Estonian proverbs

Proverbs from all Estonian speaking parts of the world.

Arranged alphabetically by author or source:
A · B · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · J · K · L · M · N · O · P · Q · R · S · T · U · V · W · X · Y · Z · See also · External links

A

• Aeg parandab haavad, aga jätab armid. (EVS)
  • Time heals the wounds but leaves the scars.
• Armastusel on kakskümmend paari silmi peas. (EVS)
  • Love has twenty pairs of eyes.

• Au maksab raha. (EVS)
  • Honour costs.

E

• Ega suu sarvest ole. (EVS)
  • Mouth is not made of horn.
• Ega vana koer valet ei haugu.
  • Translation and English equivalent: An old dog barks not in vain.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "197". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. I. Routledge. p. 190. ISBN 978-1-136-78978-6. Retrieved on 24 November 2013. 

• Ela ise, lase teisi ka elada. (EVS)
  • Live yourself, let others live also.
  • English equivalent: Live and let live.

• Ema pilli tantsib pere. (EVS)
  • The family dances to the mother's tune.

H

• Hea laps kasvab vitsata. (EVS)
  • Good child grows up without caning.

• Hea laps, kes hästi tantsib, parem veel, kes paigal seisab. (EVS)
  • Good is the child who dances well, even better who's at a standstill.

• Hirmul on suured silmad. (EVS)
  • Fear has big eyes.

• Hommikune töö kuld, õhtune muld. (EVS)
  • Morning work gold, evening work soil.
• Hunt hunti ei murra.
  • A wolf will not break a wolf.
  • English equivalent: Crows do not pick out crows eyes.
  • Hungarian Equivalent: Varjú nem vájja ki varjúnak a szemét.
  • "One belonging to a group having common interests is not likely to act against or find fault with another member of the same group. Solidarity may prevail over law, justice or truth."
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 96. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "107". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. I. Routledge. p. 106. ISBN 978-1-136-78978-6. Retrieved on 24 November 2013. 

• Hunt murrab ka loetud lambad.
  • The wolf breaks the counted sheep.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "738". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. II. Routledge. p. 640. ISBN 978-1-136-78978-6. Retrieved on 24 November 2013. 

I

• Inimene on loodud tööd tegema, lind laulma. (EVS)
  • Human is made to work, bird to sing.

• Inimene õpib niikaua kui elab. (EVS)
  • Human learns as long as lives.

• Isa , pea kübar peas, kuni elad laste seas! (EVS)
  • Father, put the hat on your head when you are among the children!

J

• Jaan viskab kuuma kivi merre, Jaak jahe ja Mihkel külma. (EVS)
  • Jaan throws the hot stone into the sea, Jaak the cool and Mihkel the cold one.

K

• Kel püksid jalas, küll see naise saab. (EVS)
  • Who wears trousers will get a woman for sure.
• Kes ei tööta, see ei söö. (EVS)
  • Who doesn't work shall not eat.
• Kes viimasena naerab, naerab paremini. (EVS)
  • Who laughs last laughs better.
• Kes võib ilmasuu ja rahva keel kinni panna? (EVS)
  • Who could shut up folks' expression and language?
  • Quand celui à qui l'on parle ne comprend pas et celui qui parle ne se comprend pas, c'est de la métaphysique.

• Kotkas kärbseid ei püüä.
  • English equivalent: Eagles don't catch flies.
  • Meaning: "People of high rank are considered – or consider themselves – too important to deal with trivial things or lowly folk."
  • Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 66. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 25 August 2013. 
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "230". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 216. ISBN 978-1-136-78978-6. 

• Kõik ei ole kuld, mis hiilgab.
  • Translation and English equivalent: All that glimmers is not gold.

• • Variant translations:
  • Liberality consists rather in giving seasonably than much.
  • Generosity lies less in giving much than in giving at the right moment.
  • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 89. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Kõik pilved ei anna vett. (EVS)
  • All clouds don't give water.

• Kui kassid kodus ei ole, siis hiired tantsivad.
  • English equivalent: If the cat is away, the mice play.
  • Meaning: "In the absence of the person in authority those under his control will often neglect the duties/rules imposed on them."
  • Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 8 September 2013. 

• Kuidas ema, nõnda tütar.
  • 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 daily."
  • Source for meaning and proverb: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 137. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Kus saun, seal eestlased. (EVS)
  • Where's sauna, there are the Estonians.

L

• Lubaja hea mees, pidaja veel parem. (EVS)
  • Promiser a good man, who keeps the promise even better.
• Lõpeb üks töö, algab teine töö. (EVS)
  • When one work ends, begins another.

M

• Ma tahan sind kiita tühjas kirikus ja kuivas kõrtsis (EVS)
  • I want to thank you in an empty church and dry saloon.

• Magaja kassi suhu hiir ei jookse.
  • Translation: No dreaming cat catches mice.
  • English equivalent: Birds fly not into our mouth ready roasted.
  • Meaning: "One cannot (or should not) expect to benefit without making some effort."
  • Source for meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 455. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 171. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Mida kõrtsis kõneled, seda külas kuuled. (EVS)
  • What you talk in the pub you'll hear in the village.
• Mida varem, seda parem. (EVS)
  • The sooner, the better.

N

• Naine on maja lukk. (EVS)
  • Woman is the lock of the house.
• Naist ära vali silmadega, vaid kõrvadega! (EVS)
  • Don't choose a woman by eyes but ears!

• Neli silma näevad rohkem kui kaks. (EVS)
  • Four eyes see more than two.

• Nälg on kõige parem kokk. (EVS)
  • Hunger is the best cook.

O

• Oma maa maasikas, võõras maa mustikas. (EVS)
  • Own land is strawberry, other land blueberry.

• Oma silm on kuningas. (EVS)
  • Own eye is king.
  • English equivalent: Seeing is believing.
  • "If one tells the truth, one is sure, sooner or later, to be found out."
  • Oscar Wilde, "Phrases and Philosophies for the use of the young", in The Chameleon (December 1894).

• Oma tuba, oma luba. (EVS)
  • Own house, own permission.
  • Finnish equivalent: Oma tupa, oma lupa.
• Oras ei kasva külvamata.
  • English equivalent: What you reap is what you sow.

• • Strauss (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 394. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Õun ei kuku iial puust kaugele.
  • The apple never falls far from the tree.
  • English equivalent: 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). "48". European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese. Veszprémi Nyomda. p. 259. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

P

• Paha mees, parem õnn. (EVS)
  • Bad man, better luck.
• Parem elav väeti laps kui surnud kuningas. (EVS)
  • A living weak child is better than a dead king.

• Parem pool muna kui tühi koor. (EVS)
  • Half an egg is better than an empty shell.
• Parem päeva kuumus kui vihma vilu. (EVS)
  • The heat of the day is better than the coldness of rain.
• Parem sõna hammaste taga kui keele peal. (EVS)
  • Better word behind teeth than on the tongue.
• Piip ligem kui naine. (EVS)
  • Pipe is nearer to woman.

• Pisuke kala on suurema söömaeg.
  • Translation: A little fish is supper for a large fish.
  • English equivalent: Men are like fish; the great ones devour the small.
  • Meaning: "Small organizations or insignificant people tend to be swallowed up or destroyed by those that are greater and more powerful."
  • Source for meaning: Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 1 July 2013. 
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 420. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Puhas suu, puhas käsi käib kõige maailma läbi. (EVS)
  • The clean mouth, the clean hand travel through all the world.

• Puusepa naine tõlvata, sepa naine kirveta.
  • Translation: The carpenter's wife has no batler, the smith's wife has no hatchet.
  • English equivalent: The cobbler's wife is the worst shod.
  • Meaning: "Working hard for others one may neglect one's own needs or the needs of those closest to him."
  • Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). "7". European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese. Veszprémi Nyomda. p. 65. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

S

• Seisev vesi läheb haisema. (EVS)
  • Standing water begins to smell.
• Silm kuningas, käsi tegija. (EVS)
  • Eye is king, hand the worker.
• Silmad näevad enam kui silm. (EVS)
  • Eyes see more than an eye.
• Sogases vees on hea kalu püüda.
  • English equivalent: It is good fishing in troubled waters.
  • Meaning: "In taking advantage of chaotic conditions one can easily serve one's own purposes."
  • Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 391. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
• Surm jala all iga päev. (EVS)
  • Death is under the feet every day.
• Suu on südame tulk (mõõt). (EVS)
  • Mouth is heart's interpreter.
• Suu suurem kui mees ise. (EVS)
  • The mouth is bigger than the man himself.

• Suvel silmad, talvel hambad. (EVS)
  • Summer has eyes, winter teeth.
• Suvine tund enam kui talvine päev. (EVS)
  • An hour in summer is more than a day in winter.

T

• Täna kuld, homme muld. (EVS)
  • Gold today, soil tomorrow.
• Täna kümme paari härgi, homme ei ühtki. (EVS)
  • Ten pairs of oxen today, not a single one tomorrow.
• Täna mulle, homme sulle. (EVS)
  • For me today , for you tomorrow.

U

• Unustamine parem kui kättemaksmine. (EVS)
  • To forget is better than to seek revenge.

V

• Vana arm ei kustu.
  • English equivalent: Old love does not rust.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 825. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Vana hobune, varsa mõtted.
  • English equivalent: Wisdom goes not always by years.
• • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 39. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Valel on lühikesed jalad.
  • Translation: A lie has short legs.
  • Strauss (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 73. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Valgus naerab pimeduse tööd. (EVS)
  • Light laughs to the works of darkness.
• Vanasõnad on kuldsed sõnad. (EVS)
  • Proverbs are the golden words.
• Viinaklaasi upub enam inimesi kui merre. (EVS)
  • Glass of booze drowns more people than sea.
• Viinapudel põrgu pass. (EVS)
  • A bottle of booze is the passport to hell.

Ü

• Üks käsi ei pese üksi. (EVS)
  • A hand doesn't wash alone.

Ä

• Ära enne solgivett maha viska, kui puhas käes on.
  • English equivalent: Cast no dirt into the well that gives you water.

• • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 634. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Ära kanna vett merre! (EVS)
  • Don't carry water to the sea!

• Ära karu nahka enne ära müü, kui karu käes on.
  • English equivalent: Sell not the bear's skin before you have caught him.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 641. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Ära tee sääsest härga.
  • Translation: Don't make an ox out of a fly.
  • English equivalent: Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.
• • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 409. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

Ö

• Öö ees, surm selja taga. (EVS)
  • Night ahead, death behind back.

• Öö ei ole kellegi sõber. (EVS)
  • Night is nobody's friend.
• Öö on varga vari. (EVS)
  • Night is the shadow of the thief.

EVS = Eesti vanasõnad, suurest korjandusest kokku põiminud M. J. Eisen, Eesti Kirjanduse Seltsi kirjastus Tartus, 1929, üle 2 500 eesti vanasõna, e-raamat, järjestanud Risto Rekola 2021 (ISBN 978-952-804-9807).

External links

Estonian world - how Estonians see it