Romansh proverbs

Romansh language proverbs – one of the four national languages in Switzerland.

B

• Chi bain cumaninza, ais a mited la l'ouvra.
  • Translation: He who starts well is in the middle of the work.
  • English equivalent: 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. 

C

• Chi nu voul lavurer, nu stu neir manger.
  • English equivalent: He that will not work, shall not eat.
  • "It is of the nature of man, when he is not diseased, to take pleasure in his work under certain conditions. And, yet, we must say in the teeth of the hypocritical praise of all labour, whatsoever it may be, of which I have made mention, that there is some labour which is so far from being a blessing that it is a curse; that it would be better for the community and for the worker if the latter were to fold his hands and refuse to work, and either die or let us pack him off to the workhouse or prison — which you will.
    Here, you see, are two kinds of work — one good, the other bad; one not far removed from a blessing, a lightening of life; the other a mere curse, a burden to life.
    What is the difference between them, then ? This: one has hope in it, the other has not. It is manly to do the one kind of work, and manly also to refuse to do the other."
  • William Morris, "Useful Work vs Useless Toil" (1885); later published in Signs of Change : Seven Lectures, Delivered on Various Occasions (1896).
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 256. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Cun üna botta nun as schmerdscha üna planta.
  • 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. 

E

• En aua turbla ei bien pescar.
  • Translation: It is good fishing in streamy water.
  • English equivalent: It is good fishing in troubled waters.
  • Meaning: In taking advantage of chaotic conditions one can easily serve one's own purposes.
  • Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 391. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

G

• Guder e schar guder, quei fa plischer.
  • English equivalent: Live and let live.
  • von Düringsfeld, Ida; von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld, Otto (1875). "15". Sprichwörter der germanischen und romanischen sprachen vergleichend, zusammengestellt. H. Fries. pp. 8–. 

I

• Il früt nu crouda dalöntsch da la planta.
  • Idiomatic translation: The apple does not fall far from the tree.
  • Meaning: Children observe daily and — in their behaviour — often follow the example of their parents.
  • Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 259. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Il pesch grand ho adüna maglio il pitschen.
  • Translation: Big fish eat little fish.
  • English equivalent: Men are like fish; the great ones devour the small.
  • "American industry is not free, as once it was free; American enterprise is not free; the man with only a little capital is finding it harder to get into the field, more and more impossible to compete with the big fellow. Why? Because the laws of this country do not prevent the strong from crushing the weak. That is the reason, and because the strong have crushed the weak the strong dominate the industry and the economic life of this country."
  • Woodrow Wilson, The New Freedom: A Call For the Emancipation of the Generous Energies of a People (1913).
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 420. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• In um visaus ei miez salvaus.
  • English equivalent: Fore warned, fore armed.
  • "587, Gewarnter" (in German). Sprichwörter der germanischen und romanischen Sprachen vergleichend zusammengestellt von Ida von Duringsfeld und Otto Freihern von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld. II. 1875. pp. 327–328. 

L

• L'Hura d la Damaun porta Mel a Paun.
  • English equivalent: An hour in the morning before breakfast, is worth two all the rest of the day.
  • von Düringsfeld, Ida; von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld, Otto (1875). "101". Sprichwörter der germanishcen und romanischen Sprachen Vergleichend. pp. 60–. 

M

• Masüra trais jadas e taglia üna.
  • Idiomatic translation: Measure thrice, cut once.
  • Meaning: One should always act only after due consideration. A hasty action may involve an improper consideration of important aspects.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 420. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Munts e vals stan salda, ma la glieud s'inscuntra.
  • Translation: Mountains and valleys stand firm but people meet.
  • Idiomatic translation: A mountain never meets a mountain, but a man meets a man.
  • Meaning: There are some things/events that are impossible, like an encounter of mountains, but there is always a chance for people to meet. or Once can always find a possibility for revenge.
  • Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 213. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Mincha sabi practicant ei dilg glück sieu sez fabricant.
  • Every man is the maker of his own fortune.
  • English equivalent: Every man is the smith of his own fortune.
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 388. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

N

• Nu metter fö inua chi'd ais già.
  • Translation: You should not add oil to the fire.
  • English equivalent: Don't add fuel to the fire.
  • Meaning: One should not make a bad situation even worse by an improper remark.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 338. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

P

• Povertà nun ais viltà.
  • Translation: A swallow does not make a summer.
  • Meaning: One occurrence is no indication that a major change is taking place.
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 1030. ISBN 0415096243. 

T

• Tgi ca ha getg A, quel gi era bugen B.
  • English equivalent: Who says "A" must say "B".
  • von Düringsfeld, Ida; von Düringsfeld, Otto (1872). "A 1" (in German). Sprichwörter der germanischen und romanischen Sprachen. Fries. p. 1. 

See also

• Upper Engadin Romansh proverbs
• Highland Romansch proverbs
• Breton proverbs
• French proverbs
• Ladin proverbs
• Provençal proverbs