Bosnian Quotes

B

* Latin: Bolje vrabac u ruci, nego golub na grani. - Cyrillic: Боље врабац у руци, него голуб на грани.
o Translation: A sparrow in the hand is better than a pigeon on the branch. (A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.)

* Latin: Buni se ko grk u hapsu. - Cyrillic: Буни ce ko грk у хaпcу.
o Translation: He complains like an imprisoned Greek (He complains too much.)

D

* Latin: Da padne na leđa, razbio bi nos. - Cyrillic: Да падне на леђа,разбио би нос.
o Translation: If he fell onto his back, he'd break his nose. (when the person is very clumsy)

* Latin: Dala baba dinar da se uhvati u kolo, a dva da se pusti. - Cyrillic: Дала баба динар да се ухвати у коло, а два да се пусти.
o Translation: Grandma gave a dinar to dance, and two to stop. (Be careful what you wish for.)

G

* Latin: Gvožđe se kuje dok je vruće. - Cyrillic: Гвожђе се кује док је вруће.
o Translation: Iron is worked when it's still hot. (Strike the iron while its hot)

* Latin: Gdje je mnogo babica, kilava su deca. - Cyrillic: Гдjе je много бабица, килава cу деца.
o Translation: Where there are many midwives, children will be feeble. (Too many cooks spoil the broth.)

* Latin: Gdje ti mnogo obećavaju, malu torbu ponesi. - Cyrillic: Гдjе ти много обећавају, малу торбу понеси.
o Translation: Where people are promising much to you, bring a small bag. (Similar to There is no free lunch.)

I

* Latin: Iver ne pada daleko od klade. - Cyrillic: Ивер не пада далеко од кладе.
o Translation: A splinter doesn't land far from the trunk. (An apple doesn't fall far from the tree.)

K

* Latin: Kad mačke nema, miševi kolo vode. - Cyrillic: Кад мачке нема, мишеви коло воде.
o Translation: When cat is absent, mice circle dance. (When the cat's away, the mice will play.)

L

* Latin: Lijepa riječ i gvozdena vrata otvara. - Cyrilic: Лиjепа риjеч и гвоздена врата отвара.
o Translation: A kind word opens even the iron doors. (you can succeed in anything by being polite)

N

* Latin: Na mlađima svijet ostaje. - Cyrillic: На млађима свиjет остаје.
o Translation: The world is left to the young.

* Latin: Na nevidišu nema krivice. Cyrillic: На невидишу нема кривице.
o Translation: If it isn't seen, there's no guilt. (If you do something without being caught it isn't done.)

* Latin: Ne može kruška da rodi jabuku. - Cyrillic: Не можe крушка да роди јабуку.
o Translation: A pear tree cannot bear an apple.

* Latin: Ne sej tikve gdje još nisu nikle! - Cyrillic: Не сeј тикве гдjе још нису никле!
o Translation: Don't plant pumpkins where they never sprouted! (Don't waste your time trying things which are proven won't work)

* Latin: Nema vatre bez dima. - Cyrillic: Нема ватре без дима.
o Translation: There is no fire without smoke. (Where there is smoke there is fire.)

* Latin: Nema mirnog dijeteta ni mlade babe. - Cyrillic: Нема мирног дijетета ни младе бабе.
o Translation: There's no quiet child nor young grandmother.

* Latin: Nema hlijeba bez motike! - Cyrillic: Нема хлиjеба без мотике!
o Translation: There's no bread without a hoe! (Similar to Only hard work pays off.)

* Latin: Nije zlato sve što sija. - Cyrillic: Није злато све што сија.
o Translation: Not all shiny things are golden. (All is not gold that glitters.)

P

* Latin: Pas koji laje ne ujeda. - Cyrillic: Пас који лаје не уједа.
o Translation: The dog that barks doesn't bite. (Someone who threatens too much does this to frighten his enemies but in fact doesn't have enough courage to do anything about it.)

* Latin: Praviti od komarca magarca. - Cyrillic: Правити од комарца магарца.
o Translation: To make a donkey out of a mosquito. (To make a mountain of a molehill.)

* Latin: Prvo skoči pa reci hop. - Cyrillic: Прво скочи па реци хоп.
o Translation: First leap, and then say "hop"! (Look before you leap.)

* Latin: Ptica ranoranilica prva crva nađe. - Cyrillic: Птица раноранилицa прва црва нађе.
o Translation: The early bird catches the worm first.

R

* Latin: Rugala se šerpa loncu, široka mu usta. - Cyrillic: Ругала се шерпа лонцу, широка му уста.
o Translation: A pan was mocking a pot because his mouth is big. (The pot calls the kettle black.)

* Latin: Ružnoj djevojci ogledalo krivo. - Cyrillic: Ружној дjевојци огледало криво.
o Translation: An ugly girl blames the mirror. (A bad craftsman blames his tools.)

S

* Latin: Svuda pođi, svome domu dođi. - Cyrillic: Свуда пођи, својој кући дођи.
o Translation: Go everywhere, come back to your home.

Š

* Latin: Što možeš danas, ne ostavljaj za sutra. - Cyrillic: Што можеш данас, не остављај за сутра.
o Translation: Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

T

* Latin: Tko vino večera, vodu doručkuje. - Cyrillic: Tко вино вечера, воду доручкује.
o Translation: Who has wine for dinner, he has water for breakfast. (You can't avoid paying consequences for your deeds)

* Latin: Tko drugome jamu kopa sam u nju pada. - Cyrillic: Tко другоме јаму копа сам у њу пада.
o Translation: Who digs a trap for others ends up in it himself.

* Latin: Tko rano rani, dvije sreće grabi. - Cyrilic: Tко рано рани, двиjе среће граби.
o Translation: One who gets up early is doubly lucky. (The early bird gets the worm.)

* Latin: Tko s vragom tikve sadi, o glavu mu se obiju. - Cyrillic: Tко с ђаволом тикве сади, о главу му се обију.
o Translation: If one sows pumpkins with the devil, they will bash onto one's head. (Similar to As you sow, so you shall reap.)

* Latin: Tko seje vjetar, žanje oluju. - Cyrillic: Tко сeје вjетар, жање олују.
o Translation: Who sows wind will harvest storm. (Similar to As you sow, so you shall reap.)

* Latin: Tko uči znaće, ko štedi imaće. - * Cyrillic: Tко учи знаће, ко штеди имаће.
o Translation: Those who study will know, those who save will have.

* Latin: Tiha voda breg roni. - Cyrillic: Тиха вода брег рони.
o Translation: Quiet water wears down a mountain.

* Latin: Triput mjeri, jednom sijeci. - Cyrillic: Трипут мjери, једном сиjеци. -
o Translation: Measure thrice, cut once.

U

* Latin: U tom grmu čuči zec! - Cyrillic: У том грму чучи зец!
o Translation: That's the bush where the rabbit squats! (That's where the solution lies!)

* Latin: Uzdaj se u se i u svoje kljuse! - Cyrillic: Уздај се усе и у своје кљусе!
o Translation: Trust yourself and your horse! (If you want to get things done, do it yourself)

* Latin: Umiljato jagnje dvije ovce sisa. - Cyrillic: Умиљато јагње двиjе овце сиса.
o Translation: Cuddly lamb suckles from two ewes. (Similar to Flattery will get you everywhere.)

V

* Latin: Vrana vrani oči ne vadi. - Cyrillic: Врана врани очи не вади.
o Translation: A crow doesn't pick out another crow's eyes. (A thief does not steal from another thief)