Livonian proverbs

Livonian is a language spoken in the Baltics.

I

• Ī'dst kūorast si'zzol, tuoizost ulzo.
  • Translation: In at one ear and out at the other.
  • English equivalent: Advice most needed are the least heeded.
  • "People often claim to hunger for truth, but seldom like the taste when it's served up."
  • George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings (1998)
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 179. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Iks äb või kõ'd izānd pālkali.
  • 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. 

J

• Jegā ikš eņtš voņ kaļāj.
  • English equivalent: Every man is the smith of his own fortune.
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 388. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

K

• Kis äb tō' ti'edō tīedō, se äb sō ka sīedõ.
  • Translation: He who does not want to work, that cannot eat either.
  • 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. 

L

• Liegīz vie'd sizāl kivāmstiz.
  • Translation: It is good fishing in streamy water.
  • 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. 

M

• Mingi izā, seļļi pūoga.
  • 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. 

O

• Op koņtš, kalmõ lä'd.
  • Translation: Learn until the grave comes.
  • Idiomatic translation: We are to learn as long as we live.
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 182. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

P

• Pū äb sadā e'zmis napsɑks.
  • 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. 

U

• Umārz umārzpūst kōgaz äb dadā.
  • 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. 

• Ūz lūdō pū'stōb ṗu'dōks pḭrand.
  • Translation: New brooms clean the floor. (Livonian)
  • English equivalent: A new broome sweepeth cleane.
  • Meaning: "We should never use an old tool when the extra labor in consequence costs more than a new one. Thousands wear out their lives and waste their time merely by the use of dull and unsuitable instruments."
  • Alternate meaning: "We often apply it to exchanges among servants, clerks, or any persons employed, whose service, at first, in any new place, is very good, both efficient and faithful; but very soon, when all the new circumstances have lost their novelty, and all their curiosity has ceased, they naturally fall into their former and habitual slackness."
  • Source for meaning: Porter, William Henry (1845). Proverbs: Arranged in Alphabetical Order .... Munroe and Company. p. 38. 
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). "12". European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese. Veszprémi Nyomda. p. 92. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

See also

• Latvian proverbs