# 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