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Bulgarian proverbs

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Proverbs from all Bulgarian speaking parts of the world.

A

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  • Ако сам не си помогнеш, и господ не може да ти помогне.
    • English equivalent: Heaven helps those who help themselves.
    • Khileva, Stela (1998). Obrechenata: roman. Zhazhda. p. 40. 

Б

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  • Бързата работа - срам за майстора.
    • Translation: Hasty work - shame for the craftsman.
    • English equivalent: Haste makes waste.
    • Грим, Братя. Приказки. TRUD Publishers. p. 321. ISBN 9545285990. 
  • Бързата кучка слепи ги ражда.
    • Translation: The hasty bitch gives birth to blind puppies.
    • English equivalent: Haste makes waste.
    • Писаров, Николай (2001). Хищнико братко. TRUD Publishers. pp. 232. ISBN 9545282835. 

B

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  • В мътна вода лесно се лови.
    • English equivalent: It is good fishing in troubled waters.
    • I"n taking advantage of chaotic conditions one can easily serve one's own purposes."
    • {{cite book | last1 = Paczolay | first = Gyula | year = 1997 | title = European Proverbs in 55 languages | publisher = DeProverbio.com | page = 391 | pages = 527 | isbn = 1-875943-44-7}

Г

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  • Голям залък лапни, голяма дума не казвай.
    • Translation: Take a big bite, don't say a big word.
    • English equivalent: A man of words and not of deeds, is like a garden full of weeds.
    • Meaning: Act, don't talk.
    • Kanchev, Ivan (2009). Diccionario español-búlgaro/búlgaro-español. Ediciones AKAL. pp. 1032. ISBN 8446030934. 

Д

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  • Да би мирно седяло, не би чудо видяло.
    • Translation: If you had been calm, you wouldn't have seen a miracle.
    • Meaning: If you had been watching your actions, you wouldn't have suffered from consequences.
    • Гълъбов, Константин (1970). Петко Славейков. Живот, Дейност, Творчество. Наука и изкуство,. pp. 265. 

E

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  • Една лястовичка пролет не прави.
    • Translation: One swallow doesn't make a spring.
    • Meaning: A solitary event is no indication that a major change is taking place.
    • Bošković-Stulli (1983). Usmena književnost nekad i danas. Prosveta. p. 505. ISBN 954528353X. 

К

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  • Капка по капка - вир става.
    • Translation: Drop by drop - a whole lake becomes.
    • Meaning: No matter how small, each contribution matters.
    • English equivalent: Many a mickle makes a muckle.
    • Filipov, Dimitŭr (2003). Димитър Стоянов по пътя на идеала. TRUD Publishers. p. 328. ISBN 9545283726. 

М

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  • Много баби, хилаво бебе.
    • Translation: Тоо many midwives deliver a sickly baby.
    • English equivalnent: Too many cooks ruin the broth.
    • Meaning: When too many people give advice, things do not work.
    • Воронин, Андрей. Кръстословица за Слепия. TRUD Publishers. ISBN 9545289309. 

Н

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  • На вълка вратът му е дебел, защото си върши работата сам.
    • Translation: The wolf has a thick neck, because he does his job on his own.
    • English equivalent: If you want a thing done right, do it yourself.
    • Чернески, Чавде. 139 документа : Кой, как и защо разпиля, разпродава и унищожава спастреното от книжовните имоти на българите в Македония и Одринско и други безценни издания?. Chavde Cherneski. p. 160. ISBN 9543237093. 
  • На лъжата краката са къси.
    • Translation: A lie's legs are short.
    • English equivalent: A lie has short legs.
    • Meaning: Lies cannot go far.
    • Kanchev, Ivan (2009). Diccionario español-búlgaro/búlgaro-español. Ediciones AKAL. p. 176. ISBN 8446030934. 
  • Не оставяй днешната работа за утре
    • Translation: Don't leave today's work for tomorrow.
    • Romanian equivalent: Ce poți face azi, nu lăsa pe mâine.
    • Каменов, Йордан (1995). Преди и сега – равно на всякога. Fliorir Publishing House. p. 11. ISBN 9548226448. 
  • Няма дим без огън.
    • Translation: There is no smoke without fire.
    • Meaning: There is a reason for everything that happened.
    • Other meaning: A rumour contains some truth.
    • Андреев, Коста (2004). Есента на Първия: Роман. TRUD Publishers. p. 163. ISBN 9545284706. 
  • Насила хубост не става.
    • Translation: You can't make something beautiful by force.
    • English equivalent: You can lead a horse to the water but you can't make it drink.
    • Meaning: You can give someone an opportunity, but you can't force him to take advantage of it.
    • Ганчев, Марко (2002). Смешна тъга. Fliorir Publishing House. p. 247. ISBN 9548226723. 

П

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  • Помогни си сам, за да ти помогне и Господ.
    • Translation: Aid yourself and the lord will help you.
    • English equivalent: Heaven helps those who help themselves.
    • Meaning: When in trouble first of all every one himself should do his best to improve his condition.
    • Source for meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 150. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
    • Cholakova, Kristalina (2008). Речник на българския език (2 ed.). Prof. Marin Drinov. p. 372. 
  • Приятел в нужда се познава.
    • Translation: A friend is recognised in need.
    • English equivalent: A friend in need is a friend indeed.
    • Ginina, Ginina, Nikolova, Sakŭzova (1965). A Bulgarian textbook for foreigners. Naouka i izkustvo. p. vii. 
  • Пилците се броят наесен.
    • Translation: Chickens are to be counted in the autumn.
    • English equivalent: Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
    • Стратиев (2002). Избрано: Белетристика. Труд. p. 356. 

С

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  • С един куршум - два заека.
    • Translation: With one bullet - two rabbits.
    • English equivalent: Kill two birds with one stone.
  • Сговорна дружина, планина повдига.
    • English: An organised group lifts a mountain.
    • English equivalent: Many hands make light work.
    • Panaĭotov, Николова (1999). Bŭlgarii︠a︡--20. vek: almanakh. ИКТрудидр.. p. 1255. 

Т

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  • Тихите води са най-дълбоки.
    • English equivalent: Still waters run deep.
    • "Silent Men, like still Waters, are deep and dangerous."
    • Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia (1732)
    • net. ДиагнозаТийн. Alexander Nenov. p. 72. 

Ч

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  • Човек предполага, Господ разполага.
    • English equivalent: Man proposes, God disposes.
    • Калоянов, Анчо (2003). Девети. TRUD Publishers. p. 487. ISBN 9545283998. 
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