
  • Translation: You can't escape your fated one [even] with a horse.
  • Moral: You can't change your fate.

• Сы́тый голо́дного не разуме́ет: одному́ суп жи́дкий, друго́му - же́мчуг ме́лкий.
  • Transliteration: Sytyy golodnogo ne razumeyet: odnomy sup zhidkiy, drugomu - zhemchug melkiy.
  • Translation: The sat one doesn't understand the hungry one: for one the soup is too thin, for the other - the pearls are too small.
  • English version: He that is warm thinks all so.

Т

• Там хорошо́, где нас нет.
  • Transliteration: Tam khorosho, gde nas net.
  • Translation: It is good, there where we are not.
  • English version: On the other side grass is greener.

• Твои́ми бы уста́ми да мёд пить.
  • Transliteration: Tvoimi by ustami da myod pit'.
  • Translation: [I'd like to] drink honey with your lips.
  • Moral: The way you describe it, this story/plan/thing sounds too good to be true.
  • Compare: Гла́дко бы́ло на бума́ге, да забы́ли про овра́ги(, а по ним шага́ть).

• Терпе́ние и труд всё перетру́т.
  • Transliteration: Terpeniye i trud vsyo peretrut.
  • Translation: Patience and work will fray through anything.
  • Compare: Я́годка по я́годке - бу́дет кузово́к.; Исподво́ль и ольху́ согнёшь.
  • English equivalent: Bitter pills may have blessed effects.
  • See also: Ти́ше е́дешь — да́льше бу́дешь.

• Терпи́, каза́к, атама́ном бу́дешь.
  • Transliteration: Terpi kazak, atamanom budesh.
  • Translation: Put up with it, cossack, and you'll be an ataman.
  • English equivalent: No pain, no gain; Nothing ventured, nothing gained; No or little adversity is a sign that fortune has forgotten you.
  • Meaning: Where there is no adversity of some sort there is seldom anything to win.
  • Alexander Margulis; Asya Kholodnaya (February 2000). Russian-English dictionary of proverbs and sayings. McFarland. p. 215–. ISBN 978-0-7864-0703-3. Retrieved on 22 May 2013. 

• Тише едешь, дальше будешь
  • Translation: Tardy and firm defeats the competition.
  • English equivalent: Slow and steady wins the race.
  • Ом (January 2013). По ту сторону. Теория и практика универсального подхода. Издательство Pubmix.com. p. 321. ISBN 978-5-458-22961-6. Retrieved on 7 June 2013. 

• Ти́ше е́дешь — да́льше бу́дешь.
  • Transliteration: Tishe yedesh — dal'she budesh.
  • Translation: Ride slower — [you'll] get farther.
  • Moral: You will accomplish more if you do things methodically. — Also: Don't rush things.
  • Compare: Я́годка по я́годке - бу́дет кузово́к.; Исподво́ль и ольху́ согнёшь.
  • See also: Терпе́ние и труд всё перетру́т.
  • English version: Slow and steady wins the race.

• Тону́л – топо́р сули́л, а как вы́тащили – и топори́ща жаль (ста́ло).
  • Transliteration: Tonul - topor sulil, a kak vytschili - i toporoscha zhal' (stalo).
  • Translation: While [he] had been sinking, [he] promised [me] an axe [if I save him], but when pulled [ashore], [he] begrudged even an axe handle.
  • Moral: He's not standing up to his promises.
  • See also: Угово́р доро́же де́нег.

• Труд челове́ка ко́рмит, а лень — по́ртит.
  • Transliteration: Trud cheloveka kormit, a len' — portit.
  • Translation: Job feeds the man, and laziness spoils him.

• Ты бли́же к де́лу, а он про козу́ бе́лу.
  • Transliteration: Ty blizhe k delu, a on pro kozu belu.
  • Translation: You get on business, but he [keeps telling you] about white goat.
  • Moral: Stop beating around the bushes.

У

• Убы́ток — уму́ прибы́ток.
  • Translitertion: Ubytok — umu pribytok.
  • Translation: A loss is a gain for mind.
  • Moral: Experience is worth it.
  • English version: Winning is earning, losing is learning., Sadder but wiser

• У ба́бы во́лос до́лог, да ум ко́роток.
  • Translitertion: U baby volos dolog, da um korotok.
  • Translation: Woman's hair is long, and mind is short.

• У стрáха глазá велики́.
  • Translation: Fear has big eyes.
  • ** Жуков, В. П.; Жуков, Влас Платонович (1993). Slovarʹ russkikh poslovit︠s︡ i pogovorok. Русский язык. p. 174. ISBN 5200022371. 

• Угово́р доро́же де́нег.
  • Translitertion: Ugovor dorozhe deneg.
  • Translation: The agreement(contract) costs more then money.
  • Moral: You must keep your word, even if doing so costs you money.
  • Compare: Не да́вши сло́ва — крепи́сь, а да́вши — держи́сь.
  • English version: A bargain is a bargain.

• Уката́ли Си́вку круты́е го́рки.
  • Transliteration: Ukatali Sivku krutyye gorki.
  • Translation: Steep hills fatigued Sivka (ash-grey horse).

• Укоро́тишь – не воро́тишь.
  • Transliteration: Ukorotish - ne vorotish.
  • Translations: If you cut [it], you won't get it back.

• Ули́та е́дет, когда́-то бу́дет.
  • Translitertion: Ulita yedet, kogda-to budet.
  • Translation: The snail is coming, [who knows when] it arrives.

• У́мная голова́, да дураку́ доста́лась.
  • Transliteration: Umnaya golova, da duraku dostalas'.
  • Translation: A clever head but given to a fool.

• У́мные ре́чи прия́тно и слу́шать.
  • Transliteration: Umnyye rechi priyatno i slushat'.
  • Translation: A clever speech (speaker) is pleasant to listen to.

• У семи́ ня́нек дитя́ без гла́зу.
  • Transliteration: U semi nyanek ditya bez glazu.
  • Translation: Seven nannies make a kid not looked after.
  • Moral: If too many people are working on the same project, everybody will expect that another one will do the actuall job.
  • English version: Many cooks spoil the broth.

• Ус в честь, а борода́ и у козла́ есть.
  • Transliteration: Us v chest' a boroda i u kozla yest'
  • Translation: Moustache is respected and beard is worn even by goats.
  • Meaning: Mere formal signs of being an authority does not make you one.
  • English equivalent: The beard were all, the goat might preach.

• Услу́жливый дура́к опа́снее врага́.
  • Transliteration: Usluzhlivyy durak opasnee vraga'
  • Translation: Complaisant fool harms worse than enemy.

• Уста́ми младе́нца глаго́лет и́стина.
  • Transliteration: Ustami mladentsa glagolet istina
  • Translation: Truth speaks by the toddler's mouth; From the mouth of babes
  • English version: Children, drunks and madmen tell the truth.

• У стра́ха глаза́ велики́.
  • Transliteration: U strakha glaza veliki.
  • Translation: Fear has large eyes.
  • Moral: People tend to overestimate the danger when scared.
  • Compare: Не так стра́шен чёрт, как его́ малю́ют; Глаза́ боя́тся, а ру́ки де́лают

• Утопа́ющий за соло́минку хвата́ется.
  • Transliteration: Utopayuschiy i za solominku khvatayetsya.
  • Translation: The one who sinks grips even a straw.
  • English equivalent: A drowning man will cling to a straw.

• У́тро ве́чера мудрене́е.
  • Transliteration: Utro vechera mudreneye.
  • Translation: Morning is wiser than the evening.
  • Moral: One should rather make important decisions in the morning (i.e. after getting some sleep/rest) than in the evening.
  • English version: I need to sleep on it.

• Уче́нье свет, а неуче́нье тьма.
  • Transliteration: Uchen'ye cvet, a neuchen'ye t'ma.
  • Translation: Studying is light; not studying is darkness.
  • English version: Knowledge is power.
  • Variations: "Ученье свет, а неученых тьма." (Studying is light; there are many people who don't study. It's a play on the word тьма which can mean "many" or "darkness.")

Ф

Х

• Хвали́лась сини́ца мо́ре заже́чь.!!!
  • Transliteration: Khvalilas' sinitsa more zazhech.
  • Translation: Titmouse boasted to put sea on fire..
  • Moral: Your plan doesn't hold water.
  • See also: Пья́ному мо́ре по коле́но (, а лу́жа — по́ уши).

• Хвали́лся чёрт всем ми́ром владе́ть, а Бог ему́ и над свиньёй не дал вла́сти.
  • Transliteration: Khvalilsya chort vsem mirom vladet', a Bog yemu i nad svin'yoy ne dal vlasti.
  • Translation: The devil boasted to rule the whole world, but God didn't give him power even over the pig.
  • Moral: Your plan doesn't hold water.
  • See also: Пья́ному мо́ре по коле́но (, а лу́жа — по́ уши).

• Хва́стать – не коси́ть, спина́ не боли́т.
  • Transliteration: Khvastat' - ne kosit', spina ne bolit.
  • Translation: Bragging is unlike mowing; it won't make your back ache.
  • Moral: Bragging is one thing; doing the job is another.

• Хлеб всему́ голова́.
  • Transliteration: Khleb vsemu golova.
  • Translation: Bread is head of everything.
  • English version: Bread is the staff of life.

• Хлеб за брю́хом не хо́дит (, а брю́хо за хле́бом).
  • Transliteration: Khleb za bryukhom ne khodit (, a bryukho za khlebom).
  • Translation: Bread doesn't go for belly (, but belly goes for bread)..
  • See also: Го́лод не тётка (, пирожка́ не поднесёт).

• Хлеб-соль ешь, а правду-матку режь.
  • Transliteration: Khleb-sol' yesh, a pravdu-matku rezh.
  • Translations: Eat bread and salt, cut the mother truth

• Хоро́ший това́р сам себя́ хва́лит.
  • Translitertion: Khoroshiy tovar sam sebya khvalit.
  • Translation: Quality goods advertise themselves.

• Хорошо тому жить, кому бабушка ворожит.
  • Transliteration: Khorosho tomu zhit', komu babushka vorozhit.
  • Translation: That one is happy, whose Grandma tells fortunes.

• Хоть гол, да прав.
  • Transliteration: Khot' gol, da prav.
  • Translation: Naked, but right

• Хоть есть не́чего, да жить ве́село.
  • Transliteration: Khot' yest' nechego, da zhit' veselo.
  • Translation: Although there's nothing to eat, life is fun.

• Хоть кол (ему́) на голове́ теши́.
  • Transliteration: Khot' kol (yemu) na golove teshi.
  • Translation: [You could] even hew sticks on (his) head.
  • English version: He is so pig-headed; Stubborn as a mule.

• Хре́н ре́дьки не сла́ще.
  • Transliteration: Khren red'ki ne slasche.
  • Translation: Horseradish isn't any sweeter than radish.
  • Moral: The proposed alternative isn't any better.
  • See also: Что в лоб, что по́ лбу; Что пнём об сову́, что сово́й об пень ( — всё одно́ сове́ несла́дко).

• Худо́й мир лу́чше до́брой ссоры.
  • Transliteration: Khudoi mir luchshe dobroy ssory.
  • Translation: Bad peace is better than a good quarrel.
  • English version: A bad compromise is better than a good lawsuit.
  • See also: Кому́ война́, а кому́ мать родна́.

• Худы́е ве́сти не лежа́т на ме́сте.
  • Transliteration: Khudyye vesti ne lezhat na meste.
  • Translation: Bad news don't lie at rest.
  • Compare: Плоха́я молва́ на кры́льях лети́т.

Ц

• Цыпля́т по о́сени счита́ют.
  • Transliteration: Tsiplyat po oseni schitayut.
  • Translation: One [should] count chicks in autumn.
  • English version: Don't count your chicken before they hatched.

Ч

• Челове́к предполага́ет, а Бог располага́ет.
  • Transliteration: Chelovek predpolagayet, a Bog raspolagayet.
  • English version: Man proposes, but God disposes.

• Чем бы дит́я ни те́шилось, ли́шь бы не пла́кало.
  • Transliteration: Chem by ditya ni teshilos', lish by ne plakalo.
  • Translation: It doesn't matter what the kid plays with as long as [he] doesn't cry.
  • Modern mockery: Чем бы дит́я ни те́шилось, лишь бы не вешалось (It doesn't matter what the kid plays with as long as [he] doesn't hang himself.); Чем бы дит́я ни те́шилось, лишь бы в рот не брало; Чем бы дит́я ни те́шилось, лишь бы по обоюдному согласию (It doesn't matter what (whom) the kid plays with as long as it's upon mutual agreement.); Чем бы дит́я ни те́шилось, лишь бы не руками. (It doesn't matter what the kid plays with as long as it's not with [his] hand.).

• Чем да́льше в лес, тем бо́льше дров.
  • Transliteration: Chem dal'she v les, tem bol'she drov.
  • Translation: The further into the woods, the more firewood [you'll encounter].
  • Moral: The further you get into something, the greater gain you might expect (or the more obstacles you will encounter).
  • Modern mockery: Чем да́льше в лес, тем толще партизаны; Чем да́льше в лес, тем бли́же вы́лез (wordplay on similarly sounding "в лес"/"влез").

• Чему́ быть, того́ не минова́ть.
  • Transliteration: Chemu byt', tomu ne minovat'.
  • Translation: What is to be, can't be avoided.
  • Moral: Things that were meant to be, will happen no matter what.

• Что бы́ло, то прошло́ (и быльём поросло́).
  • Transliteration: Chto bylo, to proshlo (i byl'yom poroslo).
  • Translation: What used to be - is [now] gone (and overgrown with grass).
  • See also: Кто ста́рое помя́нет, тому́ глаз вон; Э́то бы́ло давно́, и непра́вда.

• Что в лоб, что по́ лбу.
  • Transliteration: Chto v lob, chto po lbu.
  • Moral: It doesn't make a difference. — Also: You're dumb.
  • Compare: Что пнем об сову, что совой об пень ( — все одно сове несладко).
  • English version: Six of one, and half a dozen the other.

• Что (ни) го́род, то но́ров.
  • Transliteration: Chto (ni) gorod, to norov.
  • Translation: Another city (town) -- another temper.

• Что име́ем — не храни́м, потеря́вши — пла́чем.
  • Transliteration: Chto imeyem — ne khranim, poteryabshi — plachem.
  • Translation: What we own, we don't [safe]keep [properly]; when [we] lose [it], [we] cry.
  • English version: We never know the value of water till the well is dry.

• Что напи́сано перо́м — не вы́рубить топоро́м.
  • Transliteration: Chto napisano perom — ne vyrubit' toporom.
  • Translation: What was written by a pen, cannot be taken out with an axe.
  • Moral: What has been documented, cannot be changed [easily].
  • Compare: Сло́во – не воробе́й: вы́летит – не пойма́ешь.; Из пе́сни сло́ва не вы́кинешь.
  • Contrast: Бумага всё стерпит.
  • Modern mockery: Что написано топором - не вырубить пером. (Written by axe cannot be taken out with pen) — said by editors about poorly written articles.

• Что посе́ешь, то и пожнёшь.
  • Transliteration: Chto posyeyesh', to i pozhnyosh'.
  • Translation: What [you] plant, that [you] will harvest.
  • English: You reap what you sow.
  • Compare: Как ау́кнется – так и откли́кнется; Пошёл за ше́рстью, а верну́лся стри́женым; За чем пойдёшь, то и найдёшь; Не рой друго́му я́му - сам в неё попадёшь.

• Что с во́зу упа́ло, то пропа́ло.
  • Transliteration: Chto s vozu upalo, to propalo.
  • Translation: What fell off the cart, is [as good as] gone.
  • Moral: If you have lost (left behind/forgotten) something, expect to never see it again.

• Что у тре́звого на уме́, то у пья́ного на языке́.
  • Transliteration: Chto u trezvogo na ume, u p'yanogo na yazyke.
  • Translation: What's on sober's mind, is on drunk's tongue.
  • Moral: Drunk people have poor self-control, often saying things they shouldn't have said.
  • See also: Язы́к мой – враг мой (, пре́жде ума́ глаго́лет).

• Чужа́я душа́ – потёмки.
  • Transliteration: Chuzhaya dusha - potyomki.
  • Translation: Other person's soul is [in] darkness.
  • Moral: You can't know for sure what people think.

• Чужу́ю беду́ рука́ми разведу́, а к свое́й ума́ не приложу́.
  • Transliteration: Chuzhuyu bedu rukami razvedyu, a s svoyey uma ne prilozhu.
  • Translation: [I can] push others' problem away with my hands, but can't put my [own] mind to my own one.
  • Moral: All problems seem to be easy to solve, unless they're your own.

• Чья́ бы коро́ва мыча́ла, а твоя́ бы молча́ла.
  • Transliteration: Ch'ya by korova mychala, a tvoya by molchala.
  • Translation: Others' cow could moo, but yours should [better] stay silent.
  • Moral: Look who's talking
  • English version: The pot calls kettle black.
  • See also: На зе́ркало не́ча пеня́ть, ко́ли ро́жа крива́; В чужо́м глазу́ сори́нку заме́тно, а в своём — бревна́ не вида́ть.

Ш

• Ши́ла в мешке́ не утаи́шь.
  • Transliteration: Shila v meske ne utaish.
  • Translation: [You] cannot hide an awl in a sack.
  • Moral: Truth will always be discovered, sooner or later.
  • Latin equivalent: Time discloses the truth
  • See also: Ско́лько верёвочке не ви́ться — коне́ц буде́т.

Щ

Э

• Это ещё цвето́чки, а я́годки впереди́.
  • Transliteration: Eto escho tsvetochki, a yagodki vperedi.
  • Translation: These are just flowers; berries will come soon.
  • Moral: This is not all folks; things will get much worse/better soon.
  • Compare: Пришла́ беда́ - отворя́й ворота́, Лиха́ беда́ нача́ло.

Ю

Я

• Я́блоко от я́блони недалеко́ па́дает.
  • Transliteration: Yabloko ot yabloni nedaleko padayet.
  • Translation: The apple falls not so far away from the apple-tree.
  • Meaning A person is in many regards like his parents.
  • English equivalent: Like father like son; The apple doesn't 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. 

• Язы́к до Кие́ва доведёт.
  • Transliteration: "Yazyk do Kieva dovedjot."
  • Translation: Your tongue will take you as far as Kiev.
  • Closest English equivalent: The only stupid question is the one not asked.
  • Moral: If you want to know something, ask the people for it.
  • Offord, Derek (1996). Using Russian: A Guide to Contemporary Usage. Cambridge University Press. p. 155. ISBN 0521457602. 

• Язы́к мой – враг мой (, пре́жде ума́ глаго́лет).
  • Transliteration: Yazyk moy - vrag moy (, prezhde uma glagolet).
  • Translation: My tongue is my enemy (, speaks ahead of mind).
  • Moral: I shouldn't have said that.
  • See also: Что у тре́звого на уме́, то у пья́ного на языке́; И у стен быва́ют у́ши.

• Я́йца ку́рицу не у́чат.
  • Transliteration: Yaytsa kuritsu ne uchat.
  • Literally: Eggs don't teach a hen.
  • Moral: Do not give advice to somebody more experienced than you.
  • English version: Don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs.
  • Modern mockery: Не учи папу трахаться. (Don't teach your own Dad how to make sex.)

• Я не я, и ло́шадь не моя́ (, и я не изво́зчик).
  • Transliteration: Ya ne ya, i loshad' ne moya (, i ya ne izvozchik) .
  • Translation: I'm not me, and [this] horse isn't mine (, and I'm not a cabman)
  • Moral: I'm denying your accusations. — Also (used in "O RLY" fashion): What you're telling me, contradicts obvious facts; You must be lying.
  • Compare: Мели́, Еме́ля — твоя́ неде́ля.

Cold War

• Доверя́й, но проверя́й.
  • Transliteration: Doveryay, no proveryay.
  • Translation: Trust, but verify.
  • See also: Обже́гшись на молоке́, ду́ют на́ воду.

President Ronald Reagan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust,_but_verify

See also

• Cheremis proverbs
• Mordvin proverbs
• Karelian proverbs
• Veps proverbs
• Votian proverbs

External links

• russian proverbs at masterrussian.com
• В.И. Даль. 1000 русских пословиц и поговорок. - Рипол Классик, 2013