Talk:French proverbs

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V

A

• À cheval donné on ne regarde pas les dents (French) / la bride (Canadian).
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't look a gifthorse in the mouth.
  • Literal translation: At a given horse one doesn't look at the teeth / bridle (the bit in the horse's mouth).

• À la Sainte-Luce, les jours accroissent du saut d'une puce.
  • Literal translation: On Saint Lucia's Day, the days grow by the jump of a flea.
  • Meaning: The days begin to get longer on Saint Lucia's Day, December 16 (which formerly coincided with the Winter Solstice).

• À Rome, fais comme les Romains.
  • Translation: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

• Après la pluie, le beau temps.
  • Translation: After troubles, calm comes back.

• Autre temps, autres mœurs.
  • Translation: Other days, other ways.

• Avec des si et des mais, on mettrait Paris en bouteille
  • Literal translation: With these ifs, we put Paris in a bottle.
  • Idiomatic translation 2: If wishes were fishes we'd all cast nets.
  • Idiomatic translation 3: If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

B

• Bien mal acquis ne profite jamais.
  • Idiomatic translation: Ill-gotten gains seldom prosper.
  • Literal meaning: Goods badly acquired never profit.

• Bon repas doit commencer par la faim.
  • Idiomatic translation: Hunger is the best spice.
  • Literal meaning: A good meal must begin with hunger.

• Bonne renommée vaut mieux que ceinture dorée.
  • Idiomatic translation: A good name is better than riches.
  • Literal meaning: A good name is worthier than a golden belt.

C

• C'est bonnet blanc et blanc bonnet.
  • Literal translation: It's white hat and hat white.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's six of one and half a dozen of the other.

• C'est dans le besoin qu'on reconnaît ses vrais amis.
  • Literal translation: It's when in need that one recognises one's true friends.
  • Idiomatic translation: A friend in need is a friend indeed.

• C'est dans les vieilles marmites qu'on fait les meilleures soupes.
  • Literal Translation: It's in old kettles that one makes the best soup.
  • Idiomatic Translation: The best broths are made in the oldest pots.

• C'est en forgeant qu'on devient forgeron.
  • Literal meaning: By dint of forging one becomes a blacksmith.
  • Idiomatic translation: Practice makes perfect.

• C'est l'arroseur arrosé.
  • Literal meaning: It's the waterer getting drenched.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's the biter bit.

• C'est l'exception qui confirme la règle.
  • Translation: It's the exception that proves the rule.

• C'est la goutte d'eau qui fait déborder le vase.
  • Literal meaning: It's the drop of water that makes the jug overflow.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's the straw that breaks the camel's back.

• C'est la paille et la poutre.
  • Literal meaning: It's the straw and the beam.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's the mote and the beam (or the pot calling the kettle black).

• C'est la Pitié / l'hôpital qui se moque de la Charité.
  • Literal meaning: It's Pity / the hospital that mocks Charity.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's the pot calling the kettle black.

• C'est la poule qui chante qui a fait l'œuf.
  • Literal meaning: It is the hen which sings which has laid the egg.
  • Idiomatic translation: The guilty dog barks the loudest.

• C'est la poêle qui se moque du chaudron.
  • Literal meaning: It's the pan mocking the cauldron.
  • Idiomatic translation: The pot that calls the kettle black.

• C'est le ton qui fait la chanson.
  • Literal meaning: It's the tone that makes the song.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's not what you say but the way you say it.

• C'est trop aimer quand on en meurt.
  • Idiomatic translation: They love too much who die for love.
  • Literal translation: It´s loving too much when one dies of it.

• C'est un prêté pour un rendu.
  • Translation 1: Tit for tat.
  • Translation 2: One good turn deserves another.
  • Literal meaning: It is one loaned for one returned.

• Ce qui est fait n'est plus à faire.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don´t leave till tomorrow what can be finished today.
  • Literal translation: What is done no longer needs to be done.

• Ce n'est pas aux vieux singes qu'on apprend à faire des grimaces.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
  • Literal meaning: You can't teach old monkeys how to make faces.

• Ce n'est pas la vache qui crie le plus fort qui donne le plus de lait.
  • Idiomatic translation: Great cry, little milk.
  • Literal meaning: It is not the cow who shouts the loudest who gives the most milk.

• Ce que femme veut, Dieu le veut.
  • Idiomatic translation: A woman's will is God's will.
  • Literal translation: That which a woman wishes, God wishes.

• Chacun son métier, les vaches seront bien gardées.
  • Idiomatic translation: One should mind one's own business.
  • Literal meaning: Each to his craft, and the cows will be well looked after.

• Chacun voit midi à sa porte.
  • Idiomatic translation: To each his own.
  • Literal meaning: Everyone sees noon at his door.

• Chantez à l'âne, il vous fera des pets.
  • Literal translation: Sing to a donkey, he will fart to you.
  • Idiomatic translation: Hold food in your hand, and the dog will bite it.

• Charbonnier est maître chez soi.
  • Translation (British): An Englishman's home is his castle.
  • Literal meaning: A coalman is master of his own house.

• Chien qui aboie ne mord pas.
  • Literal meaning: Dog that barks does not bite.
  • Idiomatic translation: Barking dogs seldom bite.
  • Translation 2: His bark is worse than his bite

• Chose promise, chose due.
  • Literal meaning: Thing promised, thing owed.
  • Idiomatic translation: Promises are made to be kept.

• Cœur qui soupire n'a pas ce qu'il désire.
  • Translation: The heart that sighs does not have what it desires.

• Comme on fait son lit on se couche.
  • Literal meaning: As one makes one's bed, one lies in it.
  • Idiomatic translation: As you make your bed, so you are going to lie in it.

• Comparaison n'est pas raison.
  • Literal meaning: Comparison is no reason.
  • Idiomatic translation: Comparisons are misleading.

• Contentement passe richesse.
  • Idiomatic translation: Happiness is worth more than riches.

• Coucher de poule et lever de corbeau écartent l'homme du tombeau.
  • Idiomatic translation 1: Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
  • Literal meaning: Going to bed with the hen and waking with the crow keeps the man from the grave.

D

• Dans le doute, abstiens-toi.
  • Literal translation: In doubt, abstain.
  • Idiomatic translation: When in doubt, forbear.

• De la discussion jaillit la lumière. or Du choc des idées jaillit la lumière
  • Idiomatic translation: Two heads are better than one.
  • Literal meaning: Out of discussion springs forth the light.
  • French signification: Good ideas emerge from discussion/argument.

• Demain il fera jour.
  • Literal meaning: Tomorrow will be a day.
  • Idiomatic translation: Tomorrow is another day.

• Deux avis valent mieux qu'un.
  • Idiomatic translation: Two heads are better than one.
  • Literal meaning: Two opinions are better than one.

• Dis-moi qui tu fréquentes, je te dirai qui tu es.
  • Idiomatic translation: A man is known by the company he keeps.
  • Literal meaning: Tell me whom you spend time with and I will tell you who you are.

• Douce parole n'écorche pas langue.
  • Idiomatic translation: Good words break no bones.
  • Literal meaning: Soft words don't scratch the tongue.

E

• En avril, ne te découvre pas d'un fil ; en mai, fais ce qui te plaît.
  • Idiomatic translation: Never cast a clout till May is out.
  • Literal meaning: In April, do not shed a single thread; in May, do as you please.

• En tout pays, il y a une lieue de mauvais chemins.
  • Idiomatic translation: There will be bumps on the smoothest roads.
  • Literal translation: In every country, there's a league of bad paths

• Entre deux maux, il faut choisir le moindre.
  • Translation: Of two evils one must choose the lesser.

• Entre l'arbre et l'écorce, il ne faut pas mettre le doigt.
  • Idiomatic translation: Do not meddle in other people's family affairs.
  • Literal meaning: Don't poke your finger 'twixt the bark and the tree.

F

• Fais ce que dois, advienne que pourra.
  • Idiomatic translation: Do your duty, come what may.

• Fais ce que je dis, ne fais pas ce que je fais.
  • Idiomatic translation: Do as I say, not as I do.

• Faute avouée est à moitié pardonnée.
  • Literal translation: A fault confessed is half forgiven.
  • Idiomatic translation: A fault confessed is a half redressed.

• Faute de grives, on mange des merles.
  • Translation 1: Half a loaf is better than no bread.
  • Translation 2: You have to cut your coat according to your cloth.
  • Literal meaning: Eat blackbirds if you can't have thrushes.

• Femme rit quand elle peut et pleure quand elle veut.
  • Idiomatic translation: A woman laughs when she can and weeps when she wants.

• Filer à l'anglaise.
  • Idiomatic translation: To take French leave.
  • Literal translation: Leave the English way.

• Force fait loi.
  • Translation: Might makes right.
  • Transliteration: Strength makes law.

G

• Grosse Corvette, petite cervelle.
  • Literal translation: Big Corvette, small brain.
  • Idiomatic translation: Big car, no brain.

• Grosse Corvette, petite quéquette. (Quebec)
  • Literal translation: Big Corvette, small willie. (penis - quéquette being informal French).
  • Meaning: someone who buys a big car is compensating for sexual shortcomings.

H

• Heureux au jeu, malheureux en amour.
  • Idiomatic translation: Lucky in cards, unlucky in love.
  • Literal meaning: Fortunate in games, unfortunate in love.

• Homme mort ne fait guerre.
  • Idiomatic translation: A dead man deals no blows.
  • Literal meaning: A dead man cannot make war.

• Honni soit qui mal y pense.
  • Idiomatic translation: Evil be to he who evil thinks.
  • Literal meaning: Shameful be they who thinks badly of it.

I

• Il faut apprendre à obéir pour savoir commander.
  • Translation: It is necessary to learn how to obey to know to comand.

• Il faut battre le fer pendant qu'il est chaud.
  • Translation 1: Strike while the iron is hot.
  • Translation 2: Make hay while the sun shines.
  • Literal Translation: You must strike the iron while it is hot.

• Il faut casser le noyau pour avoir l'amande.
  • Literal Translation: It is necessary to break the shell to have the almond
  • Translation 1: He who would eat, crack the kernel.
  • Translation 2: No pain, no gain.

• Il faut de tout pour faire un monde.
  • Idiomatic translation: It takes all sorts to make a world.
  • Literal meaning: It takes everything to make a world.

• Il faut le voir pour le croire
  • Translation: Seeing is believing.

• Il faut ménager la chèvre et le chou.
  • Idiomatic translation: One must run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.
  • Literal meaning: One must spare both the goat and the cabbage.

• Il faut que jeunesse se passe.
  • Translation 1: Youth must have its fling.
  • Literal translation: Youth must happen.

• Il faut qu'une porte soit ouverte ou fermée.
  • Idiomatic translation: There can be no middle ground.
  • Literal meaning: A door must be either open or shut.

• Il faut savoir obéir avant que de commander.
  • Idiomatic translation: Obedience comes before leadership.
  • Literal meaning: One must learn to obey before he can command.

• Il faut tourner sa langue sept fois dans sa bouche avant de parler.
  • Idiomatic translation: Think before you speak.
  • Literal meaning: One must turn the tongue seven times in the mouth before speaking.

• Il ne faut jamais dire « Fontaine, je ne boirai pas de ton eau ». Most often said Il ne faut jamais dire Fontaine
  • Idiomatic translation: Never say never.
  • Literal meaning: Never say, "Fountain, I shall not drink of your water."

• Il ne faut jamais remettre au lendemain ce qu'on peut faire le jour même.
  • Literal translation: Never put off to tomorrow what you can do today.
  • Translation: One of these days is none of these days.

• Il ne faut pas chercher midi à quatorze heures.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't complicate the issue.
  • Idiomatic translation: To look for knots in a bulrush
  • Literal meaning: Don't look for noon at two o'clock.

• Il ne faut pas confondre vitesse et précipitation.
  • Idiomatic translation: More haste, less speed.
  • Literal meaning: One must not confuse speed with haste.

• Il ne faut pas déshabiller Pierre pour habiller Paul.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't rob Peter to pay Paul.
  • Literal meaning: Don't undress Peter to dress Paul.

• Il ne faut pas mettre la charrue avant les bœufs.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't put the cart before the horse.
  • Literal meaning: Don't put the plough before the oxen.

• Il ne faut pas mettre tous ses œufs dans le même panier.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

• Il ne faut pas réveiller le chat qui dort.
  • Idiomatic translation: Let sleeping dogs lie.
  • Literal meaning: Don't wake a cat who sleeps.

• Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
  • Literal meaning: Don't sell the bearskin before you've killed the bear.

• Il n'est jamais trop tard pour bien faire.
  • Idiomatic translation: It is never too late to mend.
  • Literal meaning: It is never too late to do well.

• Il n'est pire aveugle que celui qui ne veut pas voir.
  • Idiomatic translation: There are none so blind as they who will not see.

• Il n'est pire eau que celle qui dort. also "Méfie-toi de l'eau qui dort"
  • Literal meaning: There is no worse water than the water which sleeps / Beware of the water which sleeps.
  • Idiomatic translation: Still waters run deep.

• Il n'est pire sourd que celui qui ne veut pas entendre.
  • Idiomatic translation: There is none so deaf as he who will not hear.
  • Literal meaning: There are none so deaf as those who will not listen.

• Il n'y a pas d'ânesse qui ne trouve son âne.
  • Idiomatic translation: Every Jack has his Jill.
  • Literal meaning: There is no jenny who does not find her donkey.

• Il n'y a pas d'anguilles sans fémur
  • Idiomatic translation: Where the birds are, the trees grow.

• Il n'y a pas de fumée sans feu.
  • Literal translation: There's no smoke without fire.
  • Idiomatic translation: Where there's smoke, there's fire.

• Il n'y a pas de petit profit.
  • Idiomatic translation: A penny saved is a penny earned.
  • Literal meaning: There is no small profit.

• Il n'y a pas de sot métier.
  • Literal meaning: There is no inane craft.
  • Idiomatic translation: Every trade has its value.

• Il n'y a que la vérité qui blesse.
  • Literal meaning: Only truth hurts.
  • Idiomatic translation: Truth hurts.

• Il n'y a que les montagnes qui ne se rencontrent jamais.
  • Idiomatic translation: There are none so distant that fate cannot bring together.
  • Literal meaning: It is only the mountains which never meet.

• Il vaut mieux un petit chez soi, qu'un grand chez les autres.
  • Idiomatic translation: There's no place like home.
  • Literal meaning: It's better to be in your own home, though small, than the large home of someone else.

• Il y a loin de la coupe aux lèvres.
  • Idiomatic translation: There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.
  • Literal translation: There is a long way between the cup and the lips.

• Il y a plus d'un âne à la foire qui s'appellent Martin. also "Tous les ânes ne s'appellent pas Martin."
  • Idiomatic translation 1: If one will not, another will.
  • Idiomatic translation 2: There's plenty more fish in the sea
  • Literal meaning: There is more than one donkey at the fair called Martin.

• "Impossible" n'est pas français.'
  • Idiomatic translation: There is no such word as "can't".
  • Literal meaning: Impossible is not a French word.

J

• Jamais couard n'aura belle amie.
  • Literal translation: Never coward shall have fair lady for friend.
  • Idiomatic translation: Faint heart never won fair lady.

• Jamais deux sans trois.
  • Literal translation: Never twice without thrice.

• Je ne suis ni pour, ni contre, bien au contraire.
  • Literal translation: I am neither for nor against, much to the contrary!

L

• Laissez les bons temps rouler.
  • Idiomatic translation: Let the good times roll [Cajun French].

• L'amour fait beaucoup, mais l'argent fait tout.
  • Translation: Love does much, but money does all.

• L'argent n'a pas d'odeur.
  • Idiomatic translation: Money is money (wherever it comes from).
  • Literal meaning: Money has no smell.
  • Latin: Pecunia non olet.

• L'argent ne fait pas le bonheur.
  • Idiomatic translation: Money can't buy happiness.
  • Literal meaning: Money doesn't make happiness.

• L'argent ne se trouve pas sous le sabot / le pas d'un cheval.
  • Idiomatic translation: Money doesn't grow on trees.
  • Literal meaning: Money is not found under a horse's hoof / step.

• L'amour est aveugle.
  • Translation: Love is blind.

• L'habit ne fait pas le moine.
  • Idiomatic translation 1: One cannot judge a book by its cover.
  • Idiomatic translation 2: Clothes don't make the man.
  • Literal translation: The dress doesn't make the monk.

• L'herbe est toujours plus verte chez le voisin.
  • Idiomatic translation: The grass is always greener on the other side.
  • Literal translation: The grass is always greener at the neighbours'

• L'homme est un loup pour l'homme.
  • Idiomatic translation: Brother will turn on brother. /'dog eat dog'
  • Latin: Homo homini lupus
  • Literal meaning: The man is a wolf for the man.

• La bave du crapaud n'atteint pas la blanche colombe.
  • Idiomatic translation: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
  • Literal meaning: The spit of the toad doesn't reach the white dove.

• La caque sent toujours le hareng.
  • Idiomatic translation: What's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh.
  • Literal meaning: A herring barrel will always smell of herring.

• La chance sourit aux audacieux.
  • Idiomatic translation: Fortune favours the brave.
  • Latin: Fortuna favet fortibus
  • Literal meaning: Luck smiles at the bold.

• La culture, c'est comme la confiture, moins on en a, plus on l'étale.
  • Idiomatic translation: people who always shows their sciences are those who know the less. "étale" means spread or to show
  • Literal meaning: Culture is like jam, the less we have the more we spread it.

• La curiosité est un vilain défaut.
  • Idiomatic translation: Curiosity killed the cat.
  • Literal meaning: Curiosity is a wicked fault.

• La faim chasse le loup hors du bois.
  • Translation: Hunger drives the wolf out of the wood.

• La fête passée, adieu le saint.
  • Idiomatic translation: The river passed, and God forgotten.
  • Translation: The festival has passed, goodbye to the saint.

• La fin justifie les moyens.
  • Translation: The ends justify the means.

• La nuit porte conseil.
  • Translation 1: Take advice of your pillow.
  • Translation 2: Sleep on it.
  • Literal meaning: The night brings advice.

• La nuit tous les chats sont gris.
  • Translation: At night all cats are grey.
  • Idiomatic translation: All cats are grey in the dark.

• La parole est d'argent, mais le silence est d'or.
  • Idiomatic translation: Speech is silver, Silence is golden.
  • Literal meaning: Talk is silver, silence is golden.

• La pluie de vos injures n'atteint pas le parapluie de mon indifférence.
  • Translation: Your spluttering insults do not reach the umbrella of my indifference.

• La plus belle fille du monde ne peut donner que ce qu'elle a.
  • Translation: The prettiest girl in the world can only give what she has.

• L'appétit vient en mangeant.
  • Idiomatic translation: The more you have, the more you want.
  • Literal meaning: Appetite comes while eating.

• La vengeance est un plat qui se mange froid.
  • Idiomatic translation: Revenge is a dish best served cold.
  • Literal: Revenge is a dish that is eaten cold.

• La vérité est dans le vin. = "L'alcool délie les langues"
  • Idiomatic translation: In wine is truth.
  • Latin: In vino veritas
  • Literal: The truth is in the wine.
  • When you want someone to tell you the truth make him/her drink.

• La vérité sort de la bouche des enfants.
  • Idiomatic translation: Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings comes forth truth.
  • Latin: Ex ore parvulorum veritas
  • Literal meaning: The truth comes from the mouth of children.

• Le crime ne paie pas.
  • Translation: Crime does not pay.

• Le Diable chie toujours au même endroit.
  • Idiomatic translation: The criminal always returns to the scene of the crime.
  • Literal meaning: The Devil always shits in the same place.

• La bible comme lu par le diable.
  • Idiomatic Translation: Devil quoting scripture.
  • Literal Translation: The Bible as read by the devil.

• Le malheur des uns fait le bonheur des autres.
  • Idiomatic translation: One man's meat is another man's poison. OR One man's trash is another man's treasure.
  • Literal meaning: The misfortune of some makes the joy of others.

• Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien.
  • Idiomatic translation: Let well alone.
  • Literal meaning: Better is the enemy of good.

• Le monde appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt.
  • Idiomatic translation: The early bird catches the worm.
  • Literal meaning: The world belongs to those who rise early.

• Le ridicule ne tue pas.
  • Being ridiculed isn't lethal.

• Le roi est mort, vive le roi!
  • Translation: "The King is Dead, Long live the King!"

• L'enfer est pavé de bonnes intentions.
  • Idiomatic translation: The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
  • Literal meaning: Hell is paved with good intentions.

• L'erreur est humaine.
  • Literal translation: The error is human.
  • Idiomatic translation: To err is human.
  • Latin: Errare humanum est

• Les affaires sont les affaires.
  • Translation: Business is business.

• Les amis de mes ennemis sont mes ennemis. Et les ennemis de mes ennemis sont mes amis
  • Idiomatic translation: A friend of yours is a friend of mine / The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
  • Literal meaning: Friends of my enemies are my enemies / Enemies of my enemies are my friends.

• Les apparences sont trompeuses.
  • Idiomatic translation: All that glitters is not gold.
  • Literal meaning: Appearances are deceptive.

• Les bons comptes font les bons amis.
  • Translation 1: Short reckonings make long friends.
  • Translation 2: Neither a borrower nor a lender be.
  • Literal meaning: Good accounts make good friends.

• Les bons outils font les bons ouvriers
  • Translation: Good tools make good workers.

• Les chiens aboient, la caravane passe.
  • Idiomatic translation: Let the world say what it will.
  • Literal meaning: The dogs bark, the caravan passes by.

• Les chiens ne font pas des chats. = "tel père, tel fils / Telle mère, telle fille"
  • Idiomatic translation: Like breeds like / The apple does not fall far from the tree.
  • Literal meaning: Dogs don't make cats.

• Les conseillers ne sont pas les payeurs.
  • Idiomatic translation: Advice is cheap.
  • Literal meaning: Advisors aren't the ones who pay.

• Les cordonniers sont les plus mal chaussés.
  • Idiomatic translation: The cobbler's children go barefoot.
  • Literal translation: The cobblers have the worst shoes

• Les couteaux volent bas.
  • Literal translation: Knives are flying low.
  • Meaning: Used to describe a conversation in which sarcasm and cross-eye looks are frequent.

• Les fruits défendus sont les meilleurs.
  • Idiomatic translation: Forbidden fruits are the sweetest.
  • Literal meaning: Forbidden fruits are the best.

• Les goûts et les couleurs ne se discutent pas.
  • Idiomatic translation: There's no accounting for tastes.
  • Literal meaning: Tastes and colors cannot be questioned.
  • Latin: De gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum.

• Les grands diseurs ne sont pas les grands faiseurs.
  • Idiomatic translation: Talkers are not doers.
  • Literal meaning: Big talkers are not big doers.

• Les grands esprits se rencontrent.
  • Idiomatic translation: Great minds think alike.
  • Literal meaning: Great spirits meet one another.

• Les habitudes ont la vie dure.
  • Idiomatic translation: Old habits die hard.

• Les jours se suivent et ne se ressemblent pas.
  • Translation 1: After Christmas comes Lent.
  • Translation 2: Time changes and we with time.
  • Literal meaning: The days follow one another and do not look alike.

• Les loups ne se mangent pas entre eux.
  • Translation 1: Dog does not eat dog.
  • Translation 2: There is honour among thieves.
  • Literal translation: Wolves don't eat each other.

• Les murs ont des oreilles.
  • Translation: Walls have ears.

• Le soleil luit pour tout le monde.
  • Idiomatic translation: The sun shines for one and all.
  • Literal meaning: The sun shines for everybody.

• Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières.
  • Idiomatic translation: Tall oaks from little acorns grow.
  • Literal meaning: Little streams make big rivers.

• Les plaisanteries les plus courtes sont les meilleures.
  • Idiomatic translation: Brevity is the soul of wit.
  • Literal meaning: The shortest jokes are the best ones.

• L'espoir fait vivre.
  • Idiomatic translation: Where there's life, there's hope.
  • Literal meaning: Hope keeps alive.

• Les voyages forment la jeunesse.
  • Idiomatic translation: Travel broadens the mind.
  • Literal meaning: Travels train young people.

• Le temps c'est de l'argent.
  • Translation: Time is money.

• L'exactitude est la politesse des rois. or "La ponctualité est la politesse des rois"
  • Translation: Punctuality is the politeness of kings.

• L'excès en tout est un défaut.
  • Idiomatic translation: Too much is too much.
  • Literal meaning: Excess in everything is a fault.

• L'habit ne fait pas le moine.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't judge the book by its cover.
  • Literal meaning: The cowl does not make the friar.

• L'occasion fait le larron.
  • Idiomatic translation: Opportunity makes the thief.

• Loin des yeux, loin du cœur.
  • Idiomatic translation: Out of sight, out of mind.
  • Literal translation: Far from the eyes, far from the heart

• L'oisiveté est la mère de tous les vices.
  • Literal translation: Idleness is the mother of all sins.
  • Idiomatic translation: An idle mind is ur mom's workshop.

• L'union fait la force.
  • Idiomatic translation: United we stand, divided we fall.
  • Literal meaning: Unity makes strength.

forsm acto suponut lack of character is punished

M

• Mange ton poisson à présent qu'il est frais, marie ta fille à présent qu'elle est jeune.
  • Idiomatic translation: Eat your fish while it is fresh, marry your daughter while she is young.

• Mars venteux et avril pluvieux font mai gai et gracieux.
  • Literal translation: Windy March and rainy April make May jolly and gracious
  • Idiomatic translation: March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers.

• Mieux vaut être seul que mal accompagné.
  • Idiomatic translation: Better be alone than in bad company.

• Mieux vaut faire que dire.
  • Literal translation: Better to do than to say.
  • Idiomatic translation: Actions speak louder than words / Well done is better than well said.

• Mieux vaut plier que rompre.
  • Idiomatic translation: Adapt and survive.
  • Literal meaning: Better to bend than to break.

• Mieux vaut prévenir que guérir.
  • Literal translation: Better to prevent than to cure.
  • Idiomatic translation: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

• Mieux vaut rire que pleurer.
  • Idiomatic translation: Laughter is the best medicine.
  • Literal meaning: Better to laugh than to weep.

• Mieux vaut s'adresser à Dieu qu'à ses saints.
  • Idiomatic translation: It is better to talk to the organ-grinder than to his monkey.
  • Literal meaning: It is better to address God than His saints.

• Mieux vaut tard que jamais.
  • Idiomatic translation: Better late than never.

• Mieux vaut tenir que courir.
  • Idiomatic translation: A bird in hand is worth two in a bush.
  • Literal meaning: Better to hold than to run.

• Moineau à la main vaut mieux que grue qui vole.
  • Idiomatic translation: A bird in hand is worth two in a bush.
  • Literal meaning: Better a sparrow in hand than a crane in flight.

• Mon petit doigt me l'a dit.
  • Translation: A little bird told me.

• Morte la bête, mort le venin.
  • Idiomatic translation: Dead dogs don't bite.
  • Literal meaning: Dead is the beast, dead is the venom.

N

• Nécessité fait loi.
  • Idiomatic translation: Beggars can't be choosers.
  • Literal meaning: Need makes law.

• Noël au balcon, Pâques au tison.
  • Idiomatic translation: A warm Christmas means a cold Easter.
  • Literal meaning: Christmas on the balcony, Easter with a firebrand (in hand).

• Nul n'est prophète en son pays.
  • Idiomatic translation: No man is a prophet in his country.

O

• On a souvent besoin d'un plus petit que soi.
  • Translation: We often need someone smaller than ourselves.

• On est tous dans le même bain.
  • Literal meaning: We're all in the same bath.
  • Idiomatic translation: We're all in the same boat.

• On ne change pas une équipe qui gagne.
  • Literal meaning: One doesn't change a team that wins.
  • Idiomatic translation: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

• On ne fait pas boire un âne qui n'a pas soif.
  • Literal meaning: One does not make a donkey drink if it isn't thirsty.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.

• On ne fait pas d'omelette sans casser des œufs.
  • Translation: You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.

• On ne marie pas les poules avec les renards.
  • Idiomatic translation: Different strokes for different folks.
  • Literal meaning: You can't marry a hen and a fox.

• On ne peut avoir le beurre et l'argent du beurre. Sometimes On ne peut pas avoir le beurre, l'argent du beurre et la crémière.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can't have your cake and eat it.
  • Literal meaning: You can't have both the butter and the butter money / and the dairywoman.

• On ne peut avoir le lard et le cochon.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can't have your cake and eat it.
  • Literal meaning: You can't have the bacon and the pig.

• On ne peut être à la ville et aux champs.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can't be in two places at once.
  • Literal meaning: You can't be in town and in the country.

• On ne peut être au four et au moulin.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can't be in two places at once.
  • Literal meaning: You can't be at the oven and in the mill.

• On ne peut faire d'une buse un épervier.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
  • Literal meaning: You can't turn a buzzard / a dolt into a sparrowhawk.

• On ne prend pas les mouches avec du vinaigre.
  • Idiomatic translation: Honey catches more flies than vinegar.
  • Literal meaning: You don't catch flies with vinegar.

• On ne prête qu'aux riches.
  • Translation 1: Reputations shape reactions.
  • Translation 2: Only the rich get richer.
  • Literal meaning: One lends only to the rich.

• On ne resiste pas l'invasion des idées.
  • Literal Meaning: One doesn't resist the invasion of ideas
    • Idiomatic Expression: Don't resist new ideas

• Où la vache / la chèvre est attachée, il faut qu'elle broute.
  • Idiomatic translation: The cow / goat must browse where she is tethered.

P

• Pas de nouvelle, bonne nouvelle.
  • Translation: No news is good news.

• Peu importe le flacon, tant qu'il y à l'ivresse.
  • Literal meaning: What does the bottle matter, so long as there is drunkenness.

• Petit à petit l'oiseau fait son nid.
  • Translation 1: Many a mickle makes a muckle.
  • Translation 2: Little strokes fell great oaks.
  • Literal meaning: Little by little the bird builds its nest.

• Petite pluie abat grand vent.
  • Idiomatic translation: Little rain lays great dust.
  • Literal meaning: Little rain calms great wind.

• Pierre qui roule n'amasse pas mousse.
  • Translation: A rolling stone gathers no moss.

• Plaie d'argent n'est pas mortelle.
  • Idiomatic translation: Money isn't everything.
  • Literal meaning: A wound caused by money is not mortal.

• Plus fait douceur que violence.
  • Idiomatic translation: Kindness succeeds where force will fail.
  • Literal meaning: More does gentleness than violence.

• Plus on boit, plus on a soif.
  • Translation: The more one drinks, the thirstier one gets.

• Plus on est de fous, plus on rit.
  • Literal meaning: The more birdbrains we are, the more we laugh"
  • Idiomatic translation: The more the merrier.

• Prendre le taureau par les cornes.
  • Translation: Take the bull by the horns.

• Promettre et tenir sont deux.
  • Literal meaning: Promising and keeping (one's promise) are two (different things).
  • Idiomatic translation: It's one thing to promise and another to perform.

• Proverbe ne peut mentir.
  • Literal translation: Proverb cannot lie.

• Prudence est mère de sûreté.
  • Idiomatic translation: Discretion is the better part of valour.
  • Literal meaning: Caution is the mother of safety.

Q

• Quand le chat n'est pas là, les souris dansent.
  • Idiomatic translation: While the cat's away the mice will play.
  • Literal meaning: When the cat's away the mice dance.

• Quand le vin est tiré, il faut le boire.
  • Idiomatic translation: In for a penny, in for a pound.
  • Literal meaning: Once the wine is drawn, it must be drunk.

• Quand les poules auront des dents.
  • Idiomatic translation: When pigs fly / When hell freezes over.
  • Literal meaning: When chickens will have teeth.

• Quand on parle du loup, on en voit la queue.
  • Idiomatic translation: Talk of the Devil and he will appear.
  • Literal meaning: When you talk about the wolf, you see its tail.

---

• Quand on veut, on peut.
  • Literal meaning: When we want, we can.
  • Idiomatic translation: When there's a will, there's a way.

• Qui a bon voisin a bon matin.
  • Literal meaning: Those who have good neighbors, have good mornings.
  • Idiomatic translation: Good neighbours give good days.

• Qui a bu, boira.
  • Idiomatic translation: Once a drunkard, always a drunkard.
  • Literal meaning: Who has drunk will drink.

• Qui aime bien, châtie bien.
  • Idiomatic translation: Spare the rod and spoil the child.
  • Literal meaning: Who loves well, punishes well.
  • Latin: Qui bene amat, bene castigat

• Qui casse les verres les paie.
  • Idiomatic translation: Who breaks pays.
  • Literal meaning: Who breaks the glasses, pays for them.

• Qui cherche, trouve.
  • Idiomatic translation: Seek and ye shall find.
  • Literal meaning: Who seeks, finds.

• Qui donne aux pauvres prête à Dieu.
  • Idiomatic translation: Charity will be rewarded in heaven.
  • Literal meaning: Who gives to the poor, lends to God.

• Qui dort dîne.
  • Idiomatic translation: He who sleeps forgets his hunger.
  • Literal meaning: Who sleeps, dines.
  • Historical origin: travelers staying overnight at hostels were required to also purchase meals.

• Qui ne dit mot, consent.
  • Idiomatic translation: Silence gives consent.
  • Latin: Qui tacet consentire videtur.
  • Literal meaning: Who says no word, consents.

• Qui n'entend qu'une cloche, n'entend qu'un son.
  • Idiomatic translation: Hear the other side and believe little.
  • Literal meaning: Who hears naught but one bell, hears naught but one sound.

• Qui ne risque rien n'a rien.
  • Idiomatic translation: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
  • Literal meaning: Who risks nothing, gets nothing.

• Qui ne veut rien n'a rien.
  • Idiomatic translation: Where there's a will there's a way.
  • Literal meaning: Who wants nothing, gets nothing.

• Qui paye ses dettes s'enrichit.
  • Idiomatic translation: The rich man is the one who pays his debts.
  • Literal meaning: He who pays his debts, gets richer.

• Qui peut le plus peut le moins.
  • Idiomatic translation: He who can do more can do less.

• Qui plus sait, plus se tait.
  • Idiomatic translation: He who knows most, says least.

• Qui se couche avec les chiens se lève avec des puces.
  • Idiomatic translation: Lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas.

• Qui se fait brebis, le loup le mange.
  • Literal translation: Who makes himself a ewe, the wolf eats him.
  • Idiomatic translation: He that makes himself a sheep shall be eaten by the wolf.
  • Idiomatic translation: Make yourself a sheep and the wolf will eat you.

• Qui sème le vent, récolte la tempête.
  • Translation 1: As you sow, so you shall reap.
  • Translation 2: He who sows the wind shall reap the whirlwind.

• Qui se ressemble s'assemble.
  • Literal meaning: Those who look alike associate together.
  • Idiomatic translation: Like attracts like / Birds of a feather flock together.

• Qui se sent morveux, qu'il se mouche.
  • Idiomatic translation: Who feels snotty, let him blow his nose.

• Qui s’excuse, s’accuse.
  • Translation: He who excuses himself accuses himself.

• Qui s'y frotte s'y pique.
  • Literal meaning: He who rubs against it, get stung by it.
  • Idiomatic translation: Gather thistles, expect prickles.

• Qui trop embrasse mal étreint.
  • Literal meaning: He who embraces too much, fails to secure.
  • Idiomatic translation: Grasp all, lose all.

• Qui va à la chasse perd sa place.
  • Idiomatic translation: He who leaves his place, loses it.
  • Literal meaning: Who goes hunting, loses his place.

• Qui veut la fin veut les moyens.
  • Translation: He who wills the end wills the means.

• Qui veut noyer son chien l'accuse de rage.
  • Idiomatic translation: Give a dog a bad name and hang him.
  • Literal meaning: He who wants to drown his dog says it has rabies.

• Qui veut voyager loin, ménage sa monture.
  • Translation: He who wishes to ride far spares his horse.

• Qui vivra verra.
  • Idiomatic translation: Time will tell.
  • Literal meaning: Who shall live, shall see.

• Qui vole un œuf vole un bœuf.
  • Translation: He that steals an egg will steal an ox.

R

• Remuer le couteau dans la plaie.
  • Idiomatic translation: To rub it in.
  • Literal meaning: To twist the knife in the wound.

• Revenons à nos moutons
  • A quotation from La Farce de maître Pierre Pathelin
  • Idiomatic translation: Let's get back to what we were saying, doing.
    • Literally: "Let us get back to our sheep"

• Rien ne sert de courir, il faut partir à point.
  • Idiomatic translation: Slow and steady wins the race.
  • Literal meaning: It is useless to run, one must leave in time.

• Rira bien qui rira le dernier.
  • Literal meaning: Well laughs he who laughs last.
  • Idiomatic translation: He who laughs last laughs best.

• Rome ne s'est pas faite en un jour.
  • Idiomatic translation: Rome wasn't built in a day.

• Rouge soir et blanc matin, c'est la journée du pèlerin.
  • Idiomatic translation: Evening red and morning grey will set the traveller on his way.
  • Idiomatic translation: Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning, red sky at night, sailor's delight.
  • Literal Meaning: Red evening and white morning, such is the pilgrim's day.

S

• Sage comme une image.
  • Idiomatic translation: As good as gold.
• Secret de deux, secret de Dieu; secret de trois, secret de tous.
  • Idiomatic translation: When three people know, the whole world knows.
  • Literal meaning: A secret shared by two is shared with God; a secret shared by three is shared with everybody.

• Si jeunesse savait, si vieillesse pouvait.
  • Idiomatic translation: Youth is wasted on the young.
  • Literal meaning: If youth but knew, if old age but could.

• Si tu veux la paix, prépare la guerre.
  • Literal meaning: "If you want peace prepare for war."
  • (Original in Latin by Scipio Africanus: "Si vis pacem para bellum.")

• "Si tu veux connaitre la fille, regarde la mère"
  • If you want to know the daughter, look at the mother
  • If you don't like your mother-in-law, you'll hate your girlfriend/wife after a few years. (work for appereances and mind)

• Souris qui n'a qu'un trou est bientôt prise.
  • Idiomatic translation: Better safe than sorry.
  • Literal meaning: A mouse that has only one hole is soon caught.

• Souvent femme varie, bien fou qui s'y fie.
  • Literal meaning: Often does a woman change her heart, mad be the man who will trust her.
  • Idiomatic translation: Woman is fickle, man beware!

• Suffisance vaut abondance.
  • Idiomatic translation: Enough is as good as a feast.
  • Literal meaning: Enough is worth plenty.

T

• Tant crie-t-on Noël qu'il vient.
  • Idiomatic translation: A constant importunity at length prevails.
  • Literal meaning: So much does one shout 'Christmas' that it comes.

• Tant dort le chat qu'il se réveille.
  • Translation: The sleeping cat at length awakes.

• Tant va la cruche à l'eau qu'à la fin elle se brise.
  • Literal meaning: So often does the jug go to water that in the end it breaks.
  • Translation 1: Do not strain your luck.
  • Translation 2: Anyone can only take so much.

• Tel est petit qui boit bien.
  • Idiomatic translation: Though he is little, he can tipple.

• Tel est pris qui croyait prendre.
  • Translation 1: It's the biter bit.
  • Translation 2: The hunter becomes the hunted.
  • Literal meaning: He is caught who thought to catch.

• Tel maître, tel valet.
  • Translation: Like master, like man.

• Tel père, tel fils.
  • Idiomatic translation: The apple does not fall far from the tree.
  • Translation: Like father, like son.

• Tel qui rit vendredi, dimanche pleurera.
  • Idiomatic translation: Sing before breakfast, cry before night.
  • Literal meaning: Laugh on Friday, cry on Sunday.

• Tous les chemins mènent à Rome.
  • Translation: All roads lead to Rome.

• Tous les goûts sont dans la nature.
  • Idiomatic translation: It takes all sorts to make a world.
  • Literal meaning: All tastes are in nature.

• Toute médaille a son revers.
  • Translation 1: Every rose has its thorn.
  • Translation 2: Every path has its puddle.
  • Literal meaning: Every medal has its back.

• Toute peine mérite salaire.
  • Idiomatic translation: The labourer is worthy of his hire.
  • Literal meaning: Every job deserves a wage.

• Toute vérité n'est pas bonne à dire.
  • Translation: The truth is sometimes best left unsaid.

• Tout est poison. Rien n'est poison. Le poison c'est la dose.
  • Literal meaning: Everything is poison. Nothing is poison. The poison is the dose.
  • Attributed to Paracelsus.

• Tout nouveau, tout beau.
  • Translation 1: Anything for a change.
  • Translation 2: New brooms sweep clean.
  • Literal meaning: All new, all beautiful.

• Tout vient à point à qui sait attendre.
  • Literal meaning: All things come to those who can wait.
  • Idiomatic translation: Every dog has his day.

• Trop de hâte nuit.
  • Idiomatic translation: Haste makes waste.
  • Literal meaning: Too much haste is harmful.

• Trop gratter cuit, trop parler nuit.
  • Translation: Too much scratching pains, too much talking plagues.

U

• Un bienfait n'est jamais perdu.
  • Translation: A favour is never lost.

• "un malheur n'arrive jamais seul"
  • Translation: Misery does not arrive alone.

• Un chien regarde bien un évêque.
  • Idiomatic translation: A cat may look at a king.
  • Literal meaning: A dog may look at a bishop.

• Un clou chasse l'autre.
  • Idiomatic translation: One man goes and another steps in.
  • Literal meaning: One nail drives the other out.

• Un(e) de perdu(e), dix de trouvé(e)s.
  • Idiomatic translation: There are plenty more fish in the sea.
  • Literal meaning: One lost, ten found.

• Une fois n'est pas coutume.
  • Translation 1: Just this once will not hurt.
  • Translation 2: Once in a while does no harm.
  • Literal meaning: Once does is no habit.

• Une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps.
  • Idiomatic translation: A swallow doesn't make the summer.
  • Literal meaning: A swallow doesn't make spring.

• Un petit dessin vaut mieux qu'un long discours.
  • Idiomatic translation: A picture is worth a thousand words.
  • Literal meaning: A small drawing is better than a long speech.

• Une place pour chaque chose et chaque chose a sa place.
  • Translation: A place for everything and everything in its place.

• Un homme averti en vaut deux.
  • Translation 1: Forewarned is forearmed.
  • Translation 2: Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
  • Literal meaning: A forewarned man is worth two.

• Un jour sans vin est comme un jour sans soleil.
  • Translation: A day without wine is like a day without sunshine.

• Un sou est un sou.
  • Idiomatic translation: Every little helps.
  • Literal meaning: A penny is a penny.

• Un tient vaut mieux que deux tu l'auras.
  • Idiomatic translation: A bird in hand is worth two in a bush.
  • Literal meaning: One "here, take it" is worth more than two "you will have it"s.

• Une journée est perdu si l'on n'a pas ri.
  • Literal meaning: A day is lost if one has not laughed.

V

• Vache de loin a lait assez.
  • Idiomatic translation: Blue are the hills that are far away.
  • Literal meaning: From afar, the cow has milk enough.

• Ventre affamé n'a pas d'oreilles.
  • Idiomatic translation: Words are wasted on a starving man.
  • Literal meaning: The hungry belly has no ears.

• Vive la différence.
  • Literal meaning: Long live the difference (between the sexes, or any difference).
  • Translation: Hooray for the difference!

• Vouloir, c'est pouvoir.
  • Idiomatic translation: Where there's a will there's a way.
  • Literal meaning: To want to is to be able to.