List of Polish proverbs

See also :

Many Polish proverbs are translations of Latin or German proverbs, while many others came from the Bible. The process of adapting and mixing proverbs between nations in Central Europe lasted for centuries, and in fact many proverbs now should be considered international rather than having a specific national origin.

Here are some examples of Polish proverbs. In paranthesis is translation of proverb into English, when it is significantly different from English version.

Baba z wozu, koniom lżej. (When woman gets off the wagon, horses have easier work.)
Bez pracy nie ma kołaczy (Without work you won't get any cakes.)

Latin : Sine labore non erit panis in ore.

English : Without work there won't be any bread in your mouth.

Bogu świeczke i diabłu ogarek (Light a candle for God and another one for the Devil)
Bredzi jak Piekarski na mękach (He talks gibberish like tortured Piekarski.)
Cel uświęca środki.

English translation : The end justifies the means.

French translation : La fin justifie les moyens.

Cicha woda brzegi rwie (Even still water destroys river-banks.)

English : Still waters are the deepest; Still waters run deep.

Co dwie głowy to nie jedna

English translation : Two heads are better than one

Co wolno wojewodzie, to nie tobie smrodzie (What is allowed to a voievoda, is not to you, miserable.)
Czas to pieniądz

English translation : Time is money.

Człowiek człowiekowi wilkiem

Latin version : Homo homini lupus est.

English translation : Man is man's wolf.

Czego Jaś się nie nauczy, tego Jan nie będzie umiał (What little John haven't learnt, Old John won't know)

German translation : Was Hänschen nicht lernt, lernt Hans nimmermehr.

English : You can't teach an old dog new tricks

Czym skorupka za młodu nasiąknie, tym na starość cuchnie (?)
Duch chętny lecz ciało mdłe.

English translation : The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

Gdy pies je, to nie szczeka, bo mu miska ucieka (When dog is eating he's not barking, or his food will run away)
Gdzie kucharek sześć, tam nie ma co jeść (Where are six cooks, there is nothing to eat.)

German : Viele Köche verderben den Brei.

English : Too many cooks spoil the broth.

I Herkules dupa kiedy wrogów kupa (this is vulgar one, however - Even Hercules asshole in face of many enemies. Nie dokładnie ale może lepiej Even Hercules turns yellow in face of many enemies.)

Latin version : Nec Hercules contra plures

Jak Bóg Kubie tak Kuba Bogu (As God treats Jake, Jake will treat God accordingly.)
Jak sobie pościelesz, tak się wyśpisz (You sleep as good as good you prepare the bed)
Jestem człowiekiem i nic co ludzkie nie jest mi obce

Latin version : Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto.

English translation : I'm human and nothing that is human is to me strange.

Kota nie ma, myszy harcują

English translation : When the cat's away the mice will play.

Kowal zawinił, cygana powiesili (The blacksmith was guilty, but they hung the gypsy.)
Kruk krukowi oka nie wykole (The crow won't hurt an eye of another crow)
Kto rano wstaje, temu Pan Bóg daje (He who gets up early, is rewarded by God.)

German : Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund.

English : The early bird gets the worm.

Kto szybko daje, dwa razy daje.

Latin version : Bis dat, qui cito dat.

English translation : He who gives quickly gives twice.

Kuba strzela, Pan Bóg kule nosi (Jake shoots, God guides the bullets.)
Kuj żelazo póki gorące.

German translation : Das Eisen schmieden, solange es heiss ist.

English translation : Strike while the iron is hot; Make hay while the sun shines

Lepiej późno niż wcale.

English translation : Better late than never

Lepszy wróbel w garści niz gołąb na dachu. (A sparrow in your hand is better than a pigeon on the roof.)

German translation :Besser ein Spatz in der Hand, als eine Taube auf dem Dach.

English : A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Musi to na Rusi, w Polsce jak kto chce (In Russia you have to do things, in Poland you do as you please. (czy to jest lepsze ?) niż "have to" is related only to Russia, in Poland you do as you wish)
Nie chwal dnia przed zachodem słońca (don't praise the day before nightfall)
Nie dziel skóry na niedźwiedziu. (Don't skin a bear before you catch it.)

German : Man soll das Fell des Bären nicht verteilen, bevor man ihn erlegt hat.

English : Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.

Nie mów hop póki nie przeskoczysz (Don't say I hopped before you jump over.)
Nie od razu Kraków zbudowano. (Krakow wasn't built in a day.)

German : Rom ist auch nicht an einem Tag erbaut worden.

English : Rome wasn't built in a day.

Nieznajomość prawa szkodzi.

Latin version : Ignorantia iuris nocet.

English translation : Being ignorant of law harms.

Nie wszystko złoto co się świeci.

German translation : Es ist nicht Alles Gold, was glänzt.

English translation : All that glitters is not gold.

O umarłych mówi się dobrze, albo wcale.

Latin version : De mortuis nihil nisi bene.

English translation : Of the dead, nothing but good.; Say only good things about the dead.

O wilku mowa, a wilk tuż tuż. (You are talking about the wolf, and the wolf is nearby.)

English : Talk of the devil - and the devil appears.

Paluszek i główka to szkolna wymówka (Sore finger and head are pupil's excuses.)
Patrzy jak ciele w malowane wrota (He is gaping like a calf at the painted gate)
Piekna miska jeść nie daje. (Beautifully decorated plate won't feed anyone.)
Piekło jest wybrukowane dobrymi chęciami.

English translation : The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Pokorne ciele dwie matki ssie (A humble calf is sucking two mothers.)
Rączka rączke myje.

Latin version : Manus manum lavat.

English translation : One hand washes the other.

Śpiesz sie powoli.

German : Eile mit Weile.

English : More haste, less speed. or Hasten slowly!

Latin version : Festina lente !

Szlachic na zagrodzie równy wojewodzie (A nobleman within his estate equals a voievoda)
Szukajcie a znajdziecie.

English translation : Seek and ye shall find.

Ten sie śmieje, kto sie śmieje ostatni.

German translation :Wer zulezt lacht, lacht am besten.

English translation : He who laughs last, laughs longest.

Wlazłeś miedzy wrony, krakaj jak i one. (When you mingle with the crows, croak as they do)

German : Andere Länder; andere Sitten.

English : When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Wolnoć Tomku w swoim domku (Thomas, you are free to do anything you want in your own house.)

English : my home is my castle

Wszędzie dobrze ale w domu najlepiej. (It is fine any place you go but best at home.)

English : East or West home is best.; There is no place like home.

Wszystko dobrze, co się dobrze kończy.

German translation : Ende gut, alles gut.

English translation : All's well that ends well.

Wszystkie drogi prowadzą do Rzymu.

English translation : All roads lead to Rome.

Wyrwał się jak Filip z Konopii (?)
Złej baletnicy rąbek spódnicy (przeszkadza). (Bad ballerina is disturbed by hem of her skirt.)

English : A bad workman always blames his tools.

Zobaczysz (coś) jak świnia niebo (You will see (sth) as surely as pig will see heaven (that is, you won't))
Z rodziną wychodzi sie dobrze tylko na zdjeciach (Only on photographs would your kin look nice.)

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