Bosnian proverbs

Proverbs from all Bosnian speaking parts of the world.

B

• Latin: Bolje vrabac u ruci, nego golub na grani. - Cyrillic: Боље врабац у руци, него голуб на грани.
  • Translation: A sparrow in the hand is better than a pigeon on the branch.
  • English equivalent: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
  • Kovačević (1991). Srpsko-engleski rečnik idioma, izraza i izreka. Filip Višnjić. p. 48. 

G

• Latin: Gvožđe se kuje dok je vruće. - Cyrillic: Гвожђе се кује док је вруће.
  • Translation: Iron is worked when it's still hot.
  • English equivalent: Strike the iron while its hot.
  • Matković, umjetnosti, knijiževnost (1980). Forum. p. 391. 

• Latin: Gdje ti mnogo obećavaju, malu torbu ponesi. - Cyrillic: Гдjе ти много обећавају, малу торбу понеси.
  • Translation: Where people are promising much to you, bring a small bag.
  • English equivalent: He who promises too much means nothing.
  • Jong (2009). Strah od letenja. Alnari. pp. 399. ISBN 8677103805. 

I

• Latin: Iver ne pada daleko od klade. - Cyrillic: Ивер не пада далеко од кладе.
  • Translation: A splinter doesn't land far from the trunk.
  • English equivalent: An apple doesn't fall far from the tree.)
  • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 140. ISBN 0415160502. 

N

• Nema vatre bez dima.
  • Translation: There is no smoke without fire.
  • Meaning: Everything happens for a reason.
  • Second meaning: There is some truth to all rumours.
  • Bošković-Stulli (1983). Usmena književnost nekad i danas. Prosveta. p. 262. 

• Latin: Nije zlato sve što sija. - Cyrillic: Није злато све што сија.
  • Translation: Not all shiny things are golden.
  • English equivalent: All is not gold that glitters.
  • Zagrebu. Centar za etnološku kartografiju, Zagrebu. Etnološki zavod (1991). Studia ethnologica. Centar. p. 153. 

P

• Latin: Pas koji laje ne ujeda. - Cyrillic: Пас који лаје не уједа.
  • Translation: The dog that barks doesn't bite.
  • Meaning: Someone who threatens too much does this to frighten his enemies but in fact doesn't have enough courage to do anything about it.
  • English equivalent: Barking dogs seldom bite.
  • Benson (1993). Englesko-srpskohrvatski rečnik. Prosveta. p. 57. 

• Latin: Prvo skoči pa reci hop. - Cyrillic: Прво скочи па реци хоп.
  • Translation: First leap, and then say "hop"!
  • Meaning: Think before you act.
  • Second meaning: First do your task, then talk about it.
  • English equivalent: Look before you leap.
  • English equivalent: Walk the walk, then talk the talk.
  • Anić, Pranjković, Samardžija (1994). Rječnik hrvatskoga jezika. Novi liber. p. 947. 

T

• Latin: Tko drugome jamu kopa sam u nju pada. - Cyrillic: Tко другоме јаму копа сам у њу пада.
  • Translation: Who digs a trap for others ends up in it himself.
  • Serbian Studies (1991). Serbian studies. North American Society for Serbian Studies. p. 83. 

• Latin: Tko rano rani, dvije sreće grabi. - Cyrilic: Tко рано рани, двиjе среће граби.
  • Translation: One who gets up early is doubly lucky.
  • English equivalent: Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
  • Težak (1998). Teorija i praksa nastave hrvatskoga jezika. Školska knjiga. p. 535. ISBN 9530503261. 

• Latin: Tko s vragom tikve sadi, o glavu mu se obiju. - Cyrillic: Tко с ђаволом тикве сади, о главу му се обију.
  • Translation: If one sows pumpkins with the devil, they will bash onto one's head. (Similar to He who sups with the devil must use a long spoon)
  • Književnost. 1986. 

V

• Latin: Vrana vrani oči ne vadi. - Cyrillic: Врана врани очи не вади.
  • Translation: A crow doesn't pick out another crow's eyes. (A thief does not steal from another thief)
  • English equivalent: Hawks will not pick out Hawk's eyes.
  • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 31. ISBN 0415160502. 

U

• Latin: Uzdaj se u se i u svoje kljuse! - Cyrillic: Уздај се усе и у своје кљусе!
  • Translation: Trust yourself and your horse!
  • English equivalent: Distrust is the mother of safety.
  • Meaning: Trust no one except yourself, and don't trust yourself entirely either; Trust, but verify.
  • Ersoy, Ahmet (2010). Modernism: The Creation of Nation-States. p. 247. ISBN 9637326618.