Slovenian proverbs
From Wikiquote
Slovenian proverbs are short expressions of popular wisdom from Slovenia and other parts of the world where Slovenian is spoken.
Contents |
D [edit]
- Dober pocitek je pol dela.
- Idiomatic translation: Well begun, is half done.
- Meaning: Starting properly ensures the speedy completion of a process. A – beginning is often blocked by one or more obstacles (potential barriers) the removal of which may ensure the smooth course of the process.
- Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 228. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
- Dvema gospodarjema ne moreš služiti.
- Translation: Nobody can serve two masters.
- English equivalent: Also, Nobody can serve two masters.
- Meaning: One cannot serve two conflicting causes simultaneously. If this is attempted neither will be served properly.
- Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 283. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
K [edit]
- Kdor ne dela, je brez jela.
- Translation: He who does not work is without food.
- Idiomatic translation: He that will not work, shall not eat.
- Meaning: Without due effort one is not entitled to the fruits of the work.
- Source for proverb and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 256. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
J [edit]
- kmar mlade ne vedó, jim stare provedó.
- Translation: What kind of parents, such children.
- English equivalent: As the old cock crows, so crows the young.
- Meaning: Children will become like older generations.
- Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 138. ISBN 0415160502.
K [edit]
- Kakršna mati, taka hči.
- 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 proverb: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 137. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
- Kakršen oče, tak sin.
- Translation: Such father, such son.
- English equivalent: Like father, like son.
- Meaning: Sons may look and behave like their fathers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily.
- Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 170. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
- Kdor drugemu jamo koplje sam vanjo pade.
- Translation: He who digs a hole for someone else, ends up in it.
- Interpretation: If you have an insidious plan for someone it will backwire on to you.
- Pogačnik, Faganel (2000). Zbornik o Janezu Svetokriškem: prispevki s simpozija v Vipavskem Križu, 22.-24. aprila 1999. Slovenska akademija znanosti in umetnosti. p. 344. ISBN 1.
- Kdor prej pride prej melje.
- Translation: The one who arrives the first, grinds the first.
- English equivalent: First come, first served.
- Ljubljanski zvon. Knjigarna Tiskovne Zadruge R.Z.Z.O.Z.. 1929. p. 30.
- Kdor redko sejé, bo redko žel.
- Translation: What you reap is what you sow.
- Strauss (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 394. ISBN 0415160502.
- Krava pri gobcu molze.
- 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.
L [edit]
- Lepa beseda lepo mesto najde.
- Translation: Nice word finds a nice place.
- Interpretation: If you act politely and nicely, you will achieve much more than with bad attitude.
- Chapman (1999). Pet jezikov ljubezni. Tuma. p. 48.
- Laž ima kratke noge.
- Translation: Lie has short legs.
- Interpretation: The truth always comes out.
- Herbaj, Lapornik, Savkovič, Balmazovič, (Celje). (2002). Lažima kratke noge. Osnovna šola Hudinja.
N [edit]
- Ni treba prilivati olja v ogenj.
- 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.
P [edit]
- Prijatelja spoznaš v nesreĉi.
- Idiomatic translation: A friend is known in adversity, like gold is known in fire.
- Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 159. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
V [edit]
- Več glav več ve.
- Translation: More heads know more.
- Interpretation: A group of people are more wise than an individual.
- English equivalent: The voice of the people is the voice of god.
- Kovač, Hribar (2005). Večglav večve: informacijski kažipot. Knjižnica Jožeta Udoviča.
- Velike ribe male žro.
- 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.
- Vsak je svoje sreče kovač.
- Translation: Every man is the smith of his own fortune.
- English equivalent: Every man is the smith of his own fortune.
- Meaning: In shaping one's own fortune one should not rely on the help of others, as they are also concerned mainly about their own matters.
- Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 388. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
- Vsaka jabolka padejo blizu stebla.
- 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.
Z [edit]
- Z enim udarcem ne podreš hrasta.
- Idiomatic translation: Little strokes fell great oaks.
- Meaning: A difficult task, e. g. removing a person/group from a strong position, or changing established ideas cannot be done quickly. It can be achieved gradually, by small steps, a little at a time.
- Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 252. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
