The influence of the French language on Russian culture is great. First of all, this is due to the long-term use of French as a spoken language among the Russian nobility and aristocracy of the 18th century, as well as the great love of the Russian intelligentsia for French literature.
We consider many proverbs and sayings to be “ours” even though they have French roots. These are sayings such as “such is life!”, “Look for a woman”, proverbs “to leave is a little to die” (a phrase from the poem by Edmond Haraucourt (1856-1941) “Rondel de l’Adieu”, which eventually became a proverb), “appetite comes during meals" and others.
A Beau Mentir qui Vient de Loin. It is easy for someone who has been far away to lie.
La Guerre Comme? la Guerre. In war, as in war.
Aujourd"hui en Fleurs, Demain en Pleurs. Today the feast is a mountain, and tomorrow I go with a bag.
Au Danger on Conna? t les Braves. The brave are known to be in danger.
Cheval Donn? , on ne Regarde pas la Dent. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
l"Impossible nul n"est Tenu. There is no trial.
p? re Avare, Fils Prodigue. A stingy father has a spendthrift son.
The stingy die, and the children open their chests.
Aide - toi, le Ciel t"Aidera. Trust in God, but don’t make a mistake yourself. God protects the careful.
Ami de Tous, ami de Personne. A friend to everyone is a friend to no one.
Aimer n"est pas Sens Amer. Once you fall in love, you get sad.
Amour Peut Beaucoup, Argent Peut Tout. Love is strong, but money is stronger.
Amour, toux, fum? e, et Argent ne ce Peuvent Cacher Longtemps. You cannot hide love, fire and cough from people.
Avec le Renard on Renarde. To fly with crows - to caw at crows.
Apr? s la Panse Vient la Danse. It’s good to sing songs after having lunch.
Ange? l"? Glise et Diable? la Maison. An angel in public, a devil at home.
Autant de Langes qu"un Homme Sait Parler, Autant de Fois est - il Homme. He who knows many languages lives the life of many people.
A d? Faut du Pardon, Laisse Venir l "Oubli. What you cannot forgive, it is better to forget.
Ao? Don't you go? t. The August heat gives a bouquet to the wine.
Beaucoup de Bruit Pour Rien. Much ado about nothing.
Beau Boucaut, Mauvaise Morue. The berry is red, but tastes bitter. (Literally: A beautiful barrel is a bad cod. Belle Fille et m? Chante Robe Trouvent Toujours qui les Accroche. A beautiful girl and a bad dress always find something to cling to.
Bon Jour, Bonne Oeuvre. On a holiday, things are festive.
Bouche Bais? e ne Perd pas sa fra? Cheur. Kisses do not make lips fade.
Bien Dance? Qui la Fortune Chante. It is well sung for those who are lucky.
Bon Repas Doit Commencer par la Faim. The best seasoning for food is hunger.
Bien Repu, on Oublie qu"il est des Affam? s. a well-fed person is not a friend to the hungry.
Belles Paroles et Mauvais Faits. It lays down softly, but sleeps hard.
Bouche de Miel, Coeur de Fiel. There is honey on the tongue, and ice on the heart.
Bon? Tout, bon? Rien. He tries everything, but everything fails.
Belles Paroles ne Font pas Bouillir la Marmite. Talking can't cook porridge.
Comme un tablier? une Vache. Like a cow's saddle.
Chacun? son p? ch? Mignon. We are all not without sin.
Chaque Chose en son Temps. Everything has its time.
Chose Promise, Chose Due. I promised - do it!
Claire Comme le Jour. Clear as day.
C "est la vie. Such is life.
Ce que Femme Veut, Dieu le Veut. What a woman wants, God wants.
C "est la Bonne Femme qui Fait le bon Mari. A good wife makes a good husband.
Celui qui ne pas Beau? 20 ans, no Fort? 30 ans, ni Riche? 40 ans, ni Sage? 50. ans, ne Sera Jamais ni Beau, ni Fort, ni Riche, ni Sage. Whoever is not good at 20, not healthy (strong) at 30, not rich at 40, not wise at 50, will never be like that.
Chacun est l "Artisan de son Bonheur. Every person is the architect of his own happiness.
Caresse de Femmes, Caresse de Chatte. The caress of a wife, the caress of a cat. (Velvet paws and sharp claws. Choisissez Votre Femme par l "Oreille Bien Plus que par les Yeux. Choose your wife not with your eyes, but with your ears.
Chose Donn? eDoit? tre lou? e. the gift is not purchased, not Hayat, but praised.
Corbeau Contre Corbeau ne se cr? ve Jamais les Yeux. A raven will not peck out a crow's eye.
Comparaison n"est pas Raison. Comparison is not proof.
Celui qui Sait Beaucoup Dort peu. The less you know, the better you sleep.
Connais - toi toi - m? me. Know yourself.
Dans le Doute, Abstiens - toi! If in doubt, refrain!
Dieu est l? o? Habit l "Amour. Where there is love, there is God.
Dis - moi qui tu Hantes, je te Dirai qui tu es. Tell me who your friend is and I will tell you who you are.
Demain il Fera Jour. God has many days ahead: let's work hard.
Du Dire au Faire la Distance est Grande. From word to deed - a hundred stages.
Des go? ts et des Couleurs il ne Faut pas Discuter. Tastes differ. (There are no comrades for taste and color. De Tristesse et Ennui, nul Fruit. Sadness is no help to trouble.
De Fortune et de Sant? il ne Faut Jamais Vanter. Don't boast about your health and wealth.
Demandez? un Malade s"il Veut la Sant. Whoever has not been sick does not know the value of health. (Ask the patient if he wants to be healthy. Deux Bras et la Sant? Font le Pauvre ais. If only there was health, but wealth is an acquired taste.
De Mauvaise vie Mauvaise fin. He lived sinfully and died funny. (A bad life has a bad end. Ecoute Beaucoup et Parle peu. Talk less, listen more.
Ecoute les Conseils de Tous et Prends Celui qui te Convient. Listen to all the advice and choose the one that suits you.
En ce Monde Tous les Biens Sont Communs. There are all the blessings in this world, you just need to know how to get them.
En mer Calme Tous Sont Pilotes. In calm weather the woman rules.
Envie Passe Avarice. Envy is worse than greed.
Ensemble, ? Charge; s? par? s, Supplies. It's boring together, but boring apart. (Woe with you, punishment without you. Enfants et Fous Disent la v? rit. Stupid and small always tell the truth.
Faire l"?ne Pour Avoir du Bran. Play a fool, you won't lose out.
Faute de Grives on Mange des Merles. Without fish and cancer, fish.
Fais ce que tu Peux, si tu ne Peux Fair ce que tu Veux. Live not the way you want, but the way you can.
Force n"est pas Droit. Strength is not in strength, but in truth.
Fais ce que je dis et non ce que j"ai Fais. Follow my words, not my footsteps.
Femmes Sont Anges? l"? Glise, Diables? la Maison et Singes au lit. There is an angel in people, not a wife, Satan is at home with her husband.
Femme Bonne Vaut Couronne. A good wife is a treasure.
Femme Querelleuse est Pire que le Diable. An evil woman in the house is worse than the devil in the forest.
Graine de Paille ne Vaut Jamais Graine de Bois de lit. Do not expect a good breed from a bad seed.
Gens de m? me Farine. Two boots in a pair.
Goutte? Goutte l "eau Creuse la Pierre. A drop wears away a stone drop by drop.
Gouvern ta Bouche Selon ta Bourse. Stretch your legs along the clothes.
Gracieuset? et Propret? Valent Mieux que Sale Beaut. Cleanliness is the same beauty.
Guerre et Piti? ne s"Accordent pas. War knows no pity.
H? te-toi Lentement! Hurry up, don't rush!
Homme Chiche n"est has Riche. The stingy rich man is poorer than the beggar.
Heureux au jeu, Malheureux en Amour. Happy in the game, unhappy in love.
Honni Soit qui mal y Pense. Let him be ashamed who thinks badly of this.
Il Faut Manger Pour Vivre, et non pas Vivre Pour Manger. You need to eat to live, but not live to eat.
Il n"y a pas de Bonne f? te Sans Lendemain. There is no fun without a hangover.
Il n"y a pas de Roses Sans? Pines. There is no rose without thorns.
Il Crie Avant qu"on l"? Corche. They haven't touched him yet, and he's already screaming.
Il ne Faut pas Courir Deux li? Vres? la Fois. If you chase two hares, you won't catch either.
Il ne Faut pas Jouer Avec le feu. You shouldn't play with fire.
Il Vaut Mieux Tuer le Diable Avant que le Diable Vous tue. It's better to kill the devil before the devil kills you.
Is that ais? de Reprendre et Difficile de Faire Mieux. It's easy to correct someone else's work, but it's hard to do it better.
Il Vaut Mieux? Tre Seul que mal Accompagn. Loneliness is better than bad company.
Il Vaut Mieux Faire Envie que Piti. It is better to be the subject of envy than compassion.
Il Vaut Mieux Glisser du Pied que de la Langue. It's better to slip up than to make a mistake.
Je Vous Passe la Casse, Passez - moi le s? n. you - to me, I to you.
Give me a concession, and I will give in to you.
Jeunesse Paressese, Vieillesse Pouilleuse. Learn from a young age so you won't die of hunger.
Jamais Chiche ne fut Riche. He is not rich who is stingy.
Jamais Deux Sans Trois. God loves a trinity.
Je le dis? toi, ma fille; Entends - moi Bien, ma Fill? tre. I’m telling you, daughter, but you daughter-in-law, listen.
Jeux de Chat, Larmes de Souris. The cat is a toy, and the mouse has tears.
Jupiter, tu te f? Ches, Donc tu a Tort. You're angry, Jupiter, that means you're wrong.
L "Affaire est Dans le sac. It's in the bag (the job is done.
L"Amour ne se Commande pas. You won't be nice by force.
L"Argent n"a pas d"Odeur. Money does not smell.
L "Argent non Fait pas le Bonheure. Money does not buy happiness.
L"Espoir Fait Vivre. Hope sustains life.
La n? Cessit? n"a Point (n"a pas) de loi. Need does not know the law, but walks through it.
Le Besoin Fait la Vieille Trotter. Gol is cunning in her inventions.
Le Mieux est l"Ennemi du Bien. The best is the enemy of the good.
Le Temps c"est de l"Argent. Time is money.
Le Temps Perdu ne se Rattrape Jamais. You can't get back the time that's passed.
Les Absents ont Toujours Tort. Slander against the dead.
Les Affaires Sont les Affaires. It's a matter of fact.
Les Apparences Sont Trompeuses. Appearances are deceiving.
La Vengeance est un Plat qui se Mange Froid. Revenge is a dish that is eaten cold.
Les Chiens Aboient, la Caravane Passe. The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on. (The dog barks - the wind blows. Les p? res ont Mang? des Raisins Verts et les Enfants ont eu mal aux Dents their children pay for the sins of the fathers (from the expression “The fathers ate Sour Grapes, but the Children’s Teeth are set on edge.”
Loue le Beau Jour au Soir et la vie? la Mort. Praise the day in the evening, and life is dying.
L "Amour est Aveugle. Love is blind.
L "Amour est de Tous les? ges. All ages are submissive to love.
Lorsque la Pauvret? Entre par la Porte l"Amour s"en va par la fen? tre. When poverty comes into the house, love flies out the window.
L "Amour Fait Perdre le Repas et le Repos. From love, like from illness, they lose sleep and appetite.
Le Coeur a Toujours ses Raisons. The heart has its own laws.
Les Yeux Sont le Miroir de l"? me. Eyes are the mirror of the soul.
L "app? tit Vient en Mangeant. Appetite comes with eating.
Le Prix s"Oublie, la Qualit? Reste. The price is forgotten, the quality remains.
Le Potier au Potier Porte Envie. The bald man envied the bald man.
La Vengeance est Plus Douce que le Miel. Revenge is sweeter than honey.
La Vengeance est la Joie des am? s Basses. Revenge is the pleasure of a low soul.
La Main qui Donne est au - Dessus de Celle que re? oit. The giving hand is blessed.
L"art de Louer Commen? a l"art de Plaire. The ability to please began with the ability to flatter.
La Racine du Travail est am? re, Maisson Fruit est Doux. The work is bitter, but the bread is sweet.
L "Oisivet? est la m? re des Tous les Vises. Laziness (idleness) is the mother of all vices.
La Nuit Porte Conseil. The morning is wiser than the evening.
La Parole est d"Argent, le Silence est d"or. The word is silver, silence is gold.
La r? p? Tition est la m? re de la Science. Repetition is the mother of learning.
Les Mots que l"on n"a pas dit les Fleurs du Silence. Unspoken words are the flowers of silence.
La v? rit? Sort de la Bouche des Enfants. The truth speaks through the mouth of a baby.
Les Meilleurs m? Decins Sont le Dr. Gai, le Dr. Di? te et le Dr. Tranquille. The best doctors: good mood, healthy food and peace.
Le Temps gu? rit Tout. Time heals.
La vie n"est pas Tout Rose. Living life is not a field to cross.
Mieux Vaut Tard que Jamais. Better late than never.
Mieux Vaut? Tre que Para? tre. It's better to be than to appear.
Mieux Vaut Bonne Attente que Mauvaise h? te. If you hurry, you will make people laugh.
Malheur Partag? n"est Malheur qu"? Demi. Woe for two is half grief.
Mieux Vaut peu que Rien. Better little than nothing.
Maison Sans Femme, Corps Sans? me. Without a mistress, a house is an orphan.
M? Moire du mal a Longue Trace, m? Moire du Bien Tant? tPass. Bad things are remembered, but good things are forgotten.
Mordu de Chien un de Chat, c"est Toujours la b? te du? Quatre Pattes. Horseradish is not sweeter than radish. (Whatever finger you bite, everything hurts.
Mal Pass? n"est que Songe. All the troubles disappeared that they fell into the water.
Mariage Prompt, Regrets Longs. He got married in a hurry, but for a long time.
Marie on Fils Quand tu Voudras et ta Fille Quand tu Pourras. Marry your son when you want, and marry off your daughter when you can.
Mieux Vaut Assez que Trop. Know moderation in everything.
Mieux Vaut Moins Mais Mieux. Less is more.
M? Decin gu? ris - toi toi - m? me. Doctor, heal yourself!
Mieux Vaut Savoir que Penser. It's better to know than to guess.
Necessit? Faith loi. Need writes its own law.
Nul n"est Proph? te Dans son Pays. There is no prophet in his own country.
Ne fais pas? Autrui ce que tu ne Voudrais pas qu"on te Fasse. Do not do to others what you would not wish for yourself.
Ne Remets pas au Lendemain ce que tu Peux Faire Aujourd"hui. Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
Notre Jour Viendra. And there will be a holiday on our street.
Ne Jettez pas vos Perles aux Pourceaux. Swords are not pearls before swine.
Nul Miel Sans Fiel. There is no rose without thorns. (There is no honey without bitterness. Nettet? Nourrit Sant. Cleanliness is the key to health.
Noblesse Oblige. The position obliges.
Oeil Pour Oeil, Dent Pour Dent. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
On Conna? t l "ami Dans le Besoin a friend is known in need.
On ne Fait pas d"Omelette Sans Casser les Oeufs. You can't make scrambled eggs without breaking the eggs.
On ne pr? te qu"aux Riches for the rich and the gates are wide open.
On ne Prend pas un Homme Deux Fois one is not punished twice for the same crime.
On ne Meurt qu"une Fois. Two deaths cannot happen, but one cannot be avoided.
On Doit Dire le Bien du Bien. You can't say anything bad about something good.
O? la Femme r? gne, le Diable est Premier Minister. Where the wife rules, the devil is the prime minister.
Pauvret? n"est pas Vice. Poverty is not a vice.
Pour? tre Belle il Faut Souffrir. Beauty requires sacrifice.
Partir, c"est Mourir un peu. Leaving is a little bit like dying.
Prenez mon Ours. Spare me this.
Parler est Bien, Mais Faire est Encore Mieux. Actions are stronger than words.
Paris n"est pas Faite en un Jour. Moscow was not built at once.
Plus on a d'Argent, Plus on a de Soucis. Extra money means extra trouble.
Peu de Bien, peu de Soucis. Sleep better without money.
Patience et Longoeur de Temps Font Plus que Force ni que Rage. Patience and time are stronger than violence and anger.
Petits Enfants, Petite Peine, Grands Enfants, Grande Peine. Small children are little troubles, big children are big and poor things.
Pas? pas on vas Loin. If you drive more quietly, you will go further.
Pain Tant qu"il Dure, Mais vin? Mesure. Eat bread as much as you please, and drink wine in moderation.
Pas de Nouvelles, Bonnes Nouvelles. No news is good news.
Presque, Quasi et Peut -? tre emp? che de Mentir. It seems that they almost, perhaps, save you from lies.
Qui est bien ne se meuve. They do not seek good from good.
Qui ne dit mot Consent. Silence is a sign of consent.
Qui Vivra Verra. Let's wait and see.
Quand on n"a pas ce que l"on Aime, il Faut Aimer ce que l"on a. if you can’t have what you love, love what you have.
Qui Dort d? ne. He who sleeps has dinner. (A sleeping person does not ask for bread. Qui se Garde? Carreau n"est Jamais Capot. God protects the careful.
Qui s? me le Vent r? Colte la Temp? te. He who sows the wind will reap the whirlwind.
Qui Cesse d"? tre ami ne l"a Jamais? t. whoever stops being your friend never was.
Quit? t Donne, Deux Fois Donne. He who helped quickly helped twice.
Qui Peus le Plus, Peut le Moins. He who is big on a lot doesn’t care about a little.
Qui m"Aime, Aime mon Chien. Whoever loves me loves my dog.
Qui n"est Point Jaloux n"Aime Point. He who is not jealous does not love.
Qui Bien Fera, Bien Trouvera. They pay for good with good.
Qui Cherche, Trouve. He who seeks will always find. Qui Donne aux Pauvres pr? te? Dieu. The hand of the giver will never fail. Qui n"a Rien ne Craint Rien. He who has nothing is not afraid of anything. Qui s"Excuse s"Accuse. He who apologizes accuses himself. Qui vit Sans Compte, vit? Honte. Living beyond your means - century to grieve. Rie.
French sayings and proverbs
Some proverbs and sayings are generally accepted, that is, known all over the world, but in different languages, accordingly, they sound differently, for example, French proverbs have their Russian equivalents. And there are such variants of sayings that are unique to a given nationality. Here we will look at both options, some of them are familiar to you from the school curriculum or they have long been heard by the general public.
So, French proverbs and sayings (if there is a Russian equivalent, then it is used as a translation, if there is no such equivalent in the Russian language, then here is a literal translation conveying the main meaning of the saying):
- Fr.: À la guerre comme à la guerre. Russian: In war, well, like in war.
- French: Que Femme veut - dieu le veut. Russian: If a woman wants something, then it pleases God.
- French: Au danger on connaît les braves. Russian: Daredevils are known to be in danger.
- French: Ma vie, Mes Regles. Russian: My life according to my rules.
- Fr.: C'est la vie. Russian: Such is life.
- French: Chaque chose en son temps. Russian: Everything will have its time.
- Fr.: Cache ta vie. Russian: Don't put your life on display.
- Fr.: Choose promise, chose due. Russian: No sooner said than done!
- French: Claire comme le jour. Russian: Clear as day.
- French: Gouverner c’est prévoir. Russian: To lead means to foresee.
- Fr.: Il faut manger pour survivre, et non pas survivre pour manger. Russian: You should not live for food, but eat to live.
- French: L'affaire est dans le sac. Russian: It's all in the bag.
- French: Croire a son etoile. Russian: Believe in your star.
- French: L'argent ne fait pas le bonneur. Russian: Money doesn’t buy happiness.
- French: Le devoir avant tout. Russian: Duty comes first.
- French: L'argent n'a pas d'odeur. Russian: Money doesn't smell.
- Fr.: Le temps c'est de l'argent. Russian: Time is money.
- French: L'espoir fait vivre. Russian: Hope makes you live.
- French: L'exactitude est la politesse des rois. Russian: Precision is the politeness of kings.
- French: Le petit poisson deviendra grand. Russian: A small fish will grow into a big pike.
- French: Les bons comptes font les bons amis. Russian: The score of friendship does not spoil.
- French: Les affaires sont les affaires. Russian: Business is business.
- French: Le temps perdu ne se rattrape jamais. Russian: Lost time cannot be returned.
- French: Mieux vaut tard, que jamais. Russian: Better late than never.
- French: On connaît l'ami dans le besoin. Russian: A friend will prove himself in trouble.
- Fr.: On ne fait pas d’omelette sans casser les œufs. Russian: You won't get scrambled eggs until you break the eggs.
- French: Pour être belle il faut souffrir. Russian: Beauty requires sacrifice.
- French: Tout va quand la santé va. Russian: Health comes first. Or: if there is health, there will be everything!
- French: Qui ne edit mot, consent. Russian: Silence is a sign of consent.
- French: Qui vivra, verra. Russian: We'll wait and see.
- French: Tel maître, tel valet. Russian: Like the master, like the servant.
- French: Tout passé, tout lasse, tout casse,. Russian: Nothing lasts forever under the sun.
- French: Qui n'a jamais connut ce que c'est que l'amour, n'a jamais pu savoir ce que c'est que la peine. Russian: Those who have not known love could never know that it is worth it.
- Fr.: La plus belle façon de voir le soleil se coucher est de le voir dans les yeux de celui qu’on aime. English: The best way to see the sunset is to look into the eyes of your loved one.
- Fr.: Chaque baiser est la belle fleur, dont la racine est le coeur. English: A kiss is comparable to a flower whose roots come from the heart.
- Fr.: Il n’y a qu’un remede a l’amour: aimer davantage. Russian: There is only one means for love: to love more.
- French: L'amour est la sagesse du fou et la deraison du sage. (Samuel Johnson). Russian: Love is wisdom for fools, but for a wise man it is stupidity. (Samuel Johnson).
- Fr.: A tout prix. Russian: At any cost.
- Fr.: De l’amour a la haine, il n’y a qu’un pas. Russian: From love to hate there is only one step.
- French: L'amitie est une preuve d'amour. Russian: Friendship is proof of love.
- Fr.: Le baiser est la plus sure facon de se taire en disant tout. Russian: A kiss is a reliable way to remain silent when talking about everything.
- Fr.: Pour symboliser la force il y a le lion, pour symboliser la paix il ya la colombe, pour symboliser l’amour que j’ai pour toi je suis la. (The symbol of power is a lion, the symbol of peace is a dove, there is a dove, and the symbol of love is my presence.)
- French: Quand sur ta joue une larme coule, tout autour de moi s’ecroule. Russian: When tears fall on your cheeks, everything collapses around me.
- Fr.: Si a chaque fois que je pensais de toi une fleur poussait alors le monde serait un grand jardin. Russian: If every time I thought about you a flower bloomed, the world would become a huge garden.
- French: Aimes-moi comme je t'aime et je t'aimerais comme tu m'aimes. Russian: Love me as I love you, and I will love you as you love me.
- Fr.: Tu persistes a m’ignorer encore, je persiste a t’aimer plus fort. Russian: You are deliberately ignoring me again, this makes me love you more and more.
- French: Chaque jour je t'aime davantage, aujourd'hui plus qu'hier mais moins que demain. Russian: I love you every day, stronger than yesterday, but weaker than tomorrow.
- French: L'amour c`est une equation de coeur qui se resoud avec deux personnes inconnus. Russian: Love is a heart equation that needs to be solved with the help of two unknowns.
- French: On dit que l'amour est aveugle. C'est dommage qu'il ne puisse voir ta beaute. Russian: They say that love is blind. It’s bad that they won’t be able to see your beauty.
- French: J'ai perdu le temps que j'ai passe sans amour. (Le Tasse). Russian: I lost the time I spent without love. (Tasso)
This is not a complete list, there are as many French proverbs as there are Russian ones, and learning a foreign language simply obliges you to know at least a couple of famous French proverbs, you can’t do without it, because it’s part of the language, part of the culture, part of France!
Proverbes français d'amour For Valentine's Day, proverbs about love in French with translation. L'amour est de tous les âges. All ages are submissive to love. L'absence est l'ennemi de l'amour. Separation is the enemy of love. Loin de yeux, lion du coeur. Out of sight, out of mind. Aimer n'est pas sans amer. There is no love without bitterness. L'amuor a ses plaisirs aussi que ses peines. Love has its joys and its sorrows. Grand amour cause grande douleur. The more you love, the more you suffer. L'amour apprend aux âns à danser. Love will teach a donkey to dance. L'amour couvre toutes les fautes.
Knowledge of a foreign language does not always guarantee mutual understanding between people. Be aware of why a Frenchman gets plump and may suggest you go boil an egg :) And a professional translation from French will definitely get rid of mistakes :) 20 of the funniest French proverbs and sayings (and how to use them correctly) 1. The French don’t “take you out” out of yourself,” they “beat the crap out of you.” (Faire chier quelqu'un). 2. The French will not call you “stupid”, but “dumb as a broom.” (Être con comme un balai). 3. The French don't "try to rip you off", they "give you a rake." (Se prendre un râteau). 4. The French don't say: "I don't care", they say: "It's as important to me as my first shirt." (S'en foutre comme de sa première chemise). 5. The French, instead of the phrase “This annoys me,” will say: “This makes me swell.” (Ça me gonfle). 6. The French will not ask you to “leave them alone”, they will invite you to “go boil yourself an egg.” (Aller se faire cuire un œuf). 7. The French won't call you a grump, they will say that you "fart to the side." (Avoir un pet de travers). 8. The French don’t “go crazy,” they “break the fuse.” (Péter un plomb). 9. The French won't call you clumsy, they will say that you have "both feet in one shoe." (Avoir les deux pieds dans le même sabot). 10. The French don't get energy, they eat potatoes or fries. (Avoir la patate/la frite). 11. The French will never tell you: “Don’t stick your nose into other people’s business,” they will ask you to “mind your bow.” (Occupe-toi de tes oignons). 12. The French are not “broke,” they are “mown down like wheat fields.” (Être fauché comme les bles). 13. The Frenchman does not say about himself “I’m a loser” - he has “luck like a cuckold.” (Avoir une veine de cocu). 14. The French don't say: "It's useless", they say: "It's like writing into a violin." (Pisser dans un violon). 15. The French are not “ungrateful”, they just “spit in the soup.” (Cracher dans la soupe). 16. The French don't "worry in vain", they just cover everything with cheese. (En faire tout un fromage). 17. The French will not “give you a beating,” they will “scream at you like you’re a rotten fish.” (Engueuler quelqu'un comme du poisson pourri). 18. The French don’t “sleep with everyone,” they “dip their cookies.” (Tremper son biscuit). 19. The French are not arrogant, they just “fart above their asses.” (Péter plus haut que son cul). 20. The French don’t ask someone to “shut up”, they advise to “hammer your beak with nails.” (Clouer le bec de quelqu'un).
Knowledge of a foreign language does not always guarantee mutual understanding between people. Be aware of why a Frenchman gets plump and might suggest you go boil yourself an egg :)
And a professional one will definitely get rid of mistakes :)
20 funniest French proverbs and sayings (and how to use them correctly)
1. The French don't "piss you off", they "knock the crap out of you." (Faire chier quelqu'un).
2. The French will not call you “stupid”, but “dumb as a broom.” (Être con comme un balai).
3. The French don't "try to rip you off", they "give you a rake." (Se prendre un râteau).
4. The French don't say: "I don't care", they say: "It's as important to me as my first shirt." (S'en foutre comme de sa première chemise).
5. The French, instead of the phrase “This annoys me,” will say: “This makes me swell.” (Ça me gonfle).
6. The French will not ask you to “leave them alone”, they will invite you to “go boil yourself an egg.” (Aller se faire cuire un œuf).
7. The French won't call you a grump, they will say that you "fart to the side." (Avoir un pet de travers).
8. The French don’t “go crazy,” they “break the fuse.” (Péter un plomb).
9. The French won't call you clumsy, they will say that you have "both feet in one shoe." (Avoir les deux pieds dans le même sabot).
10. The French don't get energy, they eat potatoes or fries. (Avoir la patate/la frite).
11. The French will never tell you: “Don’t stick your nose into other people’s business,” they will ask you to “mind your bow.” (Occupe-toi de tes oignons).
12. The French are not “broke,” they are “mown down like wheat fields.” (Être fauché comme les bles).
13. The Frenchman does not say about himself “I’m a loser” - he has “luck like a cuckold.” (Avoir une veine de cocu).
14. The French don't say: "It's useless", they say: "It's like writing into a violin." (Pisser dans un violon).
15. The French are not “ungrateful”, they just “spit in the soup.” (Cracher dans la soupe).
16. The French don't "worry in vain", they just cover everything with cheese. (En faire tout un fromage).
17. The French will not “give you a beating,” they will “scream at you like you’re a rotten fish.” (Engueuler quelqu'un comme du poisson pourri).
18. The French don’t “sleep with everyone,” they “dip their cookies.” (Tremper son biscuit).
19. The French are not arrogant, they just “fart above their asses.” (Péter plus haut que son cul).
20. The French don’t ask someone to “shut up”, they advise to “hammer your beak with nails.” (Clouer le bec de quelqu'un).
Original article:
Proverbs, sayings, catchphrases and expressions are an integral part of the culture of any nation. Proverbs and sayings always reflect folk wisdom, and popular expressions and aphorisms are laconic conclusions made on the basis of reflections on life and its values.
Many Russian proverbs and sayings have French roots due to the enormous influence of the French language on our culture. This is due to the fact that representatives of the Russian nobility and aristocracy of the 18th century used French among themselves for a long time as a colloquial language. And the Russian intelligentsia has always had a great love for French literature.
Sayings such as “C’est la vie! “Such is life!”, “Cherchez la femme! – Look for a woman,” are known all over the world. And the proverbs “Partir, c’est mourir un peu. “To leave is to die a little” (a phrase from the poem “Rondel de l'adieu”, written by Edmond Arocourt (1856-1941), which later became a proverb), “L'appétit vient en mangeant - Appetite comes with eating”, Tout est bien qui finit bien. All's well that ends well is always heard.
Works of folk art are great for expanding vocabulary, as well as learning certain grammatical structures. The use of simple, understandable proverbs and sayings contributes to the development of French speech. Always analyze the grammatical structure of any sentences to learn how to construct similar sentences yourself.
A selection of French proverbs and sayings with literal translation into Russian, as well as their analogues in Russian.
- À la guerre comme à la guerre. In war, as in war.
- Au danger on connaît les braves. The brave are known to be in danger.
- C'est la vie. That's life.
- Chaque chose en son temps. Everything has its time.
- Bien danse à qui la fortune chante. The one to whom luck sings dances well.
- Chacun est l'artisan de son bonheur. Everyone is the architect of their own happiness.
- La fortune vient en dormant. Happiness comes during sleep or a fool sleeps, and happiness is in his head.
- L'argent ne fait pas le bonheur. Money doesn't buy happiness.
- La fortune couronne l'audace. Happiness is the reward for courage.
- La belle cage ne nourrit pas. A beautiful cage will not feed you, or a golden cage will not be fun for a nightingale.
- La fortune sourit aux audacieux aux braves. Fortune smiles on the bold and brave.
- De tristesse et ennui, nul fruit. Sadness and boredom do not bear any fruit, or sadness is no help to trouble.
- Chacun porte sa croix en ce monde. Everyone bears their own cross in this world.
- Choose promise, chose due. I promised - do it! (No sooner said than done!)
- Claire comme le jour. Clear as day.
- Gouverner c'est prévoir. To lead is to foresee.
- Il faut manger pour vivre, et non pas vivre pour manger. You need to eat to live, but not live to eat.
- L'affaire est dans le sac. It's in the bag (It's done).
- L'argent ne fait pas le bonneur. Money doesn't buy happiness.
- L'argent n'a pas d'odeur. Money doesn't smell.
- Le temps c'est de l'argent. Time is money.
- L’amour fait perdre le repas et le repos – Love makes you lose sleep and appetite.
- Il faut aimer les amis avec leurs défauts - You need to love your friends with their shortcomings.
- Mains froides, cœur chaud. Cold hands, warm heart.
- Loin des yeux, loin du cœur. Out of sight, out of mind.
- L'amour apprend aux ânes à danser. Love will teach donkeys to dance.
- Qui n'est point jaloux n'aime point. He who is not jealous does not love.
- L'amour fait passer le temps, et le temps fait passer. Love passes with time, and time passes.
- Amour, toux, fumée, et argent ne ce peuvent cacher longtemps. You can’t hide love, fire and cough for long.
- L'amour ne se commande pas. You won't be nice by force.
- Bouche de miel, cœur de fiel. There is honey in the mouth, bile (ice) in the heart.
- On ne badine pas avec l'amour. Don't joke with love.
- L'espoir fait vivre. Hope sustains life.
- L'exactitude est la politesse des rois. Precision is the politeness of kings.
- Le petit poisson deviendra grand. A small fish will grow into a big pike.
- Les bons comptes font les bons amis. The friendship score does not spoil.
- Les affaires sont les affaires. Business is business.
- Mieux vaut tard, que jamais. Better late than never.
- On connaît l'ami dans le besoin. A friend is known in need.
- On ne fait pas d'omelette sans casser les œufs. You can't make scrambled eggs without breaking eggs.
- Pour être belle il faut souffrir. Beauty requires sacrifice.
- Quand la santé va, tout va. Health comes first.
- Qui ne edit mot, consent. Silence is a sign of consent.
- Qui vivra, verra. Let's wait and see.
- Tel maître, tel valet. As is the master, so is the servant.
- Tout passé, tout casse, tout lasse. Morning sun never lasts a day.
- Malheur partagé n'est malheur qu'à demi. Woe for two is half grief.
- Ami de tous n'est l'ami de personne. A friend to everyone is a friend to no one, or someone who pleases everyone is useful to no one.
- Les petit ruisseaux font les grandes rivières.
- Il vaut mieux être seul que mal accompagné. It's better to be alone than in bad company.
- Il ne faut pas aller au bois sans cognée. They don't go into the forest without an axe.
- C’est en forgeant qu’on devient forgeron – Forging teaches a blacksmith or a craftsman teaches.
- Qui ne travaille pas, ne mange pas. He who does not work does not eat.
- Autres temps, autres mœurs. Different times, different customs, or each time has its own customs.
- À qui se lève matin, Dieu (aide et) prêt la matin. Whoever gets up early in the morning, God gives him.
- Il n'est si bon cheval qui ne devienne rosse – It’s not a good horse that doesn’t get old (Time will make anyone old).
- Les temps, c'est d'argent. Time is money.
- Le temps, est un grand maître. Time is a great teacher
- Qui ne vient à l'heure, dine par cœur. Those who arrived at the wrong time, dine with their hearts, or arrived late, found the bones.
- Le temps guérit tout. Time heals everything.
- Le temps perdu ne se rattrape jamais. You can't get back the time that's passed.
- Mieux vaut tard que jamais. Better late than never.
- Noblesse oblige. The position obliges.
- Honni soit qui mal y pense. Shame on the one who thought badly.
- Il ne faut pas jouer avec le feu. You shouldn't play with fire.
- La nuit porte conseil. The morning is wiser than the evening.
- Tout songe est mensonge. All dreams are deceptive.
- Qui n'a rien ne craint rien. He who has nothing is not afraid of anything.
- Qui s'excuse s'accuse. He who apologizes blames himself.
- La parole est d'argent, le silence est d'or. The word is silver, silence is gold.
- Qui parle beaucoup, ment beaucoup. He who talks a lot lies a lot.
- Qui cherche, trouve. He who seeks will find.
- Force n'est pas droit. Strength is not in strength, but in truth.
- Ce que femme veut, Dieu le veut - What a woman wants, God wants.
- Dans le doute, abstiens-toi! When in doubt, hold off!
- Revenons à nos moutons. Let's return to our sheep or return to the topic of conversation.
- Clé d'or passe partout. The golden key enters everywhere or the golden key does not speak, but does a lot.
- La répétition est la mère de la science. Repetition is the mother of learning.
- Celui qui sait beaucoup dort peu. He who knows a lot sleeps little.
- Voir est facile, prévoir est difficile. It’s easy to see, it’s difficult to foresee (If you knew where to fall, you’d better lay straw there).
- Qui demande, apprend. Whoever asks will find out.
- Rira bien qui rira le dernier. He who laughs last laughs best.
- Mieux vaut assez que trop. It’s better to have enough than to do too much or in moderation in everything.
- Notre jour viendra. Our day will come (There will be a holiday on our street).
- Savoir, c'est pouvoir. To know means to be able or knowledge is power.
- La vie n'est pas tout rose. Life is not all rosy (living life is not a field to cross).
- Partir, c'est mourir un peu. Leaving is a little like dying.
- Comparaison n'est pas raison. Comparison is not proof.
- Pas de nouvelles, bonnes nouvelles. No news is good news.
- Œil pour œil, dent pour dent. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
- Presque, quasi et peut-être empêche de mentir. About, almost and maybe – they prevent lies.
- Il faut battre le fer pendant qu’il est chaud. Strike while the iron is hot.
- Le prix s'oublie, la qualité reste. The price is forgotten, the quality remains.
- Le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle. The game is not worth the candle.
- Qui ne dit mot consent. Silence is a sign of consent.
- Tout est bien qui finit bien. All's well that ends well.
Translation: Anastasia Bochkar
À beau mentir qui vient de loin- Good is the lie that comes from afar |
À bon chat, bon rat- Good cat, good rat. |
À chaque Saint sa chandelle - Each saint has his own candlestick. (They don’t go to someone else’s monastery with their own rules) |
À charcutier, bonne saucisse- Good sausages are important to a butcher. |
À cheval donné, on ne regarde pas les dents- Don't look at the teeth of a gift horse |
À cæur vaillant rien d"impossible - Nothing is impossible for a valiant heart (The city takes courage) |
À force de forger on deviant forgeron - By practicing forging one becomes a blacksmith (Patience and work will grind everything) |
À la guerre comme à la guerre- In war as in war |
À mauvais jeu, bonne mine- In case of a bad game, a good face |
À quelque chose malheur est bon- Every bad thing contains a good one. |
À trop tirer, on rompt la corde- If you pull too hard, the rope will break. |
Abondance de biens ne nuit pas- Abundance of good things does no harm |
Absent le chat, les souris dansent- In the absence of a cat, mice dance |
Accommodez-vous, le pays est large- Adapt yourself, the country is big. |
Affaire menée sans bruit, se fait avec plus de fruit - A job done quietly will bear more fruit. |
Agir dans la colère, c"est s"embarquer durant la tempête - Acting in anger is like starting a journey in a storm. |
Aide-toi, le ciel t"aidera- Help yourself, and heaven will help you. |
Après la pluie vient le beau temps- After the rain comes good weather |
Au besoin on connaît l"ami- In need we recognize a friend. (A friend in need is a friend) |
Aussitôt dit, aussitôt fait- No sooner said than done |
Autant de têtes, autant d"avis - Many heads, many opinions (One head is good, but two are better) |
Autres temps, autres mæurs- Other times, other customs |
Ce que femme veut, Dieu le veut-What a woman wants, God wants |
Ce qui rentre par une oreille, sort par l"autre - What goes in one ear comes out the other |
Ce qu"on dérobe, ne fait pas garde-robe- What is stolen is not kept (pun intended) |
C"est la femme qui fait ou défait la maison - It is the woman who makes or breaks the home |
C"est le signe d"un fou, qu"avoir honte d"apprendre - It's a sign of madness to be ashamed to study |
C`est trop d"aimer quand on en meurt - Too much love when someone dies (It's either bad or nothing about the dead) |
Chacun est l "artisan de sa fortune- Everyone is the master of their own luck |
Chance vaut mieux que de bien jouer- Luck has more value than playing well |
Chasseur, pêcheurs, preneur de taupes, feraient beaucoup, n"étaient les fautes- A hunter, a fisherman, a catcher would do a lot if they didn’t make mistakes |
Chat échaudé craint l"eau froide- A scalded cat is afraid of cold water |
Chats et chiens, mauvais voisins- Cats and dogs are bad neighbors |
Choose promise, chose due- The promised thing must be done |
Comme on fait son lit, on se couche- As they make their own bed, they will sleep well |
Comparaison n"est pas raison- Comparison is not the reason |
Conseil est bon, mais aide est encore mieux - Advice is good, but help is even better |
Contre la mort, point d'appel - When dying, they call every minute (moment) (You can’t breathe before you die) |
Dans les conseils, les murs ont des oreilles- When giving advice, ears appear on the walls |
De deux maux, il faut éviter le pire - The worst of two evils must be avoided (The better of two evils must be avoided) |
Des mauvaises coutumes, naissent les bonnes lois - Bad customs give rise to good laws |
Deux chiens sont mauvais à un os- Two dogs will be bad at one bone |
Deux fois bon, c"est une fois bête (variante de trop bon, trop con)- Two good times, that's one brutal time (Option - Too good, too stupid) |
Dire et faire, sont deux- Said and done is a couple (Said and done) |
Dis-moi qui tu hantes, je te dirai qui tu es- Tell me who is pursuing you, and I will tell you who you are (Tell me who your enemy is, and I will tell you who you are) |
Diviser pour régner- Divide to reign (Divide and conquer) |
Douces paroles n'écorchent langue- Sweet words don't rip your tongue |
D"un mauvais payeur, on tire ce qu"on peut - They extract what they can from a bad payer |
E
Eau courante n'est jamais salissante- Running water is never dirty
En buvant et en mangeant on perd l"appetit- When you get drunk and overeat, you lose your appetite
En chacune maison, sa croix et passion- Every house has its own cross and its own passion
En chômant l"on apprend à mal faire- Being unemployed one learns to do evil (Without doing anything one learns to do evil)
En commençant, pense à finir- Once you start, think about how to finish
En demandant on va à Rome- By asking, you will reach Rome
En discutant, on s"entend- By discussing, they come to an agreement
En enseignant lentement, on apprend vite- When you learn slowly, you learn quickly
En mer calme, tous sont pilotes- In a calm sea all captains
En parlant, long chemin se raccourcit- Talking shortens a long journey
En payant ses dettes on s"enrichit- By paying our obligations, we enrich ourselves
En petit buisson trouve-t-on grand lièvre- Under a small bush you can find a big hare
En remettant les affaires de jour a l"autre, la mort nous surprend- By passing things on to another day, death can surprise us.
En trop bonne garde perd-on bien- By guarding too well, they lose a lot
En voulant avoir tout, on perd tout- Wanting to have everything, they lose everything
En voyage et en mariage, ne prends conseil de personne- When going on a trip and getting married, do not listen to anyone’s advice
Entend premier, parle le dernier- Listen first, speak last
Entre amis la nappe est inutile- Between friends the tablecloth is useless
Entre chien et loup- Between a dog and a wolf
Entreprenez doucement, mais poursuivez chaudement- Start gentle, but continue hot
Épouse joyeuse est souvent femme pleureuse- A joyful wife is a woman who often cries
Erreur n"est pas crime- A mistake is not a crime
Étre entre le marteau et l "enclume- Being between a rock and a hard place
F
Facile c"est de penser, difficile est pensée jeter- It’s easy to think about it, it’s hard to put it into action once you think about it
Faire bonne mine à mauvais jeu- Put a good face on a bad game
Faire des châteaux en Espagne- Build castles in Spain
Faire l"enfant. (Parler, s"amuser comme un enfant)- Become children (Speak while having fun, like children)
Faire son paradis en ce monde. (Passer sa vie dans les plaisirs)- Create your own paradise in this world (Spend life in pleasure)
Fais bien sans cesse et sans demeure, en peu de temps se passe l"heure- Do good without stopping and without notice, and soon your time will come
Fais-toi agneau, le loup te mangera- Become a lamb and the wolf will eat you
Faites du bien à un chien, il vous pisse contre- Do good to the dog and he will piss on you
Faut attendre pour voir- We'll have to wait to see
Faut battre le fer pendant qu"il est chaud- You need to strike while the iron is hot
Faut connaître les saints avant de les adorer- You need to get to know the saints before worshiping them
Faut jurer de rien- Don't hesitate
Faut laisser aller le monde comme (il) va- It's worth leaving the world as it goes
Faut pas mettre la chèvre avec le chou- You shouldn’t leave the goat with cabbage
Faut pas parler de corde dans la maison du pendu- Don't talk about a rope in a hanged man's house
Faut pas regarder dans la gorge d"un cheval donné- You don’t need to look into the throat of a gift horse (You don’t look at the teeth of a gift horse)
Faut pas remettre au lendemain ce qu"on peut faire le jour avant- Don’t put off until the next day what can be done the previous day.
Faut pas vendre la peau de l"ours avant de l"avoir tué- You shouldn't sell a bear's skin before you kill it
Faut peu parler, beaucoup écouter- You should talk a little, listen a lot
Faut prendre le temps comme il vient et les femmes comme elles sont- You need to take time as it goes and women when they are there
Faut reculer pour mieux sauter- You need to step back to jump better
Faut rendre le bien pour le mal- It is worth returning good instead of evil
Faut semer pour ramasser- You need to sow to reap the harvest.
Faut tourner sept fois la langue dans la bouche avant de parler- You should turn your tongue seven times in your mouth before speaking
Faut un désordre pour amener un ordre- It takes disorder to create order
Faute avouée est à moitié pardonnée- A mistake admitted is half forgiven
Femme qui se meurt d"amour, c"est chercher la lune en plein jour- A woman who dies of love is like looking for the moon in the light of day
Fille bonne à marier, est difficile à garder- It’s easy to get married as a girl, it’s hard to stay one
Fol semble sage quand il se tait- A madman seems wise when he is silent
Force faith loi- Might makes law
G
Gagner de l'argent d'abord, la vertu vient après. (Horace)
Garde ton porte-monnaie pendant que tu vis.
Gars de paille vaut fille d"or.
Gens qui craignent sont toujours en souci.
Gouverne-toi bien en jeunesse, si roi veux être en ta vieillesse.
Grand blagueur, petit faiseur.
Grand prometteur, petit donneur.
Grands oiseaux de coutume, sont privés de leur plume.
Grasse cuisine, maigre heritage.
Grossir, c"est vieillir.
H
Habile des dents, capable de rien.
Habile à la table, habile à l "ouvrage.
Hardi demandeur, mauvais payeur.
Heure de nuit porte ennui.
Heureux au jeu, malheureux en amour.
Heureux qui fait bien.
Honore les grands, ne méprise les petits.
I
Il a beau danser à qui fortune sonne.
Il a beau mentir celui qui vient de loin.
Il a bien d"autres chiens à fouetter.
Il convient apprendre avant d'enseigner.
Il croit que le soleil ne brille que pour lui.
Il en juge comme un aveugle des couleurs.
Il en sait autant qu"un cochon, qui ne sait compter que jusqu"à un.
Il est bien avancé, qui a bien commencé.
Il est bien force d"être brave quand on ne saurait faire autrement.
Il est difficile de vivre heureux avec de mauvaises mæurs. (Menandre)
Il est plus difficile de donner que de prendre. (Montagne)
Il est plus facile conseiller que faire.
Il est temps de donner, temps de garder.
Il est trop tard de fermer la porte quand le loup est entré.
Il fait toujours bon temps pour quelqu"un.
Il faut avoir une bonne clef pour entrer en paradis.
Il faut ce qu"il faut.
Il faut fleurir pour porter fruit.
Il faut manger pour vivre, et non pas vivre pour manger. (Socrate)
Il faut plus d"une hirondelle pour amener le printemps.
Il faut travailler en jeunesse, pour reposer en vieillesse.
Il faut vivre et laisser vivre.
Il n"a pas bruit pour néant.
Il n"est jamais feu sans fumée.
Il n"y a pas de belle rose qui ne porte gratte-cul.
Il ne faut jamais acheter la cage sans avoir l"oiseau.
Il ne faut jamais avoir les yeux plus grands que le ventre.
Il ne faut pas acheter chat en poche.
Il ne faut pas mettre la main entre le marteau et l"enclume.
Il ne faut pas mettre tous ses æufs dans la même corbeille.
Il ne faut pas penser voler plus haut que le ciel.
Il ne faut pas reveiller le chat qui dort.
Il vaut mieux plus tard que jamais.
Il vaut mieux un oiseau dans la main que six sur la cime.
Il y a un temps de ceci et un temps de cela.
J
J"aime mieux le croire que d"y aller voir.
J "aimerais mieux être le premier dans un village que le second dans Rome. (César)
Jamais chat miauleur n"a été bon chasseur.
Jamais deux montagnes ne se rencontrent.
Jamais peureux n"a eu belle amie.
Jamais une fortune ne vient seule.
Je ne suis jamais plus occupé que quand je n"ai rien à faire. (Scipion l"Africain)
Jeter de l'huile sur le feu
Jeter des pierres dans le jardin de quelqu"un
Justice vaut mieux que force.
L
L "agneau qui se confesse au loup est fou.
L"air du matin vaut de l"or.
L"ami de tout le monde n"est l"ami de personne.
L'amour est aveugle et rend aveugle.
L'appétit vient en mangeant et la soif en buvant.
L'argent est le Bon Dieu de ce monde.
L'argent fait parler les muets.
L"avenir d"un enfant est l"æuvre de sa mère. (Napoléon)
L'aveugle ne peut juger des couleurs.
L'habitude est une seconde nature. (Evenus)
L'homme propose et Dieu dispose.
L"on ne peut fêter avant commencer.
L"on ne peut voler sans ailes.
La bonne vie dure toujours, la mauvaise vie aura un terme.
La femme est la porte de l"enfer. (Tertullien)
La nuit a conseil.
La nuit, tous les chats sont gris.
La perfection n"est pas de ce monde.
La pomme ne tombe pas loin de l'arbre.
La robe ne fait pas le médecin.
La tête fait courir les jambes.
Le bien cherche le bien.
Le bon marché coûte cher
Les os sont pour les absents.
M
Mieux vaut mauvaise route que mauvais compagnon.
P
Pour bien connatîre les autres, il faut se connaître d"abord soi-même.
Q
Qui sert au commun, ne sert pas à un.
Qui n"entend qu"une cloche n"entend qu"un son.
Qui couche avec le chien, se lève avec des puces.
Qui va à la chasse perd sa place.
T
Tel auteur, tel livre.
Toujours est trop cher ce qui de rien ne sert.
Tout n"est pas or dans ce qui brille.
U
Un clou chasse l"autre.
V
Ventre affamé n"a point d"oreilles.
|
|
French proverbs and sayings
Love |
1. Those who are lucky in cards are unlucky in love 2. Where there is love, there will be misfortune 3. Whom I love, I beat 4. To my dear one, seven miles is not the outskirts 5. All ages are submissive to love 6. Love and death know no barriers 7. Love is blind (it will lead to trouble and priest) 8. Darlings scold, only amuse themselves 9. From love, or from illness, they lose sleep and appetite. 10. Love us black, and everyone will love us white 11. Cold hands - hot heart 12. Out of sight, out of mind 13. Love and the priest will teach you to dance 14. Love kills time, and time kills love 15. You won’t be nice by force 16. Love is no joke 17. Old love never rusts |
1. Heureux au jeu, malheureux en amour 2. L "amour a ses plaisirs aussi bien que ses peines 3. Qui aime bien chatie bien 4. L "amour rapproche la distance 5. L"amour n"a pas d"age 6. Amour et mort? Rien n"est plus fort 7. L'amour est aveugle 8. Le plaisir des disputes, c"est de faire la paix 9. L'amoure fait perdre le repas et le repos 10. Il faut aimer les amis avec leurs defauts 11. Mains froides, coeur chaud 12. Loin des yeux, loin du coeur 13. L "amour apprend aux anes a danser 14. L "amour fait passer le temps, et le temps fait passer 15. L "amour ne se commande pas 16. On ne badine pas avec l"amour 17. On revient toujours a ses premiees amours |
Happiness |
Friendship |
1. Giving a loan means losing friendship 2. The enemies of our enemies are our friends 3. The goose is not a friend to the pig 4. Telling the truth means losing friendship. 5. A good friend is better than a hundred relatives 6. Look for a friend, and if you find him, take care 7. Friends of our friends are our friends 8. Friends in need 9. Don’t spit in the well, you’ll need to drink the water 10. Don’t have a hundred rubles, but have a hundred friends 11. There is no friend for the taste and color 12. A person on foot is not a companion to a horseman 13. A bad friend is better than a loner 14. Tell me who your friend is, and I’ll tell you who you are. 15. The score of friendship does not spoil 16. He who pleases everyone is of no use to anyone 17. Friendship is maintained with small gifts. 18. An old friend is better than two new ones |
1. Ami au prätter, ennemi au rendre 2. Les enemis de nos ennemis sont nos amis 3. On n"ai jamais vu une pie avec un corbeau 4. Toute vеrite n"est pas bonne a dire 5. Un bon ami vaut mieux que cent parents 6. Ne laissez pas croitre l"herbe sur le chemin de l"amitiy 7. Les amis de nos amis sont nos amis 8. Au besoin on connait l"ami 9. Il ne faut pas dire: fontaine, je ne boirai pas de ton eau 10. Mieux vaut ami en place qu"argent en bource. 11. Tous les gouts sont dans la nature 12. On n "a jamais vu une pie avec un corbeau 13. Il vaut mieux etre seul que mal accompagne 14. Dis - moi qui tu hantes, je te dirai qui tu es 15. Les bons comptes font les bons amis 16. Ami de tous n"est l"ami de personne 17. Les petit ruisseaux font les grandes rivières 18. Les viex amis et les vieux sont les meilleurs |
Misfortune |
1. Grief only marries misfortune 2. Debt and trouble neighbors 3. Gold is tested by fire, and man by adversity. 4. Don't wake up when it's quiet 5. Joy is eloquent, but grief is silent. 6. Poor Makar gets all the trouble 7. Seriously ill patients need strong medications 8. Everyone has their own sore (wound) 9. Trouble brings trouble 10. The tree is felled where it leans 11. The happiness of some is built on the misfortune of others 12. True grief is silent 13. Someone else’s grief doesn’t hurt |
2. Il faut render a Cesar ce qui appartient a Cesar, et a Dieu ce qui est a Dieu
5. L'occasion fait le larron 7. Tel vice, tel ouvrage 9. Chacun a son peche mignon 11. A qui se leve matin, Dieu (aide et) prête la matin 12. A tout pêche misericorde |
Job |
1. They don’t go into the forest without an ax 2. Picked up the tug, don’t say it’s not strong 3. The work of a master teaches 4. He who does not work does not eat 5. Everyone feeds on their own business 6. It’s not the place that makes the person, but the person the place 7. Know the work and the master 8. The shoemaker walks without boots 9. Done - and off your shoulders 10. Work must be paid 11. It’s the ax’s fault that the hut is bad 12. What goes around comes around 13. Action teaches action 14. The master's work is afraid 15. Craft is the golden breadwinner 16. Craft is respected everywhere 17. Without labor there is no fruit 18. You can’t hold two watermelons in one hand |
1. Il ne faut pas aller au bois sans cognée 2. Le vin est tire, il faut le boire 3. C"est en forgeant qu"on devient forgeron 4. Qui ne travaille pas, ne mange pas 5. Chacun doit vivre de son métier 6. Il n"y pas de sot métier 7. A l "oevre on connait l" ouvrier (l "artistan) 8. Les cordonniers sont les plus mal chausses 9. Ce qui est fait, n "est plus a faire 10. A mechant ouvrier point de bon outil 11. Toute peine mérite salaire 12. Qui séme le vent recolte la tempête 13. C"est en forgeant qu"on devient forgeron 14. Il n"est ou ouvrage que de maitre 15. Il n"est si petit métier qui ne nourrisse son maitre 16. Il n"y a pas de sol métier 17. Nul bien sans peine 18. On ne peut (pas) etre a la fois au four et au moulin |
Family |
1. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. 2. What is God is God’s, and what is Caesar’s is Caesar’s. 3. God loves a trinity 4. The more you sin, the more you repent 5. Temptation leads to sin 6. Every man for himself, God for all 7. As is the sin, so is the retribution. 8. Trust in God, but don’t make a mistake yourself 9. Everyone has their own sin 10. Everyone has their own cross 11. He who gets up early, God bless him 12. God is merciful 13. The voice of the people is the voice of God 14. Man proposes, God disposes |
1. L'enfer est pave de bonnes itentions 2. Il faut render a Cesar ce qui appartient a Cesar, et a Dieu ce qui est a Dieu 3. Toutes les bonnes choes sont au nombre de trois 4. Qui parle beaucoup, ment beaucoup 5. L'occasion fait le larron 6. Chacun pour soi et Dieu pour tous 7. Tel vice, tel ouvrage 8. Aide - toi, le ciel t"aidera 9. Chacun a son peche mignon 10. Chacun porte sa croix en ce monde 11. A qui se live matin, Dieu (aide et) prête la matin 12. A tout pêche misericorde 13. La voix du peuple est la voix de Dieu 14. L'homme propose et Dieu dispose |
1. Poverty is not a vice 2. The need for invention is cunning 3. Need and hunger will drive you out into the cold 4. Need writes its own law 5. Naked bribes are smooth 6. Today it’s thick, but tomorrow it’s empty 7. Today the feast is a mountain, and tomorrow I go with a bag 8. Thank you, you won’t be full 9. Cheap will lead to expensive 10. For the rich, the gates are wide open 11. Zlato doesn’t talk, but does a lot 12. The stingy rich man is poorer than the beggar 13. The cure is worse than the disease itself 14. If you knew where to fall, you should lay straw there 15. Don't say hop until you jump over 16. Don’t think ahead 17. What will happen will inevitably happen 18. He who laughs last laughs best 19. One crime cannot be punished twice 20. Even a sword does not cut a guilty head 21. Absent people are always wrong (guilty) 22. Appearances (appearances) can be deceiving 23. Don’t drink water off your face 24. Eyes are the mirror of the soul 25. Every elder has his own place 26. If youth had experience, if old age had strength 27. Young - green, told to take a walk 28. Old age is not a joy 29. An old horse doesn’t spoil the furrow 30. Every age has its own entertainment 31. He who takes the sword will die by the sword 32. Money is the main nerve of war 33. Everything fits a good thief 34. As a thief does not steal, he cannot escape the noose 35. The thief’s hat is on fire 36. Someone else’s goods are of no use 37. It’s better to beg than to steal 38. Precision is the politeness of kings 39. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth 40. Beware of the enemy, even if he is the size of an ant 41. Summer doesn’t happen twice a year 42. Strike while the iron is hot 43. Nothing lasts forever under the sun 44. Came late, found bones 45. Other times, different times 46. Every vegetable has its time 47. Time will age anyone 48. Time is money 49. Time will teach you everything 50. Time is the best healer 51. If you miss time, you won’t catch it 52. Better late than never 53. The game is not worth the candle |
1. Pauvreté n’est pas vice 2. Le besoin fait la vieille trotter 3. La faim chasse le loup hors du bois 4. Necessite fait loi 5. Qui n "a rien, ne doit rien 7. Aujourd "hui en fleurs, demains en pleurs 8. Grand merci ne remplit pas la bourse 9. Bon marche coute cher 10. On ne prête qu"aux riches 11. Cle d"or passe partout 12. Jamais chiche ne fut riche 13. Le remide est souvent pire que le mal 14. Voire est facile, prevoir est difficile 15. Il ne faut pas crier victoire trop tot 16. Ne dites jamais - jamais, ne dites jamais - toujours 17. Fais ce que dois, advienne que pourra 18. Rira bien qui rira le dernièr 19. On ne prend pas un homme deux fois 20. Pкche avoue est a demi pardonne 21. Les absents ont toujours fort 22. Apparel est souvent trompeuse 23. Beauty de femme n"enrichit homme 24. Les yeux sont le miroir de l'ame 25. Chaque saint veut son offrande 26. Si jeunesse savait,si vieillesse pouvait 27. Il faut que jeunesse se passe 28. Vieillesse, tristesse 29. C"est dans les vieux pois qu"on fait les bonnes soupes 30. Chaque chose a son prix 31. A la guerre comme a la guerre 32. L'argent est le nerf de la guerre 33. A bon larron tout vient a propos 34. Grand peche ne peut demeurer cache 35. Qui se sent morveux se mouche 36. Bien mal asquis ne profite jamais 37. Il vaut mieux tendre la main que le cou 38. L "exactitude est la politesse des rois 39. Oeil pour oeil, dent pour dent 40. Il n"est si petit chat qui n"egratigne 41. Printemps de la vie ne revient jamais 42. Il faut battre le fer pendant qu"il est chaud 43. Tout lasse, tout casse, tout passe 44. Qui ne vient a l "heure, dine par coeur 45. Autres temps, autres moeurs 46. Chaque chose en son temps 47. Il n"est si bon cheval qui ne devienne rosse 48. Les temps, c"est d"argent 49. Le temps, est un grand maitre 50. Le temps guérit tout 51. Le temps perdu ne se rattrape pas 52. Mieux vaut tard que jamais |
Contents [Show]
A
- À beau mentir qui vient de loin. - It’s easy for someone who has been far away to lie.
- À un boiteux femme qui cloche. - To the lame man and the lame wife (Russian equivalent: According to Senka and the hat.)
- À la guerre comme à la guerre. - In war it’s like in war.
- Ami au prêter, ennemi au rendre. - Giving into debt means losing friendship.
- Amour et mort? Rien n'est plus fort. - Love and death know no barriers.
- Au besoin on connaît l'ami. - Friends are known in trouble.
- Aujourd'hui en fleurs, demains en pleurs. - Today the feast is a mountain, and tomorrow I go with a bag.
- Au danger on connait les braves. - The brave are known in danger.
B
- Beaucoup de bruit pour rien. - Much ado about nothing.
C
- Chaque chien est lion dans sa maison. - Every dog is a lion in its own home!
- Ça lui va comme un tablier à une vache. - It suits him like an apron for a cow (Russian equivalent: Like a saddle for a cow)
- Chacun à son péché mignon. - Everyone has their own sin.
- Chacun est artisan de sa fortune. - Everyone is the smith of his own happiness.
- Chaque chose en son temps. - Everything has its time.
- Choose promise, chose due. - I promised - do it! (No sooner said than done!)
- Claire comme le jour. - Clear as day.
- C'est la vie. - Such is life.
D
- Des goûts et des couleurs, il ne faut pas disputer. - There are no comrades for taste and (for) color; tastes differ.
I
- Il faut manger pour vivre, et non pas vivre pour manger. - You need to eat to live, but not live to eat.
- Il n'y a pas de bonne fête sans lendemain. - There is no fun without a hangover.
- Il n'y a pas de roses sans épines. - There is no rose without thorns.
L
- L'affaire est dans le sac. - It's in the bag (It's done).
- L'amour a ses plaisirs aussi bien que ses peines. - Where there is love, there is attack.
- L'amour est aveugle. - Love is blind.
- L'amour ne se commande pas. - You won’t be nice by force.
- L'argent n'a pas d'odeur. - Money doesn't smell.
- L'argent ne fait pas le bonheur. - Money doesn't buy happiness.
- L'espoir fait vivre. - Hope sustains life.
- L’exactitude est la politesse des rois - Precision is the politeness of kings
- La belle cage ne nourrit pas l’oiseau. - A golden cage is no fun for a nightingale.
- La nécessité n'a point (n'a pas) de loi. - Need does not know the law, but walks through it.
- Le besoin fait la vieille trotter. - The need for invention is cunning.
- Le petit poisson deviendra grand. - A small fish will grow into a big pike.
- Le temps c'est de l'argent. - Time is money.
- Le temps perdu ne se rattrape jamais. - You can't get back the time that's passed.
- Les absents ont toujours tort. - Slander on the dead.
- Les affaires sont les affaires. - Business is business.
- Les apparences sont trompeuses. - Appearances are deceiving.
M
- Mieux vaut ami en place qu'argent en bourse. - Don’t have a hundred rubles, but have a hundred friends.
- Mieux vaut tard que jamais. - Better late than never.
N
- Necessity fait loi. -Need writes its own law.
O
- Œil pour œil, dent pour dent - An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
- On connaît l'ami dans le besoin - A friend is known in need.
- On ne fait pas d'omelette sans casser les œufs. - You can’t make scrambled eggs without breaking eggs (Russian equivalent: Don’t crush the clay - you won’t see any pots).
- On ne prête qu’aux riches - For the rich, the gates are wide open.
- On ne prend pas un homme deux fois - One is not punished twice for the same guilt.
P
- Pauvreté n'est pas vice. - Poverty is not a vice.
- Pour être belle il faut souffrir. - Beauty requires sacrifice.
Q
- Qui aime bien chatie bien. - Whom I love, I beat.
- Qui dort dîne - He who sleeps has dinner.
- Qui est bien ne se meuve. - They don’t look for good from good.
- Qui ne dit mot consent. - Silence is a sign of consent.
- Qui vivra verra. - We'll wait and see.
R
- Revenons à nos moutons. - Let's go back to our sheep. (From the anonymous farce "The Advocate Pierre Patlin", c. 1470s)
S
- Se ressembler comme deux gouttes d'eau. - They look like two peas in a pod.
T
- Tel maître, tel valet. - Like the master, like the servant.
- Tout passé, tout cassé, tout lassé. - Nothing lasts forever under the sun.
V
- Vouloir le beurre et l'argent du beurre. - I want both butter and money for butter.
Aphorisms attributed to folklore
Notes
- Encyclopedic dictionary of popular words and expressions / compiled by V.V. Serov - M.: Lockid-Press, 2005.
It's no secret that France is the culinary capital of the world. Along with music, painting, cinema, sculpture and architecture, gastronomy in France is also an art. In 2004, a university studying culinary arts was even opened. Politicians' popularity often depends on how they behave at the table. It is not surprising that this attitude to cooking is reflected in French culture and language. It is also worth noting that French cuisine is heterogeneous in different regions of the country. Many regions, such as Burgundy, Provence, Normandy and others, have their own traditions. In French proverbs and sayings, the number of culinary lexical units significantly exceeds similar indicators in other languages.
Provençal:
Or, Vin, Ami, et Serviteur, le plus vieux est le meilleur. - Gold, wine, friends and servants get better with age.
S'il y a pain et vin, le Roi peut venir. - When there is bread and wine, then the king can come in. When there is a feast, then there will be a guest.
Filles, vignes, sont fort malaisées à garder: sans cesse quelqu’un passe qui voudrait y goûter. - It’s difficult to look after the daughters and the grapes, since everyone passing by just wants to try them.
Un bon cuisinier goûte sept fois son plat. - A good cook tastes his dish seven times. Measure seven times, cut once.
Mieux vaut du pain dans la corbeille qu'un bel homme dans la rue. - Better bread in a basket (breadbox) than a handsome man on the street. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
On ne fait pas le civet avant d'avoir le lièvre. - You can’t make hare stew until there’s a hare. Don't put the cart before the horse.
Qui a bien mangé croit les autres rassasiés. - Those who have eaten well think others are also full. What do I care about others - if only I were full. A well-fed man is no friend to a hungry man.
L'espérance est le pain du pauvre. - Hope is bread for the poor.
L'eau gâte le vin, la charrette le chemin, et la femme l'homme. - Water spoils wine, a cart spoils the road, and a woman spoils a man.
Le pain de la vieillesse se pétrit pendant la jeunesse. - Bread for old age is kneaded during youth. A week feeds a year. In summer the day feeds the year.
La sauce fait passer le morceau. - Sauce makes food tastier.
Rêve de sucreries en dégustation… déception. - The dream of sweets becomes a disappointment when it comes true.
Mange ton poisson, maintenant qu'il est frais, marie ta fille, maintenant qu'elle est jeune. - Eat your fish while it's fresh; get your daughter married while she is young. Marrying your daughter is not baking a cake. The bad fame will pass, no one will marry.
Celui qui tient la queue de la poêle, la tourne du côté qu’il veut. - He who is in charge of the kitchen chooses what he wants. He who pays calls the tune.
Celui qui se fie au repas des autres, dine tard et dine mal. - Anyone who relies on someone else's dinner eats late and poorly. Rely on someone else's lunch, but save your own.
Gros mangeur n'est pas donneur. - A big eater gives nothing.
Qui se couche sans diner, tourne toute la nuit. - Anyone who goes to bed without having dinner tosses and turns all night.
Thanks to its warm Mediterranean climate, Provence is one of the agricultural centers of France. Thus, it is logical that bread, wine and grapes predominate in Provençal proverbs and sayings.
Norman:
Qui a fait Normand, a fait Gourmand. - A Norman is a gourmet.
Achète du beurre de mai, il est tout parfumé. - Buy oil in May, it is the most fragrant.
Soleil à Sainte-Eulalie, c'est du cidre à la folie. - If the sun shines on St. Eulalia's day, there will be a lot of cider. That is, if the sun shines on December 10 (on this day St. Eulalia is revered by the Catholic Church), then there will be a rich harvest of apples, from which cider will be produced.
Pêche à la morue: chef-lieu Fécamp. Sous-Préfectures: flétan, capelan, hareng. -Cod fishing: the main town is Fécamp. Subprefects: white halibut, capelin, herring. Fecamp is a port in the French department of the Lower Seine.
Manger des huîtres les mois en r, manger des moules les mois sans r. - Eat oysters in months with the letter “R”, eat mussels in months without the letter “R”. There is an old story that is no longer relevant today. The fact is that previously they did not know the methods of breeding oysters, and people were forced not to eat oysters in the summer in order to allow the oysters to reproduce. All summer months in French are respectively without the letter "R" (mai, juin, juillet et août).
Quant au plus jeune ce qu'il préfère c'est l'histoire de la tarte au concombre. - The youngest prefers a joke about a cake with cucumbers. This joke is about mentally retarded people. One day a fool came to the baker and asked: “Do you have sweet cucumber pie?” Baker: “What a weirdo you are! This doesn’t happen!” The fool has left. The next day two fools came and asked for sweet cucumber pies. The cook said that he didn’t have any and thought “Where do they come from?” The fools are gone. The next day five fools came and the situation repeated itself. The cook decided to make money from them and baked these pies with all his savings. The next day a whole crowd of fools came and asked if the cook had any sweet pies. The cook happily answered: “Yes! Yes! I have!!". The fools replied: “This is disgusting!” And they left.
Cider, fish and seafood occupy a special place in Norman cuisine. This fact is reflected in Norman proverbs and sayings.
Breton:
Pour être ridée, une bonne pomme ne perd pas sa bonne odeur. - Even when wrinkled, a good apple does not lose its flavor. An old horse does not spoil the furrow.
Nourris bien ton corps, ton âme y restera plus longtemps. - Eat well so that the soul remains in the body as long as possible.
Un Breton sans pain n'est pas bien, sans beurre il se meurt et sans pinard il se barre. - Without bread, a Breton is not good, without butter he dies, and without wine he runs away.
En Bretagne on boira du lait quand les vaches mangeront du raisin - In Brittany they will drink milk only when the cows start eating grapes. Initially, this saying was attributed to the famous French film actor Jean Gabin, who said: “I will start drinking milk only on the day when cows begin to eat grapes.” The Bretons changed it a little, making the saying impersonal and referring to the entire population of Brittany.
Breton en colère, la bière est trop chère. - Bretons get angry when beer is too expensive.
L'alcool ne résout pas tous les problèmes, mais, ceci-dit, l'eau et le lait non plus. -
Alcohol will not solve all problems, but in this case, water and milk will not solve them either.
Breton proverbs and culinary sayings often mention alcoholic beverages. But it is also worth noting the fact that in Brittany, as in Normandy, there are significantly fewer proverbs and sayings associated with culinary vocabulary compared to some other regions of France.
Corsican:
L'huile d'olive de Balagne guérit toutes les tares. - Balanj olive oil cures all defects.
Qui boit toujours de l' eau finit par avoir des grenouilles dans le ventre. - He who drinks only water ends up with frogs in his stomach.
Le poivre aussi est petit mais il se fait sentir. - The pepper is small, but you can feel it well. Small and smart.
Mange à ton goût et habille toi à celui des autres. - Eat to your taste, but dress like others.
Asco vient en tête pour le miel et le fromage. - Asko leads to honey and cheese. Asko is a river, one of the main waterways of the island.
Le temps produit le vieux fromage. - The best cheese is old cheese. The cheese ripens gradually.
Le sucre n'abîme pas les aliments. - Sugar does not spoil food. You can't spoil porridge with oil.
Être comme la châtaigne, belle à l’exterieur, gâtée dedans. - To be like chestnuts, beautiful on the outside, rotten on the inside. The berry is red, but tastes bitter.
Pour figues et femme on a du choix. - You need to choose figs and your wife.
Épluche la figue pour ton ami, et la pêche pour ton ennemi. - Peel a fig for a friend and a peach for an enemy. Peeling figs for a guest is considered a friendly favor as it may cause embarrassment to the guest. Among the Corsicans, Italians, and Spaniards, this is a sign of respect. Cutting the peel off a peach is more of a manifestation of “dubious attention” that should raise red flags.
Tel cep, telle bouture, tel père, tel fils. - Like the vine, like the stalk, like the father, like the son. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Corsican proverbs and sayings related to culinary vocabulary are dominated by southern fruits (peaches, figs, chestnuts), cheeses, olive oil and other products that are produced on the island.
Burgundy:
Le vin de Bourgogne fait beaucoup de bien aux femmes, surtout quand ce sont des Hommes qui le boivent. - Burgundy wine does a lot of good for women, especially when drunk by men.
Le vin de Bourgogne pour les rois, le vin de Bordeaux pour les gentilshommes, le vin de Champagne pour les duchesses. - Burgundy wine for kings, Bordeaux for nobles, champagne for duchesses.
Qui boit du Meursault, ne vit ni ne meurt sot. - He who drinks Meursault does not live or die a fool. Meursault is a variety of Burgundy wine.
Au matin, bois le vin blanc; le rouge au soir, pour faire le sang. - Drink white wine in the morning, red wine in the evening, so that your blood is good.
Beauté sans bonté est comme vin éventé. - Beauty without goodness is like stale wine.
Si tu bois du vin, tu dormiras bien; si tu dors, tu ne pécheras pas; Si tu ne commets pas de péchés, tu sera sauvé. - If you drink wine, you sleep well; if you sleep, you do not sin; if you do not sin, you will find salvation.
Un bon vieillard ressemble à un bon vin qui a déposé sa lie. - A good old man reminds me of good wine that leaves sediment.
S'il pleut à la mi-août, le vin ne sera pas doux. - If it rains in mid-August, the wine will be unsweetened.
Burgundy is famous primarily for its wine. Different types of wines, their use and comparison, characteristics, as well as sales promotion and promotion have become a special feature of Burgundian proverbs and sayings associated with culinary vocabulary.
Thus, it becomes clear that cooking has penetrated deeply into French proverbs and sayings. This fact is due to the cultural uniqueness of the French, where culinary art traditionally plays a significant role in all spheres of life.
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Proverbs, sayings, aphorisms are an integral part of the culture of any nation. Folk wisdom is expressed with the help of proverbs and sayings, and conclusions are expressed with the help of aphorisms.
Proverbs and sayings are also good for learning words and small grammatical structures. Use easy proverbs and sayings that you understand to study. Do not forget to analyze the grammatical structure of sentences, so as not to memorize sentences, but to be able to construct similar sentences. Use the “French Grammar in 1 Day” section.
A beau mentir qui vient de loin.
It's easy for those who were far away to lie
À la guerre comme à la guerre
In war, like in war
Ami de tous, ami de personne
Everyone's friend is no one's friend
Beaucoup de bruit pour rien
Much ado about nothing
Ecoute beaucoup et parle peu
Talk less and listen more
Claire comme le jour
Clear as day
L'affaire est dans le sac
It's done (It's done)
Le temps c'est de l'argent
Time is money
Qui vivra, verra
Let's wait and see
Savoir écouter c'est un art
Listening is an art
Si tu veux être un bon écrivain, écris.
If you want to be a good writer, write
Qui ne edit mot, consent
Silence is a sign of consent
L'argent ne fait pas le bonneur
Money doesn't buy happiness
Pauvreté n'est pas vice
Poverty is not a vice
We consider many proverbs and sayings to be “ours” even though they have French roots. These are sayings such as “Such is life!”, “Look for a woman.” The website tania-soleil.com has a selection of French proverbs with translation into Russian or with their Russian analogues. Go>>
French is a very beautiful and melodic language. It is not surprising that some people choose phrases in French for their tattoos. In this collection we have collected for you interesting quotes, aphorisms, catchphrases and sayings of famous people. There are long phrases and short ones, simply funny or filled with deep philosophical thought. This inscription can be used to decorate any part of the body: wrist, collarbone, back, shoulder, etc.
- L'amour vers soi-même est le début du roman qui dure toute la vie
Self-love is the beginning of a romance that lasts a lifetime.
- Toute la vie est la lutte
All life is a struggle
- Si on vit sans but, on mourra pour rien
If you don't live for something, you will die for nothing.
- Personne n’est parfait, jusqu’à ce qu’on tombe amoureux de cette personne
A person is not perfect until someone falls in love with that person.
- Tout passe, tout casse, tout lasse
Morning sun never lasts a day
- A tout price
At any cost
- Ayant risqué une fois-on peut rester heureux toute la vie
Once you take a risk, you can stay happy for life
- Une seule sortie est la vérité
The only way out is the truth
- Ma vie, mes regles
My life - my rules
- Écoute ton coeur
Listen to your heart
- Les rêves se realisent
Dreams come true
- C'est l'amour que vous faut
Love is all you need
- L'homme porte en lui la semence de tout bonheur et de tout malheur
Man carries within himself the seed of happiness and sorrow
- Plaisir de l'amour ne dure qu'un moment, chagrin de l'amour dure toute la vie
The pleasure of love lasts only a moment, the pain of love lasts a lifetime
- Vivre et aimer
Live and love
- L'amour est la sagesse du fou et la deraison du sage
Love is the wisdom of a fool and the foolishness of a sage
- Telle quelle
Just the way it is
- Tous mes rêves se realisent
All my dreams come true
- Rencontrerons-nous dans les cieux
Meet me in heaven
- Le temps perdu ne se rattrape jamais
You can't get back the time that's passed
- L'amitié est une preuve de l'amour
Friendship is proof of love
- Jouis de la vie, elle est livrée avec une date d`expiration
Enjoy life, it comes with an expiration date
- Chaque baiser est une fleur dont la racine est le coeur
Every kiss is a flower whose root is the heart
- Lorsque deux nobles coeurs s`aiment vraiment, leur amour est plus fort que celle la mort
When two noble hearts truly love, their love is stronger than death itself
- Mon comportement - le résultat de votre attitude
My behavior is the result of your attitude
- Il n’y a qu’un remède l’amour: aimer plus
There is only one remedy for love: to love more
- Chacun est entraîne par sa passion
Everyone has their own passion
- Le souvenir est le parfum de l'âme
Memories - perfume for the soul
- Chaque jour je t'aime plus qu`hier mais moins que demain
Every day I love you more than yesterday, but less than tomorrow
- On dit que l'amour est aveugle. Trop mal qu'ils ne puissent voir ta beauté…
They say love is blind. It's too bad that they can't see your beauty...
- Le baiser est la plus sure façon de se taire en disant tout
A kiss is the most reliable way to remain silent when talking about everything.
- Sois honnêt avec toi-même
Be honest with yourself
- Le plus court chemin du plaisir au bonheur passe par la tendresse
The shortest road from pleasure to happiness passes through tenderness
- Mieux vaut tard que jamais
Better late than never
- Le temps c'est de l'argent
Time is money
- Croire à son etoile
Believe in your star
- L'amour fou
Crazy love
- Sauve et garde
Save and save
- Sans espoir, j'espère
Without hope, I hope
- Un amour, une vie
One love, one life
- Forte et tendre
Strong and tender
- Heureux ensemble
Happy together
- L'espoir fait vivre
Hope keeps you alive
- La famille est dans mon coeur pour toujours
Family is always in my heart
- J'aime ma maman
I love my mom
- Que femme veut - Dieu le veut
What a woman wants is what pleases God
- C'est la vie
That's life
- L'amour qui ne ravage pas n'est pas l'amour
Love that doesn't empty is not love
- De l'amour a la haine il n'y a qu'un pas
From love to hate there is only one step
- Unfleur rebelle
rebel flower
- L'argent ne fait pas le bonneur
Money doesn't buy happiness
- J'ai perdu tout le temps que j'ai passé sans aimer
I lost all the time I spent without love
- Tout le monde à mes pieds
Everything is at my feet
- Ce qui ressemble a l’amour n`est que l’amour
What looks like love is love
- Je vais au rêve
I'm going towards my dream
- Aimes-moi comme je t’aime et je t’aimerais comme tu m’aimes
Love me as I love you and will love you as you love me
- Rejette ce qu'il ne t'es pas
Drop what you are not
- Je préfère mourir dans tes bras que de vivre sans toi
It's better to die in your arms than to live without you
- Qui ne savait jamais ce que c'est l'amour, celui ne pouvait jamais savoir ce que c'est la peine
He who never knew what love was could never know that it was worth it
- J`ai perdu tout, alors, je suis noyé, innondé de l’amour; je ne sais pas si je vis, si je mange, si je respire, si je parle mais je sais que je t’aime
I lost everything, you see, I drowned, flooded with love; I don't know if I live, if I eat, if I breathe, if I speak, but I know that I love you
- La vie est belle
Life is beautiful
- Si la fleur poussait chaque fois que je pense à toi alors le monde serait un immeasurable jardin
If a flower bloomed every time I thought of you, the world would be a huge garden.
- Il n`est jamais tard d`être celui qu`on veut - exécute les rêves
It's never too late to be who you want - make your dreams come true
- Le meilleur moyen de lutter contre la tentation c’est d’y ceder
The best way to fight temptation is to give in to it
- Face à la verité
Face the truth
- Ma famille est toujours dans mon coeur
My family is always in my heart
- Otez l'amour de votre vie, vous en ôtez les plaisirs
Take love away from your life and you take away all the fun.
- Si tu ne me parles pas, je remplirai mon coeur de ton silence pour te dire a quel point tu me manques et combien il est dur de t’aimer
If you don’t talk to me, I will fill my heart with your silence, so that I can then tell you how much I miss you and how hard it is to love.
- Chaque chose en son temps
There is a time for everything
- Jouis de chaque moment
Enjoy every moment
- Respecte le passé, crée le futur!
Respect the past, create the future!
- Aujourd'hui-nous changeons "demain", "hier"-nous ne changerons jamais
Today - we will change “tomorrow”, “yesterday” - we will never change
- Cache ta vie
Hide your life
- Jamais perdre l'espoir
Never lose hope!
- Aimer c'est avant tout prendre un risque
To love is first of all to take risks