Literal translation: A hungry man thinks he won't be satiated, a thirsty man thinks he won't be quenched.
Acele işe şeytan karışır.
Literal translation: The Devil interferes with hurried work.
Meaning: If you hurry your work it will turn out wrong.
Aç tavuk kendini buğday ambarında görür.
Literal translation: A hungry hen sees herself in a wheat silo.
Meaning: When one is in need of something, he dreams about himself having it lavishly.
Aç ayı oynamaz.
Literal translation: A hungry bear won't dance.
Meaning: One needs to be paid to do some work.
Açın halini tok bilmez, hastanın halini sağ bilmez.
Literal translation: A satiated man doesn't know what's hunger, a healthy man doesn't know what's disease.
Açma sırrını dostuna, o da söyler dostuna.
Literal translation: Don't tell your secret to your friend, he will tell it to his friend.
Adam adama gerek olur.
Literal translation: Man needs man.
Meaning: We need each other. We can only do great things through teamwork.
Ağacı kurt, insanı dert yer.
Literal translation: It is worms which destroy a tree, it is worry which destroys a human.
"Aĝaç yaş iken eĝilir"
Literal translation: Trees bend when they are young.
Meaning: You can only learn at a young age, when you get older you will not be able to learn.
Ak gün ağartır, kara gün karartır.
Literal translation: A white day sheds light, a black day sheds darkness.
Akılları pazara çıkarmışlar, herkes kendi aklını beğenmiş.
Variant: Herkes aklını pazara çıkarmış, yine kendi aklını beğenmiş.
Literal translation: They put up minds for sale on the market, everyone liked his own mind. (Variant: Everyone put up his mind for sale on the market, and liked his own mind.)
Meaning: To stick to one's own opinion.
Alçak yerde yatma sel alır, yüksek yerde yatma yel alır.
Literal translation: Don't lie down in low places, flood will take you, don't lie down in high places, wind will take you.
Meaning: Do not do extreme things, stay casual.
Allah gümüş kapıyı kaparsa altın kapıyı açar.
Literal translation: If God closes the silver door He will open the golden door.
Meaning: For every loss there is opportunity.
English equivalent: When one door closes, another one opens.
Ana gibi yar, vatan gibi diyar olmaz.
Literal translation: There is no love like a mother's nor a place like your homeland.
Literal translation: A stick with both sides covered in shit.
Meaning: Either of the options is unsatisfactory.
İmam gülerse, cemaat kahkaha atar.
Literal translation: If the imam scoffs, the community will chortle.
Meaning: The leader serves as a model for the people.
İmam osurursa, cemaat sıçar.
Literal translation: If the imam farts, the whole congregation will defecate.
Meaning: The leader serves as an example to his followers.
İsin yanına varan is, misin yanına varan mis kokar.
Literal translation: Who goes near soot smells of soot, and who goes near musk smells of musk.
Meaning: A person is influenced by the company he keeps.
İşleyen demir pas tutmaz.
Literal translation: Iron that works does not rust.
Meaning: One has to practice to keep up one's performance.
İti an, çomağı hazırla.
Literal translation: Name the dog, ready the stick.
Meaning: Used for people who show up instantly when they have been talked about. Usually has an unpleasant meaning. Check "İyi insan lafının üzerine gelirmiş." for the other one.
İtle dalaşmaktansa çalıyı dolaşmak yeğdir.
Literal translation: It is better to walk around a bush than fight with a dog.
İyi insan lafının üzerine gelirmiş.
Literal translation: A good person always arrives on the uttering of his name.
Meaning: Used for people who show up instantly when they have been talked about. Has a pleasant meaning, unlike "İti an, çomağı hazırla."
İyilik yap denize at, balık bilmezse halik bilir.
Literal Translation: Do good and throw it into the sea; if the fish don't know it, God will.
Literal translation: Property will not earn life, but life will earn property.
Meaning: Health is more important than wealth.
Mart kapıdan baktırır, kazma kürek yaktırır.
Literal translation: March makes one look through the door, and makes one burn hoes and shovels.
Meaning: Do not act carelessly under influence of enthusiasm, or you might find yourself in a worse situation.
Merd-i kıpti şecaat arzederken sirkatin söyler.
Literal translation: A brave/daring gypsy will brag on his robberies. (A gypsy, so daringly fool, confesses his own inapplausable acts without even being asked)
Meaning: Do not brag with the things that are unworthy.
Meyveli ağaçı taşlarlar.
Literal translation: They throw stones at a tree with fruit.
Meaning: Those who are good and talented are the most envied and critisized for.
Minareyi çalan kılıfını hazırlar.
Literal translation: Dare to steal the minaret but first prepare the sack for hiding it.
Meaning: Excuses have to be prearranged before the crimes.
Minareyi yaptırmayan yerden bitmiş sanır.
Literal translation: He who did not help building the minaret, thinks that it just grew out from the ground.
Misafir umduğunu yemez, bulduğunu yer.
Literal translation: A guest does not get the food he expects but what he's served.
Mühür kimde ise Süleyman odur.
Literal translation: Whoever has the Seal, he is Solomon [the prophet]. (Solomon is he who has the seal)
Tabancanın dolusu bir kişiyi korkutur, boşu kırk kişiyi.
Literal translation: A charged pistol scares one person, an empty one scares forty people.
Meaning: Control your power. If it is controlled, only the target will be concerned. Otherwise, you create panic.
Tarlada izi olmayanın harmanda yüzü olmaz.
Literal translation: Who leaves no traces in the field, will be put to shame at harvest.
Meaning: Who does not attend to his tasks won't have results.
English equivalent: You reap what you sow.
Taşıma su ile değirmen dönmez.
Literal translation: The mill won't turn with carried water.
Meaning: A job can't be done with inadequate means.
Tatsız aşa tuz neylesin, akılsız başa söz neylesin.
Literal translation: What is salt to a chef without taste, what is advice to a head without brain?
Tavşan dağa küsmüş, dağın haberi olmamış.
Literal translation: The hare (rabbit) was offended with the mountain, but the mountain did not notice.
Meaning: It is senseless to show resentment towards an unresponsive and unrelated person or entity. / Also used as a catalyzer in an argument to state to the other side that, they are insignificant and not to worth to be paid attention for the speaker.
Tembele iş buyur, sana akıl öğretsin.
Literal translation: Order the lazybones a task; he will give you advice.
Meaning: Lazy people only talk.
"Tencere dibin kara." "Seninki benden kara."
Literal translation: "Pot, your bottom is black." "Yours is blacker than me."
Meaning: Examine your own mistakes and faults first, before blaming others.
Literal translation: (original sentence is in Ottoman language rather than modern Turkish) He, who walkes hastily will eventually fall down, but he who strides slowly will reach his target.
Meaning: If you try to do everything so fast, eventually they will all fail. Take it slow and you will succeed.
English equivalent: Slow and steady wins the race.