Slovak proverbs

Proverbs from all Slovak speaking parts of the world.

A

• Aká matka, taká Katka.
  • English equivalent: Like mother, like daughter.
  • "Daughters may look and behave like their mothers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily."
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 137. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Aký otec, taký syn.
  • English equivalent: Like father, like son.
  • "Sons may look and behave like their fathers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily."
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 170. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Ani strom naraz nezotnú.
  • English equivalent: Little strokes fell great oaks.
  • "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."
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 252. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

C

• Čím viac tým lepšie.
  • Translation: The more the merrier.
  • Slovensképohl'ady. Tlačou kníhtlačiarskeho účastinárskeho spolku. 1900. p. 408. 

D

• Darovanému koňovi na zuby nepozeraj.
  • Do not look at teeth of gifted horse.
  • English equivalent: Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
  • Meaning: "Don't criticize gifts.."

• Dobrý počiatok - polovica práce.
  • English equivalent: Well begun, is half done.
  • "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."
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 228. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Dvakrát meraj a raz rež.
  • Measure twice, cut once.
  • English equivalent: Measure twice, cut once.
  • "Think longer than do something stupid quickly." or "Think before you speak out."

I

• I z čítaného vlk berie.
  • English equivalent: Cats eat what hussies spare.
  • "What a person tries to keep back through meanness is just as likely to be wasted anyway."
  • Pickering, David (1997). "X". Cassell Dictionary of Proverbs. Continuum International Publishing Group, Limited. p. X. ISBN 978-0-304-35020-9. 
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 641. ISBN 0415096243. 

J

• Jablko nepadá ďaleko od stromu.
  • An apple does not fall far from the tree.
  • "Children observe daily and — in their behaviour — often follow the example of their parents."
  • Ústav svetovej literatúry a jazykov (1984). Slavica Slovaca. Vydavatel'stvo Slovenskej akadémie vied.. p. 88. 
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 259. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Jedna lastovička leto nerobí.
  • One swallow creates no summer.
  • English equivalent: One swallow does not make a summer.
  • "Do not feel sure or rejoice noticing a favourable sign. The appearance of a single sign of a favourable event is not yet a definite indication of its coming. It may be an unrelated, sporadic appearance."
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 49. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 
  • Jazykovednýústav L̕udovíta Štúra (1979). Kultúra slova. Vydavatelʹstvo Slovenskej akadémia vied.. p. 274. 

K

• Každý si je strojcom svojho šťastia.
  • Everyone is creator of his own fortune.
  • 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. 

• Kde sa nič nezaseje, tam sa nič nenaveje.
  • What you reap is what you sow.
  • Strauss (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 394. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Krátka správa lepšia ako dlhá pravda.
  • English equivalent: A bad compromise is better than a good lawsuit.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 68. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Kto chce jadro, musí orech prehryznúť.

• Bez práce nie sú koláče.
  • There are no cakes without work.
  • English equivalent: No pain, no gain.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 680. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Kto sa hanbí, má prázdne gamby.
  • English equivalent: Fortune favours the bold.
  • "Come, pluck up a good heart; speak the truth and shame the devil."
  • Françoid RabelaisFifth Book (1564)
  • Strauss (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 394. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Kto druhému jamu kope, sám do nej spadne.
  • He who digs a pit for others, will fall in it himself.
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 651. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Kto nepracuje, nech neje.
  • He who does not work is without food.
  • English equivalent: He that will not work, shall not eat.
  • "Without due effort one is not entitled to the fruits of the work."
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 256. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Kto šetrí, má za tri.
  • He who saves has three times more.
  • English equivalent: A penny saved is a penny earned.

• Kuj železo za horúca.
  • Translation: Forge iron while it is hot.
  • English equivalent: Make hay while the sun shines.
  • "Do before it is too late to act."

L

• Lakomec je rovný svini, len po smrti činí.
  • English equivalent: A covetous man does nothing that he should till he dies.
  • "Few rich men own their property. The property owns them."
  • Robert Ingersoll, Address to the McKinley League, New York, 29th October 1896
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 79. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Láska prechádza žalúdkom.
  • The love goes through the stomach.
  • English equivalent: The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

• Lepšie neskoro ako nikdy.
  • English equivalent: Better late than never.
  • "It is better that somebody arrives or something happens later than expected or desired, than not at all."

• Lepší vrabec v hrsti ako holub na streche.
  • English equivalent: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
  • Better sparrow in the hand than pigeon on the roof.
  • "Something you have for certain now is of more value than something better you may get, especially if you risk losing what you have in order to get it."

• Lož má krátke nohy.
  • English equivalent: A lie has short legs.

M

• Mrcha vták, čo do vlastného hniezda nečistí.
  • English equivalent: It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest; Don't wash your dirty linen in public.
  • "Don't speak ill off yourself and the groups you belong to."
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 466. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

N

• Nepľuj do pohára, z ktorého si pil.
  • English equivalent: Cast no dirt into the well that gives you water.
  • "People who can put themselves in the place of other people – who can understand the workings of their minds, need never worry about what the future has in store for them."
  • Dale Carnegie, How To Win Friends And Influence People (1934)
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 634. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Nesúď knihu podľa jej obalu.
  • English equivalent: Don't judge a book by its cover.
  • Meaning: "Do not form an opinion about something or somebody based solely on outward appearance."

• Nešťastie v hre, šťastie v láske.
  • English equivalent: Unlucky in game, lucky in love.

P

• Pes, ktorý šteká, nehryzie.
  • Translation: Dog that barks does not bite.
  • English equivalent: Barking dogs seldom bite.
  • Meaning: "Someone who threatens too much does this to frighten his enemies but in fact doesn’t have enough courage to do anything about it."

• Po boji je každý generál.
  • Translation: After a battle everyone is a general.
  • Meaning: "It is easy to say you know best after all the worst possibilities were tested and you know everything about the situation."

• Po každej búrke príde slnko.
  • Translation: After every storm comes the sun.
  • Meaning: "After experiencing sad events, there is always the end to them."

• Pomaly ďalej zájdeš.
  • English equivalent: Slow but sure wins the race.
  • Translation: You will slowly get further.

• Prázdny sud najviac duní.
  • Translation: Empty barrel rumbles the most.
  • English equivalent: It is not the hen that cackles the most that lay the most eggs.
  • Meaning: He who advertises for himself the most can not achieve the greatest results.
  • slovenská, vied, Štúra (1995). Slovenskáreč: časopis pre výskum a kultúru slovenského jazyka. p. 136. 

• Priateľa si drž blízko, nepriateľa ešte bližšie.
  • Translation: Keep your friend close, enemy even closer.
  • Meaning: "Have someone to back you up, but watch your enemy so you know his intentions sooner than your friend's."

• Prísť k niečomu, ako slepá kura k zrnu.
  • English equivalent: Even a blind pig may occasionally pick up an acorn.
  • Meaning: "An incompetent person or an unsystematic approach is bound to succeed every now and then by chance."
  • Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 8 September 2013. 
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 36. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Pýcha predchádza pád.
  • English equivalent: Pride comes before the fall.

R

• Ráno múdrejšie večera.
  • Translation: Morning is wiser (compared) to evening.
  • English equivalent: Morning is wiser than the evening.
  • Meaning: "Good ideas may come after resting."

• Ryba smrdí od hlavy.
  • English equivalent: A fish stinks from the head.
  • Meaning: "A corrupting influence often spreads from a leader to the rest of the organization group."

• Rybu treba chytiť za hlavu, nie za chvost.
  • English equivalent: You might as well try to hold an eel by the tail.
  • Meaning: Don't take a man by his word.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 480. ISBN 0415096243. 

S

• Starý a nemá rozum!
  • Meaning: Age will not refrain people from acting foolish and imprudently.
  • English equivalent: ”Wisdom goes not always by years.”
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 39. ISBN 0415160502. 

Š

• Šaty robia človeka.
  • English equivalent: Fine feathers make fine birds.
  • Translation: Clothing makes a man.

• Šťastie praje pripraveným.
  • English equivalent: Fortune favors the bold.
  • Meaning: "Those who act boldly are most likely to succeed."

T

• Tichá voda brehy myje.
  • Translation: Silent water washes the shores.
  • English equivalent: Still water runs deep.
  • Meaning: "Silent person hides many mysteries."

• Trpezlivosť ruže prináša.
  • Translation: Patience brings roses.
  • English equivalent: Patience is a virtue, and a little will not hurt you.
  • Habovštiaková, Katarína; Krošláková, Ema (1996). Frazeologický slovník: človek a príroda vo frazeologii. Veda. pp. 45, 63. ISBN 978-80-224-0477-8. 

V

• Veľké ryby žerú malé.
  • Translation: Big fish eat little 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. 

• Viac hláv, viac rozumu.
  • Translation: More heads, more wisdom.
  • English equivalent: Two heads is better than one.
  • Meaning: "More people can find solution easier."

• V núdzi poznáš priateľa.
  • Translation: You will know a friend when in need.
  • English equivalent: A friend is known in adversity, like gold is known in fire.

• Vo víne pravda prebýva.
  • Translation: There is truth in wine.
  • English equivalent: In wine there is truth.
  • Meaning: Alcohol consumed removes the inhibition against telling the truth that occasionally one would like to keep secret.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 272. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Vrana k vrane sadá, rovný rovného si hľadá.
  • Translation: Crow sits to crow, the equal looks for equal.
  • English equivalent: Birds of the same feather flock together.

• Všade dobre, doma najlepšie.
  • Translation: Good everywhere, the best at home.
  • Meaning: "No place feels as good as home."

• Výnimka potvrdzuje pravidlo.
  • English equivalent: The exception proves the rule.

Z

• Zakázané ovocie chutí najlepšie."
  • Translation: Forbidden fruit tastes best.
  • English equivalent: Forbidden fruit is sweet.
  • Meaning: "Things that you must not have or do are always the most desirable."

• Zíde z očí, zíde z mysle. or Čo oči nevidia, srdce nebolí.
  • Translation: It fades from eyes, it fades from mind.
  • Translation: The heart does not hurt what eyes do not see.
  • English equivalent: Out of sight, out of mind.
  • Meaning: "Seeing somebody reinforces the memory while a long absence and the appearance of new impressions may result in a gradual fading of it."

• Zlá zelina nevyhynie.
  • Translation: Bad weed never dies out.
  • Swedish equivalent: Bad gun powder doesn't go away easily.
  • Hofbauer (1998). Slovensko na križovatke: články a prejavy 1997-1998. Juga. p. 28.