Greek Proverbs II

Κ

* "Κάθε θαύμα τρείς μέρες, το μεγάλο τέσσερις."
o "Each miracle three days, a great one four."
o The effects or the joy from every miracle last only three days, except for the great ones, for which it could be four.


* "Κάθε πράγμα στον καιρό του, κι ο κολιός τον Αύγουστο."
o "Everything in its time and mackerel in August."
o Things must be done in their proper time, not before.


* "Καινούργιο μου κόσκινο, πού να σε κρεμάσω;"
o "My new flour-sifter, where shall I hang you?"
o When something is new, you take care of it and show it off.


* "Κακό σκυλί ψόφο δεν έχει."
o "A bad dog dies hard."
o Can also mean "It is difficult to get rid of a bad person."


* "Καλημέρα, Γιάννη." "Κουκιά σπέρνω."
o "Good morning, John." "I'm planting beans."
o Miscommunication. One says one thing, the other gives an unrelated response."


* "Κι αν είσαι και παπάς, με την αράδα σου θα πας."
o "Even if you are a priest, you get in line."
o The implication is that even if you are a person of high position you do not get priority, you must wait your turn as all the others.


* "Κάλλιο αργά, παρά ποτέ."
o "Better late than never."
+ Do things on time


* "Κάλλιο γαϊδουρόδενε, παρά γαϊδουρογύρευε."
o "It's better to tie your donkey than to go searching for it (afterwards)."
o This proverb contains two composite verbs that are invented especially for the phrase, and do not occur elsewhere: γαϊδουροδένω (donkey-tying) and γαϊδουρογυρεύω (donkey-searching).


* "Kάλλιο πέντε και στο χέρι, παρά δέκα και καρτέρι."
o "It's better to have five in your hand, than ten lurking elsewhere."
o The English equivalent: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."


* "Κάλλιο να σου βγει το μάτι παρά το όνομα."
o "It's better to lose an eye than to get a bad name."
o If one gets the reputation (name) of being something, it is very hard to lose it.


* "Κάλλιο 'νας φρόνιμος οχτρός παρά ένας φίλος παλαβός." (Κεφαλονίτικη παροιμία)
o "Better a wise enemy than an insane friend." (proverb from Cephalonia)
o Enemies/Friends.


* "Κάλλιο 'ν τα γράμματα από τ' άρματα."
o "It's better to take up studying than take up arms."
o Reflects the adaptation during the last centuries of mainland Greek society from a hostile environment favouring martial prowess to a benign one rewarding intellectual achievement.


* "Κάλλιο να σε ζηλεύουν παρά να σε λυπούνται."
o "Better to be envied than to be pitied."


* "Κάλλιο να ζείς με το διάολο παρά με κακιά γυναίκα."
o "Better to live with the devil than with a mean woman."


* "Κατά μάνα και πατέρα, κατά γιό και θυγατέρα."
o "By mother and father, by son and daughter."


* "Κατά το μαστρο-Γιάννη και τα κοπέλια του."
o "According to mastro-Yannis and his sons."
o Mastro-Yannis and his sons are identical.


* "Κι ο άγιος φοβέρα θέλει."
o "Even a saint needs to be 'threatened'."


* "Κόρακας κοράκου μάτι δε βγάζει."
o "The crow does not take the eye out of another crow."
o People who are the same do not hurt each other.


* "Η γλώσσα κόκαλα δεν έχει, αλλά κόκαλα τσακίζει."
o "The tongue has no bones, yet it crushes bones."
o Can be seen as an equivalent to "The pen is mightier than the sword."


* "Και την πίτα ολόκληρη, και το σκύλο χωρτάτο"
o "And the whole pie, and the dog full."
o Is said of someone who wants to accomplish something without making any concession even though it's obvious that one is needed. Akin to: "He wants to have his cake and eat it, too."


* "Καλή ζωή, κακή διαθήκη."
o "Good life, bad testament."
o Implying that most likely, you will leave little in your will by living a good life.


* "Κρασί κι αλήθεια." (αρχαιοελληνικό ρητό)
o "Wine and truth." (ancient Greek saying)


* "Το κρασί και τα παιδιά λένε την αλήθεια."
o "Wine and children speak the truth."


Μ

* "Μάθε τέχνη κι άσ'τηνε κι αν πεινάσεις πιάσ'τηνε."
o "Learn a craft and quit it, and when you get poor, use it to earn a living."


* "Μάτια που δε βλέπονται, γρήγορα λησμονιούνται."
o "Eyes that don't see each other, soon forget about each other."


* "Μάχαιρα έδωσες, μάχαιρα θα λάβεις."
o Literally: "You gave a knife, you'll take a knife."
o Equivalent to: "You live by the sword, you die by the sword." This is quoted in the New Testament (the original Bible written in Greek). When the Roman soldiers appeared to arrest Jesus, one of Christ's companions pulled out a knife to protect him. Jesus stopped him and told that quote verbatim.


* "Μ'ένα σμπάρο, δυο τρυγώνια."
o "One shot, two birds"
o Like saying "Killing two birds with one stone". "Σμπάρος" in Greek is a shotgun shot, but the meaning is the same.


* "Μια του κλέφτη, δυό του κλέφτη, τρεις και την κακή του μέρα."
o "Once for the thief, twice for the thief, three and it's his bad day."
o If you commit a crime you will eventually get caught.


* "Με πορδές αυγά δε βάφονται."
o "You can't dye eggs with farts."
o On stinginess. Akin to "You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs."


* "Μ' ευγενικόν κουβέντιαζε, και ξόδευε το βιος σου." (Κεφαλονίτικη παροιμία)
o "With polite discussion, you spend your life." (Kefalonian proverb)


* "Μην φυτρώνεις εκεί που δεν σε σπέρνουν."
o "Don't sprout where you haven't been planted."
o Do not interfere/meddle in the affairs or discussions of others.


* "Μια ζωή χρωστάμε όλοι μας."
o "All we owe to us is just our life."


* "Μονάχος, μήτε στον παράδεισο."
o "Alone, not even in heaven."


* "Μοναχός σου χόρευε, κι' όσο θέλεις πήδα."
o "Dance by yourself and you can jump as much as you want."
o If you are alone you can do as you wish, but in a group you have to take others into consideration; Compromise.

Ν

* "Να τρώει η μάνα και του παιδιού να μη δίνει."
o "To have a mother eat and not give her child."
o Referring to how tasty something is, that it prevails even over maternal love.


* "Νηστικό αρκούδι δεν χορεύει."
o "A hungry bear does not dance."
o If you don't eat (get paid), you cannot function.


* "Νηστεύει ο δούλος του Θεού, γιατί ψωμί δεν έχει."
o "A servant of God fasts, because he doesn't have any food."

Ξ

Στις πούστης μπύρα ποτό επίκλιση

a Gay can't be "one of the guys" even if he tries.

Ο

* "Οι αιώνες αντιγράφουν αλλήλους." (αρχαιοελληνικό ρητό)
o "The centuries copy each other." (ancient Greek saying)
o Equivalent to "History repeats itself."


* "Ο ανήφορος φέρνει κατήφορο."
o "The uphill is followed by a downhill."
o The equivalent of "What goes up, must come down."


* "Ο άρρωστος που όρισε ως κληρονόμο του το γιατρό, ποτέ δε θα γίνει καλά."
o "The patient who set his doctor as his heir, will never get better."


* "Ο άρρωστος θέλει γιατρό κι ο πεθαμένος κλάμα."
o "The sick needs a doctor and the dead, mourning."


* "Ο γιατρός είναι ο χειρότερος άρρωστος."
o "The doctor is the worst patient."


* "Ο καθένας για λόγου του κι ο θεός για όλους." (Κεφαλονίτικη παροιμία)
o "Each for his own and God for all." (Kefalonian proverb)


* "Ο κακός το πρωί, το βράδυ χειρότερος."
o "The bad of the morning, becomes worse by the night."


* "Ότι θυμάται χαίρεται."
o "He rejoices at whatever he remembers."
o When a person remembers something in that moment and want it, even though they wouldn't have if they hadn't thought of it.


* "Ότι του φανεί, του λολοΣτεφανή."
o "Gays will have equality one day."


* "Ο κανατάς όπου θέλει κολλάει τα χερούλια." (Κεφαλονίτικη παροιμία)
o "The potter puts the handles wherever he wishes." (Kefalonian proverb)


* "Οταν η φτώχια μπαίνει μέσα από την πόρτα, η αγάπη βγαίνει έξω απ' το παράθυρο."
o "When poverty comes in through the door, love goes out through the window."
o Financial problems in a home affect loving relationships.


* "Οταν λείπει ο γάτος, τα ποντίκια χορεύουν."
o "When the cat is absent, the mice dance."
o Akin to "When the cat's away, the mice will play". In the absence of authority, anarchy reigns.


* "Ολα του γάμου δύσκολα κι η νύφη γκαστρωμένη."
o "Everything about the wedding is difficult (obstacles or objections) and the bride is pregnant."
o When people make excuses or place obstacles about a task that has to be done.


* "Ο λύκος σαν γεράσει, μασκαράς των σκυλιών γίνεται."
o When the wolf gets old, he becomes the clown of dogs."


* "Ο λύκος κι αν εγέρασε κι άσπρισε το μαλί του, ούτε την γούνα του άλλαξε, ούτε την κεφαλή του."
o "Even though the wolf got old and his fur is white, he neither changed his skin or his head."
o When a person is bad to begin with, this doesn't change in old age.


* "Ο λύκος έχει τον σβέρκο χοντρό γιατί κάνει τις δουλειές μόνος του."
o "The wolf has a thick neck because he does his work alone."
o One should not rely on others to do his work, because perhaps it won't be done as well.


* "Ο ξυπόλυτος είδε τον κουτσό και παρηγορήθηκε."
o "A shoeless man saw a one-legged man and felt better."
o Someone will always be in a worst situation than someone in a bad situation.


* "Ο χειρότερος κουφός είν' αυτός που δε θέλει ν' ακούσει."
o "The worst deaf is the one who doesn't want to hear."
o Being stubborn.


* "Oι πολλές γνώμες βουλιάζουν το καράβι."
o "Too many opinions sink the boat.
o Equivalent to the English "Too many cooks spoil the broth". On the perils of democratic indecisiveness.


* "Όποιος γίνεται πρόβατο τον τρώει ο λύκος."
o "He who becomes a sheep is eaten by the wolf."
o follow the wrong people, and you will fail with them


* "Όποιος δεν επερπάτησε τη νύχτα με φεγγάρι, και το πρωί με τη δροσιά, τον κόσμο δεν εχάρη."
o "Whoever did not walk in a moonlit night, and in the morning with the dew, did not enjoy the world."


* "Όποιος έχει τα γένεια, έχει και τα χτένια."
o "Whoever has the beard, has the combs."
o One must have the appropriate tools in a circumstance or situation.


* "Όποιος έχει πολύ πιπέρι, βάζει και στα λάχανα."
o "Whoever has a lot of pepper even puts it on cabbage."
o Those who have plenty of something find ways to waste it.


* "Οποιος γεννηθεί στη φυλακή, την φυλακή θυμάται."
o "Whoever was born in prison, remembers the prison."
o One tends to gravitate to the places and conditions that he was raised, regardless of how bad the manners were.


* "Όποιος καεί στο γάλα φυσάει και το γιαούρτι."
o "Whoever gets burnt by (hot) milk blows the (cool) yogurt."
o When someone has had a bad experience they tend to be overcautious. For example, someone who has been betrayed does not trust anyone anymore. Akin to "Once bitten, twice shy."


* "Όποιος κάηκε στη σούπα φυσάει και το γιαούρτι."
o "Whoever gets burnt by (hot) soup blows the (cool) yogurt."
o When someone has had a bad experience they tend to be overcautious. For example, someone who has been betrayed does not trust anyone anymore. Akin to "Once bitten, twice shy."


* "Οποιος μπλέκεται με τα πίτουρα τον τρων οι κότες."
o "He who gets in chicken feed is eaten by the chickens."
o On the perils of getting involved with the wrong people or with the wrong activities.


* "Οποιος δεν έχει μυαλό έχει πόδια."
o "He who has no brains has legs."
o On the extra trouble one incurs when not thinking through his actions beforehand.


* "Όπως έστρωσες θα κοιμηθείς."
o "How you make your bed is how you are going to sleep (in it)."
o You got yourself into this, now get yourself out of it.


* "Όποιος διάβολο αγόρασε, διάβολο πουλάει."
o "He who bought devil, sells devil."
o People peddle material things, not whatever they possess.


* "Όποιος στα είκοσι δεν έχει νου, στα τριάντα ας μην προσμένει."
o "He who doesn't have a brain by twenty, shouldn't expect one at thirty."


* Όπου ακούς πολλά κεράσια, βάστα μικρό καλάθι.
o "When you hear of many cherries, hold a small basket."
o Don't get overwhelmed, and be cautious.


* "Ο πνιγμένος, από τα μαλλιά του πιάνεται."
o "The drowning man grips to his own hair."


* "Όπου πεθαίνουνε πολλοί, θάνατο μη φοβάσαι."
o "Where many die, there is no fear of death."


* "Όπου σπέρνει η οργή, θερίζει η μετάνοια."
o "Where rage seeds, repentance reaps."


* "Όποιος πίνει βερεσέ, δυο φορές μεθάει."
o "He who drinks on credit, gets twice as drunk."


* "Όποιος κυβερνάει το σπίτι του, κυβερνάει και τη ζωή του."
o "He who governs his home, governs his life."


* "Όποιος στην ξέρα περπατεί και θάλασσα γυρεύει, ο διάβολος οπίσω του κουκιά του μαγειρεύει."
o "He who walks the earth and seeks the sea, the devil behind him is cooking fava beans for him."


* "Ο πεινασμένος καρβέλια ονειρεύεται."
o "He who's hungry dreams of bread-loaves."


* "Οι πεθαμένοι με τους πεθαμένους, κι οι ζωντανοί με τους ζωντανούς."
o "The dead along the dead, and the living along the living."
o Used for people who mourn a departed too long. It is like saying "Get on with your life."


* "Ο θεός αγαπάει τον κλέφτη, μα σαν τον νοικοκύρη, όχι."
o "God loves the thief, but not like the master of the house."
o The crook may get away initially, but he will eventually get caught.


* "Όντες θέλει να χαλάσει ο θεός το μέρμυγκα, του βάνει φτερά και πετάει." (Κεφαλονίτικη παροιμία)
o "When God wants to destroy the ant, he puts wings on him and it flies (to its destruction)." (Kefalonian proverb)


* "Ο θεός έφκιασε τον κόσμο κι είπε: 'Οπόχει μυαλό ας πορεύεται.'" (Κεφαλονίτικη παροιμία)
o "God made the world and said: "He who has a brain will go on." (Kefalonian proveb)


* "Ου γαρ έρχεται μόνον το γήρας."
o "Old age does not come alone."
o Old age comes with illnesses, like sickness, loss of memory, etc.


* "Ο θεός δε γκρεμίζει τα σπίτια των ανθρώπων, παρά χαλάει τα μυαλά τους και τα γκρεμίζουν μονάχοι τους."
o "God does not tear down men's homes, he ruins their minds and they tear them down themselves."


* "Ο άνθρωπος ότι μπορεί κι ο Θεός ότι θέλει."
o "Man (does) what he can, and God (does) whatever he wants."


* "Ο θεός οικονομάει κι ο διάολος τα χαλάει."
o "God profits and the devil spends it."


* "Ο θεός βλέπει βουνά και ρίχνει χιόνι."
o "God sees mountains and throws snow on them."


* "Όταν κάνεις ότι μπορείς, κάνεις ότι πρέπει."
o "When you do what you can, you do what you must."


* "Όσο πίν' η πεθερά μας τόσο μας καλοχαιρετάει."
o "As long as our mother in law is drinking, she'll be gentle (to us)."


* "Όταν ο μήνας δεν έχει ρώ (ρ) το κρασί θέλει νερό." (αρχαιοελληνικό ρητό)
o "When the month has no "R" put water in your wine."
o In Greece, during the hot months of the summer, one must be careful with his alcohol consumption.


* "Οσες φορές κάνει η προβατίνα 'Mπεε', τόσες μπουκιές χάνει."
o "Every time the ewe goes 'Baa', she loses the same number of mouthfuls."
o Do not speak while you eat.


* "Ότι μικρομάθεις, δεν γερονταφήνεις."
o "What you learn as a child, you cannot forget as an old person."
o Refers to knowlegde/skills one acquires as a youngster, and continues to remember for ever.
o Also with the meaning of "Old habits die hard."


* "Όφις ην μη φάγη όφιν, δράκων ου γενήσεται."
o Alternatively: "Όφις ει μη φάγοι όφιν, δράκων ου γενήσεται."[1]
o "A serpent, unless it devours a serpent, will not become a dragon."[2]
o Quoted by Erasmus[2], Apostolius,[1][3] and in Suda[1][4]
o Translated into Latin by Apostolius, Erasmus, and Francis Bacon.
o Paraphrased in English by John Dryden (Oedipus III.1): "A serpent ne'er becomes a flying dragon, / Till he has eat a serpent."[1]


* "Όψιμος γιος δε θα γνωρίσει πατέρα." (Βυζαντινή παροιμία)
o "Son of old age, won't know his father." (Byzantine proverb)


* "Ο ψεύτης γεννάει ένα ψεύτη, ώσπου να γίνουν μια γενιά."
o "The liar gives birth to another liar, until they become a generation (of liars)."


* "Ο ψεύτης κι ο κλέφτης τον πρώτο χρόνο χαίρονται."
o "Liars and thieves are happy only the first year (after the deed)."
o The implication here is that they eventually get caught.

Π

* "Παλιό γιατρό και γέρο καπετάνιο να γυρεύεις."
o "Seek an old doctor and an old captain."
o Experience.


* "Παλιός οχτρός φίλος δε γίνεται." (Κεφαλονίτικη παροιμία)
o "An old enemy can't become a friend." (proverb from Cephalonia)
o Enemies/Friends.


* "Πάμε για μαλλί και θα βγούμε κουρεμένοι."
o "We're going to get wool, but we'll come out shorn."
o Akin to "Buyer beware."


* "Παπάς, παπά καλό δε θέλει."
o "A priest can't stand another good priest."
o Envy.


* "Παπάς, γιατρός και χωροφύλακας καλύτερα 'ναι να μην μπαίνουνε στο σπίτι."
o "A priest, a doctor and a policeman is better not to enter one's house."
o Authority. (Rather than to authority, this refers to the unfavorable circumstances of such persons visiting.)


* "Παπούτσι από τον τόπο σου κι ας είναι μπαλωμένο."
o "Shoe from your place, even if it is patched."
o Take a spouse from the place you come from, even if she is not so great.


* "Περί ορέξεως κολοκυθόπιτα."
o "When it comes to taste anything goes, even eating the Zucchini Plant flower/tops."


* "Πες το, πες το, το κοπέλι, κάνει την κυρά και θέλει."
o "By saying and saying it, the lad makes the lady want it."
o Persistence.


* "Που δεν ακούει τσου φίλους του, ευκαριστάει τσ' οχτρούς του." (Κεφαλονίτικη παροιμία)
o "He who doesn't listen to his friends, makes his enemies happy." (proverb from Cephalonia)
o Enemies/Friends.


* "Πήρες πολύ ψηλά τον αμανέ."
o "You are singing the song too high.
o Arrogance or over-reaching. Akin to: "Bit off more than he can chew."


* "Πολλοί συγγενείς, λίγοι λίγοι."
o "Many relatives, little by little (on each visit)."
o Family.


* "Πούλαγε ακριβά και ζύγιαζε σωστα."
o "Sell your goods expensive and weigh correctly."
o Commerce.


* "Που πας ξυπόλητος στ' αγκάθια;"
o "How come you are going barefoot on the thorns?"
o Why are you getting into this difficulty unprepared?


* "Πρώτα βγαίνει η ψυχή του ανθρώπου και μετά το χούι του."
o "First leaves the soul of a person and then his quirks."
o Refers to the fact that some habits are ingrained in a person's personality.


* "Πρώτη βοήθεια του θεού, δεύτερη του γειτόνου."
o "First aid by God, second by neighbor."

Ρ

* Ράβδος εν τη γωνία, άρα βρέχει.
o "A walking stick in a corner, therefore it's raining."
o It is said of an argument that is totally absurd; a non sequitur. This idiom is in "high" Greek language.


* "Ρόδα είναι και γυρίζει."
o "A wheel it is and it turns around."
o The obvious.


* "Το ραγισμένο γιαλί δεν σιάχτεται."
o "The cracked glass cannot be fixed."
o Has to do with broken relationships, when one did or said someting that cannot be rectified.