Words of Wisdom: 35 Italian Proverbs to Live By
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The poetic Italian language is loaded with proverbs, sayings and colorful ways to express a point. There is an Italian proverb for any situation.
Whether they originated centuries ago or only recently, proverbs reflect our culture and history. They are a beautiful part of the language and help you understand the Italian culture on a deeper level.
While some have an English equivalent, others are more unique and, at times, downright bizarre. Here we have listed 35 common Italian pearls of wisdom that will add swagger to your language skills.
1. Tra il dire e il fare c’è di mezzo il mare
Literal translation: Between saying and doing there’s the sea.
English equivalent: Easier said than done.
Tra il dire e il fare c’è di mezzo il mare emphasizes the gap between talking about an action and carrying it out: “Easier said than done” is a close English equivalent.
2. Meglio un giorno da leone che cento da pecora
Literal translation: Better one day as a lion than a hundred as a sheep.
The saying contrasts a short time lived courageously with a longer time lived timidly. It is a traditional rhetorical ideal, not advice that a leader is inherently better than a follower.
3. A mali estremi, estremi rimedi
Literal translation: To extreme evils, extreme measures.
English equivalent: Desperate times call for desperate measures.
The proverb suggests that a desperate situation may call for drastic measures. It describes a saying, not a guarantee that every extreme action is justified.
4. È inutile piangere sul latte versato
In this case there is a direct correspondence with the English proverb “It’s no use crying over spilt milk”.
This saying is used to emphasize that it is not useful feeling sorry about something that has already happened and can’t be changed.
5. Meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani
Literal translation: Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow.
English equivalent: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
The Italian proverb “Meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani” means that it is better to have the immediate certainty of a small benefit than the prospect of something bigger and better, which might come to nothing.
6. L’abito non fa il monaco
Literal translation: The cowl does not make the monk.
English equivalents: “Clothes don’t make the man” and “Don’t judge a book by its cover”.
This proverb means that you shouldn’t judge someone based on their appearance or clothing.
7. Chi è causa del suo mal, pianga se stesso
Literal translation: Let someone who causes their own trouble blame themselves.
English equivalent: You have no one to blame but yourself.
This proverb means that you have to be responsible for the unpleasant consequences of your own actions and decisions.
8. Non tutti i mali vengono per nuocere
Literal translation: Not all bad things come to hurt.
English equivalent: Every cloud has a silver lining.
The saying suggests that something bad can sometimes lead to a good outcome. It does not claim that every misfortune has a benefit.
9. La casa nasconde ma non ruba
Literal translation: The house hides but doesn’t steal.
My grandma used to say this to me all the time when I was little. It means that if you lose something in your house, it’s never really lost and you should go on looking for it.
10. Non dire gatto se non ce l’hai nel sacco
Literal translation: Don’t say cat if you don’t have it in the bag.
The closest expression in English is “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch”.
This proverb invites you to be prudent. You shouldn’t make plans based on something happening before it has actually happened.
11. La gatta frettolosa ha fatto i gattini ciechi
Its literal meaning: The hasty cat gave birth to blind kittens.
English equivalent: Haste makes waste.
This proverb means that doing something too quickly can result in a less-than-perfect outcome. In other words, things done in haste tend to turn out badly.
12. L’erba del vicino è sempre più verde
Literal translation: The neighbor’s grass is always greener.
English equivalent: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
We use this proverb to say that other people’s lives always seem better or easier than our own, even when that’s not actually the case. It comes from the idea of looking at your neighbor’s lawn and seeing it as better looking than your own, when you are actually just ignoring anything negative about it and, at the same time, downplaying everything positive about your own.
13. Chi non ha testa, abbia buone gambe
Literally: Who has no head, should have good legs.
An English equivalent might be “A forgetful head makes a weary pair of heels”.
This saying means that if you generally forget things, you will need strong legs as you will have to walk more to go back and get them. I think of this proverb every time I get halfway across the car park and have to go back to check if I locked my car.
14. Hai voluto la bicicletta? Adesso pedala!
Literal translation: You wanted the bicycle? Now, pedal!
English equivalent: You’ve made your bed, now lie in it.
This proverb refers to a situation where you are striving for something and, once obtained, you find yourself dealing with all it entails. If someone says “Hai voluto la bicicletta? Adesso pedala”, they are telling you that you have to accept the challenging consequences of what you have obtained, and deal with them.
15. Tanto va la gatta al lardo che ci lascia lo zampino
Literally: “The cat goes to the lard so often that it loses its paw.” Lasciarci lo zampino evokes paying a price or getting hurt, rather than merely leaving a paw print.
It means that long-continued impunity ends at length in punishment. In other words, if you keep on doing the same (bad) thing over and over again, sooner or later you will get caught.
A comparable English warning is “If you play with fire, you’ll get burned.”
16. Ògne scarrafóne è bbèllo ‘a màmma sóia
This is a well-known Neapolitan saying. Spellings vary because Neapolitan is represented through different writing conventions. In standard Italian:
Ogni scarafaggio è bello per la propria madre – Every cockroach is beautiful to its mother
A mother sees beauty in her own child. “A face only a mother could love” has a related image, but its insulting English tone is not an exact match.
This hearty proverb implies that, no matter how many flaws he has, a child is always perfect in his mother’s eyes. This wholehearted saying became famous all over Italy when the popular Neapolitan singer-songwriter Pino Daniele dedicated his famous song ‘O scarrafone to it in 1991.
17. Meglio soli che male accompagnati
English equivalent: Better to be alone than in bad company.
This proverb means that it is much better to enjoy your own company than to waste time with people who care nothing about you, or just want to use you when it is convenient.
18. Chi dorme non piglia pesci
Literal translation: He who sleeps, doesn’t catch fish.
English equivalents: “You snooze, you lose”, and “The early bird catches the worm”.
This proverb teaches that if you waste time and don’t pay attention, you will not accomplish anything and someone else will do it instead of you.
19. A chi dai il dito si prende anche il braccio
This saying literally translates to: Give them a finger and they’ll take an arm.
English equivalent: Give him an inch and he’ll take a mile.
This proverb is used to describe someone who has been given something and then, instead of being content with it, tries to get a whole lot more.
20. Nella botte piccola c’è il vino buono
Literal translation: In the small barrel there’s good wine.
English equivalent: Good things come in small packages.
It means that something or someone small can still have great qualities. It can be used affectionately about a short person, but is not restricted to women or attractiveness.
21. Un vero amico si vede nel momento del bisogno
English equivalent: A friend in need is a friend indeed.
A friend who helps you at a difficult time is a person you can really rely on. Conversely, someone who doesn’t lift a finger to help you when you need help does not deserve your friendship.
22. A caval donato non si guarda in bocca
English equivalent: Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
The Italian proverb “A caval donato non si guarda in bocca” means that, when you receive a gift or handout – whatever their value – you should be grateful and shouldn’t unappreciatively question them too closely.
This proverb refers to the practice of evaluating the age of a horse by inspecting its teeth, because horses’ teeth change over time. Doing such a check would be a sign of mistrust towards the giver.
23. O mangi questa minestra, o salti dalla finestra
Literally: Either eat this soup or jump out the window.
An English equivalent might be “Take it or leave it”.
This saying means that there are no other options. You either accept what you are offered without any change or refuse it.
24. Ride bene chi ride ultimo
This proverb corresponds pretty neatly to the English saying “He who laughs last laughs longest”.
The saying warns against celebrating or mocking someone too soon: the final outcome may reverse an apparent advantage.
25. Bacco, tabacco e Venere riducono l’uomo in cenere
Literal translation: Bacchus, tobacco and Venus reduce a man to ashes.
Bacchus represents drinking, tobacco represents smoking, and Venus represents sensual pleasure. This old saying warns about excess; its traditional wording is male-centered and should not be treated as a factual claim that women cause men’s downfall.
26. Chi la fa, l’aspetti
Literal translation: Who does it, should await it.
English equivalent: What goes around, comes around.
This is a very common proverb and means that if you treat other people badly, you will eventually be treated badly by someone else. The consequences of your bad actions will have to be dealt with sooner or later.
27. Ambasciator non porta pena
Literally: The messenger bears no penalty.
English equivalent: Don’t shoot the messenger.
We use this proverb to warn someone not to be angry with the person who tells them something bad. In other words, somebody carrying news shouldn’t be blamed if the news is not good.
28. Chi va piano, va sano e va lontano
Literally: He who goes slowly goes safely and goes far.
English equivalent: Slow and steady wins the race.
The saying praises steady, careful progress, an idea also illustrated by Aesop’s “The Tortoise and the Hare.” This parallel does not establish that the Italian proverb originated in that fable.
29. L’occasione fa l’uomo ladro
“L’occasione fa l’uomo ladro” has its almost literal equivalent in the English saying “Opportunity makes a thief”.
It suggests that an opportunity or temptation can lead someone to steal. It is a generalization used in a proverb, not proof that everyone would steal if unpunished.
30. Chi ben comincia è già a metà dell’opera
Literally: He who starts well is halfway done.
English equivalents: “Well begun is half done” and “A good start is half the battle”.
The saying praises a good start and careful preparation. It does not guarantee success.
31. Il lupo perde il pelo ma non il vizio
Literal translation: The wolf loses the hair but not the vice.
English equivalent: A leopard cannot change its spots.
The proverbial saying “Il lupo perde il pelo ma non il vizio” expresses the notion that if somebody has a bad habit, he will not give it up easily.
32. Non tutte le ciambelle riescono col buco
Literally: Not all doughnuts come out with a hole.
We use it to indicate that, despite all efforts, things don’t always turn out as planned.
33. Fare d’una mosca un elefante
Literal translation: Making an elephant out of a fly.
English equivalent: Making a mountain out of a molehill.
“Fare di una mosca un elefante” means to greatly exaggerate the importance of a problem. We use it when we want to tell someone not to make a big deal out of something not so terrible.
34. I panni sporchi si lavano in famiglia
Literal translation: Dirty laundry is washed within the family.
English equivalent: You don’t air your dirty laundry in public.
I panni sporchi si lavano in famiglia expresses the view that private disputes should be handled privately. It is a traditional attitude, not a rule that prevents someone from seeking help for serious problems.
35. La mamma dei cretini è sempre incinta
This saying literally translates to: The mother of fools is always pregnant.
It is the same idea behind the English expression “There’s one born every minute”. It is usually trotted out sarcastically to show disapproval when somebody does a very stupid thing.
Part of our everyday life, Italian proverbs can be very hilarious. Which one is your favorite so far? Share it in the comments section!
