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Wikiquote:French proverbs
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V

A

• À chaque jour suffit sa peine.
  • English equivalent: Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (New Testament, Matthew 6:34)

• À cheval donné on ne regarde pas les dents (French) / la bride (Canadian).
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't look a gifthorse in the mouth.
  • Literal translation: On a given horse one doesn´t look at the teeth / bridle (the bit in the horse's mouth).

• A l'œuvre, on connaît l'ouvrier.
  • Translation: A carpenter is known by his chips.

• À la Sainte-Luce, les jours accroissent du saut d'une puce.
  • Literal translation: On Saint Lucia's Day, the days grow by the jump of a flea.
  • Meaning: The days begin to get longer on Saint Lucia's Day, December 16 (which formerly coincided with the Winter Solstice).

• À Rome, fait comme les Romains.
  • Translation: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

• Après la pluie, le beau temps.
  • Translation: After the rain, comes the nice weather.

• Autre temps, autres mœurs.
  • Translation: Other days, other ways.

• Avec des si, on mettrait Paris en bouteille.
  • Literal translation: With ifs, Paris could be put in a bottle.
  • Idiomatic translation: If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

B

• Bien mal acquis ne profite jamais.
  • Idiomatic translation: Ill-gotten gains seldom prosper.
  • Literal meaning: Goods badly acquired never profit.

• Bon repas doit commencer par la faim.
  • Idiomatic translation: Hunger is the best spice.
  • Literal meaning: A good meal must begin with hunger.

• Bon sang ne saurait mentir.
  • Idiomatic translation: Blood will out.
  • Literal meaning: Good blood cannot lie.

• Bonne renommée vaut mieux que ceinture dorée.
  • Idiomatic translation: A good name is better than riches.
  • Literal meaning: A good name is worthier than a golden belt.

C

• C'est bonnet blanc et blanc bonnet.
  • Literal translation: It's white hat and hat white.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's six of one and half a dozen of the other.

• C'est dans le besoin qu'on reconnaît ses vrais amis.
  • Literal translation: It's when in need that one recognises his friends.
  • Idiomatic translation: A friend in need is a friend indeed.

• C'est dans les vieilles marmites qu'on fait les meilleures soupes.
  • Literal Translation: It's in old kettles that one makes the best soup.
  • Idiomatic Translation: The best broths are made in the oldest pots.

• C'est en forgeant qu'on devient forgeron.
  • Literal meaning: By dint of forging one becomes a blacksmith.
  • Idiomatic translation: Practice makes perfect.

• C'est l'arroseur arrosé.
  • Literal meaning: It's the waterer getting drenched.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's the biter bit.

• C'est l'exception qui confirme la règle.
  • Translation: It's the exception that proves the rule.

• C'est la goutte d'eau qui fait déborder le vase.
  • Literal meaning: It's the drop of water that makes the jug overflow.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's the straw that breaks the camel's back.

• C'est la paille et la poutre.
  • Literal meaning: It's the straw and the beam.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's the mote and the beam (or the pot calling the kettle black).

• C'est la Pitié / l'hôpital qui se moque de la Charité.
  • Literal meaning: It's Pity / the hospital that mocks Charity.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's the pot calling the kettle black.

• C'est la poule qui chante qui a fait l'œuf.
  • Literal meaning: It is the hen which sings which has laid the egg.
  • Idiomatic translation: The guilty dog barks the loudest.

• C'est la poêle qui se moque du chaudron.
  • Literal meaning: It's the pan mocking the cauldron.
  • Idiomatic translation: The pot that calls the kettle black.

• C'est le ton qui fait la chanson.
  • Literal meaning: It's the tone that makes the song.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's not what you say but the way you say it.

• C'est trop aimer quand on en meurt.
  • Idiomatic translation: They love too much who die for love.
  • Literal translation: It´s loving too much when one dies of it.

• C'est un prêté pour un rendu.
  • Translation 1: Tit for tat.
  • Translation 2: One good turn deserves another.
  • Literal meaning: It is one loaned for one returned.

• Ce qui est fait n'est plus à faire.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don´t leave till tomorrow what can be finished today.
  • Literal translation: What is done no longer needs to be done.

• Ce n'est pas aux vieux singes qu'on apprend à faire des grimaces.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
  • Literal meaning: You can't teach old monkeys how to make faces.

• Ce n'est pas la vache qui crie le plus fort qui donne le plus de lait.
  • Idiomatic translation: Great cry, little milk.
  • Literal meaning: It is not the cow who shouts the loudest who gives the most milk.

• Ce que femme veut, Dieu le veut.
  • Idiomatic translation: A woman's will is God's will.
  • Literal translation: That which a woman wishes, God wishes.

• Chacun pour soi et Dieu pour tous.
  • Translation 1: Every man for himself, and God for us all.
  • Translation 2: Every man for himself, and the Devil take the hindmost.

• Chacun son métier, les vaches seront bien gardées.
  • Idiomatic translation: One should mind one's own business.
  • Literal meaning: Each to his craft, and the cows will be well looked after.

• Chacun voit midi à sa porte.
  • Idiomatic translation: To each his own.
  • Literal meaning: Everyone sees noon at his door.

• Chantez à l'âne, il vous fera des pets.
  • Literal translation: Sing to a donkey, he will fart to you.
  • Idiomatic translation: Hold food in your hand, and the dog will bite it.

• Charbonnier est maître chez soi.
  • Translation (British): An Englishman's home is his castle.
  • Literal meaning: A coalman is master of his own house.

• Charité bien ordonnée commence par soi-même.
  • Idiomatic translation: Charity begins at home.

• Chassez le naturel, il revient au galop.
  • Idiomatic translation: A leopard cannot change its spots. or If you cast out nature with a fork, it will still return.
  • Literal meaning: Chase away the natural and it returns at a gallop.

• Chat échaudé craint l'eau froide.
  • Literal meaning: A scalded cat fears cold water.
  • Translation 1: Once bitten, twice shy.
  • Signification : If you ever have been hurt by something, you'll be over-cautious of anything that even looks the same.

• Cherchez la femme.
  • Literal meaning: Look for the woman.
  • Idiomatic translation: A woman is probably at the heart of the quarrel.

• Chien qui aboie ne mord pas.
  • Literal meaning: Dog that barks does not bite.
  • Idiomatic translation: Barking dogs seldom bite.
  • Translation 2: His bark is worse than his bite

• Chose promise, chose due.
  • Literal meaning: Thing promised, thing owed.
  • Idiomatic translation: Promises are made to be kept.

• Cœur qui soupire n'a pas ce qu'il désire.
  • Translation: The heart that sighs does not have what it desires.

• Comme on fait son lit on se couche.
  • Literal meaning: As one makes one's bed, one lies in it.
  • Idiomatic translation: As you make your bed, so you are going to lie in it.

• Comparaison n'est pas raison.
  • Literal meaning: Comparison is no reason.
  • Idiomatic translation: Comparisons are misleading.

• Contentement passe richesse.
  • Idiomatic translation: Happiness is worth more than riches.

• Coucher de poule et lever de corbeau écartent l'homme du tombeau.
  • Idiomatic translation 1: Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
  • Literal meaning: Going to bed with the hen and waking with the crow keeps the man from the grave.

D

• Dans le doute, abstiens-toi.
  • Idiomatic translation: When in doubt, forbear.

• De la discussion jaillit la lumière. or Du choc des idées jaillit la lumière
  • Idiomatic translation: Two heads are better than one.
  • Literal meaning: Out of discussion springs forth the light.
  • French signification: Good ideas emerge from discussion/argument.

• Demain il fera jour.
  • Literal meaning: Tomorrow will be a day.
  • Idiomatic translation: Tomorrow is another day.

• Deux avis valent mieux qu'un.
  • Idiomatic translation: Two heads are better than one.
  • Literal meaning: Two opinions are better than one.

• Dis-moi qui tu hantes, je te dirai qui tu es.
  • Idiomatic translation: A man is known by the company he keeps.
  • Literal meaning: Tell me whom you spend time with and I will tell you who you are.

• Douce parole n'écorche pas langue.
  • Idiomatic translation: Good words break no bones.
  • Literal meaning: Soft words don't scratch the tongue.

E

• En avril, ne te découvre pas d'un fil ; en mai, fais ce qui te plaît.
  • Idiomatic translation: Never cast a clout till May is out.
  • Literal meaning: In April, do not shed a single thread; in May, do as you please.

• En tout pays, il y a une lieue de mauvais chemins.
  • Idiomatic translation: There will be bumps on the smoothest roads.
  • Literal translation: In every country, there's a league of bad paths

• Entre deux maux, il faut choisir le moindre.
  • Translation: Of two evils one must choose the lesser.

• Entre l'arbre et l'écorce, il ne faut pas mettre le doigt.
  • Idiomatic translation: Do not meddle in other people's family affairs.
  • Literal meaning: Don't poke your finger 'twixt the bark and the tree.

F

• Fais ce que dois, advienne que pourra.
  • Idiomatic translation: Do your duty, come what may.

• Fais ce que je dis, ne fais pas ce que je fais.
  • Idiomatic translation: Do as I say, not as I do.

• Faute avouée est à moitié pardonnée.
  • Idiomatic translation: A fault confessed is a half redressed.

• Faute de grives, on mange des merles.
  • Translation 1: Half a loaf is better than no bread.
  • Translation 2: You have to cut your coat according to your cloth.
  • Literal meaning: Eat blackbirds if you can't have thrushes.

• Femme rit quand elle peut et pleure quand elle veut.
  • Idiomatic translation: A woman laughs when she can and weeps when she wants.

• Filer à l'anglaise.
  • Idiomatic translation: To take French leave.
  • Literal translation: Leave the English way.

• Force fait loi.
  • Translation: Might makes right.

G

• Grosse Corvette, petite cervelle.
  • Literal translation: Big Corvette, small brain.
  • Idiomatic translation: Big car, no brain.

• Grosse Corvette, petite quéquette. (Quebec)
  • Literal translation: Big Corvette, small willie. (penis - quéquette being informal French).
  • Meaning: someone who buys a big car is compensating for sexual shortcomings.

H

• Hâtez-vous lentement.
  • Literal translation: Make haste slowly.
  • Idiomatic translation: More haste less speed
  • Latin: Festina lente.

• Heureux au jeu, malheureux en amour.
  • Idiomatic translation: Lucky in cards, unlucky in love.

• Homme mort ne fait guerre.
  • Idiomatic translation: A dead man deals no blows.
  • Literal meaning: A dead man cannot make war.

• Honi soit qui mal y pense.
  • Idiomatic translation: Evil be to he who evil thinks.
  • Literal meaning: Shameful be they who thinks badly of it.

I

• Il faut apprendre à obéir pour savoir commander.
  • Translation: It is necessary to learn how to obey to know to command.

• Il faut battre le fer pendant qu'il est chaud.
  • Translation 1: Strike while the iron is hot.
  • Translation 2: Make hay while the sun shines.
  • Literal Translation: It is necessary to strike the iron while it is hot.

• Il faut casser le noyau pour avoir l'amande.
  • Literal Translation: It is necessary to break the shell to have the almond
  • Translation 1: He who would eat, crack the kernel.
  • Translation 2: No pain, no gain.

• Il faut de tout pour faire un monde.
  • Idiomatic translation: It takes all sorts to make a world.

• Il faut laver son linge sale en famille.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't air your dirty laundry in public.
  • Literal translations: Washing one's dirty laundry must be done as a family.

• Il faut le voir pour le croire
  • Translation: Seeing is believing.

• Il faut manger pour vivre, et non vivre pour manger.
  • Idiomatic translation: Eat to live, don't live to eat.

• Il faut ménager la chèvre et le chou.
  • Idiomatic translation: One must run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.
  • Literal meaning: One must spare both the goat and the cabbage.

• Il faut que jeunesse se passe.
  • Translation 1: Youth must have its fling.
  • Literal translation: Youth must happen.

• Il faut qu'une porte soit ouverte ou fermée.
  • Idiomatic translation: There can be no middle ground.
  • Literal meaning: A door must be either open or shut.

• Il faut savoir obéir avant que de commander.
  • Idiomatic translation: Obedience comes before leadership.

• Il faut tourner sa langue sept fois dans sa bouche avant de parler.
  • Idiomatic translation: Think before you speak.
  • Literal meaning: One must turn the tongue seven times in the mouth before speaking.

• Il ne faut jamais dire « Fontaine, je ne boirai pas de ton eau ». Most often said Il ne faut jamais dire Fontaine
  • Idiomatic translation: Never say never.
  • Literal meaning: Never say, "Fountain, I shall not drink of your water."

• Il ne faut jamais remettre au lendemain ce qu'on peut faire le jour même.
  • Literal translation: Never put off to tomorrow what you can do today.
  • Translation: One of these days is none of these days.

• Il ne faut pas chercher midi à quatorze heures.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't complicate the issue.
  • Literal meaning: Don't look for noon at two o'clock.

• Il ne faut pas confondre vitesse et précipitation.
  • Idiomatic translation: More haste, less speed.
  • Literal meaning: One must not confuse speed with haste.

• Il ne faut pas déshabiller Pierre pour habiller Paul.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't rob Peter to pay Paul.
  • Literal meaning: Don't undress Peter to dress Paul.

• Il ne faut pas mettre la charrue avant les bœufs.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't put the cart before the horse.
  • Literal meaning: Don't put the plough before the oxen.

• Il ne faut pas mettre tous ses œufs dans le même panier.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

• Il ne faut pas réveiller le chat qui dort.
  • Idiomatic translation: Let sleeping dogs lie.
  • Literal meaning: Don't wake a cat who sleeps.

• Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
  • Literal meaning: Don't sell the bearskin before you've killed the bear.

• Il n'est jamais trop tard pour bien faire.
  • Idiomatic translation: It is never too late to mend.
  • Literal meaning: It is never too late to do well.

• Il n'est pire aveugle que celui qui ne veut pas voir.
  • Idiomatic translation: There are none so blind as they who will not see.

• Il n'est pire eau que celle qui dort. also "Méfie-toi de l'eau qui dort"
  • Literal meaning: There is no worse water than the water which sleeps / Beware of the water which sleeps.
  • Idiomatic translation: Still waters run deep.

• Il n'est pire sourd que celui qui ne veut pas entendre.
  • Idiomatic translation: There is none so deaf as he who will not hear.

• Il n'y a pas d'ânesse qui ne trouve son âne.
  • Idiomatic translation: Every Jack has his Jill.
  • Literal meaning: There is no jenny who does not find her donkey.

• Il n'y a pas de fumée sans feu.
  • Literal translation: There's no smoke without fire.
  • Idiomatic translation: Where there's smoke, there's fire.

• Il n'y a pas de petit profit.
  • Idiomatic translation: A penny saved is a penny earned.
  • Literal meaning: There is no small profit.

• Il n'y a pas de sot métier.
  • Literal meaning: There is no inane craft.
  • Idiomatic translation: Every trade has its value.

• Il n'y a que la vérité qui blesse.
  • Literal meaning: Only truth hurts.
  • Idiomatic translation: Truth hurts.

• Il n'y a que les montagnes qui ne se rencontrent jamais.
  • Idiomatic translation: There are none so distant that fate cannot bring together.
  • Literal meaning: Only mountains never meet.

• Il vaut mieux un petit chez soi, qu'un grand chez les autres.
  • Idiomatic translation: There's no place like home.

• Il y a loin de la coupe aux lèvres.
  • Idiomatic translation: There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.
  • Literal translation: There is a long way between the cup and the lips.

• Il y a plus d'un âne à la foire qui s'appellent Martin. also "Tous les ânes ne s'appellent pas Martin."
  • Idiomatic translation 1: If one will not, another will.
  • Idiomatic translation 2: There's plenty more fish in the sea
  • Literal meaning: There is more than one donkey at the fair called Martin.

• Impossible n'est pas français.
  • Idiomatic translation: There is no such word as "can't".
  • Literal meaning: Impossible is not a French word.

J

• Jamais couard n'aura belle amie.
  • Literal translation: Never coward shall have fair lady for friend.
  • Idiomatic translation: Faint heart never won fair lady.

• Jamais deux sans trois.
  • Literal translation: Never twice without thrice.

• Je ne suis ni pour, ni contre, bien au contraire.
  • Literal translation: I am neither for nor against, much to the contrary!

L

• Laissez les bons temps rouler.
  • Idiomatic translation: Let the good times roll [Cajun French].

• L'amour fait beaucoup, mais l'argent fait tout.
  • Translation: Love does much, but money does all.

• L'argent n'a pas d'odeur.
  • Idiomatic translation: Money is money (wherever it comes from).
  • Literal meaning: Money has no smell.
  • Latin: Pecunia non olet.

• L'argent ne fait pas le bonheur.
  • Idiomatic translation: Money can't buy happiness.
  • Literal meaning: Money doesn't make happiness.

• L'argent ne se trouve pas sous le sabot / le pas d'un cheval.
  • Idiomatic translation: Money doesn't grow on trees.
  • Literal meaning: Money is not found under a horse's hoof / step.

• L'amour est aveugle.
  • Idiomatic translation: Love is blind.

• L'habit ne fait pas le moine.
  • Idiomatic translation 1: One cannot judge a book by its cover.
  • Idiomatic translation 2: Clothes don't make the man.
  • Literal translation: The dress doesn't make the monk.

• L'herbe est toujours plus verte chez le voisin.
  • Idiomatic translation: The grass is always greener on the other side.
  • Literal translation: The grass is always greener at the neighbours'

• L'homme est un loup pour l'homme.
  • Idiomatic translation: Brother will turn on brother. /'dog eat dog'
  • Latin: Homo homini lupus
  • Literal meaning: The man is a wolf for the man.

• La bave du crapaud n'atteint pas la blanche colombe.
  • Idiomatic translation: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
  • Literal meaning: The spit of the toad doesn't reach the white dove.

• La caque sent toujours le hareng.
  • Idiomatic translation: What's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh.
  • Literal meaning: A herring barrel will always smell of herring.

• La chance sourit aux audacieux.
  • Idiomatic translation: Fortune favours the brave.
  • Latin: Fortuna favet fortibus
  • Literal meaning: Luck smiles at the bold.

• La culture, c'est comme la confiture, moins on en a, plus on l'étale.
  • Idiomatic translation: people who always shows their sciences are those who know the less. "étale" means spread or to show
  • Literal meaning: Culture is like jam, the less we have the more we spread it.

• La curiosité est un vilain défaut.
  • Idiomatic translation: Curiosity killed the cat.
  • Literal meaning: Curiosity is a wicked fault.

• La faim chasse le loup hors du bois.
  • Translation: Hunger drives the wolf out of the wood.

• La fête passée, adieu le saint.
  • Idiomatic translation: The river passed, and God forgotten.
  • Translation: The festival has passed, goodbye to the saint.

• La fin justifie les moyens.
  • Translation: The ends justify the means.

• La nuit porte conseil.
  • Translation 1: Take advice of your pillow.
  • Translation 2: Sleep on it.
  • Literal meaning: The night brings advice.

• La nuit tous les chats sont gris.
  • Translation: At night all cats are grey.
  • Idiomatic translation: All cats are grey in the dark.

• La parole est d'argent, mais le silence est d'or.
  • Idiomatic translation: Silence is golden.
  • Literal meaning: Talk is silver, silence is golden.

• La pluie de vos injures n'atteint pas le parapluie de mon indifférence.
  • Translation: Your spluttering insults do not reach the umbrella of my indifference.

• La plus belle fille du monde ne peut donner que ce qu'elle a.
  • Translation: The prettiest girl in the world can only give what she has.

• L'appétit vient en mangeant.
  • Idiomatic translation: The more you have, the more you want.
  • Literal meaning: Appetite comes while eating.

• La raison du plus fort est toujours la meilleure.
  • Idiomatic translation: Might is always right.
  • Literal meaning: The motive of the strongest is always the best.
  • wherever is ideas, the one who decide is always the strongest.

• La vengeance est un plat qui se mange froid.
  • Idiomatic translation: Revenge is a dish best served cold.
  • Literal: Revenge is a dish that is eaten cold.

• La vérité est dans le vin. = "L'alcool délie les langues"
  • Idiomatic translation: In wine is truth.
  • Latin: In vino veritas
  • Literal: The truth is in the wine.
  • When you want someone to tell you the truth make him/her drink.

• La vérité sort de la bouche des enfants.
  • Idiomatic translation: Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings comes forth truth.
  • Latin: Ex ore parvulorum veritas
  • Literal meaning: The truth comes from the mouth of children.

• Le crime ne paie pas.
  • Translation: Crime does not pay.

• Le Diable chie toujours au même endroit.
  • Idiomatic translation: The criminal always returns to the scene of the crime.
  • Literal meaning: The Devil always shits in the same place.

• La bible comme lu par le diable.
  • Idiomatic Translation: Devil quoting scripture.
  • Literal Translation: The Bible as read by the devil.

• Le malheur des uns fait le bonheur des autres.
  • Idiomatic translation: One man's meat is another man's poison. OR One man's trash is another man's treasure.
  • Literal meaning: The misfortune of some makes the joy of others.

• Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien.
  • Idiomatic translation: Let well alone.
  • Literal meaning: Better is the enemy of good.

• Le monde appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt.
  • Idiomatic translation: The early bird catches the worm.
  • Literal meaning: The world belongs to those who rise early.

• Le ridicule ne tue pas.
  • Being ridiculed isn't lethal.

• Le roi est mort, vive le roi!
  • Translation: "The King is Dead, Long live the King!"

• L'enfer est pavé de bonnes intentions.
  • Idiomatic translation: The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
  • Literal meaning: Hell is paved with good intentions.

• L'erreur est humaine.
  • Literal translation: The error is human.
  • Idiomatic translation: To err is human.
  • Latin: Errare humanum est

• Les absents ont toujours tort.
  • Translation: The absent are always in the wrong.

• Les affaires sont les affaires.
  • Translation: Business is business.

• Les amis de mes ennemis sont mes ennemis. Et les ennemis de mes ennemis sont mes amis
  • Idiomatic translation: A friend of yours is a friend of mine / The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
  • Literal meaning: Friends of my enemies are my enemies / Enemies of my enemies are my friends.

• Les apparences sont trompeuses.
  • Idiomatic translation: All that glitters is not gold.
  • Literal meaning: Appearances are deceptive.

• Les bons comptes font les bons amis.
  • Translation 1: Short reckonings make long friends.
  • Translation 2: Neither a borrower nor a lender be.
  • Literal meaning: Good accounts make good friends.

• Les bons outils font les bons ouvriers
  • Translation: Good tools make good workers.

• Les chiens aboient, la caravane passe.
  • Idiomatic translation: Let the world say what it will.
  • Literal meaning: The dogs bark, the caravan passes by.

• Les chiens ne font pas des chats. = "tel père, tel fils / Telle mère, telle fille"
  • Idiomatic translation: Like breeds like / The apple does not fall far from the tree.
  • Literal meaning: Dogs don't make cats.

• Les conseillers ne sont pas les payeurs.
  • Idiomatic translation: Advice is cheap.
  • Literal meaning: Advisors aren't the ones who pay.

• Les cordonniers sont les plus mal chaussés.
  • Idiomatic translation: The cobbler's children go barefoot.
  • Literal translation: The cobblers have the worst shoes

• Les fruits défendus sont les meilleurs.
  • Idiomatic translation: Forbidden fruits are the sweetest.
  • Literal meaning: Forbidden fruits are the best.

• Les goûts et les couleurs ne se discutent pas.
  • Idiomatic translation: There's no accounting for tastes.
  • Literal meaning: Tastes and colors cannot be questioned.
  • Latin: De gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum.

• Les grands diseurs ne sont pas les grands faiseurs.
  • Idiomatic translation: Talkers are not doers.
  • Literal meaning: Big talkers are not big doers.

• Les grands esprits se rencontrent.
  • Idiomatic translation: Great minds think alike.
  • Literal meaning: Great spirits meet one another.

• Les habitudes ont la vie dure.
  • Idiomatic translation: Old habits die hard.

• Les jours se suivent et ne se ressemblent pas.
  • Translation 1: After Christmas comes Lent.
  • Translation 2: Time changes and we with time.
  • Literal meaning: The days follow one another and do not look alike.

• Les loups ne se mangent pas entre eux.
  • Translation 1: Dog does not eat dog.
  • Translation 2: There is honour among thieves.
  • Literal translation: Wolves don't eat each other.

• Les murs ont des oreilles.
  • Translation: Walls have ears.

• Le soleil luit pour tout le monde.
  • Idiomatic translation: The sun shines for one and all.
  • Literal meaning: The sun shines for everybody.

• Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières.
  • Idiomatic translation: Tall oaks from little acorns grow.
  • Literal meaning: Little streams make big rivers.

• Les plaisanteries les plus courtes sont les meilleures.
  • Idiomatic translation: Brevity is the soul of wit.
  • Literal meaning: The shortest jokes are the best ones.

• L'espoir fait vivre.
  • Idiomatic translation: Where there's life, there's hope.
  • Literal meaning: Hope keeps alive.

• Les voyages forment la jeunesse.
  • Idiomatic translation: Travel broadens the mind.
  • Literal meaning: Travels train young people.

• Le temps c'est de l'argent.
  • Translation: Time is money.

• L'exactitude est la politesse des rois. or "La ponctualité est la politesse des rois"
  • Translation: Punctuality is the politeness of kings.

• L'excès en tout est un défaut.
  • Idiomatic translation: Too much is too much.
  • Literal meaning: Excess in everything is a fault.

• L'habit ne fait pas le moine.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't judge the book by its cover.
  • Literal meaning: The cowl does not make the friar.

• L'occasion fait le larron.
  • Idiomatic translation: Opportunity makes the thief.

• Loin des yeux, loin du cœur.
  • Idiomatic translation: Out of sight, out of mind.
  • Literal translation: Far from the eyes, far from the heart

• L'oisiveté est la mère de tous les vices.
  • Literal translation: Idleness is the mother of all sins.
  • Idiomatic translation: An idle mind is the devil's workshop.

• L'union fait la force.
  • Idiomatic translation: United we stand, divided we fall.
  • Literal meaning: Unity makes strength.

M

• Mange ton poisson à présent qu'il est frais, marie ta fille à présent qu'elle est jeune.
  • Idiomatic translation: Eat your fish while it is fresh, marry your daughter while she is young.

• Mars venteux et avril pluvieux font mai gai et gracieux.
  • Literal translation: Windy March and rainy April make May jolly and gracious
  • Idiomatic translation: March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers.

• Mieux vaut être seul que mal accompagné.
  • Idiomatic translation: Better be alone than in bad company.

• Mieux vaut faire que dire.
  • Literal translation: Better to do than to say.
  • Idiomatic translation: Actions speak louder than words / Well done is better than well said.

• Mieux vaut plier que rompre.
  • Idiomatic translation: Adapt and survive.
  • Literal meaning: Better to bend than to break.

• Mieux vaut prévenir que guérir.
  • Literal translation: Better to prevent than to cure.
  • Idiomatic translation: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

• Mieux vaut rire que pleurer.
  • Idiomatic translation: Laughter is the best medicine.
  • Literal meaning: Better to laugh than to weep.

• Mieux vaut s'adresser à Dieu qu'à ses saints.
  • Idiomatic translation: It is better to talk to the organ-grinder than to his monkey.
  • Literal meaning: It is better to address God than His saints.

• Mieux vaut tard que jamais.
  • Idiomatic translation: Better late than never.

• Mieux vaut tenir que courir.
  • Idiomatic translation: A bird in hand is worth two in a bush.
  • Literal meaning: Better to hold than to run.

• Moineau à la main vaut mieux que grue qui vole.
  • Idiomatic translation: A bird in hand is worth two in a bush.
  • Literal meaning: Better a sparrow in hand than a crane in flight.

• Mon petit doigt me l'a dit.
  • Translation: A little bird told me.

• Morte la bête, mort le venin.
  • Idiomatic translation: Dead dogs don't bite.
  • Literal meaning: Dead is the beast, dead is the venom.

N

• Nécessité fait loi.
  • Idiomatic translation: Beggars can't be choosers.
  • Literal meaning: Need makes law.

• Noël au balcon, Pâques au tison.
  • Idiomatic translation: A warm Christmas means a cold Easter.
  • Literal meaning: Christmas on the balcony, Easter with a firebrand (in hand).

• Nul n'est prophète en son pays.
  • Idiomatic translation: No man is a prophet in his country.

O

• Oignez vilain, il vous poindra.
  • Literal meaning: Anoint a villain, he will stab you (oindre and poindre being outdated verbs)
  • Idiomatic translation: Claw a churl by the breech, and he will shite in your fist.
  • Also: Oignez vilain, il vous poindra; poignez vilain, il vous oindra (anoint a villain, he will stab you; stab a villain, he will anoint you) -- a villain will repay kindness with betrayal, but will flatter those who beat him.

• On a souvent besoin d'un plus petit que soi.
  • Translation: We often need someone smaller than ourselves.

• On est tous dans le même bain.
  • Literal meaning: We're all in the same bath.
  • Idiomatic translation: We're all in the same boat.

• "On ne resiste pas l'invasion des idées"
  • Literal Meaning: One doesn't resist the invasion of ideas
    • Idiomatic Expression: Don't resist new ideas

• On ne change pas une équipe qui gagne.
  • Literal meaning: One doesn't change a team that wins.
  • Idiomatic translation: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

• On ne fait pas boire un âne qui n'a pas soif.
  • Literal meaning: One does not make a donkey drink if it isn't thirsty.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.

• On ne fait pas d'omelette sans casser des œufs.
  • Translation: You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.

• On ne marie pas les poules avec les renards.
  • Idiomatic translation: Different strokes for different folks.
  • Literal meaning: You can't marry a hen and a fox.

• On ne peut avoir le beurre et l'argent du beurre. Sometimes On ne peut pas avoir le beurre, l'argent du beurre et la crémière.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can't have your cake and eat it.
  • Literal meaning: You can't have both the butter and the butter money / and the dairywoman.

• On ne peut avoir le lard et le cochon.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can't have your cake and eat it.
  • Literal meaning: You can't have the bacon and the pig.

• On ne peut être à la ville et aux champs.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can't be in two places at once.
  • Literal meaning: You can't be in town and in the country.

• On ne peut être au four et au moulin.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can't be in two places at once.
  • Literal meaning: You can't be at the oven and in the mill.

• On ne peut faire d'une buse un épervier.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
  • Literal meaning: You can't turn a buzzard / a dolt into a sparrowhawk.

• On ne prend pas les mouches avec du vinaigre.
  • Idiomatic translation: Honey catches more flies than vinegar.
  • Literal meaning: You don't catch flies with vinegar.

• On ne prête qu'aux riches.
  • Translation 1: Reputations shape reactions.
  • Translation 2: Only the rich get richer.
  • Literal meaning: One lends only to the rich.

• On n'est jamais si bien servi que par soi-même.
  • Idiomatic translation: If you want something done right, do it yourself.
  • Literal meaning: One is never so well served as by oneself.

• On revient toujours à ses premières amours.
  • Literal meaning: One always returns to his first loves.

• Où la vache / la chèvre est attachée, il faut qu'elle broute.
  • Idiomatic translation: The cow / goat must browse where she is tethered.

P

• Pas de nouvelle, bonne nouvelle.
  • Translation: No news is good news.

• Peu importe le flacon, tant qu'il y à l'ivresse.
  • Literal meaning: What does the bottle matter, so long as there is drunkenness.

• Petit à petit l'oiseau fait son nid.
  • Translation 1: Many a mickle makes a muckle.
  • Translation 2: Little strokes fell great oaks.
  • Literal meaning: Little by little the bird builds its nest.

• Petite pluie abat grand vent.
  • Idiomatic translation: Little rain lays great dust.
  • Literal meaning: Little rain calms great wind.

• Petit poisson deviendra grand.
  • Translation 1: Tall oaks from little acorns grow.
  • Translation 2: Boys will be men one day.
  • Literal meaning: The little fish will grow.

• Pierre qui roule n'amasse pas mousse.
  • Translation: A rolling stone gathers no moss.

• Plaie d'argent n'est pas mortelle.
  • Idiomatic translation: Money isn't everything.
  • Literal meaning: A wound caused by money is not mortal.

• Plus ça change et plus c'est pareil. or Rien de nouveau sous le soleil.
  • Translation: The more things change, the more they're the same.

• Plus fait douceur que violence.
  • Idiomatic translation: Kindness succeeds where force will fail.
  • Literal meaning: More does gentleness than violence.

• Plus on boit, plus on a soif.
  • Translation: The more one drinks, the thirstier one gets.

• Plus on est de fous, plus on rit.
  • Literal meaning: The more birdbrains we are, the more we laugh"
  • Idiomatic translation: The more the merrier.

• Prendre le taureau par les cornes.
  • Translation: Take the bull by the horns.

• Promettre et tenir sont deux.
  • Literal meaning: Promising and keeping (one's promise) are two (different things).
  • Idiomatic translation: It's one thing to promise and another to perform.

• Proverbe ne peut mentir.
  • Literal translation: Proverb cannot lie.

• Prudence est mère de sûreté.
  • Idiomatic translation: Discretion is the better part of valour.
  • Literal meaning: Caution is the mother of safety.

Q

• Quand le chat n'est pas là, les souris dansent.
  • Idiomatic translation: While the cat's away the mice will play.
  • Literal meaning: When the cat's away the mice dance.

• Quand le vin est tiré, il faut le boire.
  • Idiomatic translation: In for a penny, in for a pound.
  • Literal meaning: Once the wine is drawn, it must be drunk.

• Quand les poules auront des dents.
  • Idiomatic translation: When pigs fly / When hell freezes over.
  • Literal meaning: When chickens will have teeth.

• Quand on parle du loup, on en voit la queue.
  • Idiomatic translation: Talk of the Devil and he will appear.
  • Literal meaning: When you talk about the wolf, you see its tail.

• Quand on n'a pas ce que l'on aime, il faut aimer ce que l'on a.
  • Translation: If you don't have what you love, you have to love what you have.

• Quand on veut, on peut.
  • Literal meaning: When we want, we can.
  • Idiomatic translation: When there's a will, there's a way.

• Qui a bon voisin a bon matin.
  • Literal meaning: Those who have good neighbors, have good mornings.
  • Idiomatic translation: Good neighbours give good days.

• Qui a bu, boira.
  • Idiomatic translation: Once a drunkard, always a drunkard.
  • Literal meaning: Who has drunk will drink.

• Qui aime bien, châtie bien.
  • Idiomatic translation: Spare the rod and spoil the child.
  • Literal meaning: Who loves well, punishes well.
  • Latin: Qui bene amat, bene castigat

• Qui casse les verres les paie.
  • Idiomatic translation: Who breaks pays.
  • Literal meaning: Who breaks the glasses, pays for them.

• Qui cherche, trouve.
  • Idiomatic translation: Seek and ye shall find.
  • Literal meaning: Who seeks, finds.

• Qui donne aux pauvres prête à Dieu.
  • Idiomatic translation: Charity will be rewarded in heaven.
  • Literal meaning: Who gives to the poor, lends to God.

• Qui dort dîne.
  • Idiomatic translation: He who sleeps forgets his hunger.
  • Literal meaning: Who sleeps, dines.
  • Historical origin: travelers staying overnight at hostels were required to also purchase meals.

• Qui m'aime aime mon chien.
  • Idiomatic translation: Love me, love my dog.
  • Literal meaning: Who loves me, loves my dog.
  • Compare in Latin: Qui me amat, amat et canem meum.
    • • Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), French abbot (and who is not the St Bernard for whom that breed of dog is named, that's Bernard of Menthon). Quoted by Nigel Rees in Why Do We Say?, 1987.

• Qui ne dit mot, consent.
  • Idiomatic translation: Silence gives consent.
  • Latin: Qui tacet consentire videtur.
  • Literal meaning: Who says no word, consents.

• Qui n'entend qu'une cloche, n'entend qu'un son.
  • Idiomatic translation: Hear the other side and believe little.
  • Literal meaning: Who hears naught but one bell, hears naught but one sound.

• Qui ne risque rien n'a rien.
  • Idiomatic translation: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
  • Literal meaning: Who risks nothing, gets nothing.

• Qui ne veut rien n'a rien.
  • Idiomatic translation: Where there's a will there's a way.
  • Literal meaning: Who wants nothing, gets nothing.

• Qui paye ses dettes s'enrichit.
  • Idiomatic translation: The rich man is the one who pays his debts.
  • Literal meaning: He who pays his debts, gets richer.

• Qui peut le plus peut le moins.
  • Idiomatic translation: He who can do more can do less.

• Qui plus sait, plus se tait.
  • Idiomatic translation: He who knows most, says least.

• Qui se couche avec les chiens se lève avec des puces.
  • Idiomatic translation: Lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas.

• Qui se fait brebis, le loup le mange.
  • Literal translation: Who makes himself a ewe, the wolf eats him.
  • Idiomatic translation: He that makes himself a sheep shall be eaten by the wolf.
  • Idiomatic translation: Make yourself a sheep and the wolf will eat you.

• Qui sème le vent, récolte la tempête.
  • Translation 1: As you sow, so you shall reap.
  • Translation 2: He who sows the wind shall reap the whirlwind.

• Qui se ressemble s'assemble.
  • Literal meaning: Those who look alike associate together.
  • Idiomatic translation: Like attracts like / Birds of a feather flock together.

• Qui se sent morveux, qu'il se mouche.
  • Idiomatic translation: Who feels snotty, let him blow his nose.

• Qui s’excuse, s’accuse.
  • Translation: He who excuses himself accuses himself.

• Qui s'y frotte s'y pique.
  • Literal meaning: He who rubs against it, get stung by it.
  • Idiomatic translation: Gather thistles, expect prickles.

• Qui trop embrasse mal étreint.
  • Literal meaning: He who embraces too much, fails to secure.
  • Idiomatic translation: Grasp all, lose all.

• Qui va à la chasse perd sa place.
  • Idiomatic translation: He who leaves his place, loses it.
  • Literal meaning: Who goes hunting, loses his place.

• Qui veut la fin veut les moyens.
  • Translation: He who wills the end wills the means.

• Qui veut noyer son chien l'accuse de rage.
  • Idiomatic translation: Give a dog a bad name and hang him.
  • Literal meaning: He who wants to drown his dog says it has rabies.

• Qui veut voyager loin, ménage sa monture.
  • Translation: He who wishes to ride far spares his horse.

• Qui vivra verra.
  • Idiomatic translation: Time will tell.
  • Literal meaning: Who shall live, shall see.

• Qui vole un œuf vole un bœuf.
  • Translation: He that steals an egg will steal an ox.

R

• Remuer le couteau dans la plaie.
  • Idiomatic translation: To rub it in.
  • Literal meaning: To twist the knife in the wound.

• Revenons à nos moutons
  • A quotation from La Farce de maître Pierre Pathelin
  • Idiomatic translation: Let's get back to what we were saying, doing.
    • Literally: "Let us get back to our sheep"

• Rien ne sert de courir, il faut partir à point.
  • Idiomatic translation: Slow and steady wins the race.
  • Literal meaning: It is useless to run, one must leave in time.

• Rira bien qui rira le dernier.
  • Literal meaning: Well laughs he who laughs last.
  • Idiomatic translation: He who laughs last laughs best.

• Rome ne s'est pas faite en un jour.
  • Idiomatic translation: Rome wasn't built in a day.

• Rouge soir et blanc matin, c'est la journée du pèlerin.
  • Idiomatic translation: Evening red and morning grey will set the traveller on his way.
  • Literal Meaning: Red evening and white morning, such is the pilgrim's day.

S

• Sage comme une image.
  • Idiomatic translation: As good as gold.
• Secret de deux, secret de Dieu; secret de trois, secret de tous.
  • Idiomatic translation: When three people know, the whole world knows.
  • Literal meaning: A secret shared by two is shared with God; a secret shared by three is shared with everybody.

• Si jeunesse savait, si vieillesse pouvait.
  • Idiomatic translation: Youth is wasted on the young.
  • Literal meaning: If youth but knew, if old age but could.

• Si tu veux la paix, prépare la guerre.
  • Literal meaning: "If you want peace prepare for war."
  • (Original in Latin by Scipio Africanus: "Si vis pacem para bellum.")

• "Si tu veut connaitre la fille, regarde la mère"
  • If you want to know the daughter, look at the mother
  • If you don't like your mother-in-law, you'll hate your girlfriend/wife after a few years. (work for appereances and mind)

• Souris qui n'a qu'un trou est bientôt prise.
  • Idiomatic translation: Better safe than sorry.
  • Literal meaning: A mouse that has only one hole is soon caught.

• Souvent femme varie, bien fol qui s'y fie.
  • Literal meaning: Often does a woman change her heart, mad be the man who will trust her.
  • Idiomatic translation: Woman is fickle, man beware!

• Suffisance vaut abondance.
  • Idiomatic translation: Enough is as good as a feast.
  • Literal meaning: Enough is worth plenty.

T

• Tant crie-t-on Noël qu'il vient.
  • Idiomatic translation: A constant importunity at length prevails.
  • Literal meaning: So much does one shout 'Christmas' that it comes.

• Tant dort le chat qu'il se réveille.
  • Translation: The sleeping cat at length awakes.

• Tant va la cruche à l'eau qu'à la fin elle se brise.
  • Literal meaning: So often does the jug go to water that in the end it breaks.
  • Translation 1: Do not strain your luck.
  • Translation 2: Anyone can only take so much.

• Tel est petit qui boit bien.
  • Idiomatic translation: Though he is little, he can tipple.

• Tel est pris qui croyait prendre.
  • Translation 1: It's the biter bit.
  • Translation 2: The hunter becomes the hunted.
  • Literal meaning: He is caught who thought to catch.

• Tel maître, tel valet.
  • Translation: Like master, like man.

• Tel père, tel fils.
  • Idiomatic translation: The apple does not fall far from the tree.
  • Translation: Like father, like son.

• Tel qui rit vendredi, dimanche pleurera.
  • Idiomatic translation: Sing before breakfast, cry before night.
  • Literal meaning: Laugh on Friday, cry on Sunday.

• Tous les chemins mènent à Rome.
  • Translation: All roads lead to Rome.

• Tous les goûts sont dans la nature.
  • Idiomatic translation: It takes all sorts to make a world.
  • Literal meaning: All tastes are in nature.

• Toute médaille a son revers.
  • Translation 1: Every rose has its thorn.
  • Translation 2: Every path has its puddle.
  • Literal meaning: Every medal has its back.

• Toute peine mérite salaire.
  • Idiomatic translation: The labourer is worthy of his hire.
  • Literal meaning: Every job deserves a wage.

• Toute vérité n'est pas bonne à dire.
  • Translation: The truth is sometimes best left unsaid.

• Tout est poison. Rien n'est poison. Le poison c'est la dose.
  • Literal meaning: Everything is poison. Nothing is poison. The poison is the dose.
  • Attributed to Paracelsus.

• Tout nouveau, tout beau.
  • Translation 1: Anything for a change.
  • Translation 2: New brooms sweep clean.
  • Literal meaning: All new, all beautiful.

• Tout vient à point à qui sait attendre.
  • Literal meaning: All things come to those who can wait.
  • Idiomatic translation: Every dog has his day.

• Trop de hâte nuit.
  • Idiomatic translation: Haste makes waste.
  • Literal meaning: Too much haste is harmful.

• Trop gratter cuit, trop parler nuit.
  • Translation: Too much scratching pains, too much talking plagues.

U

• Un bienfait n'est jamais perdu.
  • Translation: A favour is never lost.

• "un malheur n'arrive jamais seul"
  • Translation: Misery does not arrive alone.

• Un chien regarde bien un évêque.
  • Idiomatic translation: A cat may look at a king.
  • Literal meaning: A dog may look at a bishop.

• Un clou chasse l'autre.
  • Idiomatic translation: One man goes and another steps in.
  • Literal meaning: One nail drives the other out.

• Un(e) de perdu(e), dix de trouvé(e)s.
  • Idiomatic translation: There are plenty more fish in the sea.
  • Literal meaning: One lost, ten found.

• Une fois n'est pas coutume.
  • Translation 1: Just this once will not hurt.
  • Translation 2: Once in a while does no harm.
  • Literal meaning: Once does is no habit.

• Une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps.
  • Literal meaning: A swallow doesn't make spring.

• Un petit dessin vaut mieux qu'un long discours.
  • Idiomatic translation: A picture is worth a thousand words.
  • Literal meaning: A small drawing is better than a long speech.

• Une place pour chaque chose et chaque chose a sa place.
  • Translation: A place for everything and everything in its place.

• Un homme averti en vaut deux.
  • Translation 1: Forewarned is forearmed.
  • Translation 2: Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
  • Literal meaning: A forewarned man is worth two.

• Un jour sans vin est comme un jour sans soleil.
  • Translation: A day without wine is like a day without sunshine.

• Un sou est un sou.
  • Idiomatic translation: Every little helps.
  • Literal meaning: A penny is a penny.

• Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l'auras.
  • Idiomatic translation: A bird in hand is worth two in a bush.
  • Literal meaning: One "here, take it" is worth more than two "you will have it"s.

V

• Vache de loin a lait assez.
  • Idiomatic translation: Blue are the hills that are far away.
  • Literal meaning: From afar, the cow has milk enough.

• Ventre affamé n'a pas d'oreilles.
  • Idiomatic translation: Words are wasted on a starving man.
  • Literal meaning: The hungry belly has no ears.

• Vive la différence.
  • Literal meaning: Long live the difference (between the sexes, or any difference).
  • Translation: Hooray for the difference!

• Vouloir, c'est pouvoir.
  • Idiomatic translation: Where there's a will there's a way.
  • Literal meaning: To want to is to be able to.

See also

• Swiss proverbs

External Links

• Free French Lessons
• Proverbes francais
• French proverb dictionary