Bosnian proverbs
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Contents |
[edit] 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. (A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.)
- Latin: Buni se ko grk u hapsu. - Cyrillic: Буни ce ko грk у хaпcу.
- Translation: He complains like an imprisoned Greek (He complains too much.)
[edit] D
- Latin: Da padne na leđa,razbio bi nos. - Cyrillic: Да падне на леђа,разбио би нос.
- Translation: If he fell onto his back,he'd break his nose. (when the person is very clumsy)
- Latin: Dala baba dinar da se uhvati u kolo, a dva da se pusti. - Cyrillic: Дала баба динар да се ухвати у коло, а два да се пусти.
- Translation: Grandma gave a dinar to dance, and two to stop. (Be careful what you wish for.)
[edit] G
- Latin: Gvožđe se kuje dok je vruće. - Cyrillic: Гвожђе се кује док је вруће.
- Translation: Iron is worked when it's still hot. (Strike the iron while its hot)
- Latin: Gdje je mnogo babica, kilava su deca. - Cyrillic: Гдjе je много бабица, килава cу деца.
- Translation: Where there are many midwives, children will be feeble. (Too many cooks spoil the broth.)
- 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. (Similar to There is no free lunch.)
[edit] 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. (An apple doesn't fall far from the tree.)
[edit] K
- Latin: Kad mačke nema, miševi kolo vode. - Cyrillic: Кад мачке нема, мишеви коло воде.
- Translation: When cat is absent, mice circle dance. (When the cat's away, the mice will play.)
[edit] L
- Latin: Lijepa riječ i gvozdena vrata otvara. - Cyrilic: Лиjепа риjеч и гвоздена врата отвара.
- Translation: A kind word opens even the iron doors. (you can succeed in anything by being polite)
[edit] N
- Latin: Na mlađima svijet ostaje. - Cyrillic: На млађима свиjет остаје.
- Translation: The world is left to the young.
- Latin: Na nevidišu nema krivice. Cyrillic: На невидишу нема кривице.
- Translation: If it isn't seen, there's no guilt. (If you do something without being caught it isn't done.)
- Latin: Ne može kruška da rodi jabuku. - Cyrillic: Не можe крушка да роди јабуку.
- Translation: A pear tree cannot bear an apple.
- Latin: Ne sej tikve gdje još nisu nikle! - Cyrillic: Не сeј тикве гдjе још нису никле!
- Translation: Don't plant pumpkins where they never sprouted! (Don't waste your time trying things which are proven won't work)
- Latin: Nema vatre bez dima. - Cyrillic: Нема ватре без дима.
- Translation: There is no fire without smoke. (Where there is smoke there is fire.)
- Latin: Nema mirnog dijeteta ni mlade babe. - Cyrillic: Нема мирног дijетета ни младе бабе.
- Translation: There's no quiet child nor young grandmother.
- Latin: Nema hlijeba bez motike! - Cyrillic: Нема хлиjеба без мотике!
- Translation: There's no bread without a hoe! (Similar to Only hard work pays off.)
- Latin: Nije zlato sve što sija. - Cyrillic: Није злато све што сија.
- Translation: Not all shiny things are golden. (All is not gold that glitters.)
[edit] P
- Latin: Pas koji laje ne ujeda. - Cyrillic: Пас који лаје не уједа.
- Translation: The dog that barks doesn't bite. (Someone who threatens too much does this to frighten his enemies but in fact doesn't have enough courage to do anything about it.)
- Latin: Praviti od komarca magarca. - Cyrillic: Правити од комарца магарца.
- Translation: To make a donkey out of a mosquito. (To exaggerate.)
- Latin: Prvo skoči pa reci hop. - Cyrillic: Прво скочи па реци хоп.
- Translation: First leap, and then say "hop"! (Look before you leap.)
- Latin: Ptica ranoranilica prva crva nađe. - Cyrillic: Птица раноранилицa прва црва нађе.
- Translation: The early bird catches the worm first.
[edit] R
- Latin: Rugala se šerpa loncu, široka mu usta. - Cyrillic: Ругала се шерпа лонцу, широка му уста.
- Translation: A pan was mocking a pot because his mouth is big. (The pot calls the kettle black.)
- Latin: Ružnoj djevojci ogledalo krivo. - Cyrillic: Ружној дjевојци огледало криво.
- Translation: An ugly girl blames the mirror. (A bad craftsman blames his tools.)
[edit] S
- Latin: Svuda pođi, svome domu dođi. - Cyrillic: Свуда пођи, својој кући дођи.
- Translation: Where ever you go, come back to your home.
[edit] Š
- Latin: Što možeš danas, ne ostavljaj za sutra. - Cyrillic: Што можеш данас, не остављај за сутра.
- Translation: Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
[edit] T
- Latin: Tko vino večera, vodu doručkuje. - Cyrillic: Tко вино вечера, воду доручкује.
- Translation: Who has wine for dinner, he has water for breakfast. (You can't avoid paying consequences for your deeds)
- 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.
- Latin: Tko rano rani, dvije sreće grabi. - Cyrilic: Tко рано рани, двиjе среће граби.
- Translation: One who gets up early is doubly lucky. (The early bird gets the worm.)
- 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 As you sow, so you shall reap.)
- Latin: Tko seje vjetar, žanje oluju. - Cyrillic: Tко сeје вjетар, жање олују.
- Translation: Who sows wind will harvest storm. (Similar to As you sow, so you shall reap.)
- Latin: Tko uči znaće, ko štedi imaće. - * Cyrillic: Tко учи знаће, ко штеди имаће.
- Translation: Those who study will know, those who save will have.
- Latin: Tiha voda breg roni. - Cyrillic: Тиха вода брег рони.
- Translation: Quiet water wears down a mountain.
- Latin: Triput mjeri, jednom sijeci. - Cyrillic: Трипут мjери, једном сиjеци. -
- Translation: Measure thrice, cut once.
[edit] U
- Latin: U tom grmu čuči zec! - Cyrillic: У том грму чучи зец!
- Translation: That's the bush where the rabbit squats! (That's where the solution lies!)
- Latin: Uzdaj se u se i u svoje kljuse! - Cyrillic: Уздај се усе и у своје кљусе!
- Translation: Trust yourself and your horse! (If you want to get things done, do it yourself)
- Latin: Umiljato jagnje dvije ovce sisa. - Cyrillic: Умиљато јагње двиjе овце сиса.
- Translation: Cuddly lamb suckles from two ewes. (Similar to Flattery will get you everywhere.)
[edit] 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)
