Hungarian Proverbs

A,Á

* Addig jár a korsó a kútra, míg el nem törik.
o Translation:
+ A mug keeps going to the well until it breaks eventually.
+ A jar goes to the well until shattered.
o Interpretations:
+ You cannot do anything wrong/bad (or illegal) for a long time because sooner or later your secrets will come to light.
+ Sooner or later life will show you that what you do is wrong.


* Addig nyújtózkodj, amíg a takaród ér.
o Translation:
+ Only stretch as far as your blanket reaches.
o Interpretation:
+ Do not try to do more than your circumstances allow you.


* Ágyúval lő verébre.
o Translation:
+ Shooting sparrows with a cannon.


* A hazug embert hamarabb utolérik, mint a sánta kutyát.
o Variant: Hamarabb utolérik a hazug embert, mint a sánta kutyát.
o Translation:
+ They catch up with a liar sooner than with a limping dog.
o Interpretation:
+ Do not lie because your lies will come to light sooner than you think.


* Ajándék lónak ne nézd a fogát!
o Translation:
+ Don't look at the tooth of a gift horse.
o English analogy:
+ Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.


* Aki Á-t mond, mondjon B-t is.
o Translation:
+ He who says A, should also say B.
o English analogy:
+ In for a penny, in for a pound.


* Aki korán kel, aranyat lel.
o Translation:
+ Who gets up early finds gold.
o English analogy:
+ The early bird catches the worm.
+ The early bird gets the worm.


* Aki másnak vermet ás, maga esik bele.
o Translation:
+ Whoever digs a hole for someone else, will fall in it themselves.


* A könyvek néma mesterek
o Translation:
+ Books are silent masters.


* Amelyik kutya ugat, az nem harap.
o Translation:
+ The dog that barks doesn't bite.
o English analogy:
+ Barking dogs seldom bite.


* Amilyen az adjonisten, olyan a fogadjisten.
o Interpretation:
+ The way you greet someone determines how he will welcome you.


* Amit ma megtehetsz, ne halaszd holnapra!
o Translation:
+ What you can do today don't put off to tomorrow.


* Apád nem volt üveges.
o Your father wasn't a glazier.
o Interpretation:
+ Step aside because I can't see through you.


* A szükség a legnagyobb tanítómester.
o variant: A szükség a legjobb mester
o Translation:
+ Necessity is the greatest teacher.


* Az alma nem esik messze a fájától.
o Variation: Nem esik messze az alma a fájától.
o Translation:
+ The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
o English analogy:
+ A chip off the old block.


* Aki kíváncsi, hamar megöregszik.
o Translation:
+ Who is curious gets old quickly.
o English analogy:
+ Curiosity killed the cat.


* Az orvosokból lesz a legrosszabb beteg.
o Translation:
+ Doctors make the worst patients!


* Ajtóstul ront a házba.
o Translation:
+ Kicking the door down on entering the house
o Interpretation:
+ To do something without premeditation.


* A tiltott gyümölcs a legédesebb.
o Translation:
+ The forbidden fruit is the sweetest.


* Addig üsd a vasat, amíg meleg.
o Translation:
+ Strike the iron while it is warm.
o Interpretation:
+ Seize the opportunity while you have it.
o English analogy:
+ Strike while the iron is hot.
+ Make hay while the sun shines .


* A hűség hegyeket mozgathat meg.
o Translation:
+ Faithfulness can move mountains.


* A szerelem vak.
o Translation:
+ Love is blind.
o Interpreation:
+ Being in love, one may not see the true nature of their sweetheart.


* A szerencse forgandó.
o Translations:
+ Luck is inconstant.
+ The wheel of fortune is ever turning.
o Interpretation:
+ You cannot rely on your luck because it keeps changing.


* Ember tervez, Isten végez.
o Translation:
+ Man plans, God executes.
o English analogy:
+ Man proposes, God disposes.


* Aki egyszer hazudni mer, több hitelt nem érdemel.
o Translation:
+ Once you have lied you don't deserve credit.


* A szerencsét keltegetni kell.
o Translation:
+ Luck needs to be cultivated (nurtured).


* Az ellentétek vonzzák egymást.
o Translation:
+ Opposites attract each other.


* A név kötelez.
o Translation:
+ Nobility obliges.
o Interpretation:
+ To keep one's family name in honor, one must keep to certain values.
+ You are obliged by the values of what you represent.


* A szamár is akkor megy a jégre táncolni, amikor a legjobb dolga van.
o Translation:
+ The donkey will dance on ice only if its well-being is exceptional.


* A fuldokló még az utolsó szalmaszálba is belekapaszkodik.
o Translation:
+ The drowning person will even hold on a piece of straw.


* A fal nem üt vissza.
o Translation:
+ The wall will not punch back.
o Interpretation:
+ Vent your anger without hurting anyone.


* A baj nem jár egyedül.
o Translation:
+ A problem does not come alone.
o English analogy:
+ When it rains, it pours.
+ It never rains but it pours.


* Aki egyszer már megégette magát, az fél a tűztől
o Translation:
+ Who has burnt once is scared of fire.
o Interpretation:
+ Once you experienced something bad, you will have a fear of it.
o English analogy:
+ Once bitten, twice shy.


* Aki mer, az nyer.
o Translation:
+ He who dares, wins.
o Interpretation:
o No risk, no fun.


* A szorgalom mindig meghozza gyümölcsét.
o Translations:
+ Attentiveness will always bring its fruit.
+ Industriousness will always bear fruit.


* A legjobb védekezés a támadás.
o Translation:
+ Attack is the best defence.


* Azt sem tudja, hogy eszik-e vagy isszák.
o Translation:
+ He/She has no idea about whether it should be eaten or drunk.
o Intepretation:
+ He/She has no idea how to use it.
+ He/She has no idea about it.


* Alkalom szüli a tolvajt.
o Translation:
+ Opportunity makes the thief.


* Az idő minden sebet begyógyít.
o Translation:
+ Time heals all wounds.
o Interpretation:
+ You will get over your bad experiences as time goes by.


* Ahány ház, annyi szokás.
o Translation:
+ There are as many customs as houses.
o Interpretation:
+ Every family has its own way.


* Amit nem tudunk az nem fáj.
o Translation:
+ What we don't know doesn't hurt.


* Aki délelőtt bolond, délután is az.
o Translation:
+ A fool in the morning is fool in the afternoon.


* A pénz nem boldogít.
o Translation and English analogy:
+ Money can't buy happiness.


* A fehér liliomnak is lehet fekete az árnyéka.
o Translation:
+ Even a white lily can cast a black shadow.


* Az nevet, aki utoljára nevet.
o Translation:
+ He who laughs last, laughs best.


* Az éhség a legjobb szakács.
o Translation:
+ Hunger is the best chef.


* Az öndicséret büdös.
o Translation:
+ Egotism stinks.


* Az idő pénz.
o Translation:
+ Time is money.


* Az egyik szemem sír, a másik nevet.
o Translation:
+ One of my eyes is crying, the other one is laughing.
o Interpretation:
+ I am half-sad, half-happy about it.


* Akasztják a hóhért.
o Translation:
+ The hangman is being hanged.
o Interpretation:
+ Used when someone gets a subordinate role in a situation where usually they have the upper hand.


* Akkor zárja be a karámot, amikor a ló már megszökött
o He locks the stable door but the horse has escaped already
+ Interpretation: he acts too late, the trouble has already happened


* A szomszéd fűje/kertje mindig zöldebb.'
o Translation:
+ The grass is always greener in the neighbour's garden.
o English analogy:
+ The grass is always greener on the other side.


* A tudás hatalom.
o Translation (same as English equivalent):
+ Knowledge is power.


* Átesett a ló túlsó oldalára.
o Translation:
+ He fell onto the other side of the horse.
o Interpretation:
+ Trying to avoid a problem or situation, he overcompensated and now has the opposite problem.
+ For example: Someone was very thin and the doctor told him to eat more. He ate and ate and ate because he didn't want to get ill but he ate so much that now he is overweight.

B

* Bagoly mondja a verébnek, hogy nagyfejű
o Translation:
+ The owl says the sparrow big-headed.
o English analogy:
+ The pot calls the kettle black.


* Bajban ismerszik meg a jó barát.
o Translation:
+ A friend in need, is a friend indeed.


* Bal lábbal kelt fel.
o Translation:
+ He got up putting his left foot first on the floor.
o NOTE:
+ It is said when someone started his day in a bad mood.


* Belead apait, anyait.
o Translation: Gives fatherliness, motherliness into it
o Meaning: Gives it everything he can muster.


* Bolond likból bolond szél fúj.
o Other version: Bolond lyukból bolond szél fúj.
o Translation:
+ From a silly hole, a silly wind blows.
o NOTE:
+ Usually used when the speech of the person talking to you makes no sense.


* Boszorkányok pedig nincsenek
o Translation:
+ The truth is that there are no witches.


* Beszélni ezüst, hallgatni arany.
o Translation:
+ Speech is silver; silence is golden.


* Biztos, ami biztos.
o Translation:
+ Sure what is sure.
o English equivalent:
+ Just to be on the safe side.