Faroese proverbs

Faroese is a language spoken in Faroe Islands, an autonomous province of Denmark.

A

• Altíð bagir illum barni okkurt.
  • English equivalent: A bad workman blames his tools.
  • "Spoken to those who complain of the tool that they are working with, alledging that they may rather blame their own unskilfulness."
  • James Kelly (1818). A Complete Collection of Scottish Proverbs Explained and Made Intelligible to the English Reader. Rodwell and Martin. pp. 8. 
  • Young, Clewer (1985). Føroysk-ensk orðabók: Faroese-English dictionary : with Faroese folk-lore and proverbs. Føroya Fróđskaparfelag. p. 26. ISBN 0907715222. 

B

• Betri er mögur forlikun, en feitur process.
  • Translation: Better a lean settlement than a fat litigation.
  • English equivalent: A bad compromise is better than a good lawsuit.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 68. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Betstir eru vinir, ið sjaldan finnast.
  • English equivalent: Friends are lost by calling often and calling seldom.
  • von Düringsfield, Ida; von Düringsfield, Otto (1875). "508, Freunde" (in German). Sprichwörter der germanishcen und romanischen Sprachen Vergleichend. I. p. 262. 

K

• Kráku tykir best um unga sín.
  • Translation: A chicken likes her own eggs best.
  • Hammershaimb, Jakobsen, Carlsbergfondet (Copenhagen (1891). Færøsk anthologi. S.L. Møllers bogtrykkeri. p. 317. 

I

• Ikki er alt gull, ið glitrar.
  • Translation: Not all is gold that glitters.
  • 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. 
  • Jensen, Davidsen, Davidsen (2005). Stutt mállæra. Uppgávur til 8. flokk. Foroya Skulabokagrunnur. p. 49. ISBN 9991803947. 

O

• Ofta býr fals undir fríðum skinni.
  • Translation: There often lies falsehood beneath a pretty skin.
  • English equivalent: Appearances can be deceiving.
  • Young, Clewer (1985). Føroysk-ensk orðabók: Faroese-English dictionary : with Faroese folk-lore and proverbs. Føroya Fróđskaparfelag. p. 66. ISBN 0907715222. 

T

• Tá ið músin er mett, er mjölið beiskt.
  • English equivalent: When the mouse has had enough ( its fill ), the meal is bitter.
  • von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld, Ida; von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld, Otto (1875). "280, satt" (in German). Sprichwörter der germanischen und romanischen Sprachen. II. p. 157. 

• Tíðin rennur sum streymur í á.
  • Translation: Time runs like the river current.
  • English Equivalent: Time flies.
  • Joensen, Sofus Joensen, Sofus Joensen. Føroyskar bókmentir 3. Foroya Skulabokagrunnur. p. 89.