Serbian proverbs

Proverbs from all Serbian speaking parts of the world.

B

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

Б

• Cyrillic: Боље врабац у руци, него голуб на грани. - Latin: Bolje vrabac u ruci, nego golub na grani.
  • 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.
  • NIN. nedeljne informativne novine. Politika.. 2005. 

Г

• Cyrillic: Гвожђе се кује док је вруће. - Latin: Gvožđe se kuje dok je vruće.
  • Translation: Iron is worked when it's still hot.
  • English equivalent: Strike while the iron is hot.
  • NIN. nedeljne informativne novine. Politika.. 2005. 

• Cyrillic: Где ти много обећавају, малу торбу понеси. - Latin: Gde ti mnogo obećavaju, malu torbu ponesi.
  • Translation: Where people are promising much to you, bring a small bag.
  • English equivalent: He who promises too much means nothing.
  • Stanković (1970). Stari dani. Prosveta. pp. 349. 

И

• Cyrillic: Ивер не пада далеко од кладе. - Latin: Iver ne pada daleko od klade.
  • Translation: A splinter doesn't land far from the trunk.
  • English equivalent: An apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
  • Institut za srpskohrvatski jezik (Belgrade. Rečnik srpskohrvatskog književnog i narodnog jezika. Institut za srpskohrvatski jezik. p. 481. 

K

• Cyrillic: Ко другоме јаму копа сам у њу пада. - Latin: Ko drugome jamu kopa sam u nju pada.
  • Translation: Who digs a trap for others ends up in it himself.
  • Kovačević (1991). Srpsko-engleski rečnik idioma, izraza i izreka. Filip Višnjić. p. 99. 

• Cyrillic: Ко рано рани, две среће граби. - Latin: Ko rano rani, dve sreće grabi.
  • Translation: One who gets up early is doubly lucky. (Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.)
  • Kovačević (1991). Srpsko-engleski rečnik idioma, izraza i izreka. Filip Višnjić. p. 9. 

H

• Cyrillic: Нема ватре без дима. - Latin: Nema vatre bez dima.
  • Translation: There is no fire without smoke.
  • English equivalent: Where there is smoke there is fire.
  • Bošković-Stulli (1983). Usmena književnost nekad i danas. Prosveta. p. 262. 

• Cyrillic: Није злато све што сија. - Latin: Nije zlato sve što sija.
  • Translation: Gold is not all that shines.
  • English equivalent: All that glitters is not gold.
  • Meaning: An attractive appearance may be deceptive. It may cover or hide a much less favourable content.
  • Kovačević (1991). Srpsko-engleski rečnik idioma, izraza i izreka. Filip Višnjić. p. 135. 
  • Source for meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 114. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

П

• Cyrillic: Пас који лаје не уједа. - Latin: Pas koji laje ne ujeda.
  • Translation: The dog that barks doesn't bite.
  • English equivalent: Barking dogs seldom bite.
  • Meaning: Threatening does not always lead to action: Harsh words may disguise a different feeling, intention or ability.
  • Benson (1993). Englesko-srpskohrvatski rečnik. Prosveta. p. 57. 
  • Source for meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 44. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

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

T

• Cyrillic: Трипут мери, једном сеци. - Latin: Triput meri, jednom seci.
  • Translation: Three times measure, one time cut.
  • English equivalent: Measure thrice, cut once.
  • Meaning: One should always act only after due consideration. A hasty action may involve an improper consideration of important aspects.
  • Beogradu (1956). Glasnik Etnografskog muzeja u Beogradu. Muzej. p. 132. 
  • Source for meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 420. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

У

• Cyrillic: Уздај се у се и у своје кљусе! - Latin: Uzdaj se u se i u svoje kljuse!
  • Translation: Trust yourself and your horse!
  • Meaning: Trust no one except yourself, and don't trust yourself entirely either; Trust, but verify.
  • English equivalent: Distrust is the mother of safety.
  • akademija, nauka, umetnosti (1952). Srpski etnografski zbornik. Akademija. p. 350. 

W

• Cyrillic: Што можеш данас, не остављај за сутра. - Latin: Što možeš danas, ne ostavljaj za sutra.
  • Translation: What you can do today do not leave off for tomorrow.
  • English equivalent: Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
  • Kovačević (1991). Srpsko-engleski rečnik idioma, izraza i izreka. Filip Višnjić. p. 47. 

D

• Dela govore, a ne reci.
  • Idiomatic translation: Fine words butters no parsnips.
  • Meaning: Merely talking about a problem will not solve it.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. IOI. ISBN 0415096243. 

N

• Nova metla dobro 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. 

• Ne videti šumu od drveta.
  • Idiomatic translation: Not seeing the forest, for the trees.
  • Meaning: To pay too much attention to details and not understand the general situation.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 160. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Sve se vraća, sve se plaća
  • Idiomatic translation: What goes around comes around.
  • Meaning: Evil acts quite often punish themselves. Conversely, good acts quite often reward themselves.
  • Juzbašić, Anita (2008). Baloni naših želja: roman. Ceres. p. 29. 

I

• Iver ne pada daleko od klade.
  • 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.