Finnish proverbs

• ''"Aina on oksan ottajia, kun on kuusen kantajia."
  • Transliteration: "Always exist branch grabbers, when exist fir-tree haulers."
  • Translation: "If there is someone to haul the fir-tree, there shall be no shortage of those willing to hold a branch to help."
  • Notes: This is a disparaging saying about those who are all too willing to participate in sharing credit for a major undertaking by someone else.

E

• "Ei koiraa karvoihin katsominen"
  • Translation: "Judge not the dog by its hair."

• "Ei suuret sanat suuta halkaise"
  • Translation: "Big words won't split ones mouth."
  • English equivalent: "Actions speak louder than words."

J

• "Jos ei viina, terva ja sauna auta, niin tauti on kuolemaksi."
  • Translation: "If tar, hard liquor and sauna do not cure; the disease is fatal." (meant as [somewhat rough] comfort in situations where more sophisticated curatives are not available)

K

• "Kahden kauppa on kolmannen korvapuusti"
  • Transliteration: "A good deal for two, is a clip on the ears of a third."
  • Translation: "In a trade someone always loses."

• "Kasvaa se mies räkänokistakin, vaan ei tyhjän naurajista."
  • Transliteration: "A snotnose may grow up to be a man; but he who laughs without cause, never."
  • Translation: "The mocked may grow up to dignity, but the mocker will never outgrow his juvenile behaviour."

• "Kaveria ei jätetä!"
  • Translation: "Never leave a mate behind!"

• "Kenen leipää syöt, sen lauluja laulat."
  • Translation: "Whose bread you eat, his songs you'll sing."

M

• "Moni kakku päältä kaunis, vaan on silkkoa sisältä."
  • Translation: "Many cakes are beautiful on the surface, but have crappy fillings."

• "Muu maa mustikka; oma maa mansikka."
  • Transliteration: "Other land blueberry; own land strawberry."
  • Translation: "Foreign places are nice enough, but home is sweeter."
  • English equivalent: "There's no place like home."

N

• "Niin makaa, kuin petaa."
  • Transliteration: "One sleeps like one makes his bed."
  • Translation: "Actions have consequences."
  • English equivalent: "As you sow, so shall you reap."

O

• "Ojasta allikkoon."
  • Transliteration: "From the ditch to the water jump."
  • English equivalent: "Out of the frying pan (and into the fire)."
  • English equivalent: "Go from bad to worse."

• "Oma koti kullan kallis."
  • Transliteration: "Own home is worth gold."
  • English equivalent: "Home sweet home."

P

• "Pata kattilaa soimaa."
  • Transliteration: "The pot reproaching the kettle."
  • English equivalent: "The pot calling the kettle black."

• "Parempi pyy pivossa, kuin kymmenen oksalla."
  • Transliteration: "Better one hazel grouse in the hand, than ten in the tree."
  • English equivalent: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
  • multilingual

• "Puhtaus on puoli ruokaa."
  • Transliteration: "Cleanliness is half a meal."
  • Translation: "Keeping yourself and your food clean, you'll get more from it."
  • English equivalent: "Cleanliness is close to godliness."

S

• "Sattuu sitä paremmissakin perheissä."
  • Transliteration: "Happens in better families too."
  • Translation: "Such things happen even to better folk."
  • Notes: Said when something goes wrong either accidentally or due to human error, to keep perspective.

• "Se koira älähtää, johon kalikka kalahtaa."
  • Transliteration: "That dog yelps, which (the) stick hits."
  • Translation: "It is the dog which is hit by the tossed stick, which yelps."
    • Notes: Said to/about someone who makes a big do about a statement which is thus considered to be apposite.
      • English equivalent: "If the shoe fits, wear it."
      • Alternative English equivalent: "The lady doeth protest too much."

Y

• "Yksi tyhmä kysyy enemmän, kuin kymmenen viisasta ehtii vastata."
  • Translation: "One stupid person asks more than ten wise ones can spare time answering."

Z

• "Älä maalaa pirua seinälle."
  • Transliteration: "Don't paint the devil [on the] wall. (can also be translated as a demon)"
  • Translation: "Don't paint the image of a demon on a wall."
  • Notes: A basic admonishment to not agonize unduly about worst case scenarios; they may not happen. Alternatively an expression of a superstititious fear of something uttered coming true (cf. "jinx"; "knock on wood" or "tempting fate").

• ''"Äänellänsä se variskin laulaa."
  • Transliteration: "Even the crow sings with its own voice."
  • Translation: "Express yourself earnestly, and you have no reason for shame even if you lack talent."