Slovak proverbs

Proverbs from all Slovak speaking parts of the world.

A

• Aká matk, taká Katka.
  • Translation: Like mother, like Kate.
  • English equivalent: Like mother, like daughter.
  • Meaning: Daughters may look and behave like their mothers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and rarely.
  • Source for meaning and proverb: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 137. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Aký otec, taký syn.
  • 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 proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 170. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Ani strom naraz nezotnú.
  • Idiomatic translation: Little strokes fell great oaks.
  • Meaning: A difficult task, e. g. removing a person/group from a strong position, or changing established ideas cannot be done quickly. It can be achieved gradually, by small steps, a little at a time.
  • Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 252. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

C

• Čím viac tým lepšie.
  • Translation: The more the merrier.
  • Slovensképohl'ady. Tlačou kníhtlačiarskeho účastinárskeho spolku. 1900. p. 408. 

D

• Dobrý pociatok - polovica práce.
  • Idiomatic translation: Well begun, is half done.
  • Meaning: Starting properly ensures the speedy completion of a process. A – beginning is often blocked by one or more obstacles (potential barriers) the removal of which may ensure the smooth course of the process.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 228. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

I

• I z citaného vlk bere.
  • Idiomatic translation: Cats eat what hussies spare.
  • Note: "Cat" is a slang term for prostitute.
  • Meaning: An inferior workman might defeat his competition by making the services he provides more remarkable.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 641. ISBN 0415096243. 

J

• Jablko nepadá ďaleko od stromu.
  • Translation: An apple does not fall far from the tree.
  • Meaning: Children observe daily and — in their behaviour — often follow the example of their parents.
  • Ústav svetovej literatúry a jazykov (1984). Slavica Slovaca. Vydavatel'stvo Slovenskej akadémie vied.. p. 88. 
  • Source for meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 259. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Vsaka jabolka padejo blizu stebla.
  • 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 meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 259. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Jedna lastovička leto nerobí.
  • Translation: One swallow does not make a summer.
  • Jazykovednýústav L̕udovíta Štúra (1979). Kultúra slova. Vydavatelʹstvo Slovenskej akadémia vied.. p. 274. 

K

• Každy je sám svôjho št'astia kováč.
  • Translation: Every man is the smith of his own fortune.
  • English equivalent: Every man is the smith of his own fortune.
  • Meaning: In shaping one's own fortune one should not rely on the help of others, as they are also concerned mainly about their own matters.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 388. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Ked sa nic nezaseje, tam sa nic nenaveje.
  • Translation: What you reap is what you sow.
  • Strauss (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 394. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Krátka správa lepšia ako dlhá pravda.
  • Idiomatic translation: A bad compromise is better than a good lawsuit.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 68. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Kto chce jadro, musí orech prehryznut.
  • Idiomatic translation: No pain, no gain.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 680. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Kto sa hanbi. ma prázdne gamby.
  • Translation: Fortune favours the bold.
  • Strauss (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 394. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Kto druhému jamu kope, sám do nej spadne.
  • 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. 

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

L

• Lakomec je rovný svini, len po smrti činí.
  • Idiomatic translation: A covetous man does nothing that he should till he dies.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 79. ISBN 0415096243. 

M

• Mrcha vták, čo do vlastného hniezda nečistí.
  • Idiomatic translation: It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest; Don't wash your dirty linen in public.
  • Meaning: Don't speak ill off yourself and the groups you belong to.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 466. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

N

• Nepluj do pohára, z ktorého si pil.
  • Idiomatic translation: Cast no dirt into the well that gives you water.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 634. ISBN 0415096243. 

O

• Otro, norci in pijanci govore resnico.
  • 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. 

P

• Prázdny sud najviac duní.
  • Translation: Empty barrel rumbles the most.
  • English equivalent: It is not the hen that cackles the most that lay the most eggs.
  • Meaning: He who advertises for himself the most can not achieve the greatest results.
  • slovenská, vied, Štúra (1995). Slovenskáreč: časopis pre výskum a kultúru slovenského jazyka. p. 136. 

• Príst k niečomu, ako slepá kura k zrnu.
  • Idiomatic translation: A blind may sometimes hit the mark.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 36. ISBN 0415096243. 

R

• Rybu treba chytit' za hlavu, nie za chvost.
  • Idiomatic translation: You might as well try to hold an eel by the tail.
  • Meaning: Don't take a man by his word.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 480. ISBN 0415096243. 

S

• Stary a nema rozum!
  • Meaning: Age will not refrain people from acting foolish and imprudently.
  • Idiomatic translation: ”Wisdom goes not always by years.”
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 39. ISBN 0415160502. 

V

• Vel'ké ryby žerú malé.
  • Idiomatic translation: Men are like fish; the great ones devour the small.
  • Meaning: A weak person/group/community/country can be an easy prey to an immoral, powerful one.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 420. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

Z

• Zlá zelina nevyhynie.
  • Translation: Evil herb never dies out.
  • Swedish equivalent: Evil gun powder doesn't go away easily.
  • Hofbauer (1998). Slovensko na križovatke: články a prejavy 1997-1998. Juga. p. 28.