Russian proverbs

В

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

• В семье не без урода.
  • Transliteration: V cem'e ne bez uroda.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Many a good father has but a bad son"

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

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

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

• Век живи – век учись.
  • Transliteration: Vek xivi - vek uchis'.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Live and learn"

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

• Волков бояться – в лес не ходить.
  • Transliteration: Volkov boyatsa - v les ne hodit'.
  • Translation: If you are afraid of the wolves, do not go to the woods.
  • English version: "Nothing ventured, nothing gained. It takes courage to start" Afraid of the heat? - Get out of the kitchen.

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

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

• Все хорошо, что хорошо кончается.
  • Transliteration: Bs'o horosho, chto horosho konchayetsa.
  • Translation: "All is well that ends well"
  • English version: "All is well that ends well"

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

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

Г

• Где тонко – там и рвется.
  • Transliteration: Gde tonko - tam i rvetsa.
  • Translation: The thinnest part snaps.
  • English version: "The chain is no stronger than its weakest link"

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

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

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

Д

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

• Делить шкуру неубитого медведя.
  • Transliteration: Delit' shkuru neubitovo medvedya.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "To cook a hare before catching him"

• Доверяй, но проверяй.

• До свадьбы заживет.
  • Transliteration: Do svad'by zazhivet.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "You will manage"

• Доброе братство - лучшее богатство
  • Transliteration: Dobroye bratstvo - lychsheye bogatstvo
  • Translation:
  • English version: ""

• Долг платежом красен.
  • Transliteration: Dolg platezhom krasen.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "One good turn deserves another"

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

• Друзья познаются в беде.
  • Transliteration: Druzya poznayutsa v bede.
  • Translation: "You will know your friend in the trouble"
  • English version: "A friend in need is a friend indeed"

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

Е

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

• Если хочется работать - ляг, поспи, и всё пройдёт.
  • Transliteration: "Esli hochetsa rabotat', lyag, pospi, i bsyo proydyot."
  • Translation: "If you feel the need to work, take a nap, the need will pass."
  • English version:

Ж

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

З

• За одного битого двух не битых дают.
  • Transliteration: Za odnovo bitovo dvux ne bityh dayut.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Experience is worth it"

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

И

• И на старуху бывает проруха
  • Transliteration: I na staruhu byvayet proryha
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Even an experienced person can make mistakes", "Everyone makes mistakes"

• И хочется и колется
  • Transliteration: I hochetsa i koletsa
  • Translation:
  • English version: "The cat would eat fish and would not wet her feet"

• Исподволь и ольху согнешь
  • Transliteration: Ispodvol' i ol'hu sognesh.
  • Translation: ""
  • English version: ""

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

К

• Как аукнется – так и откликнется.
  • Transliteration: Kak ayknetse - tak i otkliknetsa.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "People get what they deserve"

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Кому на месте не сидится, тот добра не наживет.
  • Transliteration: Komu na meste ne ciditsa, tot dobra ne nazhivyot.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "A rolling stone gathers no moss"

• Кто рано встает, тому бог подает.
  • Transliteration: Kto rano vstayot, tomu bog podayot.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "The early bird catches the worm"

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

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

Л

• Лбом стенку не перешибешь
  • Transliteration: Lbom stenku ne pereshibesh.
  • Translation: ""
  • English version: ""

• Лес рубят – щепки летят.
  • Transliteration: Les rubyat - shchepki letyat.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs"

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

• Ложка дегтя в бочке меда.
  • Transliteration: Lozhko legtya v bochke meda.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "A fly in the ointment", "The rotten apple spoils the barrel."

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

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

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

• Любишь кататься, люби и саночки возить.
  • Transliteration: Lyubish katatsa, lyubi i canochki vosit'.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "He that would eat the fruit must climb the tree", "No pains, no gains", "After dinner comes the reckoning."

М

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

• Много будешь знать, скоро состаришься.
  • Transliteration: Mnogo budesh znat', skoro sostarishsa.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Too much knowledge makes the head bald"

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

• Мягко стелет – жестко спать.
  • Transliteration: Myagko stelet - zhestko spat'.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Iron fist in a velvet glove"

Н

• На безрыбье и рак – рыба.
  • Transliteration: Na bezrybye i rak - ryba.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Something is better than nothing"

• На воре шапка горит.
  • Transliteration: Na vore shapka gorit.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "A guilty mind betrays it self"

• На всех не угодишь.
  • Transliteration: Na vseh ne ugodish.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "He who pleased every body died before he was born"

• На всякого мудреца довольно простоты.
  • Transliteration: Na vsyakovo mudretsa dovol'no prostoty.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Every man has a fool in his sleeve"

• На Бога надейся, а сам не плошай
  • Transliteration: Na Boga nadeysa, a sam ne ploshay
  • Translation:
  • English version:

• На Бога положишься - не обложишься
  • Transliteration: Na Boga polozhishsa - ne oblozhishsa
  • Translation:
  • English version:

• Назвался груздем – полезай в кузов.
  • Transliteration: Nazvalsa gruzdem - polezay v kuzov.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "If you undertook some thing, do it (see it through)"

• Нашла коса на камень.
  • Transliteration: Nashla kosa na kamen'.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "You have met your match"

• Не буди лиха, пока лихо спит.
  • Transliteration: Ne budi liha, poka liho spit.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Don’t trouble trouble till trouble trobules you", "Let sleeping dogs lie"

• Не было у бабы хлопот, так купила порося.
  • Transliteration: Ne bylo u baby hlopot, tak kupila porosya.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "You are asking for trouble"

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

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

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

• Не мытьем, так катаньем.
  • Transliteration: Ne mytyen, tak katenyem.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "By hook or by crook"

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

• Не плюй в колодец – пригодится воды напиться.
  • Transliteration: Ne plyuy v kolodets - prigoditsa vody napitsa.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Actions can boomerang", "Never cast dirt into that fountain of which you have sometime drunk"

• Не пойман – не вор.
  • Transliteration: Ne poyman - ne vor.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Innocent till proven guilty"

• Не рой другому яму, сам в нее попадешь.
  • Transliteration: Ne roy drugomu yamu, sam v neyo popadesh.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Curses like chickens come home to roost"

• Не так страшен черт, как его малюют.
  • Transliteration: Ne tak strashen chert, kak evo malyuyut.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "The devil is not so black as he is painted"

• Незваный гость лучше званого
  • Transliteration: Nezvany gost' luchshe zvanovo
  • Translation:
  • English version:

• Незваный гость хуже татарина
  • Transliteration: Nezvany gost' huzhe tatarina
  • Translation:
  • English version:

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

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

• Нет худа без добра.
  • Transliteration: Net hyda bez dobra.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Every cloud has a silver lining"

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

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

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

• Новая метла метет по-новому.
  • Transliteration: Novaya metla metet po-novomu.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "A new broom sweeps clean"

О

• О вкусах не спорят.
  • Transliteration: O vkusah ne sporyat.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Tastes differ"

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

• Одн в поле не воин.
  • Transliteration:
  • Translation:
  • English version: "One man, no man"

• Орешек не по зубам.
  • Transliteration: Oreshek ne po zubam.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "A hard nut to crack"

• От добра добра не ищут.
  • Transliteration: Ot dobra dobra ne ishchut.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Leave well enough alone. Enough is as good as a feast"

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

• От сумы и от тюрмы не зарекайся.
  • Transliteration: Ot sumy i ot tyurmy ne zarekaysa.

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

П

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

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

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

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

• Последний, но не менее важный.
  • Transliteration: Posledni, no ni meneye vazhny.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Last, but not least"

• После драки кулаками не машут.
  • Transliteration: Posle draki kulakami ni mashut.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "What’s done is done"

• Поспешишь, людей насмешишь.
  • Transliteration: Pospeshish, lyudey nasmeshish.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Hasty climbers have sudden falls", "The more haste, the less speed"

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

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

• Пришла беда, отворяй ворота.
  • Transliteration: Prishla beda, otvoryay vorota.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Misfortunes never come alone"

• Пуганая ворона куста боится.
  • Transliteration: Puganaya vorona kusta boitsa.
  • Translation:
  • English version: "Once bitten, twice shy"

Р

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

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

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

С

• Своей тени не обгонишь
  • Transliteration: Svoyey teni ne obgonish.
  • Translation: ""
  • English version: ""

• С волками жить, по-волчий выть.
  • Transliteration: "S volkami zhit', pa-volchiy vyt'"
  • Translation: "You live with wolves, you howl like a wolf"
  • English version:

Т

• Тише едешь, дальше будешь
  • Transliteration: "Tishe yedesh', dal'she budesh'"
  • Translation: "The slower you go, the farther you'll get"
  • English version:

У

• Умный в гору не пойдет, умный гору обойдет.
  • Transliteration: "Umny v goru ne poydet, umny goru aboydet."
  • Translation: "A clever man will not go up a hill, a clever man will go around it."

Ч