I got inspiration for this post from a comment on an earlier post of mine Useful Vocabulary for Everyday Life in Germany asking if I could translate a German proverb. Here are 10 common German proverbs, some of them you might recognise in English, and some not!
Wer im Glashaus sitzt sollte nicht mit Steinen werfen.
People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
Meaning: You shouldn’t criticize someone if you yourself are the same.
Du siehst den Wald vor lauter Bäume nicht
You don’t see the forest for all the trees.
Bedeutung: Sometimes you have to step back and take a look at the bigger Bild (picture).
Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund
Morning hour has gold in its mouth
Meaning: Get up früh (early) and have a head start in the day!
Der frühe Vogel fängt den Wurm
The early bird catches the worm
Meaning: Exactly the same meaning as the proverb above, reinforcing die Wichtigkeit (importance) of getting up early in the morning!
This is also an English proverb! “The early bird gets the worm”.
Zu viele Köche verderben den Brei
Too many cooks ruin the broth
Meaning: It can ruin the situation when too many people get involved.
Lieber arm dran als Arm ab
Better to be poor than have one arm less
Meaning: It could be worse! Es könnte schlimmer sein!
Eine Hand wäscht die andere
One hand washes the other
Meaning: This has the same meaning as the English proverb “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” – if you help someone they will return the favour.
Sauf ma, dann sterm ma – sauf ma ned, dann sterm ma a, also sauf ma
Trinken wir zu viel, dann sterben wir – trinken wir nichts, dann sterben wir, also trinken wir
If we drink too much, we die – if we don’t drink at all, we die, so let’s drink
Meaning: Live your life
If you haven’t already guessed this a Bavarian saying which is of course about drinking beer!
Da beisst die Maus keinen faden ab
The mouse doesn’t bite any threads
Meaning: That’s how it is, you cannot change it
Wenn du mit dem Finger auf andere Menschen zeigst, zeigen drei Finger auf dich selbst
I’ve left the last one free without the English translation and meaning so you can try and figure it out! If you think you know what it means then I’d love to see your answers (or if you have any other German proverbs) in the comments below.
Tschuss,
Larissa
Comments:
Peter:
When you point a critical finger at another person, three fingers are pointing back at you!
Larissa:
@Peter Well done Peter! Thanks for reading my post! 🙂
Larissa
Allan Mahnke:
Proverbs fascinate me. I didn’t know the “Sauf ma, dann sterm ma…” but then my family were from Mecklenburg. These things fascinate me! Thanks!
Larissa:
@Allan Mahnke Thanks for the lovely comment Allan! Glad you enjoyed my post 🙂
Larissa
Transparent Language:
Response via email from Grant:
When you point your finger at someone you also point it back at yourself?
Larissa:
@Transparent Language You’re correct Grant well done! The end part is a bit more specific: “three fingers pointing back at you” (as three of your fingers are bent)
Thanks for commenting,
Larissa
Transparent Language:
Comment via email:
Dear Larissa,
Here are some favourite idioms of mine.
Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm.
Ende gut, alles gut.
Der Fisch stinkt vom Kopf her.
Aus Fehlern wird man klug.
Gebranntes Kind scheut das Feuer.
Carmel Grima
Larissa:
@Transparent Language Thanks Carmel for your great proverbs! A few of them I haven’t heard yet so thank you for sharing.
Larissa
Transparent Language:
Comment received via email:
Larissa – a question about the proverb “Wer im Glashaus sitzt sollte nicht mit Steine werfen.” Shouldn’t you say “mit Steinen”? I enjoy your blog.
Besten dank
Peter
South Hadley, Mass.
Larissa:
@Transparent Language Hi Peter, you are completely right! Thank you for pointing it out, I’ve updated the post and corrected it 🙂
Larissa
Carmel Grima:
Thank you for the German Language Blog. Very illuminating. I thoroughly enjoy it
Carmel Grima
Michael:
Oh that is great! Thanks for sharing the proverbs + explanations. I would like to invite you to post some articles inside our german learner’s blog!
Have a look and find some inspiration at least
Michael
http://www.german-deutsch.com
Deja:
I am not 100% shure, but i think: ‘Der frühe Vogel fängt den Wurm’ is NO german proverb. It’s just the german translation of ‘The early bird catches the worm’, and nowadays it is used as an equivalent to ‘Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund’, which has the same meaning and is german origin.
Furthermore: ‘Der frühe Vogel’ sounds a little awkward, it is grammatically not 100% correct. But as more and more people use it, it becomes acceptable.
There is a tendency for german speakers to use translations of english idioms to spice up their speach or to just sound sophisticated and cool. E.g. ‘am Ende des Tages…’ (= at the end of the day…) or ‘nicht wirklich’ (= not really) are no german idioms but as they at first where used to sound cool, they have now become rather acceptable – but still ‘spicy’.
My english is far from being perfect, but i hope you can understand 🙂
Best regards,
Deja
Carl:
How about these:
Neue Besen macht sauber.
Ein guter Anfang; halb getan.
Wenn ein Kopf und ein Buch zuzammenstossen, und es klinkt hohl, ist das allemal im Buch?
Sorry for any fehler; my memory and my German aren’t what they used to be.
Sajid Ali:
1:- It takes two to make a quarrel.
2:- out of frying pan into the fire.
3:- Death has no calender.
4:- to er is human.
5:- Actions speak loader than words.
6:- April showers bring May flowers.
7:- live and let live.
8:- After bad luck comes good luck.
9:- Rome wasn’t built in a day.
10:- Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
Edward:
Do you also have a Proverb saying
If you don’t know the value of a penny, the dollar is worth nothing.
Or something like that I quite cannot remember.
Deja:
@Edward Yes there is such a proverb: “Wer den Pfennig nicht ehrt, ist des Talers nicht wert.”
Regards, Deja
Larissa:
@Deja Thanks Deja! I haven’t heard of that one before so thank you for your input 🙂
Larissa
Sev:
Native Americans have a similar saying that when you point the blame you allow the blame to return three fold.
Cynthia:
I am having trouble finding the equivalent English translation of what I have been told is a German proverb, can you help me?
Ostfriesische Gemiitlichkeit hat stets ein tässchen tee bereit
Larissa:
@Cynthia Hi Cynthia!
“Ostfriesische Gemutlichkeit hat stets ein tässchen tee bereit” literally translates into English as “Ostfriesische friendliness holds a cup of tea ready”.
The proverb comes from Ostfriesland (northwest Germany) as they are known for drinking tea and always offering tea to guests! However I don’t know of any English proverbs that would be similar.
Thanks for commenting,
Larissa 🙂
Collins:
If you point a finger at someone, know that the other 3 fingers are also pointing back at you.
yonas:
“Better to know ur self before blaming (pointing ) some one “
Scott:
Are you aware of a German proverb that translates to something like “even the cow says good morning to the farmer” ?
Larissa:
@Scott I’m afraid I don’t know that one Scott! If you find it in German share it with us 🙂
Larissa