Icelandic proverbs
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Proverbs reflective of conventional wisdom in Iceland.
A[edit]
- Af góðu upphafi vonast góður endir.
- Translation and English equivalent: A good beginning makes a good ending.
- 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: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). "40". European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese. Veszprémi Nyomda. p. 228. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
- Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "190". Dictionary of European Proverbs. I. Routledge. p. 185. ISBN 978-1-134-86460-7.
- Allir vilja herrann vera, en enginn sekkinn bera.
- Translation: Everyone wants to be lord, but no one wants to carry the bag.
- English equivalent: There are too many chiefs and not enough indians.
- Emanuel Strauss (1994). "1263". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 770. ISBN 978-1-136-78978-6.
- Aldrei er góð vísa of oft kveðin.
B[edit]
- Ber er hver að baki nema sér bróður eigi.
- Translation: Bare is the back of a brotherless man.
- Meaning: Every man is defenseless unless he has a brother/friend.
- Source: Hreinsson, Viðar, ed (1997). Brennu-Njáls saga. 3. Translated by Robert Cook. Leifur Eiriksson Publishing. p. 209. ISBN 9979929308.
- Betra er einn að vera, en illan stallbróður hafa.
- English equivalent: Better be alone than in bad company.
- Emanuel Strauss (1994). "654". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 478. ISBN 978-1-136-78978-6.
- Brennt barn forðast eldinn.
- Translation: A burnt child keeps away from fire.
- English equivalent: Once bitten, twice shy.
- Meaning: "Somebody who has had an unpleasant experience thereafter shrinks from the cause of that experience."
- Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 30 July 2013.
- Dal, Gunnar (2007). Einn heimur: fimm heimsmyndir. Jonas Halldorsson. p. 124. ISBN 9979651032.
E[edit]
- Ef ábóti teninga a sér ber, oss munkum leyft ao tefla er."
- English equivalent: The friar preached against stealing and had a goose in his sleeve.
- Emanuel Strauss (1994). "1670". Dictionary of European Proverbs. Taylor & Francis. p. 1179.
- Eftir því sem gamlir fuglar sungu, kvökuðu þeir ungu.
- Translation: As the old birds sing, so do the young ones tweet.
- English equivalent: As the old cock crows, so crows the young.
- Meaning: "Children generally follow the example of their parents, but imitate their faults more surely than their virtues."
- Norwegian equivalent: Some dei gamle sungo, so kveda dei unge.
- Emanuel Strauss (1994). "544". Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 1389. ISBN 978-1-134-86460-7.
- Source for meaning of English equivalent: Kelly, Walter Keating (1859). Proverbs of all nations. W. Kent & co. (late D. Bogue). p. 130.
- Engum flýgur sofanda steikt gæs i munn.
- Translation: There will fly no fried goose into the sleeping mans mouth.
- 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, 1997 p. 455)
- Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 171. ISBN 0415096243.
G[edit]
- Guð hjálpar þeim sem hjálpa sér sjálfir.
- Translation: God helps those who help themselves.
- English equivalent: Heaven helps those who help themselves.
- Meaning: "When in trouble first of all every one himself should do his best to improve his condition."
- Source for meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 150. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
- Source: Laxness, Halldór (2000). Smásögur. Vaka-Helgafell. p. 131. ISBN 9979214546.
- Góð orð finna góðan samastað.
- Translation: Polite words will be well received.
- English equivalent: Politeness costs little but yields much.
- Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 70. ISBN 0415160502.
H[edit]
- Hvar sem fjandinn er þar hefur hann sína.
- English equivalent: A wise man changes his mind, a fool never will.
- "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. Speak what you think now in hard words, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day. "
- Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays: First Series (1841)
- Emanuel Strauss (1994). "589". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 446. ISBN 978-1-136-78978-6.
- Hver er sinnar gæfu smiður.
- Translation: Every man is the smith of his own fortune.
- English equivalent: Also, 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.
L[edit]
- Linur bartskeri gjörir fúin sár.
- Translation: A lenient doctor creates stinking injuries.
- English equivalent: Mild physician – putrid wounds.
- Meaning: In order to achieve a good figurative or literal cure, one must sometimes undertake stern measures.
- Emanuel Strauss (1994). "1465". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. II. Routledge. p. 1090. ISBN 978-1-136-78978-6.
K[edit]
- Kemst þó hægt fari.
- Translation: You will reach your destination even though you travel slowly.
- English equivalent: We rode slow, but we ride sure.
- Source: Íslands, Landsbókasafn (1980). Árbók. Bókasafnið. p. 71. ISBN 9979911107.
- Kornbarn, drukkin maðr og dárinn segja sannleikann.
- English equivalent: Children, fools and drunken men tell the truth.
- Meaning: "Children and fools have no inhibition, and alcohol consumed removes the inhibition against telling the truth that occasionally one would like to keep secret."
- Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 272. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
O[edit]
- Oft hafa fagrar hnetur fúinn kjarna.
- Translation: Often beautiful nuts have an ugly core.
- English equivalent: A fair face and a foul heart.
- Emanuel Strauss (11 January 2013). "120". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. I. Routledge. p. 116. ISBN 978-1-136-78978-6.
P[edit]
- Þá mér klær, þarf ég að klóra mér.
- Translation: When I itch, I must scratch.
- English equivalent: If the shoe fits, wear it.
- "If the statement applies to you, admit it or do something about it."
- Urban Dictionary (2008)
- Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 998. ISBN 0415096243.
R[edit]
- Ragur maður fíflar aldrei fríða konu.
- Translation: A coward will never bed a pretty woman.
- English equivalent: Faint heart never won fair lady.
- "Our lack of confidence is not the result of difficulty. The difficulty comes from our lack of confidence."
- Seneca the Younger, Epistulae morales ad Lucilium (65)
- Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 130. ISBN 0415160502.
S[edit]
- Sá er fuglinn verstur, sem í sjálfs síns hreiður dritar.
- English equivalent: It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest; Don't wash your dirty linen in public.
- Meaning: "Why wantonly proclaim one's own disgrace, or expose the faults or weaknesses of one's kindred or people?"
- Source for meaning: Kelly, Walter Keating (1859). Proverbs of all nations. W. Kent & co. (late D. Bogue). p. 109.
- Source for provers: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 466. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
- Sjaldan er ein báran stök.
- Transation: There seldom is a single wave.
- Meaning: Good luck or bad luck is often followed by more of the same.
- Source: Sigurðsson, Arngrímur (1975). Íslenzk-ensk orðabók. Leiftur. p. 731. ISBN 9979651032.
- Sjaldan fellur eplið langt frá eikini.
- 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). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 259. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
- Spónasmiða börn eiga oft versta spæni.
- Translation: The spoonmaker's children have often the worst spoons.
- English equivalent: Cobblers' children are worst shod.
- Meaning: "Working hard for others one may neglect one's own needs or the needs of those closest to him."
- Source for meaning and proverbs: 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.
- Sinn er siður í landi hverju.
- Translation: Each country has its own custom.
- "When laws, customs, or institutions cease to be beneficial to man, they cease to be obligatory."
- Henry Ward Beecher, Life Thoughts (1858), p. 34.
- Sven Grundtvig; Jón Sigurðsson; Pálmi Pálsson (1854). Íslenzk fornkvæði. Brødrene Berlings og S.L. Møllers bogtrykkeri. p. 103.
- Sá vinnur sitt mál, sem þráastur er.
- Translation: He who is most stubborn will win
- English equivalent: God is with those who persevere; Persevere and never fear.
- Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "130". Dictionary of European Proverbs. I. Routledge. p. 126. ISBN 978-1-134-86460-7.
Á[edit]
- Árinni kennir illur ræðari.
- Translation: A bad rower blames the oar.
- English equivalent: A bad workman blames his tools.
- Source: Magnúsdóttir, Elín Bára (1993). Halldórsstefna, 12.-14. júní 1992. Stofnun Sigurðar Nordals. p. 116. ISBN 9979911107.
- Á misjöfnu þrífast börnin best
- Translation: Children will thrive best on varied diet/life.
- "People seldom improve when they have no other model but themselves to copy after."
- Oliver Goldsmith The Bee no. II (October 13, 1759), On Our Theatres
- Jón Árnason (1864). Íslenzkar þjóðsögur og æfintýri. J.C. Hinrichs. p. 431.
