Croatian proverbs

Proverbs from all Croatian speaking parts of the world.

B

• Bog govori: pomozi si sam, pomoci cu ti.
  • Idiomatic translation: God helps those who help themselves.
  • Meaning: When in trouble first of all every one himself should do his best to improve his condition.
  • Source for meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 150. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
  • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 732. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Bog zatvori jedna vrata o otvori stotinu.
  • Idiomatic translation: God who gives the wound gives the salve.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 874. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Bolje spriječiti nego liječiti.
  • Translation: Better to prevent than to have to cure.
  • English equivalent: An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.
  • Zagrebu. Centar za etnološku kartografiju, Zagrebu. Etnološki zavod (1991). Studia ethnologica. Centar. p. 153. 

• Bolje vrabac u ruci, nego golub na grani.
  • Translation: A sparrow in your hand is better than a pigeon on the branch.
  • English equivalent: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
  • Gerzić (2002). English-serbian dictionary of phrases and idioms. Istar. p. 29. 

• Brada kaza jarca ne pako mudroznanca.
  • Idiomatic translation: If the beard were all, the goat might preach.
  • Meaning: Mere formal signs of being an authority does not make you one.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 117. ISBN 0415160502. 

C

• Cega nema, ne mose se ni uzeti.
  • Translation: No risk, no income.
  • English equivalent From nothing, nothing can come; Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
  • Meaning: If you don't do anything, nothing will come to you.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 238. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Čovjek snuje, Bog određuje.
  • Translation: Men wishes (dreams), but God decides.
  • English equivalent: Man proposes, but God disposes.
  • Benson (1993). Englesko-srpskohrvatski rečnik. Prosveta. p. 197. 

• Cuvaj se macaka kaje sprieda lizu a straga udarju.
  • Idiomatic translation: Cats hide their claws.
  • Meaning: A foe acts non-aggressive, uses sly tactics, and then defeats you.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 638. ISBN 0415160502. 

D

• Djeca, budale i pijani pravdu govore.
  • Idiomatic translation: Children, fools and drunken men tell the truth.
  • Meaning: Children and fools have no inhibition, and alcohol consumed removes the inhibition against telling the truth that occasionally one would like to keep secret.
  • Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 272. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Dobar glas se daleko čuje, loš još dalje.
  • Idiomatic translation: Ingratitude is the world's reward.
  • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 55. ISBN 0415160502. 

G

• Gdje ima dima ima i vatre.
  • Translation: Where there is smoke, there is fire too.
  • English equivalent: Where there's smoke, there's fire.
  • Strauss (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 663. 

• Gde je vnogo rechi, malo hasne.
  • Idiomatic translation: He that promises too much means nothing.
  • English equivalent: All talk and no action.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 92. ISBN 0415160502. 

I

• I brojene ovce vuk jede, kamo-li nebrojene.
  • Idiomatic translation: Cats eat what hussies spare.
  • Note: "Cat" is a slang term for prostitute.
  • Meaning: An inferior workman might defeat his competition by making the services he provides more remarkable.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 641. ISBN 0415096243. 

J

• Jablko od stromu d'aleko nepadá.
  • Translation: The fruit of a tree falls to its root.
  • 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. 

• Jabuka ne pada daleko od stabla.
  • 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.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 488. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Source for meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 259. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Jajé hoce biti pametnije od kokosi.'
  • Idiomatic translation: ”Don't throw good money after bad.”
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 207. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Jeda sam lutjak, deset drugi napravi.
  • Idiomatic translation: One fool makes many.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1132. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Jedna lasta ne čini proljeće.
  • Translation: One swallow does not make a spring.
  • English equivalent: One swallow does not make a spring.
  • Source of original proverb: Aristotle
  • društvo (2006). Umjetnost riječi: časopis za nauku o knjiz̆evnosti. Mladost. 

K

• Kakva majka, onakva i ćerka.
  • Translation: Such mother, such daughter.
  • English equivalent: Like mother, like daughter.
  • Meaning: Daughters may look and behave like their mothers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and rarely.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 179. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Kak dobljeno, tak zgubljeno.
  • Idiomatic translation: Easy come, easy go.
  • Meaning: Something good that enters your life easily, will also often leave quickly.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 762. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Kakvo pitanje takar odgovor.
  • Idiomatic translation: Just as one calls into the forest, so it echoes back.
  • Meaning: Do not expect friendly reply when being obnoxious.
  • Meaning: Bad language may have other causes than innate bad character.
  • English equivalent: What you give is what you get.
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 139. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Kratka sprava je bolši kakor dolga pravda.
  • Idiomatic translation: A bad compromise is better than a good lawsuit.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 68. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Krava plaća godpodarevu zabavu.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's by the head that the cow gives the milk.
  • Meaning: Whatever input you give, whatever outpot you get.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1039. ISBN 0415096243. 

M

• Med ima u ustima, a cemer u srcu.
  • Idiomatic translation: A honey tongue and a heart of gall.
  • Note: A "hypo proverb" of "Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing..."
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 108. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Mi o vuku, a vuk na vrata.
  • Idiomatic translation: While we were talking about the wolf, he came to our doorstep.
  • Meaning: Action instead of talking.
  • English equivalent: A man of words and not of deeds, is like a garden full of weeds.
  • Latin equivalent: Acta non verba.
  • Bujas (2001). Croatian-English dictionary. Nakladni zavod Globus. p. 1606. ISBN 953167082X. 

N

• Na oganj ulja ne ljevaj.
  • 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. 

• Ne trči pred rudo.
  • Translation: Don't run in front of a carriage.
  • English equivalent: Don't jump the gun.
  • Matković, (1985). Forum. p. 16. 

• Ne gledaj poklonjenom konju u zube.
  • Translation: Don't look a gift horse in the teeth.
  • English equivalent: Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
  • Kovačević (1991). Srpsko-engleski rečnik idioma, izraza i izreka. Filip Višnjić. p. 245. 

• Nesreca brzo dodje a poleko ode.
  • Idiomatic translation: Misfortune comes on horseback and goes away on foot.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 65. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Nesreća nikad ne dolazi sama.
  • Translation: Misfortune never comes alone.
  • English equivalent: When it rains, it pours.
  • English equivalent: Bad luck comes in threes.
  • German equivalent: Bad luck rarely comes alone. (Ein Unglück kommt selten allein.)
  • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 110. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Nije zlato sve što sja.
  • Translation: Gold is not everything that shines.
  • English equivalent: All that glistens is not gold.
  • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 77. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Nova metla dobra mete.
  • Idiomatic translation: "New brooms sweep clean."
  • Meaning: Newcomers are the most ambitious.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1103. ISBN 0415096243. 

O

• Orah ima tvrdu ljusku.
  • Idiomatic translation: No pain, no gain.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 680. ISBN 0415096243. 

P

• Pas koji laje, ne grize.
  • Translation: A dog that barks does not bite.
  • English equivalent: His bark is worse than his bite.
  • Latin equivalent: Canis timidus vehementius latrat quam mordet. (Curtius)
  • Katičić (2002). Sintaksa hrvatskoga književnog jezika. Hrvatska akademija znanosti i umjetnosti. p. 409. ISBN 1. 

• Pomozi si sam pa će ti i Bog pomoći.
  • Translation: First help yourself and then God will help you.
  • English equivalent: God helps those who help themselves.
  • umjetnosti (1968). Rad Jugoslavenske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti. Jugoslavenska akademija zanosti i umjetnosti.. p. 290. ISBN 1. 

• Prvo skoči pa reci: "hop"!
  • Translation: First leap, then say: "jump"!
  • English equivalent: Walk the walk, then talk the talk.
  • Meaning: First do your task, then talk about it
  • Anić, Pranjković, Samardžija (1994). Rječnik hrvatskoga jezika. Novi liber. p. 947. ISBN 1. 

S

• Skup samo kad umre, cini dobro
  • Idiomatic translation: A covetous man does nothing that he should till he dies.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 24. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Sloga jači nesklad tlači.
  • Idiomatic translation: United we stand, divided we fall; Union is strength.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 79. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Što možeš danas, ne ostavljaj za sutra.
  • Translation: Do not leave for tomorrow, things you can do today.
  • English equivalent: Better now than later.
  • Kovačević (1991). Srpsko-engleski rečnik idioma, izraza i izreka. Filip Višnjić. p. 47. ISBN 1. 

• Starost – žalost.
  • Idiomatic translation: Age and poverty are ill to bear.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 177. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Sto se siromahu da, nije nikad izgubljeno.
  • Idiomatic translation: If you do good, good will be done to you.
  • Meaning: Good acts quiet often reward themselves.
  • English equivalent: You reap what you sow.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 160. ISBN 0415160502. 

T

• Tiha voda brege dere.
  • Translation: Still water wears down mountains.
  • English equivalent: Still waters run deep.
  • Meaning: A person might be taciturn because his head is filled with ambitious thoughts.
  • Majer, Matia (1848). Pravila kako izobraževati ilirsko narečje i u obče slavenski jezik. Natisnil Jožef Blaznik. p. 24. 

• Tko ne vaze, nema blaga.
  • Idiomatic translation: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
  • Meaning: It is necessary to take risks in order to achieve something.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 955. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Tko pod drugim jamu kopa, sam u nju pada.
  • Translation: He who digs a hole under someone else will fall into it himself.
  • Drvodelić (1970). Hrvatskosrpsko-engleski rječnik. Školska Knjiga. p. 227. ISBN 1. 

• Tko si ne da dokazati, ne može mu se pomoći.
  • Translation: He who can't be advised, can also not be helped.
  • English equivalent: He that will not be counseled cannot be helped.
  • Meaning: Advice often contain a genuine warning or an effective suggestion, which is unprudent not to take into consideration.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 964. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Tko rano rani, dvije sreće grabi.
  • Translation: He who wakes up early, catches two fortunes.
  • English equivalent: The early bird catches the worm.
  • Težak (1998). Teorija i praksa nastave hrvatskoga jezika. Školska Knjiga. p. 235. ISBN 1. 

• Tko istinu gudi, dobije gudalom po prstima.
  • Idiomatic translation: All truths are not to be told.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 282. ISBN 0415096243. 

U

• Uzdaj se u se i u svoje kljuse.
  • 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.
  • Hrvatska misao:. s.n.. 1903. p. 378. ISBN 1. 

V

• Velike ribe male proždiru.
  • Idiomatic translation: Men are like fish; the great ones devour the small.
  • Meaning: A weak person/group/community/country can be an easy prey to an immoral, powerful one.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 420. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Vrana vrani oci ne kopa .
  • Idiomatic translation: Crows will not pick out Crow's eyes.
  • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 31. ISBN 0415160502. 

Z

• Željezo se kuje dok je vruće.
  • English equivalent and translation: Forge while the iron is hot.
  • Anić, Pranjković, Samardžija (1994). Rječnik hrvatskoga jezika. Novi liber. p. 385. ISBN 1. 

• Zoš je miš koji ima samo jednu rupuma.
  • Idiomatic translation: It is a poor mouse that has only one hole.
  • Meaning: It is dangerous to always depend on just one thing, because if it fails you, you will not have any alternatives.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 375. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Žuri polako.
  • Translation: Make haste slowly.
  • English equivalent: More speed, less haste.
  • Latin equivalent: Festina lente.
  • Meaning: Do your work slowly to make sure it gets thoroughly done.
  • Horvat (1988). Besa: brodski dnevnik. Mladost. p. 25. ISBN 1.