Swedish Proverbs

A

* "Alla vägar bär till Rom."
o Translation: "All roads lead to Rome."

* "Allt är inte guld som glimmar."
o Translation: "Not everything that glimmers is gold." or ""All that glisters is not gold."
o Notes: Cf. "Man ska inte döma hunden efter håren."

* "Anfall är bästa försvar."
o Translation: "Attack is the best defence."

* "Arga katter får rivet skinn."
o Translation: "Angry cats get scratched skin."
o Translation (interpretation): "Quarrelsome dogs come limping home."

* "Av barn och dårar får man höra sanningen."
o Translation: "From children and fools you get to hear the truth."

* "Alltid är det något sa flickan som blödde näsblod."
o Translation: "'It's always something' said the girl with a nosebleed."

* "Av skadan blir man vis."
o Translation: "Damage makes you wise."

B

* "Blod är tjockare än vatten."
o Translation: "Blood is thicker than water."

* "Borta bra men hemma bäst."
o Translation: "Away is good but at home is best."
o Notes: Cf. "There's no place like home.", and "East or West, home is best."

* "Bränt barn skyr elden."
o Translation: "Burnt child shuns the fire."
o Notes: Sometimes jokingly changed into "Bränt barn luktar illa." ("Burned child smells bad."). Cf. "Once bitten, twice shy."

* "Bättre en fågel i handen än tio i skogen."
o Translation: "Better is one bird in the hand than ten in the bush."
o Notes: Sometimes spoofed as "Bättre en tia i handen än en tjuga i foten." (It's better to have a tia(10 krona coin) in your hand than to have a tjuga(can mean either a 20 krona bill or a hayfork) in your foot.), also means "Better a dollar in your hand than a hayfork in your foot ."

* "Bäst att smida medan järnet är varmt."
o Translation: "Strike while the iron is hot."

* "Bättre fly än illa fäkta."
o Translation: "Better to flee than fight poorly."
o In English: "Discretion is the better part of valor."

* "Bättre sent än aldrig."
o Translation: "Better late than never."

* "Bättre stämma i bäcken än i ån."
o Translation: "Better to dam the brook than the creek."

D

* "Dansa efter någons pipa."
o Translation: "Dance to somebody's flute/trumpet/whistling."
o English equivalent: "Dance to somebody's tune."
o Note: The word "pipa" has several meanings of which the one used above isn't commonly known anymore. Therefore the expression often conjures confusing images of somebody dancing to somebody's tobacco pipe among youngsters.

* "Delad glädje är dubbel glädje (och delad sorg är halv sorg)."
o Translation: "Shared joy is twice the joy (and shared grief is half the grief)."
o English equivalent: "A joy shared is a joy doubled (A problem shared is a problem halved)."

* "Den enes död -- den andres bröd."
o Translation: "The death of one -- the bread of the other."
o Notes: Often said in a philosophical way about a situation where one prospers from the misfortune of somebody else.

* "Den som gapar efter mycket, mister ofta hela stycket."
o Translation: "The one who bids for much, often loses the whole deal."
o cf: "Grasp all, lose all."

* "Den som gräver en grop åt andra faller ofta själv däri."
o Translation: "The one who digs a pit for others, often falls into it him-/herself."
o Notes: If you're trying to make things go bad for someone else, you yourself will probably be the one it'll go bad for.

* "Den som vill vara fin, får lida pin."
o Translation: "The one who desires to be pretty, has to suffer."
o cf: "No pain, no gain."

* "Den som väntar på något gott, väntar aldrig för länge."
o Translation: "When you are waiting for something good, you can never wait too long" i.e Something good is worth waiting for.
o Notes: Sometimes jokingly changed into "Den som väntar på något gott, väntar alltid för länge." ("When you are waiting for something good, you always wait too long"). Or "Den som väntar på något gott, blir aldrig tjock" ("The one who waits for something good, never gets fat").

* "Det dunkelt sagda är det dunkelt tänkta."
o Translation: "What is unclearly said is unclearly thought."
o Note: This is from Esaias Tegnér's poem "Epilog vid Magisterpromotionen i Lund 1820".

* "Det finns inget dåligt väder bara dåliga kläder."
o Translation: "There is no bad weather only bad clothing."

* "Det gäller att smida medan järnet är varmt."
o Translation: "You must take the chance to forge whilst the iron is hot."

* "Det man inte vet mår man inte dåligt av."
o Translation: "What you don't know doesn't hurt you."

* "Det som börjar med en knappnål, slutar oftast med en silverskål*
o Translation: "What starts with a needle, will often end with a silverbowl" I.e a person that steals something little/done somthing bad/ will probably end up steeling more valuable things/as a criminal.

* "Det som göms i snö, kommer fram vid tö."
o Translation: "What is hidden in snow, is revealed at thaw."

* "Det som inte dödar, härdar."
o Translation: "What doesn't kill, hardens."
o cf "That which does not kill you, makes you stronger." --Nietzsche.

* "Det var på håret."
o Translation: "That was on the hair." Alt "That was a close cut"
o Notes: Meaning "that was close" in cases where something bad almost happened.
o cf "That was a close shave"

* "Det viktigaste är inte att vinna, utan att kämpa väl."
o Translation: "The important thing isn't to win, but to fight well."

* "Det är inte ens fel, när två träter."
o Translation: "It's not one person's fault if two people quarrel."
o cf "It takes two to make a quarrel."

* "Det är skönare lyss till den sträng som brast än att aldrig spänna en båge."
o Translation: "It is fairer to listen to the string that broke than to never strain a bow."
o Note: This is from Verner von Heidenstam's poem "Åkallan och löfte" ("Invocation and Promise"). It means roughly: "It is better to fail than to never have made the effort."

* "Det är tanken som räknas."
o Translation: "It's the thought that counts."
o Notes: It doesn't matter if things didn't turn out right, as long as the intentions were good.

* "Du är inte så dum som du ser ut."
o Translation: "You're not as stupid as you look"

* "Dålig planering är ingen ursäkt för dåliga resultat"
o Translation: "Bad planning is not an excuse for bad results" or "Poor planning is no excuse for poor performance"

E

* "En fluga gör ingen förnär."
o Translation: "A fly doesn't harm anyone."

* "Elda för kråkorna."
o Translation: "Have a fire for the crows."
o Note: Usually used about a house that is badly insulated.

* "En gång, ingen gång -- två gånger, en vana."
o Translation: "One time, no time -- two times, a habit."

* "En gång är ingen gång, två gånger är en gång för mycket. (Tre gånger är en vana/tradition.)"
o Translation: "Once is no time, twice is once too much. (Thrice is a habit/custom.)"

* "En olycka kommer sällan ensam."
o Translation: "An accident rarely comes alone."
o Notes: If something goes wrong, usually more things go wrong at about the same time.
o Cf. "Misery loves company."

* "En svala gör ingen sommar."
o Translation: "One swallow does not make for summer."

* "Ett gott skratt förlänger livet."
o Translation: "A hearty laugh lengthens your life."

* "Ett mjukt svar stillar vreden."
o Translation: "A soft answer calms the wrath."

F

* "Finns det hjärterum, finns det stjärterum."
o Translation: "If there is room in the heart, there is room for the behind."
o Meaning: One can accommodate more people if one only makes an effort to do so.

* "Friskt vågat, hälften vunnet."
o Translation: "Daringly dared, half of it won."
o Notes: Cf. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

* "Full som en kaja."
o "Drunk like a jackdaw."
o cf "Drunk as a Lord"

* "Förbjuden väg är ofta hårt sliten."
o Translation: "Forbidden road is often heavily worn."

* "Först till kvarn får först mala."
o Translation: "The first at the mill can grind the first."
o Notes: Cf. "Early bird gets the worm",
o Possible interpretation: The English proverb "First come, first served." is very close in meaning.

G

* "Goddag, yxskaft."
o Translation: "Good day, axe-handles."
o Notes: Usually said when someone says something that is totally off topic or gives a non-answer. The proverb originates from a story about a deaf man who used to sit outside his house, making axe-handles. Not hearing what people said he had learnt by heart the answers to what people usually asked him/said to him. Most people passing by would simply greet him and then ask him what he was making. But one day a stranger came along and asked him for the way to town, and so the answers turned into nonsense.

* "Gräset är alltid grönare på andra sidan staketet."
o Translation: "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence."
o Mostly used sarcastic. When you go over the fence, you will see the grass is greener from where you come from.


* "Gå som katten kring het gröt."
o Translation: "Walk like the cat around hot porridge."
o Notes: Usually means talking "around" a topic without getting to the point, often because it is a sensitive issue.
o Cf. "Beating around the bush."

* "Gå genom ett eldprov."
o Translation: "Pass a trial by fire."
o Notes: Usually means testing something extensively.
o Cf. "Sätta på prov." ("Put through (its) paces.", "Sätta någon på prov." (Put someone through their paces.")

H

* "Ha många järn i elden."
o Translation: "To have a lot of irons in the fire."
o Notes: To be involved in many activities. (Close, but not identical, to "Hålla många bollar i luften.".)

* "Ha is i magen."
o Translation: "To have ice in the stomach."
o Notes: To keep concentration when under pressure.

* "Har man sagt a får man säga b."
o Translation: "If you have said a, you have to say b."
o Notes: Usually said to a person who has hinted at something that he/she then refuses to elaborate on.

* "Hellre en fågel i handen än tio i skogen."
o Translation: "Rather one bird in the hand, than ten in the woods." (The English equivalent would be "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.")

* "Hungern är bästa kryddan."
o Translation: "Hunger is the best flavouring."

* "Hålla många bollar i luften."
o Translation: "Keep several balls in the air."
o Notes: Being able to do many things at once. (Close, but not identical, to "Ha många järn i elden.".)

* "Hålla tungan rätt i mun."
o Translation: "Hold tongue correct in mouth."
o Notes: Used when great concentration is needed.

* "Högmod går före fall."
o Translation: "Pride goes before fall."

I

* "I de grundaste vattnen går de fulaste fiskarna."
o Translation: "In the shallowest waters, the ugliest fish swim."
o Notes: "Ugly fish" usually means a suspicious person, possibly with criminal tendencies.

* "I krig och kärlek är allt tillåtet."
o Translation: "All's fair in love and war."

* "I nöden prövas vännen."
o Translation: "The need puts the friend to the test"
o Meaning: In times of need you will find out who your real friends are.
o Notes: Cf. "A friend in need is a friend indeed."

* "Inga nyheter är goda nyheter."
o Translation: "No news is good news."

* "Ingen fara på taket."
o Translation: "No danger on the roof." Cf. below.

* "Ingen ko på isen."
o Translation: "No cow on the [lake] ice."
o Meaning: No harm done; no imminent danger; don't worry.
o Notes: Cf. "Bob's your uncle."

* "Ingen rök utan eld."
o Translation: "No smoke without a fire."

* "Inget ont som inte har något gott med sig."
o Translation: "No bad thing which doesn't bring something good."
o Notes: Cf. "No cloud without a silver lining."

J

* "Ju fler kockar desto sämre soppa"
o Translation: "The more chefs, the worse the soup"
o Possible translation: Supposed to be ironic, meaning that it is better to have one person in charge than many.
o Cf. "There are too many chiefs and not enough Indians.", and "Too many cooks spoil the broth."

K

* "Kärlek börjar ofta med bråk."
o Translation: "Love often begins with a fight."

* "Kärt barn har många namn."
o Translation: "A beloved child is called many things."
o Meaning: Someone or something which is popular is often referred to by many different epithets.

* "Köpa grisen i säcken."
o Translation: "To buy the pig in the bag."
o Notes: To do something without knowing what may be the consequences.
o cf "Don't buy a pig in a poke."

L

* "Lika barn leka bäst."
o Translation: "Alike children play the best."
o Notes: Cf. "Birds of a feather flock together."

* "Liten tuva stjälper ofta stort lass."
o Translation: "Small tuft often overturns a big load."
o Notes: Cf. "The straw that broke the camels back".

* "Lyckan kan inte köpas för pengar."
o Translation: "Happiness can't be bought for money."

* "Lyckan står den djärve bi."
o Translation: "Fortune favours the bold."

* "Lova runt, hålla tunt."
o Translation: "Promise freely, fulfill sparingly."
o Note: Said about someone who promises a lot but doesn't fulfill his/her promises.

* "Lätt fånget, lätt förgånget."
o Translation: "Easily caught, easily lost."
o Notes: Cf. "Easy come, easy go."

M

* "Man får ta seden dit man kommer."
o Translation: "Take the custom where you come."
o Cf. "When in Rome, do as the Romans."

* "Man kan inte både äta kakan och ha kakan kvar."
o Translation: "One cannot both eat one's cake and keep it."

* "Man kan inte lära gamla hundar sitta."
o Translation: "You can't teach old dogs to sit."
o cf "You can't teach an old dog new tricks."

* "Man saknar inte kon förrän båset är tomt."
o Translation: "You don't miss the cow until the stall is empty."

* "Man ska inte döma hunden efter håren."
o Translation: "Don't judge the dog from its hairs." or "Never judge the book by its cover."
o Notes: Cf. "Allt är inte guld som glimmar."

* "Man ska inte gråta över spilld mjölk."
o Translation: "Don't weep over spilled milk."
o Notes: Don't mourn what went wrong, try to look ahead instead.

* "Man ska inte gå över ån efter vatten."
o Translation: "Don't cross the brook for water."
o Notes: You shouldn't make things more complicated than necessary.

* "Man ska inte kasta pärlor för svin."
o Translation: "Don't throw pearls to the swine."

* "Man ska inte måla fan på väggen."
o Translation: "You should not paint the devil on the wall."
o Notes: You shouldn't assume that something will go wrong, when it's not entirely certain.
o cf ""Talk of the devil - and the devil appears.""

* "Man ska inte ropa hej, förrän man är över bäcken"
o Translation: "Don't celebrate until you are across the brook."
o Notes: Cf. "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched."

* "Man ska inte ropa hej förrän björnen är skjuten."
o Translation: "Don't celebrate until you've shot the bear."
o Note: Cf. above.

* "Man ska inte skåda given häst i munnen."
o Translation: "Don't look a horse that was given to you in the mouth."
o Note: Don't scrutinize a gift too closely, just be happy for it. (It doesn't matter what you get, what matters is that someone wanted to give it to you.)
o Note: Cf. "Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth."

* "Man ska inte såga av den gren man sitter på."
o Translation: "You shouldn't saw off the branch you're sitting on."
o Notes: Cf. "Don't bite the hand that feeds you."

* "Mister du en så står dig tusen åter."
o Translation: "If you lose one, there are a thousand more to choose from."
o Notes: Usually used concerning broken hearts. There is also a continuation for it: "Väljer du en så är det tusen som gråter." ("If you choose one, a thousand will cry.").
o Notes: Cf. "There are plenty of fish in the sea."

* "Morgonstund har guld i mund."
o Translation: "Morning hour has gold in its mouth."
o Notes: The strange spelling of mouth ("mund", in modern speech spelled "mun") is an old way of spelling it. "Mund" has been used since 1523 according to the Swedish Academy's dictionary.
o Notes: Cf. "The early bird catches the worm."
o Modern humorous retort: "Morgonstund har guld i mund... och bly i ändan." ("...and lead in its behind.")

* "Mycket snack, lite verkstad."
o "Much talking, little workshop."
o Notes: Said to or about someone who talks a lot but doesn't do much.
o Notes: Cf. "Talk is cheap.", and "He's all hat and no cattle."

* "Många bäckar små blir till en stor å."
o Translation: "Many small brooks will form a big river."

* "Många bäckar små gör en stor å."
o Translation: "Many a mickle makes a muckle." ("Many a small thing makes a big thing.")

* "Måste böjas i tid det, som krokigt ska bli."
o Translation: "Best to bend while it is a twig."

* "Måtta två gånger, hugg en."
o Translation: "Measure twice, cut once.", or "Aim twice, strike once."

N

* "När man talar om trollen så står de i farstun och lyssnar."
o Translation: "When you're speaking about the trolls, they're standing in the entrance hall listening."
o Notes: Usually said when someone you were just speaking about enters the room. The expression is often shortened to just "När man talar om trollen..." ("Speaking about the trolls...").
o "Speak of the devil..."

* "När katten är borta dansar råttorna på bordet"
o Translation: "When the cat is away, the rats dance on the table"
o Notes: Cf. "When the cats away, the mice will play"

* "Nöden har ingen lag."
o Translation: "In distress there is no law."
o Notes: Similar to (but not exactly the same as) "All's fair in love and war."

O

* "Om en blind leder en blind, så faller de båda i gropen."
o Translation: "If a blind man leads another, they both fall together."

* "Ont krut förgås inte så lätt."
o Translation: "Evil gun powder doesn't go away easily."
o Notes: This proverb is a folk etymological misunderstanding of the German "Unkraut vergeht nicht." ("Weeds don't go away.").

* "Otack är världens lön."
o Translation: "Ingratitude is the reward of the world (ie. only what one should expect)."

S

* "Sakta men säkert."
o Translation: "Slow but steady."
o Notes: Usually said when a work is progressing slowly, but still is heading in the right direction. The word "säkert" has several meanings (surely, certainly, safely, securely), somewhat broadening the use of the proverb, though most Swedes probably would agree that it is mainly used to express certainty about the progress of the work.

* "Skadeglädjen är den enda sanna glädjen."
o Translation: "Schadenfreude is the only true joy."

* "Skam den som ger sig."
o Translation: "Shame on the one who gives up."

* "Skrattar bäst, som skrattar sist."
o Translation: "He laughs best who laughs last."

* "Slicka uppåt, sparka nedåt."
o Translation: "Lick upwards, kick downwards."

* "Slå två flugor i en smäll."
o Translation: "Hit two flies with one smack."
o Notes: Cf. "Kill two birds with one stone."

* "Skomakare bliv vid din läst."
o Translation: "Shoemaker, stick to your last."

* "Skynda långsamt."
o Translation: "Hurry slowly."
o Notes: Cf. lat "Festina lente"

* "Slå ned som en bomb."
o Translation: "Hit like a bomb."
o Notes: Usually used about surprising news.

* "Slutet gott, allting gott."
o Translation: "The end is good, everything is good."
o Notes: Cf. "All's well that ends well."

* "Som man bäddar får man ligga."
o Translation: "The way you make your bed, that's how you'll sleep."
o Or, "The way you make your bed, is the way you'll lie."
o Possible interpretation: "You've only got yourself to blame for your problem."
o English equivalent: "As you sow, so shall you reap"
o English equivalent: "Make your bed and sleep in it."

* "Som man ropar i skogen får man svar."
o Translation: "As the question so the answer."

* "Somliga straffar Gud direkt."
o Translation: "God punishes some people immediately."

* "Sova som en stock."
o Translation: "Sleep like a log.", "Sleep like a rock."

* "Stor i orden, liten på jorden."
o Translation: "Big in the words, small on the ground."
o Notes: Said about someone who wants to give the impression of being better than he/she in reality is.

* "Surt sade räven om rönnbären." (or just "surt sa räven")
o Translation: "'Sour' said the fox about rowanberries"
o Possible interpretation: From a story about a fox that wants to eat some rowanberries that he can't reach because they're high up in a tree. A crow lands in the tree and starts eating the berries. When the crow asks the fox if he wants some, the fox replies "No, they're sour". The proverb can be used to state that you think someone really wants something the person claims they do not or that the person makes up an excuse for not wanting it because they cannot get it anyway.
o Note: cf Aesop's Fable "The Fox and the Grapes" and the derived English expression "Sour grapes".

* "Sväva på små moln."
o Translation: "Float on small clouds."
o Notes: To be in seventh heaven, to be very very happy.

* "Sådan herre sådan hund."
o Translation: "Like master like dog."

* "Sälj inte skinnet förrän björnen är skjuten."
o Translation: "Don't sell the fur until the bear has been shot."
o Notes: Cf. "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched."

* "Sätta någon på prov."
o Translation: "Put someone through their paces."
o Notes: Cf. "Gå genom ett eldprov."

T

* "Tala är silver, tiga är guld."
o Translation: "To speak is silver, to keep silent is gold."

* "Ta sig vatten över huvudet."
o Translation: "To bite off more than one can chew."
o Note: (idiomatic) Meaning "To try to do too much; to take on or attempt more than one is capable of doing."
o Note: cf "I think I bit off more than I could chew when I agreed to paint this house by myself."

* "Tomma tunnor bullrar mest."
o Translation: "Empty barrels are the noisiest."

* "Trampa i klaveret."
o Alternative:
+ "Göra ett klavertramp."
o Translation: "To step in the harmonica." or "To make a harmonica-step."
o Note: To make a mistake (usually by saying or doing something inappropriate).

* "Trägen vinner."
o Translation: "Persevere and never fear."

* "Tron kan förflytta berg."
o Translation: "Faith can move mountains."

* "Tänk efter före."
o Translation: "Reflect on beforehand."
o Notes: Meaning "think through the consequences before you act". The proverb is also somewhat of a word game, since the Swedish expression for "reflect" litterally is made up of the words "think after" and "on beforehand" litterally is "before", rendering the sentence "think after before".
o cf "Look before you leap."

U

* "Ur askan i elden."
o Translation: "Out of the ashes into the fire."
o Notes: Going from a bad situation to an even worse. English equivalent might be "Out of the frying pan, into the fire."

V

* "Vill man vara fin får man lida pin."
o Translation: "If you want to look good, you have to suffer."
o cf "No pain, no gain."

* "Väck inte den björn som sover."
o Translation: "Don't wake the bear that sleeps."
o Notes: Cf. "Don't wake the lion."
o cf ""Let sleeping dogs lie."

* "Värpa först, kackla sedan."
o cf "Don't count your chickens 'till they're hatched"

Ä

* "Äpplet faller inte långt från trädet."
o Translation: "The apple does not drop far from the tree."
o "Like father, like son."

* "Ärlighet varar längst."
o Translation: "Honesty lasts the longest."
o Notes: Honesty is the best policy.

* "Även en blind höna kan hitta ett korn."
o "Even a blind hen can find a grain.", and "Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while."

* "Även små grytor har öron."
o Alternative:
+ "Små grytor har också öron."
o Translation: "Small pots also have ears."
o Notes: Even though kids are small, they do hear (and understand) a lot.

* "Även solen har sina fläckar."
o Translation: "Even the sun has got spots."
o Notes: No one is perfect.

Ö

* "Övning ger färdighet."
o Translation: "Practice gives skill."
o Notes: Cf. "Practice makes perfect."