YOUR RUSSIAN LANGUAGE GUIDE

TOP 100 RUSSIAN

PROVERBS AND SAYINGS
with English transcription,
Russian-to-English word-to-word translation,
and English literary equivalents

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 100 Russian proverbs and sayings
with English transcription, word-to-word translation, and English equivalents

Like any other rich language, Russian is replete with ornate and witty expressions that reflect the essence of the Russian spirit. This e-book contains the most
famous Russian proverbs and sayings. They are deeply rooted in the colloquial speech, as well as in classic and modern literature. Being the gem of Russian
folklore, they are still very well applicable to the affairs and events of our time.

Here you can find proverbs and sayings in Russian with word-to-word translation into English. This will help you understand their sometimes not entirely
transparent meaning and learn Russian words used in the context. You will see that often even with the words translated literally, you still can’t grasp the
sense of the whole saying. This is primarily because each country has its own realities and mentality, which usually vary from one nation to another. That is
why, to each proverb there is an analogue in English to represent the meaning as close as possible. All proverbs and sayings are presented alphabetically.

Why do you need to know Russian proverbs?

• Native speakers often use such expressions in everyday conversation, sometimes without even realizing it. Don’t want to be left out and miss the
most important things in a conversation? Then, study these expressions well and surprise your Russian-speaking colleagues, friends or family
members with one or two handy phrases.
• Sayings can tell you more about Russian culture than any textbook. Such sayings clearly demonstrate what matters to Russians and which social
norms are is expected.

Therefore, to better understand Russians, learn these top 100 hand-picked Russian proverbs with translation into English.

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 RUSSIAN PROVERB TRANSCRIPTION WORD-TO-WORD TRANSLATION LITERARY TRANSLATION /
ENGLISH EQUIVALENT
1 Ба́ба с во́зу — кобы́ ле ле́гче Bába s vózu — kobýle légche It's easier for the horse when the woman Good riddance to bad rubbish
gets off the cart
2 Бе́дному жени́ться и ночь коротка́ Bédnomu zhenítsya i noch' korotká When a pauper gets married at last, even Marriage is not for a poor man, for
the night is too short love lasts as long as money endures
3 Без меня́ меня́ жени́ли Bez menyá menyá zheníli They married me off without me It's been arranged over my head
4 Без труда́ не вы́ тащишь и ры́ бки Bez trudá ne výtashchish' i rýbki iz Without effort, one cannot get a fish out A cat in gloves catches no mice
из пруда́ prudá of pond
5 Береги́ пла́тье снову, а честь Beregí plátye snovu, a chest' smólodu Look after your dress when it's new, and A good name is sooner lost than won
смо́лоду after your honor when you are young
6 Бу́дет и на на́шей у́лице пра́здник Búdet i na náshey úlitse prázdnik There will be a holiday on our street The best is yet to come
7 Бу́дешь мно́го знать — ско́ро Búdesh' mnógo znat' — skóro If you know too much, you'll get old too Curiosity killed a cat
соста́ришься sostárish'sya son
8 Бума́га всё те́рпит Bumága vsyo térpit Paper takes everything Paper doesn't blush
9 Была́ бы ше́я, а хому́т найдётся Bylá by shéya, a khomút naydyótsya If there's a neck, a burden will be found The devil finds work for idle hands to
do
10 Была́ ни была́! Bylá ni bylá! What will be, will be Сome what may!
11 В гостя́х хорошо́, а до́ма лу́чше V gostyákh khoroshó, a dóma lúchshe It’s good to be a guest, but it's better to East or West — home is best
be at home
12 В до́ме пове́шенного не говоря́т о V dóme povéshennogo ne govoryát o One doesn't speak of a rope in the hose Let sleeping dogs lie
верёвке veryóvke of a hung man
13 В нога́х пра́вды нет V nogákh právdy net There's no truth in standing It is as cheap sitting as standing
14 В cемье не без уро́да V sem'ye ne bez uróda There is no family without an ugly one No garden is without its seeds
15 В тесноте́, да не в оби́де V tesnoté, da ne v obíde It's a bit tight, but we hold no offense Plenty is no plague
16 В ти́хом о́муте че́рти во́дятся V tíkhom ómute chérti vódyatsya In calm pond devils are found Still waters run deep
17 В чужо́й монасты́ рь со свои́м V chuzhóy monastýr' so svoím ustávom Don't go to a foreign monastery with When in Rome, do as the Romans do
уста́вом не хо́дят ne khódyat your own charter
18 В Ту́лу со свои́м самова́ром не V Túlu so svoím samovárom ne yézdyat One shouldn't carry samovars to Tula One shouldn't bring coals to
е́здят Newcastle
19 Взя́лся за гуж — не говори́, что не Vzyálsya za guzh — ne govorí, chto ne Once you took a tug - do not say you are Once you pledge, don't hedge
дюж dyuzh not capable
20 Ви́дит о́ко, да зуб неймёт Vídit óko, da zub neymyót The eye sees it, but the teeth can't chew The girl looks fine, but she isn't mine
21 Во́лка но́ги ко́рмят Vólka nógi kórmyat Wolves are fed by their legs The dog that trots about finds a bone
22 Вор у во́ра дуби́нку укра́л Vor u vóra dubínku ukrál Thief stole a stick from a thief To deceive the deceiver is no deceit
23 Вот где соба́ка зары́ та Vot gde sobáka zarýta That's where the dog is berried That's what's behind it all
24 Вот таки́е пироги́ Vot takíe pirogí That's what how the pies are That's how it is
25 Всяк кули́к своё боло́то хва́лит Vsyak kulík svoyo bolóto khválit Every bird praises its own marsh Every cook praises its own broth
26 Где на́ша не пропада́ла Gde násha ne propadála We have been through a lot Come what may
27 Глаза́ боя́тся, а ру́ки де́лают Glazá boyátsya, a rúki délayut Eyes are afraid, but hands are working Well begun is half done
28 Го́лод не тётка Gólod ne tyotka Hunger is no aunt Hunger breaks stone walls
29 Голь на вы́ думку хитра́ Gol' na výdumku khitrá Poverty makes you smart Necessity is the mother of invention
30 Горба́того моги́ла испра́вит Gorbátogo mogíla isprávit Only the grave will correct the What is bred in the bone will not go
hunchbacked out of the flesh
31 Гото́вь са́ни ле́том, а теле́гу зимо́й Gotóv' sáni létom, a telégu zimóy Get your sleigh ready in summer and Make provision for a rainy day but in
your cart in winter good time
32 Гусь свинье́ не това́рищ Gus' svinyé ne továrishch Goose is not a comrade to pig Oil and water don’t mix
33 Дай ему́ па́лец, он и ру́ку отку́сит Day yemú pálets, on i rúku otkúsit Give him a finger, he will bite off whole Give him an inch and he'll take a mile
hand
34 Даю́ т — бери́, а бьют — беги Dayút — berí, a byut — begi When they give - take, when they beat - It's best to run when you see a gun
run
35 Дела́ иду́т, конто́ра пи́шет Delá idút, kontóra píshet Things are on the move; the office is busy Busy as a bee
writing
36 Дела́ как са́жа бела́ Delá kak sázha belá Things are as white as soot Things couldn't be worse
37 Де́ло в шля́пе! Délo v shlyápe! All is in the hat! The devil is dead / It's done!
38 Де́ло ма́стера бои́тся Délo mástera boítsya Work is afraid of the master As the workman, so is the work
39 Де́лу вре́мя — поте́хе час Délu vrémya — potékhe chas There is time for work and pleasure Business before pleasure
40 Де́ньги счёт лю́ бят Dén'gi schot lyúbyat Money likes to be counted Money to spare likes good care
41 До сва́дьбы заживёт Do svád'by zazhivyót Before the wedding, you will heal You'll be as good as new
42 Дорога́ ло́жка к обе́ду Dorogá lózhka k obédu A spoon is dear when lunch is coming Slow help is no help
43 Друг познаётся в беде́ Drug poznayótsya v bedé One can know his friend in bad times A friend in need is a friend indeed
44 Дру́жба дру́жбой, а табачо́к врозь Drúzhba drúzhboy, a tabachók vroz' We might be good friends, but our Friends are OK when they don't get in
tobacco is not shared the way
45 Дурака́м зако́н не пи́сан Durakám zakón ne písan Laws are not written for fools Fools rush in where angels fear to
tread
46 Дурна́я голова́ нога́м поко́я не Durnáya golová nogám pokóya ne Foolish head doesn't let legs rest My head will never save my feet
даёт dayot
47 Есть ещё по́рох в пороховни́цах Yest' yeshcho pórokh v There is yet powder in the power-horns There is life in the old dog yet
porokhovnítsakh
48 Жизнь прожи́ть — не по́ле Zhizn' prozhít' — ne póle pereytí To live a life is not like crossing a field Life is not a bed of roses
перейти́
49 За спрос не даю́ т в нос Za spros ne dayút v nos They don’t break your nose for asking Lose nothing for asking
50 За что купи́л, за то и продаю́ Za chto kupíl, za to i prodayú I sell my goods at the price I've paid I give it for what it's worth
51 И швец, и жнец, и на дуде́ игре́ц I shvets, i zhnets, i na dudé igréts A tailor, a harvester, and a flute player Jack of all trades
52 Из гря́зи да в князи Iz gryázi da v knyazi From mud to prince From pauper to prince
53 И́ли пан, и́ли пропа́л Íli pan, íli propál Either a master, or a loser Win or lose
54 Как ау́кнется, так и откли́кнется Kak aúknetsya, tak i otklíknetsya As the call, so the echo As you sow, so shall you reap
55 Как коро́ва языко́м слизну́ла Kak koróva yazykóm sliznúla As if a cow licked with its tongue Vanished in plain sight
56 Ка́ши ма́слом не испо́ртишь Káshi máslom ne ispórtish' You won't make porridge worse by Plenty is no plague
adding butter
57 Кома́р но́су|носу́ не подто́чит Komár nósu ne podtóchit A mosquito will not smack his nose It will go without a hitch
58 Когото́к увя́з — всей пти́чке Kogotók uvyáz — vsey ptíchke propást' If one claw is caught, the bird is lost One link broken, the whole chain is
пропа́сть broken
59 Копе́йка рубль бережёт Kopéyka rubl' berezhót A penny keeps a rouble together A penny saved is a penny gained
60 Кто ра́но встаёт, тому́ Бог даёт Kto ráno vstayót, tomú Bog dayot God gives to the one who gets up first The cow that's first up, gets the first
of the dew
61 Кто смел, тот и съел Kto smel, tot i syel The one who is brave ate it all Fortune favors the brave
62 Куда́ ни кинь — всё клин Kudá ni kin' — vsyo klin Wherever you go - there is a wedge Every alley is a dead end
63 Куй желе́зо, пока́ горячо́ Kuy zhelézo, poká goryachó Forge the iron while it's hot Strike while the iron is hot
64 Лес ру́бят — ще́пки летя́т Les rúbyat — shchépki letyát Forest is cut - chips fly You can’t make an omelette without
breaking eggs
65 Лёгок на поми́не Lyógok na pomíne He easily appears when we mention him Speak of the devil, and he will appear
66 Ло́жка дёгтя в бо́чке мёда Lózhka dyógtya v bóchke myóda A spoon of tar in a barrel of honey A fly in the ointment
67 Лома́ть — не стро́ить Lomát' — ne stróit' To break is not the same as to build Breaking is not making
68 Лу́чше сини́ца в рука́х, чем Lúchshe sinítsa v rukákh, chem zhurávl' Better a tit in hand than a crane in the A bird in the hand is worth two in the
жура́вль в не́бе v nébe sky bush
69 Лю́ бишь ката́ться — люби́ и Lyúbish' katát'sya — lyubí i sánochki He who enjoys sledging, must enjoy No pains, no gains
са́ночки вози́ть vozít' carrying the sledge
70 Любо́вь зла — полю́ бишь и козла́ Lyubóv' zla — polyúbish' i kozlá Love is mean, you may love a goat Love is blind
71 Мал золотни́к – да до́рог Mal zolotník – da dórog Small penny but precious A little body often harbours a great
soul
72 Ми́лые браня́тся — то́лько Mílyye branyátsya — tól'ko téshatsya When lovers quarrel, they are playing Lovers' quarrels are soon mended
те́шатся
73 Моя́ ха́та с кра́ю Moyá kháta s kráyu My house is at the village's edge It's no concern of mine
74 Муж - голова́, а жена́ - ше́я Muzh - golová, a zhená - shéya The husband is the head, and the wife is Behind every great man there’s a
the neck great woman
75 Муж да жена́ — одна́ сатана́ Muzh da zhená — odná sataná Husband and wife are same devil They are finger and thumb
76 Мы и са́ми с уса́ми My i sámi s usámi We have moustache too We know our stuff
77 Мя́гко сте́лет, да жёстко спать Myágko stélet, da zhostko spat' He lays the bed softly, but it's hard to Velvet paws hide sharp claws
sleep
78 На Бо́га наде́йся, а сам не плоша́й Na Bóga nadéysya, a sam ne plosháy Count on God but also work well God helps those who help
themselves
79 На во́ре и ша́пка гори́т Na vóre i shápka gorít On the thief, the hat is burning Guilty conscience needs no accuser
80 На нет и суда́ нет Na net i sudá net No-one will judge a "no" No is a no
81 Не ве́шай нос Ne véshay nos Don't hang up your nose Keep your chin up
82 Не лезь поперёд ба́тьки в пе́кло Ne lez' poperyód bát'ki v péklo Don't rush into the Hell before your Don't rush head over heels
father
83 Не по Сеньке ша́пка Ne po Sén'ke shápka This hat doesn't fit Sen’ka He is not the right man for the job
84 Не уме́ешь – не бери́сь Ne uméesh' – ne berís' If you are not able to do it, don't start If a job is worth doing it is worth
doing well
85 Не успе́ть и гла́зом моргну́ть Ne uspét' i glázom morgnút' You won't even have time to blink Before one can say Jack Robinson
86 Незва́ный гость – ху́же тата́рина Nezványy gost' – khúzhe tatárina An uninvited guest is worse than a Tartar A surprise guest brings unrest
87 Не́чего на зе́ркало пеня́ть, коль Néchego na zérkalo penyát', kol' rózha You must not blame the mirror for Don't lay the blame at someone
ро́жа крива́ krivá showing a crooked face else's door
88 Но́вая метла́ по-но́вому метёт Nóvaya metlá po-nóvomu metyót A new broom sweeps in a new way New lords, new laws
89 Обжёгшись на молоке́, бу́дешь Obzhógshis' na moloké, búdesh' dut' i Having burnt with milk, you will blow A burnt child dreads the fire
дуть и на во́ду na vódu onto water
90 Плохо́му танцо́ру но́ги меша́ют Plokhómu tantsóru nógi mesháyut Bad dancer's legs get in the way A bad workman blames his tools
91 Попроси́ дурака́ бо́гу моли́ться, он Poprosí duraká bógu molít'sya, on i lob Ask the fool to pray to God, he will break Give a fool a горе, and he will hang
и лоб расшибёт rasshibyót his forehead himself
92 Рабо́та не волк, в лес не убежи́т Rabóta ne volk, v les ne ubezhít Work is not a wolf, it won’t run away into This can wait / Take your time
the forest
93 Расскажи́те э́то свое́й ба́бушке Rasskazhíte éto svoyéy bábushke Tell that to your grandma Tell that to the marines
94 Рука́ ру́ку мо́ет Ruká rúku móet A hand washes a hand Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours
95 Си́лою не всё возьмёшь Síloyu ne vsyo voz'myósh' You won’t take everything by force You can take a horse to the water but
you cannot make him drink
96 Скупо́й пла́тит два́жды Skupóy plátit dvázhdy Miser pays twice Cheapest is the dearest
97 Труд челове́ка ко́рмит, а лень Trud chelovéka kórmit, a len' pórtit Labor feeds human, and laziness spoils Idleness rusts the mind
по́ртит him
98 У стра́ха глаза́ велики́ U strákha glazá velikí Fear has big eyes Cowards die many times before their
death
99 Угово́р доро́же де́нег Ugovór dorózhe déneg A deal is worth more than money A bargain is a bargain
100 Э́тот но́мер не пройдёт Étot nómer ne proydyót This trick won't work That cock won't fight

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