Italian proverbs

C

• ''"Can che abbaia non morde."
  • Translation: "The dog that barks doesn't bite."

• Che fa da se - fa per tre.
  • Translation: Those who do things for themselves - do for three.

• ''"Chi bene incomincia è a metà dell'opera."
  • Translation: "Well begun is half done."

• "Chi dice Siena, dice Palio."
  • Translation: "He who mentions , mentions the Palio" (that city's famous horse-race).
  • Notes: said of something that one cannot mention without calling some other thing to mind.

• "Chi fa da sè fa per tre."
  • Translation: "He who act by himself, act with the same strength as three persons."
  • Notes: ironically contraddicted by: "L'unione fa la forza (The union produces the might)."

• Chi ha la mamma sua - non piange mai.
  • Translation: Who has their own mother - never cries.

• "Chi l'ha dura la vince."
  • Translation: "He who perseveres wins at last."''

• ''"Chi la fa l'aspetti."
  • Translation: "He who wrongs someone has to expect something in retaliation."

• ''"Chi mangia solo, crepa solo."
  • Translation: "He who eats alone, dies alone."

• Chi parla in faccia - non e traditore.
  • Translation: Who speaks to your face - is not a traitor.

• "Chi pensa male fa peccato ma indovina."
  • Translation: "He who thinks badly commits a sin but hits the mark."

• Chi si alza sara abbassato - chi si abbassa sara inalzato.
  • Translation: Those who have airs will be laid low - those who abase themselves will be raised up.

• Chi s'impiccia degli affari altri - di tre parte gl'ie ne resta due.
  • Translation: Who meddles in others' affairs - will be left with two of three parts.

• Chi tante male azioni fa - una grossa ne aspetta.
  • Translation: Who does many bad deeds - will receive a big one.

• "Chi troppo vuole, nulla stringe."
  • Translation: "He who wants too much doesn't catch anything."

• "Chi trova un amico, trova un tesoro."
  • Translation "He who finds a friend, finds a treasure."

• "Chi va piano, va sano e va lontano."
  • Translation: "He who goes softly, goes safely and goes far."

• "Commediante! Tragediante!"
  • Transliteration: "Comedian! Tragedian!"
  • Notes: exclaimed by Pope Pius VII during a violent scene that Napoleon made before him.

D

• Dia ci salvi dal povero arricchito - e dal ricco impoverito.
  • Translation: God save us from the poor become rich - and from the rich become poor.

• Dagli amici mi guardi Iddio - dai nemici mi guardio io.
  • Translation: God protect me from my friends - from my enemies I'll protect myself.

• Del male non fare e paura non avere.
  • Translation: Do no evil and have no fear.

• "Del senno di poi son piene le fosse."
  • Transliteration: "The graves are filled with the after-wisdom."''
  • Meaning: "It's easy to be wise after the event."

• Donna che piange, uomo che giura, cavalo che suda - tutta impostura.
  • Translation: Woman who cries, man who swears, horse that sweats - all imposture.

E

• "E' meglio un uovo oggi di una gallina domani."
  • Translation: "An egg to-day is better than a chicken to-morrow."
  • or "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"
• "Eppur, si muove!"
  • Translation: "But it does move!"
  • Notes: Galileo is supposed to have said this after being forced by the Church to abjure the .
• "E' la gaia pioggerella a far crescer l'erba bella."
  • Translation: "The gay, drizzling rain makes grass to grow fine."

F

• "Fatti maschi, parole femmine."
  • Translation: "Facts are male, words are female."
  • Alternative: "Manly deeds, womanly words."
  • Notes: Motto of the state of

G

• ''"Gallina vecchia fa buon brodo."
  • Translation; "The old hen makes a good broth"

L

M

• "Mal comune, mezzo gaudio."
  • Translation: "Trouble shared is trouble halved."

N

R

• "Rosso di sera, bel tempo si spera"
  • Translation: "Red sky in evening, we hope in good weather."

S

• "Se non è vero, è ben trovato."
  • Translation: "If it's not true, it's a good story."

T

U

• Una buona mamma vale cento mastre.
  • Translation: A good mother is worth a hundred teachers.

V

• Vai in piazza e chiedere consiglio - vai a casa e fai come ti pare.
  • Translation: Go to the square and listen to advice - [then] go home and do what you like.

• "Val più la pratica della grammatica."
  • Translation: "The experience is more important than the theory."

• "Vedi Napoli, e poi muori!"
  • Translation: "See , and then die!"
  • Notes: used to express admiration for Naples.