Portuguese proverbs

Proverbs from all Portugese speaking countries.

A

• "A caridade começa em casa."
  • Translation: "Charity begins at home"
  • Equivalent in French: Charité bien ordonnée commence par soi-même.
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 547. ISBN 0415096243. 

• "As aparências iludem." or, equivalently, "As aparências enganam."
  • Translation: "Looks can be deceiving."
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 124. ISBN 0415160502. 

• "Antes só do que mal acompanhado." (Brazil and Portugal)
  • Translation: "It's better to be alone than in bad company."+
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 163. ISBN 0415160502. 

• "Amigos amigos, negócios à parte."
  • Translation: "Friends are friends, business is [something] aside"
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 639. ISBN 0415096243. 

• "Ajuda-te que Deus te ajudará."
  • Translation: Help yourself and God will help you.
    • Equivalent: Don't ask God to guide your footsteps if you're not willing to move your feet.
    • Equivalent in French: Aide-toi et le ciel t'aidera.
    • Εquivalent in Greek: Συν Αθηνά και χείρα κίνει. "Aided by Athena (ancient Greek godess) and move your hand."
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 639. ISBN 0415096243. 

• "A sorte favorece os audazes."
  • Translation: "Luck favours the bold"
  • Origin: Virgil "Audentes fortuna juvat" Wikipedia
  • Dinis, Júlio (1985). Uma família inglesa. Editorial Comunicação. p. 46 pages = 596. 

• "A pressa é inimiga da perfeição."
  • Translation: "Haste is the enemy of perfection."
  • Equivalent: "Haste makes waste."
  • Plá, Daniel (2001). Tudo Sobre Franchising. Senac. p. 40 pages = 160 isbn = 8587864106. 

• "A mentira tem perna curta."
  • Translation: "Lies have short legs."
  • Meaning: The truth never stays hidden for long.
  • Equivalent: The truth will out.
  • Andrade abrãao, Marcos. Filho de Elohim. Editora Naós Ltda. p. 12. ISBN 8577950417. 

• "Até ao lavar dos cestos é vindima."
  • Translation: The time to collect grapes only ends with the washing of baskets.
  • Meaning: (1) We/They stay on until it's over. (2) Don't quit until it's over. (3) We / They will grab what we/they can while it lasts.
  • Equivalence: It's not over 'till it's over.
  • Equivalence: There's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip.
  • Copello, Marcelo (1994). SABORES DO DOURO E DO MINHO, OS: HISTORIAS, RECEITAS, VINHOS. Senac. p. 133. ISBN 857359764X. 

• "As paredes têm ouvidos."
  • Translation: "The walls have ears."
  • Be careful with what you say, for you never know who might be listening.
  • Equivalent in French: Les murs ont des oreilles.
  • Equivalent in Greek: Και οι τοίχοι έχουν αυτιά. Exact translation with the portuguese equivalent.
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 136. ISBN 0415096243. 

• "A noite é boa conselheira."
  • Translation: "The night is a good advisor"
  • Variant: "O travesseiro é bom conselheiro"
  • Translation: The pillow is a good advisor.
  • Meaning: Thinking things over sometimes helps to make things clearer.
  • Equivalent: "Sleep on it."
  • Equivalent in French: La nuit porte conseil.
  • Moacyr, Othon (2004). Comunicação em Prosa Moderna: aprenda a escrever, aprendendo a pensar. FGV Editora,. p. 153. ISBN 852250296X. 

C

• "Cão que ladra não morde."
  • Translation: Barking dog doesn't bite.
  • Meaning: People who only talk aren't dangerous.
  • Equivalence: Barking dogs seldom bite.
  • Equivalence: His bark is worse than his bite.
  • Equivalence in French: Chien qui aboie ne mord pas.
  • Taylor, James Lumpkin; Martin, Priscilla Clark (1970). A Portuguese-English Dictionary. Stanford University Press, ,. p. 378. ISBN 9780804704809. 

D

• "Deitar cedo e cedo erguer, dá saúde e faz crescer."
  • Translation: "Early sleep and early wake up, gives health and makes you grow."
  • Ironic variant rarely used: Deitar cedo e cedo erguer dá saúde e faz sono. ("[...] and makes you sleepy.")
  • Equivalent: "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."
  • Equivalent in French: Coucher de poule et lever de corbeau écartent l'homme du tombeau.
  • Lanciani, Giulia (1996). José Saramago: il bagaglio dello scrittore Volym 2 av Lusobrasilica Series. Bulzoni. p. 79. ISBN 8871199332. 

• "De boas intenções está o Inferno cheio."
  • Translation: "Hell is full of good intentions."
  • Equivalence: "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."
  • Equivalence in french: L’enfer est pavé de bonnes intentions
  • Alves Pinto, CiÇa (1994). LIVRO DOS PROVERBIOS, DITADOS, DITOS POPULARES E: ANEXINS Utgåva 5. Senac. p. 93. ISBN 9788573597974. 

E

• "Entre marido e mulher não se mete a colher."
  • Translation: "Between husband and wife, one doesn't put the spoon."
  • Variant: "Entre marido e mulher não metas a colher."
  • Meaning: One shouldn't mess with a couples private life, or anyone's for that matter.
  • Equivalent in French: Entre l'arbre et l'écorce, il ne faut pas mettre le doigt.
  • Ganho, Ana Sofia; McGovern, Timothy Michael (2004). Using Portuguese: A Guide to Contemporary Usage. Cambridge University Press. p. 69. ISBN 0521796636. 

• "Enquanto há vida, há esperança."
  • Translation: "While there's life, there's hope."
  • Equivalence in french: Tant qu'il y a de la vie il y a de l'espoir.
  • Ganho, Ana Sofia; McGovern, Timothy Michael (2004). Using Portuguese: A Guide to Contemporary Usage. Cambridge University Press. p. 88. ISBN 0521796636. 

• "É de pequenino que se torce o pepino."
  • Translation: "It's when it's small that the cucumber gets warped."
  • Bad habits acquired during early life last long.
  • Children should learn good habits from a tender age.
  • Ganho, Ana Sofia; McGovern, Timothy Michael (2004). Using Portuguese: A Guide to Contemporary Usage. Cambridge University Press. p. 89. ISBN 0521796636. 

L

• "Longe dos olhos, longe do coração." (can also be "Longe da vista (sight), longe do coração")
  • Translation: "Far from the eyes, far from the heart."
  • Equivalence: "Out of sight, out of mind."
  • Variation: "O que os olhos não vêem, o coração não sente." ("What the eyes don't see, the heart doesn't feel.")
  • Equivalence in french: Loin des yeux, loin du coeur
  • Ganho, Ana Sofia; McGovern, Timothy Michael (2004). Using Portuguese: A Guide to Contemporary Usage. Cambridge University Press. p. 90. ISBN 0521796636. 

M

• "Mais vale um pássaro na mão do que dois a voar."(Portugal)
• "Mais vale um pássaro na mão do que dois voando."(Brazil)
  • Translation: "A bird in the hand has more worth than two flying."
  • Equivalence: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
  • Equivalence in french: Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l’auras.
  • Ganho, Ana Sofia; McGovern, Timothy Michael (2004). Using Portuguese: A Guide to Contemporary Usage. Cambridge University Press. p. 90. ISBN 0521796636. 

• "Mais vale tarde do que nunca."
  • Translation: "Better late than never."
  • Equivalence: Better late than never.
  • Equivalence in french: Mieux vaut tard que jamais.
  • Ganho, Ana Sofia; McGovern, Timothy Michael (2004). Using Portuguese: A Guide to Contemporary Usage. Cambridge University Press. p. 88. ISBN 0521796636. 

• "Mais vale prevenir do que remediar."
  • Translation: "It's best to prevent than to have to remedy (or fix)."
  • Equivalence: "Better safe then sorry.", "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
  • Equivalence in french: Mieux vaut prévenir que guérir.
  • Herminii, Herminia. Nominalia. José Rabaça Gaspar deNomios. p. 485. ISBN 141353547X. 

N

• "Não chore sobre o leite derramado."
  • Translation: "Don't cry over spilt milk."
  • Chang Tong, Jonh Yen. Bolsa de Valores Visao Feliz E Optimsta de Tres Geracoes. Editora AGE Ltda. p. 75. ISBN 8574971979. 

• "Não há galinha gorda por pouco dinheiro."
  • Translation: there are no fat chicken for little money (for cheap).
  • Meaning: there are no big bargains. Be suspicious otherwise.
  • Machado, José Pedro (1996). O grande livro dos provérbios. Editorial Notícias. p. 326. ISBN 8574971979. 

• "Não há duas sem três."
  • Translation: There's no two without a three.
  • Meaning: If it happened twice, it will happen again.
  • Equivalent:
  • Equivalent in French: Jamais deux sans trois.
  • Machado, José Pedro (1996). O grande livro dos provérbios. Editorial Notícias. p. 397. ISBN 8574971979. 

• "Não deixes para amanhã o que podes fazer hoje."
  • Translation: "Don't leave for tomorrow what you can do today."
  • Equivalence: "Carpe diem" (not quite - this means "Live life fully")
  • Equivalence: Don't put off (necessary) things until later.
  • Equivalence in French: Il ne faut jamais remettre au lendemain ce qu'on peut faire le jour même.
  • Ganho, Ana Sofia; McGovern, Timothy Michael (2004). Using Portuguese: A Guide to Contemporary Usage. Cambridge University Press. p. 90. ISBN 0521796636. 

• "Nem tudo que reluz é ouro."
  • Variant: Nem tudo o que brilha é ouro.
  • Translation: "Not everything that shines is gold".
  • Equivalence: "Everything that glitters is not gold."
  • Equivalence: All that glitters is not gold.
  • Equivalence in French: Tout ce qui brille n’est pas or.
  • Costa, J. J. (2009). A sabedoria dos ditados populares. Butterfly Editora. p. 30. ISBN 858847784X. 

O

• "Os cães ladram mas a caravana passa."
  • Translation: Dogs bark, but the caravan keeps on.
  • Meaning: Pay no attention to what people say about you.
  • Note: From an Arab proverb.
  • Mondaini, Marco (2008). Direitos Humanos No Brasil ContemporÂneo. Editora Universitária UFPE. p. 82. ISBN 8573155302. 

• "Onde se ganha o pão, não se come a carne."
  • "Where you earn your bread, you don't eat the meat."
  • English equivalent: You don't shit where you eat.
  • Meaning: Where you work, don't date.
  • Tettê, Schmidt; Tavares, Ulisses. Guia do Homem. Geração Editorial. p. 91. ISBN 8575090313. 

• "O que os olhos não vêem, o coração não sente."
  • Translation: "What the eyes don't see the heart doesn't feel."
  • Equivalence: "Out of sight, out of mind."
  • Variation: "Longe dos olhos, longe do coração." ("Far from the eyes, far from the heart.")
  • Machado, José Pedro (1996). O grande livro dos provérbios. Editorial Notícias. p. 397. ISBN 8574971979. 

• "O barato sai caro."
  • Variant: "O que é barato sai caro."
  • Translation: What is cheap is costly.
  • Meaning: The cheap things prove to be expensive at the end.
  • Equivalents: If you buy quality, you only cry once. If you buy cheaply, you pay dearly.
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 53. ISBN 0415160502. 

P

• "Primeiro a obrigação, depois a devoção."
  • Translation: First comes duty, then devotion.
  • Meaning: First do your work, and only then what you best like.
  • A. Alves, Rubem (1992). O retorno e terno. Papirus Editora. p. 69. ISBN 8530802152. 

Q

• "Quem tem telhado de vidro não joga pedra [no telhado do vizinho]."
  • Variant: "Quem tem telhado de vidro não atira pedras [no do vizinho]."
  • Translation: "Those with glass roof shouldn't throw stones [to their neihgbor's]."
  • If you're vulnerable you shouldn't be attacking others.
  • Equivalence: People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
  • Ganho, Ana Sofia; McGovern, Timothy Michael (2004). Using Portuguese: A Guide to Contemporary Usage. Cambridge University Press. p. 91. ISBN 0521796636. 

• "Quem não quer ser lobo não lhe vista a pele."
  • Translation: Who doesn't want to be a wolf shouldn't wear it's hide.
  • Meaning: If you don't want to be treated like a [something], don't act like one.
  • Alves Pinto, CiÇa. LIVRO DOS PROVERBIOS, DITADOS, DITOS POPULARES E: ANEXINS. Senac. p. 91. ISBN 8573597976. 

• "Quem muito abarca pouco abraça."
  • Translation: "He who grasps at too much loses everything."
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 886. ISBN 0415096243. 

• "Quem está no convento é que sabe o que lhe vai dentro."
  • Translation: [Only] Who is in the convent knows what goes on inside.
  • Meaning: Only people going though a problem know how it is.
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 886. ISBN 0415096243. 

• "Quem boa cama faz nela se deita"
  • Translation: He who makes a good bed sleeps on it
  • Meaning: You reap what you sow
  • Alternative meaning: You did a good thing, now use it
  • Equivalent: As you make your bed, so you must lie in it.
  • Equivalent in French: Comme on fait son lit on se couche.
  • Azevedo, Arthur (1983). Teatro de Artur Azevedo, Volym 1. Instituto Nacional de Artes Cênicas. p. 68. 

• "Quanto mais depressa mais devagar."
  • Translation: the faster, the slower.
  • Variation: "Quantas mais pressas mais vagares"
  • Usage: About things made fast (or in haste) that end up being done slower than usual.
  • Machado, José Pedro (1996). O grande livro dos provérbios. Editorial Notícias. p. 467. ISBN 8574971979. 

• "Quando a esmola é demais, até o santo desconfia"
  • Translation: "When the alms is too large, even a saint will be suspicious."
  • Equivalence: "When something seems too good to be true, usualy it is"
  • Variation: "Quando a esmola é muita, o pobre desconfia." ("When the alms is too much, the poor will be suspicious.")
  • Variant: "Quando a esmola é grande o santo desconfia."
  • Costa, J. J. (2009). A sabedoria dos ditados populares. Butterfly Editora. p. 20. ISBN 858847784X. 

• "Quem vê cara não vê coração."
  • Translation: "He who looks at the face doesn't see the heart."
  • Variant: Quem vê caras não vê corações. (Port.)
  • Translation: Who sees faces doesn't see hearts.
  • Meaning: You can't know what goes inside people by just looking.
  • Equivalence: "You can't tell a book by its cover."
  • Ganho, Ana Sofia; McGovern, Timothy Michael (2004). Using Portuguese: A Guide to Contemporary Usage. Cambridge University Press. p. 91. ISBN 0521796636. 

S

• "Se Maomé não vai à montanha, a montanha vai a Maomé."
  • Translation: "If Mohammad won't go to the mountain, the mountain will go to Mohammad"
• "Quem não quer ser lobo não lhe vista a pele."
  • Translation: Who doesn't want to be a wolf shouldn't wear it's hide.
  • Meaning: If you don't want to be treated like a [something], don't act like one.
  • Alves Pinto, CiÇa. LIVRO DOS PROVERBIOS, DITADOS, DITOS POPULARES E: ANEXINS. Senac. p. 110. ISBN 8573597976. 

U

• "Uma ovelha má põe o rebanho a perder."
  • Translation: A bad sheep puts the herd to waste.
  • English equivalent: "one bad apple ruins the bunch."
  • Merryman, Montgomery; McGovern, Timothy Michael (1951). Portuguese: a portrait of the language of Brazil. Uniaõ Cultural Brasil-Estados Unidos. p. 118. 

• "Um homem prevenido vale por dois."
  • Translation: A forewarned man is worth two (men).
  • Equivalence: Forewarned is forearmed.
  • See: Homem prevenido vale por dois.

• "Uma desgraça nunca vem só."
  • Translation: a misfortune never comes alone.
  • Usage: in bad luck streaks.

V

• "Vai muito do dizer ao fazer."
  • Translation: There's a long way from saying to doing.
  • Equivalence: It's easier said than done.

• "Voz do povo, voz de Deus."
  • Translation: The people's voice is God's voice.
  • Meaning: You had better heed when many people gather spontaneously about some cause.
  • Meaning: The voices of gossipers in the marketplace are God's own
  • Meaning: what you can hear here and there is unquestionable beacuse everybody is saying it
  • Note: A meta-proverb: a proverb about proverbs, the people's wisdom.

Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 639. ISBN 0415096243. 

Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 211. ISBN 0415160502. 

Machado, José Pedro (1996). O grande livro dos provérbios. Editorial Notícias. p. 397. ISBN 8574971979. 

Ganho, Ana Sofia; McGovern, Timothy Michael (2004). Using Portuguese: A Guide to Contemporary Usage. Cambridge University Press. p. 88. ISBN 0521796636.