Russian proverbs

В

• В гостях хорошо, а дома лучше.
  • Transliteration: V gostyakh khorosho, a doma luchshe.
  • Translation: Visiting is good, but home is better.
  • English version: "There is no place like home."; East or West, home is best"

• В семье не без урода.
  • Transliteration: V sem'ye ne bez uroda.
  • Translation: No family is without an ugly member.
  • English version: "Many a good father has but a bad son"

• В тихом омуте черти водятся.
  • Transliteration: V tikhom omute cherti vodyatsa.
  • Translation: Devils breed in still waters.
  • English version: "Still waters run deep" (The devil lurks behind the cross)

• В Тулу со своим самоваром (не ездят).
  • Transliteration: V Tulu so svoim samovarom (ne yezdyat).
  • Translation: "(Don't go) to Tula with your own samovar" (Tula is famous as city were the best Russian samovars are made)
  • English version: "Don’t carry coals to Newcastle"

• В чужой монастырь со своим уставом не ходят.
  • Transliteration: V chuzhoy monastyr' so svoim ustavom ne khodyat.
  • Translation: Do not go to another monastery with your own charter.
  • English version: "When in Rome, do as the Romans"

• Век живи — век учись.
  • Transliteration: Vek zhivi — vek uchis'.
  • Translation: "Live for a century — learn for a century."
  • English version: "Live and learn"

• Вкруте и вяз переломишь
  • Transliteration: Vkrute i vyaz perelomish
  • Translation: "Together it is possible to break even an elm"
  • English version: "There is strength in numbers."

• Волков бояться — в лес не ходить.
  • Transliteration: Volkov boyat'sa — v les ne khodit'.
  • Translation: If afraid of wolves, can't go to the forest.
  • English version: "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

• Вот в чём загвоздка
  • Transliteration: Vot v chyom zagvozdka
  • Translation: "That's the snag!"
  • English version: "That’s where the shoe pinches. That’s the crux (the rub)"

• Вот где собака зарыта.
  • Transliteration: "Vot gde sobaka zaryta"
  • Translation: "That's where the dog is buried"
  • English version: "That’s where the shoe pinches. That’s the crux (the rub)"

• Всё хорошо, что хорошо кончается.
  • Transliteration: Vsyo khorosho, chto khorosho konchayetsa.
  • Translation: "All is well that ends well"
  • English version: "All is well that ends well"

• Всяк кулик своё болото хвалит.
  • Transliteration: "Vsyak kulik svoyo boloto khvalit"
  • Translation: "Every sandpiper praises his own swamps"
  • English version: "Every cook praises his own broth"

• Всякому овощу своё время.
  • Transliteration: Vsyakomu ovoshchu svoyo vremya.
  • Translation: "Every vegetable has its time"
  • English version: "Everything is good in its season"

Г

• Где тонко — там и рвётся.
  • Transliteration: Gde tonko — tam i rvyotsya.
  • Translation: Where it is thinnest - there it snaps.
  • English version: "The chain is no stronger than its weakest link"

• Голод не тётка(, пирожка не поднесёт). (full form)
  • Transliteration: Golod ne tyotka, pirozhka nye podnyesyot.
  • Translation: Hunger is not your aunt(, it won't bring you a pie).
  • Moral: If you are in need, help yourself and don't count on situation improving by itself

• Голодный, как волк.
  • Transliteration: Golodny, kak volk.
  • Translation: "As hungry as a wolf"
  • English version: "Hungry as a hunter"

• Голь на выдумку хитра.
  • Transliteration: Gol' na vydumku khitra.
  • Translation: Poverty is crafty.
  • English version: "Necessity is the mother of invention"

• Горбатого могила исправит.
  • Transliteration: "Gorbatogo mogila ispravit"
  • Translation: "Grave will change the hunchback"
  • English version: "The leopard cannot change his spots"

Д

• Дарёному коню в зубы не смотрят.
  • Transliteration: "Daryonomu konyu v zuby ne smotryat"
  • Translation: "Don't look at the teeth of a horse that you got as a present"
  • English version: "Look not a gift horse in the mouth"

• Делить шкуру неубитого медведя.
  • Transliteration: Delit' shkuru neubitovo medvedya.
  • Translation: Distributing the skin of an unkilled bear.
  • English version: "To cook a hare before catching him", "Don't count the chickens before they hatch"

• До свадьбы заживёт.
  • Transliteration: Do svad'by zazhivyot.
  • Translation: "[It] will heal before marriage."
  • English version: "You will manage"

• До Бога высоко, до Царя далеко
  • Transliteration: Do Boga vysoko, do Tsarya dalyeko.
  • Translation: God is up high, the Tsar is far away.
  • English version: ""

• Доброе братство — лучшее богатство
  • Transliteration: Dobroye bratstvo — luchsheye bogatstvo
  • Translation: "Good brothership is the better wealth."
  • English version: ""

• Доверяй, но проверяй.
  • Transliteration: Doveryay, no proveryay.
  • Translation: "Trust, but verify."
  • English version:

• Долг платежом красен.
  • Transliteration: Dolg platezhom krasen.
  • Translation: Debt is beautiful when repaid.
  • English version: "One good turn deserves another"

• Дружба дружбой, а служба службой.
  • Transliteration: Druzhba druzhboy, a sluzhba sluzhboy.
  • Translation: Friendship is friendship and work is work.
  • English version: "Friendship is one thing, work another"

• Друзья познаются в беде.
  • Transliteration: Druzya poznayutsa v bede.
  • Translation: "Friends are known in trouble"
  • English version: "A friend in need is a friend indeed"

• Дуракам закон не писан.
  • Transliteration: Durakam zakon ne pisan.
  • Translation: "There is no law for fools"
  • English version: "There is no law for fools"

Е

• Если бы да кабы да во рту росли грибы.
  • Transliteration: "Yesli by da kaby da vo rtu rosli griby"
  • Translation: "If mushrooms grew in the mouth"
  • English version: "If ifs and ans were pots and pans", "If wishes were horses, beggars might ride"

• Если хочется работать — ляг, поспи, и всё пройдёт.
  • Transliteration: "Yesli khochetsya rabotat', lyag, pospi, i vsyo proydyot."
  • Translation: "If you feel the need to work, take a nap and the need will pass."
  • English version:

Ж

• Жизнь коротка.
  • Transliteration: Zhizn' korotka.
  • Translation: "Life is short."
  • English version: "Life is but a span."

• Жизнь прожить — не поле перейти.
  • Transliteration: Zhizn' prozhit' — ne pole pereyti.
  • Translation: "To live life is not to walk through a meadow."
  • English version: "Life was never meant to be easy."

З

• За одного битого двух небитых дают.
  • Transliteration: Za odnovo bitogo dvukh nebityh dayut.
  • Translation: In exchange for a beaten one they give two unbeaten ones.
  • English version: "Experience is worth it"

• Занятой (трудолюбивый), как пчела.
  • Transliteration: Zanyatoy (trydolyubivy), kak pchela.
  • Translation: "As busy as a bee"
  • English version: "As busy as a bee"

• Заставь дурака Богу молится, так он себе и лоб расшибёт.
  • Transliteration: Zastav' duraka Bogu molyitsya, tak on syebye i lob rasshibyot.
  • Translation: If you force a fool to pray to God, he will do it so enthusiasticaly that he will hurt his head while bowing to the floor [as required by formal Orthodox prayer].
  • Moral: Blind following of poorly understood results or conclusions could be worse then not doing anything in first place. Better to understand underlying reasons, and make your own educated decisions.

И

• И на старуху бывает проруха
  • Transliteration: I na starukhu byvayet prorykha
  • Translation: Even an old lady makes mistakes.
  • English version: "Everyone makes mistakes"

• И хочется и колется
  • Transliteration: I khochetsya i koletsya
  • Translation: It is wanted and repellent.
  • English version: "The cat would eat fish and would not wet her feet"

• Исподволь и ольху согнёшь
  • Transliteration: Ispodvol' i ol'khu sognyosh'.
  • Translation: "You can bend an alder-tree, if you do it gradually."
  • English version: "Time conquers all"

• Ищи ветра в поле
  • Transliteration: Ishchi vetra v pole.
  • Translation: Look for wind in a field.
  • English version: "The wind cannot be caught in a net"

К

• Как аукнется — так и откликнется.
  • Transliteration: Kak ayknetsya — tak i otkliknetsya.
  • Translation: How [echo] is prompted, it will bounce back.
  • English version: "People get what they deserve"

• Как дважды два — четыре.
  • Transliteration: "Kak dvazhdy dva — chetyre"
  • Translation: "As twice two is four"
  • English version: "As sure as eggs is eggs"

• Как две капли воды.
  • Transliteration: Kak dve kapli vody.
  • Translation: Like two drops of water.
  • English version: "As alike as two peas in a pod"

• Как нажито, так и прожито.
  • Transliteration: Kak nazhito, tak i prozhito.
  • Translation: As earned, spent.
  • English version: "Easy come, easy go"

• Капля в море.
  • Transliteration: Kaplya v more.
  • Translation: A drop in the sea.
  • English version: "A drop in the bucket"

• Кашу маслом не испортишь.
  • Transliteration: "Kashu maslom ne isportish"
  • Translation: Porridge cannot be spoiled with butter.
  • English version: "You can’t spoil a good thing. Plenty is no plague"

• Клин клином вышибают.
  • Transliteration: Klin klinom vyshibayut.
  • Translation: One uses a wedge to knock out a wedge.
  • English version: "Fight fire with fire. One nail drives out another"

• Кому на месте не сидится, тот добра не наживёт.
  • Transliteration: Komu na meste ne siditsya, tot dobra ne nazhivyot.
  • Translation: Those who are discontent to remain in one place will not accumulate much.
  • English version: "A rolling stone gathers no moss"

• Кто рано встаёт, тому бог подаёт.
  • Transliteration: Kto rano vstayot, tomu bog podayot.
  • Translation: God gives to those who wake up early.
  • English version: "The early bird catches the worm"

• Куй железо, пока горячо.
  • Transliteration: Kuy zhelezo, poka goryacho.
  • Translation: Strike while the metal is hot.
  • English version: "Strike while the iron is hot. Make hay while the sun shines"

• Курам на смех.
  • Transliteration: Kuram na smekh.
  • Translation: To make the hens laugh
  • English version: "It is enough to make a cat laugh"

• Курица не птица, баба не человек
  • Transliteration: Kurnitsa nye ptyitsa, baba nye chelovyek.
  • Translation: A chicken isn't a bird, a woman is not a human being.
  • English version: ""

Л

• Лбом стенку не расшибёшь
  • Transliteration: Lbom stenku ne rasshibyosh'.
  • Translation: You cannot break a wall with your forehead.
  • English version: "Use the correct tool for the job."

• Лес рубят — щепки летят.
  • Transliteration: Les rubyat — shchepki letyat.
  • Translation: They chop down a wood—woodchips fly.
  • English version: "You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs"

• Лиха беда начало.
  • Transliteration: Likha beda nachalo.
  • Translation: Trouble is the beginning of disaster.
  • English version: "A good beginning makes a good ending. The first step is the hardest"

• Ложка дёгтя в бочке меда.
  • Transliteration: Lozhka dyogtya v bochke meda.
  • Translation: A spoonful of tar in a barrel of honey.
  • English version: "A fly in the ointment", "The rotten apple spoils the barrel."

• Лучшее — враг хорошего.
  • Transliteration: Luchsheye — vrag khoroshego.
  • Translation: The best is the enemy of the good.
  • English version: "The best is oftentimes the enemy of the good."

• Лучше один раз увидеть, чем сто раз услышать
  • Transliteration: Luchshe odin raz uvidet', chem sto raz uslishat'
  • Translation: It's better to see once than hear a hundred times
  • English version: A picture is worth a thousand words

• Лучше поздно, чем никогда.
  • Transliteration: Luchshe pozdno, chem nikogda.
  • Translation: Better late than never.
  • English version: "Better late than never"

• Лучше синица в руках, чем журавль в небе.
  • Transliteration: "Luchshe sinitsa v rukakh, chem zhuravl' v nebe"
  • Translation: Better a titmouse in the hand than a crane in the sky.
  • English version: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush", "Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow."

• Любишь кататься, люби и саночки возить.
  • Transliteration: Lyubish' katat'sya, lyubi i sanochki vozit'.
  • Translation: If you enjoy riding, enjoy pulling the sleigh.
  • English version: "He that would eat the fruit must climb the tree", "No pains, no gains", "After dinner comes the reckoning."

М

• Мир да лад — большой клад
  • Transliteration: Mir da lad — bol'shoy klad
  • Translation: "Peace is great treasure"
  • English version: "Plenty is no plague"

• Много будешь знать, скоро состариться.
  • Transliteration: Mnogo budesh' znat', skoro sostaritsya.
  • Translation: If you learn a lot, you'll age soon.
  • English version: "Too much knowledge makes the head bald"

• Много шума из ничего.
  • Transliteration: Mnogo shuma iz nishego.
  • Translation: Much noise from nothing
  • English version: "Much ado about nothing"

• Мягко стелет — жёстко спать.
  • Transliteration: Myagko stelet — zhyostko spat'.
  • Translation: Makes bed soft but hard to sleep.
  • English version: "Iron fist in a velvet glove"

Н

• На безрыбье и рак — рыба.
  • Transliteration: Na bezryb'ye i rak — ryba.
  • Translation: On a fishing lull, even a lobster is considered fish.
  • English version: "Something is better than nothing"

• На воре шапка горит.
  • Transliteration: Na vore shapka gorit.
  • Translation: A thief's hat burns.
  • English version: "A guilty mind betrays itself"

• На всех не угодишь.
  • Transliteration: Na vsekh ne ugodish.
  • Translation: You cannot please everybody.
  • English version: "He who pleased everybody died before he was born"

• На всякого мудреца довольно простоты.
  • Transliteration: Na vsyakogo mudretsa dovol'no prostoty.
  • Translation: For each wise man there is plenty of fools.
  • English version: "Every man has a fool in his sleeve"

• На бога надейся, а сам не плошай
  • Transliteration: Na boga nadeysya, a sam ne ploshay
  • Translation: Hope for God, but do not be reliant.
  • English version:

• На бога положишься — не обложишься
  • Transliteration: Na boga polozhish'sya — ne oblozhish'sya
  • Translation: If you rely on god, you won't fail
  • English version:

• Назвался груздем — полезай в кузов.
  • Transliteration: Nazvalsa gruzdem — polezay v kuzov.
  • Translation: Call yourself a milk-mushroom —get into the basket!
  • English version: "In for a penny, in for a pound" [?], "If you undertook some thing, do it (see it through)"; "If the shoe fits, ..."

• Нашла коса на камень.
  • Transliteration: Nashla kosa na kamen'.
  • Translation: The scythe has hit a stone.
  • English version: "Diamond cut diamond", "You have met your match"

• Не буди лиха, пока лихо спит.
  • Transliteration: Ne budi likha, poka likho spit.
  • Translation: Don't wake up trouble while trouble is sleeping.
  • English version: "Don’t trouble trouble till trouble troubles you", "Let sleeping dogs lie"

• Не было у бабы хлопот, так купила порося.
  • Transliteration: Ne bylo u baby khlopot, tak kupila porosya.
  • Translation: A woman farmer had no trouble, so she bought a piglet.
  • English version: "You are asking for trouble"

• Не всё золото, что блестит.
  • Transliteration: Ne vsyo zoloto, chto blestit.
  • Translation: All that gliters is not gold.
  • English version: "All that glitters is not gold"

• Не имей сто рублей, а имей сто друзей
  • Transliteration: Ne imey sto rubley, a imey sto druzey.
  • Translation: Don't have a hundred rubles, but have a hundred friends.
  • English version:

• Не клади все яйца в одну корзину.
  • Transliteration: Ne kladi vsye yaytsa v odnu korzinu.
  • Translation: Don't put all your eggs in one basket
  • English version: "Don’t put all your eggs in one basket"

• Не мытьём, так катаньем.
  • Transliteration: Ne mytyom, tak katanyem.
  • Translation: If not by washing, then by rolling around
  • English version: "By hook or by crook"

• Не ошибается тот, кто ничего не делает.
  • Transliteration: Ne oshibayetsa tot, kto nichego ne delayet.
  • Translation: Only he who never does anything never makes mistakes
  • English version: "He that never climbed, never fell"

• Не плюй в колодец — пригодится воды напиться.
  • Transliteration: Ne plyuy v kolodets — prigoditsya vody napit'sya.
  • Translation: Do not spit into a well—it may be useful to drink water.
  • English version: "Actions can boomerang", "Never cast dirt into that fountain of which you have sometime drunk"

• Не пойман — не вор.
  • Transliteration: Ne poyman — ne vor.
  • Translation: Weren't caught—not a thief.
  • English version: "Innocent till proven guilty"

• Не рой другому яму, сам в неё попадёшь.
  • Transliteration: Ne roy drugomu yamu, sam v neyo popadyosh'.
  • Translation: Don't dig a hole for someone else, as you will fall into it yourself.
  • English version: "Curses like chickens come home to roost"

• Не так страшен чёрт, как его малюют.
  • Transliteration: Ne tak strashen chyort, kak ego malyuyut.
  • Translation: The devil is not as scary as they paint him. (Note: "малюют" is a Ukrainian word. The Russian equivalent is "рисуют".)
  • English version: "The devil is not so black as he is painted"

• Не учи учёного.
  • Transliteration: Ne uchi uchyonogo.
  • Translation: Do not teach a taught person.
  • English version:

• Незваный гость лучше званого
  • Transliteration: Nezvany gost' luchshe zvanogo
  • Translation: An unsolicited guest is better than a solicited one.
  • English version:

• Незваный гость хуже татарина
  • Transliteration: Nezvany gost' khuzhe tatarina
  • Translation: An unsolicited guest is worse than a Tatar (the enemy).
  • English version:

• Нем, как рыба.
  • Transliteration: Nem, kak ryba.
  • Translation: Mute as a fish
  • English version: "Silent as a grave"

• Нет дыма без огня.
  • Transliteration: Net dyma bez ognya.
  • Translation: There is no smoke without fire
  • English version: "There is no smoke without fire"

• Нет худа без добра.
  • Transliteration: Net khuda bez dobra.
  • Translation: There's no bad without good.
  • English version: "Every cloud has a silver lining"

• Ни к селу, ни к городу.
  • Transliteration: Ni k selu, ni k gorodu.
  • Translation: Not for village, not for town.
  • English version: "Neither here nor there"

• Ни рыба, ни мясо.
  • Transliteration: Ni ryba, ni myaso.
  • Translation: Neither fish nor meat.
  • English version: "Neither fish nor flesh"

• Ни складу ни ладу.
  • Transliteration: Ni skladu ni ladu.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Neither rhyme nor reason"

• Новая метла метёт по-новому.
  • Transliteration: Novaya metla metyot po-novomu.
  • Translation: A new broom sweeps in a new (unique) way.
  • English version: "A new broom sweeps clean"

О

• О вкусах не спорят.
  • Transliteration: O vkusakh ne sporyat.
  • Translation: Tastes are not debated.
  • English version: "Tastes differ"

• Овчинка выделки не стоит.
  • Transliteration: Ovchinka vydelki ne stoit.
  • Translation: The lambskin isn't worth the currying
  • English version: "The game isn’t worth the candle"

• Один в поле не воин.
  • Transliteration: Odin v pole ne voin.
  • Translation: One in a field is not a warrior.
  • English version: "One man, no man"

• Орешек не по зубам.
  • Transliteration: Oreshek ne po zubam.
  • Translation: The teeth are not match for the nut.
  • English version: "A hard nut to crack"

• От добра добра не ищут.
  • Transliteration: Ot dobra dobra ne ishchut.
  • Translation: Do not look for (further) good from good.
  • English version: "Leave well enough alone. Enough is as good as a feast"

• От любопытства кошка сдохла.
  • Transliteration: Ot lyubopytstva koshka sdokhla.
  • Translation: Curiosity killed the cat.
  • English version: "Curiosity killed the cat"

• От сумы и от тюрмы не зарекайся.
  • Transliteration: Ot sumy i ot tyurmy ne zarekaysa.
  • Translation: Don't swear off of begging and jail.
  • English version:

• Отсутствие новостей — хорошая новость.
  • Transliteration: Otsutstviye novostey — khoroshaya novost'.
  • Translation: No news is good news.
  • English version: "No news is good news"

П

• Пан или пропал.
  • Transliteration: Pan ili propal.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Neck or nothing"

• Первый блин комом.
  • Transliteration: Pervy blin komom.
  • Translation: The first pancake is a blob.
  • English version: "Things don’t work the first time"

• Плохая молва на крыльях летит.
  • Transliteration: "Plokhaya molva na kryl'yah letit"
  • Translation: A bad rumour flies on wings.
  • English version: "Bad news has wings"

• Погонишься за двумя зайцами, ни одного не поймаешь.
  • Transliteration: Pogonishsya za dvumya zaytsami, ni odnogo ne poymayesh.
  • Translation: If you run after two hares, you will catch neither.
  • English version: "If you run after two hares, you will catch neither", "Grasp all, lose all"

• Последний, но не менее важный.
  • Transliteration: Posledny, no ne meneye vazhny.
  • Translation: Last, but no less important.
  • English version: "Last, but not least"

• После драки кулаками не машут.
  • Transliteration: Posle draki kulakami ne mashut.
  • Translation: You don't wave your fists after a fight.
  • English version: "What’s done is done"

• Поспешишь, людей насмешишь.
  • Transliteration: Pospeshish', lyudey nasmeshish'.
  • Translation: If you rush, others will be only amused.
  • English version: "Hasty climbers have sudden falls", "The more haste, the less speed"

• Привычка — вторая натура.
  • Transliteration: Privychka — vtoraya natura.
  • Translation: Custom is a second nature.
  • English version: "Custom is a second nature"

• При царе Горохе.
  • Transliteration: Pri tsare Gorokhe.
  • Translation: "In the times of czar Goroch" (czar from fairy tales)
  • English version: "Since Adam was a boy"

• Пришла беда, отворяй ворота.
  • Transliteration: Prishla beda, otvoryay vorota.
  • Translation: Trouble is here, so open the gates.
  • English version: "Misfortunes never come alone"

• Пуганая ворона куста боится.
  • Transliteration: Puganaya vorona kusta boitsya.
  • Translation: A scared crow is afraid of a bush.
  • English version: "Once bitten, twice shy"

Р

• Раз на раз не приходится.
  • Transliteration: Raz na raz ne prikhoditsya.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "You can’t expect perfection every time"

• Рука руку моет.
  • Transliteration: "Ruka ruku moyet"
  • Translation: One hand washes the other.
  • English version: "You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours"

• Рыбак рыбака видит издалека.
  • Transliteration: "Rybak rybaka vidit izdaleka"
  • Translation: A fisherman sees a fisherman from afar.
  • English version: "Birds of a feather flock together"

С

• Своей тени не обгонишь
  • Transliteration: Svoyey teni ne obgonish'.
  • Translation: You won't speed past your shadow.
  • English version: ""

• С волками жить, по-волчьи выть.
  • Transliteration: "S volkami zhit', po-volch'i vyt'"
  • Translation: You live with wolves, you howl like a wolf.
  • English version: "Who keeps company with the wolves, will learn to howl."

• Сделал дело, гуляй смело.
  • Transliteration: Sdyelal dyelo, gulyay smyelo.
  • Translation: Task accomplished, disport bravely.
  • English version: ""

Т

• Тише едешь, дальше будешь
  • Transliteration: "Tishe yedesh', dal'she budesh'"
  • Translation: The slower you go, the farther you'll get.
  • English version: "More haste, less speed"; "Slow and steady wins the race."

У

• Умный в гору не пойдёт, умный гору обойдёт.
  • Transliteration: Umny v goru ne poydyot, umny goru oboydyot.
  • Translation: "A clever man will not go up a mountain; a clever man will go around it."

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