French Proverbs Flashcards
Learn the French counterparts to many of the most common proverbs.
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Beggars can’t be choosers.
Un mendiant n’a pas le choix.
A beggar doesn’t have a choice.
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An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Pomme du matin éloigne le médecin.
A morning apple keeps the doctor away.
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Home is where the heart is.
Où se trouve le Cœur, là est la maison.
Wherever the heart is, that’s home.
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You have to strike while the iron is hot.
Il faut battre le fer quand il est chaud.
You must strike the iron when it’s hot.
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A fool and his money are soon parted.
Aux idiots l’argent brûle les doigts.
For idiots, money burns the fingers.
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Every dog has its day.
À chacun son heure de gloire.
To each his/her hour of glory.
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It never rains, but it pours.
Un malheur n’arrive jamais seul.
A misfortune never comes alone.
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The chickens have come home to roost.
On récolte ce que l’on sème.
We harvest what we sow.
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Long absent, soon forgotten.
Qui s’absente, se fait oublier.
Those who make themselves absent get forgotten.
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Let bygones be bygones.
Passons l’éponge, oublions le passé.
Pass the sponge [wipe the slate clean], let’s forget the past.
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To err is human, to forgive divine.
L’erreur est humaine.
Mistakes are human.
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Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
Il n’y a jamais de fumée sans feu.
There’s never smoke without fire.
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Actions speak louder than words.
Les actes en disent plus long que les mots.
Actions tell more than words.
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You’ve made your bed, and now you’ll have to lie in it.
Comme on fait son lit, on se couche.
We (go to) sleep as we make our beds.
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The early bird catches the worm.
Le monde appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt.
The world belongs to those who wake up early.
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April showers bring May flowers.
En avril, ne te découvre pas d’un fil.
In April, don’t remove a thread (of your clothing). [Warm weather in April isn’t to be trusted.]
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Better late than never.
Mieux vaut tard que jamais.
Better late than never.
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Better safe than sorry.
Mieux vaut prévenir que guérir.
Better to prevent than cure.
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A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l’auras.
Better to have one than two promised.
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Birds of a feather flock together.
Qui se ressemble s’assemble.
Those who look similar gather together.
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Curiosity killed the cat.
La curiosité est un vilain défaut.
Curiosity is a dreadful flaw.
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The devil is in the details.
Le diable est dans les détails.
The devil is in the details.
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Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Ne fais pas à autrui ce que tu n’aimerais pas que l’on te fasse.
Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t like them to do to you.
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Don’t judge a book by its cover.
L’habit ne fait pas le moine.
The (monk’s) robe doesn’t make the monk.
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The apple does not fall far from the tree.
Les chiens ne font pas des chats.
Dogs don’t make (give birth to) cats.
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Better be alone than in bad company.
Mieux vaut être seul que mal accompagné.
It’s better to be alone than in bad company.
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The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
On juge l’arbre à ses fruits.
We judge the tree by its fruit.
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Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
Se coucher tôt, se lever tôt, c’est amasser santé et sagesse.
To go to bed and wake up early is to pile up health and wisdom.
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When there’s a will, there’s a way.
Quand on veut, on peut.
When one wants, one can.
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Let sleeping dogs lie.
Ne revenons pas sur les sujets qui fâchent.
Let’s not return to topics that anger.
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All talk and no action.
Ce sont de belles paroles.
Those are/were beautiful words.
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You’re casting pearls before swine.
Donner de la confiture à des cochons.
Give jam to pigs. [Waste something by giving it to someone who won’t use/appreciate it.]
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You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
On ne peut avoir le beurre et l’argent du beurre.
We cannot have both the butter and the butter’s money.
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He who pays the piper calls the tune.
Le client est roi.
The customer is king.
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One can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs.
On ne fait pas d’omelette sans casser des oeufs.
One can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs.
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Not every truth should be said.
Toute vérité n’est pas bonne à dire.
Not every truth should be said.
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All roads lead to Rome.
Tous les chemins mènent à Rome.
All roads lead to Rome.
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Love is blind.
L’amour est aveugle.
Love is blind.
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Think before you speak.
Réfléchis avant de parler.
Think before speaking.
