{"id":1832,"date":"2012-11-08T17:19:19","date_gmt":"2012-11-08T17:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/icelandic\/?p=1832"},"modified":"2012-11-11T00:46:45","modified_gmt":"2012-11-11T00:46:45","slug":"icelandic-proverbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/icelandic\/2012\/11\/08\/icelandic-proverbs\/","title":{"rendered":"Icelandic proverbs"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>What taught the naked woman to spin thread? Or why does one become happy twice when one sits on a stone? Icelandic proverbs show how the people here think and view the world around them, and besides that they’re often very sharp and accurate to their point. Let’s look at some of my favourites!<\/p>\n

A while ago I received a request to include word-to-word translations along with the real ones to better help understand how the language works. I thought it sounded an interesting idea so I’m trying it here. Any thoughts about it? Should I keep doing this in the future as well or would you rather just get the real translation?<\/p>\n

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I’ve a feeling that even the nicest parking inspector would not turn a blind eye to this type of parking…<\/em><\/p>\n

Svo m\u00e1 br\u00fdna deigt j\u00e1rn a\u00f0 b\u00edti.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

(\u201cSo \u00a0 may \u00a0 sharpen \u00a0 dull \u00a0 iron \u00a0 to \u00a0 bite.\u201d)<\/p>\n

\u201cA dull piece of iron can be sharpened to a blade\u201d, a soft person can, if needed, treat you harshly as well. It can be used for example to hint that even though someone’s been very lenient towards a certain person their attitude may eventually change.<\/p>\n

Litlir katlar hafa og eyru<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(\u201cSmall \u00a0 pots \u00a0 have \u00a0 as well \u00a0 ears.\u201d)<\/p>\n

\u201cEven little kettles have ears (= handles)\u201d, which is the good old \u201ceven the walls have ears\u201d in Icelandic style. I always found this one really cute!<\/p>\n

\u00der\u00edn\u00e6ttur gestur \u00feykir verstur<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(\u201cThree nights old \u00a0 visitors \u00a0 are considered \u00a0 the worst.\u201d)<\/p>\n

\u201cVisitors become unwanted after three nights’ stay\u201d. Another easy one: a visitor should not overstay their welcome. There’s a similar saying in Lithuanian – \u201cfish and visitors begin to smell after three days\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Tvisvar ver\u00f0ur s\u00e1 feginn sem \u00e1 steininn sest<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(\u201cTwice \u00a0 becomes \u00a0 that one \u00a0 happy \u00a0 who \u00a0 on \u00a0 the stone \u00a0 sits.\u201d)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe one who sits on a stone becomes happy twice.\u201d This one’s so Icelandic it may be difficult to figure out even after it’s translated. It means that when you’re really tired of walking outside you’ll feel very happy when you finally get to sit on a stone to rest. Since they’re not very pleasant to sit upon you’ll feel happy for a second time when you stand up and continue on your way.<\/p>\n

S\u00e1 kann ekki a\u00f0 segja af s\u00faru sem aldrei s\u00fdpur nema s\u00e6tt<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(\u201cThat one \u00a0 knows \u00a0 not \u00a0 to say \u00a0 of \u00a0 sourness \u00a0 who \u00a0 never \u00a0 sip \u00a0 except for \u00a0 sweet.\u201d)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe one who’s only tasted sweet cannot describe sourness\u201d. The one who’s always had it easy should not pretend to know about the hardness of somebody else’s life.<\/p>\n

Ekki tj\u00e1ir a\u00f0 binda um banas\u00e1ri\u00f0<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(\u201cNo \u00a0 meaning \u00a0 to \u00a0 bind \u00a0 a deadly wound.\u201d)<\/p>\n

\u201cThere’s no point in trying to bind a deadly wound.\u201d When things go so badly wrong that there’s no turning back there’s often no use in trying to mend them. It’ll be effort and energy wasted with little to no result, so it’s better to just leave them be.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Mark Twain should not bother Hitler while he’s driving the bus.<\/em><\/p>\n

Enginn er alheimskur ef \u00feegja kann<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(\u201cNo one \u00a0 is \u00a0 totally stupid \u00a0 if \u00a0 falling quiet \u00a0 knows how to do.\u201d)<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one who knows how to be silent is totally stupid.\u201d This is a way of saying \u201che who knows he knows nothing knows more than the one who does not know he knows nothing\u201d and \u201cif you know you’re stupid, don’t open your mouth and let everyone else know it too\u201d in one tight package. The idea behind this proverb goes back in time all the way to the medieval times – H\u00e1vam\u00e1l<\/a><\/em>, the viking era book of advice on life in general, stresses the importance of knowing how and when to be quiet.<\/p>\n

Sannleikurinn er sagnaf\u00e1r en lygin langor\u00f0<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(\u201cThe truth \u00a0 is \u00a0 few of verbs \u00a0 but \u00a0 the lie \u00a0 long of words.\u201d)<\/p>\n

\u201cIt takes but a while to tell the truth but to lie takes a long time.\u201d This one seems to have a double meaning. First of all, the person who speaks lengthily about something is more likely to be lying than the one who says very little about the same matter. The other way of understanding this is that telling the truth is quickly over and done with, but a liar will have to keep lying more to keep up the pretense around their lies.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

One of our neighbours showing some creative problem solving skills: what would you do if the cord of your hedge cutter was not long enough?<\/em><\/p>\n

Ney\u00f0in kennir naktri konu a\u00f0 spinna<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(\u201cNecessity \u00a0 teaches \u00a0 naked \u00a0 woman \u00a0 to \u00a0 spin thread.\u201d)<\/p>\n

\u201cA naked woman will learn to spin thread out of necessity\u201d, or to use a well-known English equivalent, \u201cNecessity is the mother of all inventions\u201d. This is one of the most famous Icelandic proverbs and for a good reason: anyone caught naked in Iceland will very quickly think of clothes; if for no other reason then because the winter is coming and it’s getting really, really cold!<\/p>\n

Thank yous for helping me out with the first proverb go to Hei\u00f0a and Fri\u00f0a! I could not have fully understood it without your help, guys!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

What taught the naked woman to spin thread? Or why does one become happy twice when one sits on a stone? Icelandic proverbs show how the people here think and view the world around them, and besides that they’re often very sharp and accurate to their point. Let’s look at some of my favourites! A…<\/p>\n

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