Hungarian Proverbs II

Cs

* Csak a fejét (üsd), hogy meg ne sántuljon!
o Translation: Only hit his head so he doesn't start limping.

* Csak az téved, aki csinál is valamit.
o Only those who do something can muck it up.

* Csöbörből vödörbe.
o Translation: From the can into the bucket.
o English equivalent: Out of the frying pan into the fire.
o Meaning: Ends up in another situation that is just as bad as the first one.

E,É

* Ebül szerzett jószág ebül vész el.
o Translation: Something you stole will be also stolen from you.

* Egy ember barátjairól ismerszik meg.
o Translation: You can tell a man by his friends.

* Egy fecske nem csinál nyarat.
o Translation: One swallow does not make a summer.
o Meaning: Do not jump to conclusions.

* Ember tervez, Isten végez.
o Translation: Man makes plans, God finishes them.
o Meaning: Man proposes, God disposes.
o Interpretation:
+ You cannot count 100% on your plans for the future.


* Ennek a fele sem tréfa.
o Translation: Not a half of it is a joke.
o Meaning: This is not to be taken lightly.

* Eső után köpönyeg.
o Translation: Coat after rain.
o Approx. "it's no use crying over spilt milk".

* Elefánt a porcelánboltban.
o Elephant in a porcelain shop
o NOTE: Describes extreme clumsiness.
o English analogy:
+ A bull in a china shop.


* Evés közben jön meg az étvágy.
o Appetite comes whilst eating.

* Egy fenékkel nem lehet két lovat megülni.
o You can not sit on two horses with one bum.

* Először a munka, aztán a szórakozás.
o Work first then play.

* Elássa a csatabárdot.
o Bury the hatchet.

* Egy újabb szeg a koporsójába.
o Another nail in his/her coffin.


* Eszi a kefét.
o He's eating the brush.
o meaning: he's going through a bad patch. Or he's dealing with the consequencies of his bad decisions.


* Ép testben ép lélek.
o A sound mind in a sound body.

* Édes a bosszú.
o Vengeance tastes sweet.

F

* Fejétől bűzlik a hal
o Translation: The fish stinks from the head.
o Meaning: If there is trouble in an organisation (moral/ethical/otherwise), chances are it started at the top.

* Fejjel rohan a falnak.
o Run head first into the wall
o Meaning: Act without thinking

* Festi az ördögöt a falra.
o Translation: Painting the devil onto the wall.
o Meaning: Promoting tomfoolery / tempting bad karma.
o Example use of this imagery: "You'll be the death of me"
o English nautical analog: "Don't bring the devil aboard!"

* Felkötheti a gatyáját.
o He should tie up his pants (usually referring to a belt or liederhosen)
o Meaning: He needs all he can muster to do the job properly.
o English analogy:
+ He ought to pull his socks up.



Gy

* Gyerek és bolond mindig igazat mond.
o A child and a fool will always tell the truth.
o Bolond is somewhat like a forgetful, innocent, slightly mad person.

* Gyom mindenütt terem.
o Weeds grow everywhere (In every community you'll find bad things happening or bad persons present.)

* Gyakorlat teszi a mestert.
o Direct translation: Practice makes the master
o Practice makes perfect

H

* A hazug embert hamarabb utolérik, mint a sánta kutyát.
o Translation: The liar and the lame dog are quickly caught.
o The original goes more like this: "A hazug embert hamarabb utolérik, mint a sánta kutyát"
o Translation: A liar is caught quicker (easier/sooner) than a lame dog.
o Meaning: Do not lie.

* Ha rövid a kardod, toldd meg egy lépéssel.
o Traslation: If your sword is short, lengthen it with a step.
o Meaning: In times of difficulty, summon up your reserve strength.

* Ha a hegy nem jön Mohammedhez, akkor Mohammed megy a hegyhez.
o If the mountain doesn't come to Mohammed, Mohammed goes to the mountain

* Ha szivárványt akarsz látni, először végig kell nézned az esőt.
o If you want to see a rainbow you must first sit through the rain.

* Ha nincs otthon a macska, cincognak az egerek.
o Direct translation: If the cat's not at home, the mice will sing (make mice noise)
o If the cat's away, the mice will play

* Harapófogóval kell kihúzni belőle.
o Have to use pliers to get it out of him (the person)
o Note: The person in question is unwilling to go into details.

* Hülyébb, mint a cipőmtalpa!
o He/She is stupider than my shoe-sole.
o Note: He/She is quite idiot.

I,Í

* Isten útjai kifürkészhetetlenek.
o God works in mysterious ways.


* Ízlések és pofonok különbözőek.
o Tastes and smacks vary.
o meaning: Everybody has their own likes and dislikes.

English original: Different strokes for different folks

J

* Jó kezdet, fél siker
o Translation: Good start, half success.

* Jó pap holtig tanul.
o Translation: A good priest learns till he dies.

* Jó tett helyébe jót várj.
o Translation: Expect good if you do good.

* Jó munkához idő kell.
o Good work needs time.

* Jóból is megárt a sok.
o You can have too much of a good thing

* Jobb ma egy veréb, mint holnap egy túzok.
o Translation: Rather a sparrow today than a bustard tomorrow.
o English analog: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

* Jobb félni, mint megijedni.
o Translation: It's better to be afraid than to be frightened.

* Jobb adni, mint kapni.
o It's better to give than to receive

K

* Kerülgeti, mint macska a forró kását.
o Translation: He is circling around it like a cat around the hot porridge.
o Meaning: this proverb is usually used to describe when someone wants something but is too afraid to say so.

* Két legyet üt egy csapásra.
o 2 flies with one swat
o English counterpart: 2 birds with one stone

* Késő bánat, eb gondolat.
o Late regret is in vain. Meaning: There are things ( words said, events happened etc) one cannot undo/change/make it better,one just has to live with the consequences and move on.

* Ki mint veti ágyát, úgy alussza álmát.
o Translation: As you make your bed, so you must lie in it.
o Meaning: As you prepare so you will rest

English original: You've made your bed, now lie in it

* Kinek a pap, kinek a papné (tetszik).
o Translation: Some like the priest, some like the wife of the priest.
o Meaning: One's opinion might be drastically different than someone else's. More like: One's taste is different from others' tastes.
o It is also thought that in the original saying the word "pap" was actually a family name ( hence Mr. and Mrs. Pap)and not a priest pap.

* Ki a kicsit nem becsüli, a nagyot nem érdemli.
o Whoever doesn't appreciate small tokens of (appreciation/gratitude), doesn't deserve larger (appreciation/gratitude)

* Ki mint vet, úgy arat.
o As you sow, so shall you reap.

* Kivétel erősíti a szabályt.
o Exceptions make the rule stronger.

* Kinek bő az idő, még kifut belőle.'
o He, who has plenty of time, will run out of it.
o Meaning: He who thinks that there's plenty of time to do something that needs to be done, will end up rushing it to finish in time.

* Könyökömön jön ki.
o Translation: It is coming out of my elbow.
o Meaning: It happened so often that it makes me bored.

* Közös lónak túros a háta.
o Translation: A jointly owned horse has a roughed-up back.
o Meaning: "The tragedy of commons" - A commonly owned/used horse will be over-used and not taken care of properly.

* Kukoricázni.
o No direct translation, 'corn' used as a verb. Ne kukoricázz - don't hesitate
o Meaning: "to hesitate"

L

* Lassan járj, tovább érsz.
o Translation: Walk slowly, you'll get further.

* Lassú víz partot mos.
o English analog:Still waters run deep.
o Meaning: Persistence will be rewarded.

* Láttam én már éjjeliőrt nappal meghalni.
o Translation: I've already seen nightwatchmen die in broad daylight.
o Meaning: Even if something (usually a bad thing in the sense of this proverb) is unlikely, it may still happen.

* Legszebb öröm a káröröm.
o Direct translation: The best joy is someone else's misfortune (schadenfreude).

M

* Madarat tolláról, embert barátjáról.
o Translation: You can judge a bird from it's feathers and a person from their friends
o English analogue: Birds of a feather flock together

* Májusi eső aranyat ér.
o The May rain is worth gold.
o April showers bring May flowers. The name of the month doesn't fit but the sense of the proverb is the same. The agriculture needs the rain especially in May (at least in Hungary).

* Meghaltam és vidéken vagyok eltemetve.
o Translation: I'm dead and buried in the countryside.
o Meaning: I'm busy, don't disturb me.

* Mindenhol jó, de legjobb otthon!
o Translation: Anywhere is good, but home is best!
o English analogue: There's no place like home.

* Minden jó, ha a vége jó.
o Translation: All's well that ends well.

* Maga alatt vágja a fát.
o Cutting the tree right under oneself

* Minden lében két kanál.
o Literal translation: (the person) is two spoons in all liquids
o Meaning: "He is liable to do anything" or "He sticks his nose in everything".
o English analogue: Have a finger in every pie.

* Más tollával ékeskedik.
o Using another's feather to impress

* Mindenki a maga szerencséjének kovácsa.
o Translation: Everyone's the blacksmith of their own fate.
o Meaning: Everyone has control of their own fate.
+ “Each man is the smith of his own fortune ”. Appius Claudius quotes (Roman statesman, 300 B.C.)

* Mindent lehet, csupán akarni kell.
o Everything is possible, you just need to want it!

* Minden csoda három napig tart.
o All miracles last 3 days.
+ Meaning: Novelty always wears off eventually.

* Minden jó, ha jó a vége.
* All is well that ends well.

* Más kárán tanul az okos.
o The smart one will learn from the mistakes of others

* Minden kezdet nehéz.
o All beginnings are hard

* Megrágta az idő vasfoga.
o Time's iron teeth have chewed it.
o NOTE: Rusty, old, weathered. Description of an old/antique item

N

* Nagyobb a füstje, mint a lángja.
o Translation: More smoke than flame.

* Ne ítélj, hogy ne ítéltess.
o Translation: Judge not if you want not to be judged.

* Nekem nyolc.
o Translation: It's "eight" to me.
o Meaning: It doesn't matter to me.

* Nem ijed meg a maga árnyékától.
o Translation: He is not afraid of his own shadow.

* Nem látja a fától az erdőt.
o Can't see the forest from the tree.
o Meaning: A minor detail blinds him to the big picture. / He misses the point.
+ English equivalent:
+ Cannot see the wood for the trees.

* Nem kell belesírni a kiömlött tejbe
o Don't cry over spilled milk


* Nem mind arany, ami fénylik.
o Translation: Not all that glitters is gold.

* Nem zörög a haraszt, ha a szél nem fújja.
o Translation: The bushes don't rattle if there's no wind.
o English analogy: There's no smoke without fire.

* Nincsen rózsa tövis nélkül.
o There is no rose without thorns.
+ Meaning: Nothing is perfect.

* Nem a ruha teszi az embert.
o Translation: It's not the clothes that make a man (person)

* Ne etess!
o
+ Meaning: Don't deceit me! .

* Ne igyál előre a medve bőrére.
o Don't drink ahead to the bear's hide
o English analogy: Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
o Alternate translation: Don't waste your favours before you get them (also works with money)

* Nem repül a sült galamb a szádba.
o The fried dove/pigeon (or chicken) will not fly into your mouth
+ Meaning: You have to work for things.

* Ne szólj szám, nem fáj fejem.
o Mouth don't utter any words and then I won't have a headache.
+ Meaning: He who says nothing doesn't have to worry about it.

* Nem eszik olyan forrón a kását(, ahogy főzik).
o The porridge isn't eaten as hot (as it's made)
+ Meaning: Be patient.

* Nem akarásnak nyögés a vége.
o Unwillingness ends in groaning
o Not trying will end in crying

* Nem léphetsz kétszer ugyanabba a folyóba.
o You can't step into the same river twice

* Nem töltött káposzta, hogy föl lehessen melegíteni.
o It's not stuffed cabbage (a yummy Hungarian meal) that you can heat again.
o Meaning: in some things you just cannot retrace your steps to try again, or things are not as good the second time around.

* Nem fér meg két dudás egy csárdában.
o Two pipers don't fit in one pub.

* Nézd meg az anyját, vedd el a lányát.
o Look at the mother and marry her daughter.
o NOTE: This phrase to my knowledge is used in the Gypsy songs of old, when a prospective lady is checked out and is asked to marry.
o Explanation: By looking at the mother, you not only see what type of person your future mother-in-law is but also you get an indication of the kind of upbringing the daughter had received, of her characteristics and domestic capabilities. Plus the possibility of how she will look like in twenty-odd years' time.

* Nincs lehetetlen, csak tehetetlen.
o Nothing is impossible, only people who can't do them.
o Where there is a will, there is a way.


O,Ó

* Okos enged, szamár szenved.
o The smart one yields and the fool (ass/donkey) suffers.

* Olcsó húsnak híg a leve.
o Cheap meat produces thin broth

Ö,Ő

* Ökör iszik magában.
o Ökör = Bull. But in this context in my opinion it means: The weak minded drinks alone (by themselves).

direct translation: ox drinks alone.
means: man should not drink alone. (a hungarian)

P

* Pénz beszél, kutya ugat.
o Money talks, dogs bark


S

* Segíts magadon, (és) az Isten is megsegít.
o Translation: Help yourself and God will help you also.
o English Analog: God helps those who help themselves.

* Sörre bor mindenkor, borra sör meggyötör.
o Translation: Beer on wine, everything is fine; wine on beer... you are going to get sick / suffer.

Similar to the American saying: Liquor before beer, you're in the clear; beer before liquor, never been sicker.

* Sok lúd disznót győz.
o Lots of geese can conquer pigs.
+ English analogy: Power in numbers.

* Sok kicsi sokra megy.
o Lots of small (activities/gestures/thoughts/feelings) will amount to a lot.

* Sötétben minden tehén fekete.
o In the dark all cows are black

* Sok beszédnek sok az alja.
o Lots of talk has lots of leftover
o Meaning: Too much talk won't solve anything.

* Tisztaság fél egészség.
o Cleanliness is half of well being.

* Sok bába közt elvész a gyermek.
o Translation: The baby gets lost amongst too many midwives.
o English equivalent: Too many cooks spoil the broth.

* Sós a leves, szerelmes a szakács(né).
o Salty soup, chef (or female chef) in love.

* Sokat ígér a világ, de keveset ad.
o The world promises a lot, but delivers little.