Portuguese Proverbs
95 genuine Portuguese proverbs, each matched with an English proverb that means the same thing. Some use the same image; many say it in a completely different way. Each comes with a word-for-word translation and its meaning.
- Querer é poder — Determination will help you find a solution. Literally: To want is to be able.
- Duas cabeças pensam melhor do que uma — Collaboration and diverse perspectives lead to better solutions. Literally: Two heads think better than one.
- Cá se fazem, cá se pagam — Your actions will eventually return to affect you. Literally: Here they're done, here they're paid for.
- A galinha da minha vizinha é mais gorda do que a minha — What others have always seems better than what you have. Literally: My neighbor's hen is fatter than mine.
- Mais vale um pássaro na mão do que dois a voar — It's better to have something certain now than to risk it for something uncertain in the future. Literally: A bird in the hand is worth more than two flying.
- Cada qual com o seu igual — People with similar interests or characteristics tend to associate with each other. Literally: Each one with his equal.
- Roma e Pavia não se fizeram num dia — Great things take time and patience. Literally: Rome and Pavia weren't made in a day.
- Há males que vêm por bem — There is always something positive in every difficult situation. Literally: Some misfortunes come for the good.
- O hábito não faz o monge — Appearances can be deceiving. Literally: The habit doesn't make the monk.
- Mais vale prevenir do que remediar — Fixing a problem early prevents bigger issues later. Literally: Better to prevent than to cure.
- Deus ajuda quem cedo madruga — Those who act first gain advantage. Literally: God helps those who rise early.
- Mais vale tarde do que nunca — Doing something late is better than not doing it at all. Literally: Better late than never.
- A necessidade aguça o engenho — Difficult situations inspire creative solutions. Literally: Necessity sharpens the wits.
- Filho de peixe sabe nadar — Children often resemble their parents. Literally: A fish's child knows how to swim.
- Quem semeia ventos colhe tempestades — Your actions determine your outcomes. Literally: Whoever sows winds reaps storms.
- Não há fumo sem fogo — Rumors or signs usually indicate some truth. Literally: There's no smoke without fire.
- Devagar se vai ao longe — Consistency and patience lead to success. Literally: Slowly you go far.
- Nem tudo o que reluz é ouro — Appearances can be misleading. Literally: Not everything that shines is gold.
- Não faças aos outros o que não gostas que te façam a ti — Treat people the way you want to be treated. Literally: Don't do to others what you wouldn't like done to you.
- A sorte protege os audazes — Taking risks often leads to rewards. Literally: Fortune protects the bold.
- Quem não tem cão caça com gato — When you need help, you accept what's offered. Literally: Whoever has no dog hunts with a cat.
- Cão que ladra não morde — People who make threats rarely carry them out. Literally: A barking dog doesn't bite.
- Em Roma sê romano — Adapt to local customs when visiting a new place. Literally: In Rome, be Roman.
- Quem tem telhados de vidro não atira pedras — Don't criticize others if you have the same faults. Literally: Whoever has a glass roof doesn't throw stones.
- Quem espera sempre alcança — Patience is rewarded. Literally: Whoever waits always gets there.
- A pressa é inimiga da perfeição — Rushing leads to mistakes and wasted effort. Literally: Haste is the enemy of perfection.
- Quem não chora não mama — Those who complain the most get attention. Literally: Whoever doesn't cry doesn't get suckled.
- De boas intenções está o inferno cheio — Good plans are worthless without follow-through. Literally: Hell is full of good intentions.
- Quando um não quer, dois não brigam — Both parties are responsible in a conflict. Literally: When one doesn't want to, two don't fight.
- Longe da vista, longe do coração — We tend to forget things or people we don't see. Literally: Far from sight, far from the heart.
- Quem não arrisca não petisca — You must take risks to achieve rewards. Literally: Whoever doesn't risk doesn't snack.
- A união faz a força — Strength comes from unity. Literally: Union makes strength.
- Errar é humano — Making mistakes is natural; forgiving them is noble. Literally: To err is human.
- Perdido por cem, perdido por mil — Once committed to something, go all the way with it. Literally: Lost for a hundred, lost for a thousand.
- Despir um santo para vestir outro — Solve one problem by creating another. Literally: To undress one saint to clothe another.
- Sol na eira e chuva no nabal — You can't enjoy two mutually exclusive things simultaneously. Literally: Sun on the threshing floor and rain on the turnip field.
- Mais vale prevenir do que remediar — It's wiser to be cautious than to take unnecessary risks. Literally: Better to prevent than to cure.
- Não há rosas sem espinhos — Even the best things have their drawbacks. Literally: There are no roses without thorns.
- Quem o feio ama, bonito lhe parece — Perception of beauty is subjective and personal. Literally: Whoever loves the ugly finds it pretty.
- Faz o que eu digo, não faças o que eu faço — Live according to the principles you advocate. Literally: Do what I say, not what I do.
- Não há bem que sempre dure nem mal que não acabe — Nothing pleasant lasts forever. Literally: No good lasts forever, no bad never ends.
- É difícil agradar a gregos e troianos — It's impossible to satisfy every person all the time. Literally: It's hard to please both Greeks and Trojans.
- Mais vale pouco que nada — Something is better than nothing. Literally: A little is worth more than nothing.
- Pôr o carro à frente dos bois — Do things in the correct order. Literally: Putting the cart in front of the oxen.
- A união faz a força — Tasks are easier when shared among many people. Literally: Union makes strength.
- Não deixes para amanhã o que podes fazer hoje — Avoid procrastination. Literally: Don't leave for tomorrow what you can do today.
- A cavalo dado não se olha o dente — Don't question the value of a gift. Literally: You don't look at a gifted horse's teeth.
- Uma desgraça nunca vem só — Troubles often come all at once. Literally: A misfortune never comes alone.
- Todos os caminhos vão dar a Roma — There are many ways to reach the same goal. Literally: All roads end up in Rome.
- Gostos não se discutem — Everyone has their own preferences and choices. Literally: Tastes aren't argued over.
- A fome é o melhor tempero — Food tastes better when you're truly hungry. Literally: Hunger is the best seasoning.
- Cada um por si e Deus por todos — In crisis, everyone must look after their own interests. Literally: Each one for himself and God for all.
- Água mole em pedra dura, tanto bate até que fura — Persistent small efforts accomplish what force alone cannot. Literally: Soft water on hard stone keeps hitting until it bores through.
- Diz-me com quem andas, dir-te-ei quem és — The company you keep reflects and shapes your own character. Literally: Tell me who you walk with, I'll tell you who you are.
- Cada qual sabe onde lhe aperta o sapato — Only the person experiencing a difficulty truly understands its depth. Literally: Each one knows where his shoe pinches.
- O mau artífice culpa a ferramenta — Incompetent people blame external factors for their failures instead of taking responsibility. Literally: The bad craftsman blames the tool.
- As paredes têm ouvidos — Be careful what you say — you may be overheard in unexpected places. Literally: Walls have ears.
- O que os olhos não veem, o coração não sente — We only suffer from what we know about; ignorance can sometimes bring a measure of peace. Literally: What the eyes don't see, the heart doesn't feel.
- Quem tudo quer tudo perde — Trying to do too many things at once means accomplishing nothing properly. Literally: Whoever wants everything loses everything.
- Quem não arrisca não petisca — Bold action and courage are rewarded; timidity leads to missed opportunities. Literally: Whoever doesn't risk doesn't snack.
- Conhece-te a ti mesmo — Self-knowledge and self-awareness are the foundation of all wisdom and right living. Literally: Know thyself.
- Querer é poder — With true determination and commitment, any obstacle can be overcome. Literally: To want is to be able.
- De noite todos os gatos são pardos — When darkness obscures differences, all things appear equal or indistinguishable. Literally: At night all cats are gray.
- Antes que cases, vê o que fazes — (by extension) Joining (or merging) two things together too soon will lead to problems. Literally: Before you marry, look at what you're doing.
- Uma desgraça nunca vem só — Troubles compound—when one disaster strikes, others typically follow in succession. Literally: A misfortune never comes alone.
- Mudam-se os tempos, mudam-se as vontades — Circumstances change, so rigid adherence to past methods becomes foolish; adapt your approach to present conditions. Literally: Times change, wants change.
- Casa roubada, trancas à porta — Counsel offered after the deed is already done is worthless. Literally: House robbed, then bolts on the door.
- Quem boa cama faz nela se deita — Your choices about how you arrange your life will directly determine the comfort or discomfort you experience living it. Literally: Whoever makes a good bed lies in it.
- É difícil agradar a gregos e troianos — Rising early cannot satisfy conflicting demands; some desires are inherently incompatible. Literally: It's hard to please both Greeks and Trojans.
- Cada um por si e Deus por todos — Self-interest and communal welfare coexist; individual responsibility doesn't negate collective obligation to others. Literally: Each for himself and God for all.
- Dos males, o menor — When facing unavoidable harm, select the option causing minimum damage rather than suffering the worst possible outcome. Literally: Of evils, the lesser.
- O que os olhos não veem, o coração não sente — Ignorance of misfortune shields us from suffering its emotional weight. Literally: What the eyes don't see, the heart doesn't feel.
- Devagar se vai ao longe — Steady, moderate effort sustains progress better than rushed, forceful action that exhausts itself quickly. Literally: Slowly you go far.
- Águas passadas não movem moinhos — Dwelling on past opportunities wastes energy; focus your effort on present circumstances to achieve results. Literally: Past waters don't turn mills.
- A ocasião faz o ladrão — Temptation proves strongest where safeguards are weakest, inviting transgression. Literally: Opportunity makes the thief.
- A roupa suja lava-se em casa — Betraying your family or community harms the very foundation of your own security and belonging. Literally: Dirty laundry is washed at home.
- Querer é poder — Determination and mental resolve can overcome obstacles that seem insurmountable through sheer commitment. Literally: To want is to be able.
- Quem escuta, de si ouve — Eavesdroppers discover harsh truths because people speak candidly when unobserved, unlike flattery offered face-to-face. Literally: Whoever eavesdrops hears about himself.
- Se a montanha não vem a Maomé, vai Maomé à montanha — When obstacles won't move, adapt your approach rather than exhaust yourself demanding change. Literally: If the mountain won't come to Muhammad, Muhammad goes to the mountain.
- Gato escaldado de água fria tem medo — Past trauma causes excessive caution even toward harmless situations resembling the original threat. Literally: A scalded cat is afraid of cold water.
- Deus dá o frio conforme a roupa — Hardship diminishes in proportion to one's vulnerability, or mercy matches misfortune. Literally: God gives the cold according to the clothing.
- Pela boca morre o peixe — A physical misstep heals quickly, but careless words cause lasting damage to relationships and reputation. Literally: The fish dies by its mouth.
- Uma andorinha não faz a primavera — A single favorable occurrence cannot establish a lasting pattern; sustained evidence requires repetition. Literally: One swallow doesn't make the spring.
- Ir à lã e ser tosquiado — Pursuing gain from others often results in losing what you already possess through their cunning. Literally: To go for wool and get shorn.
- A bom entendedor, meia palavra basta — The wise person needs only minimal guidance to understand and act on good advice. Literally: For a good listener, half a word is enough.
- O hábito é uma segunda natureza — Habits ingrained through repetition become as automatic and instinctive as inborn traits. Literally: Habit is a second nature.
- Uma mão lava a outra — Reciprocal kindness creates a cycle where helping others motivates them to help you in return. Literally: One hand washes the other.
- Erva ruim, não a queima a geada — Neglected problems and bad habits flourish faster than good ones require deliberate cultivation. Literally: Frost doesn't burn a bad weed.
- Enquanto há vida, há esperança — Despair closes doors only death truly opens; circumstances remain changeable while breath remains. Literally: While there's life, there's hope.
- Cada qual com o seu igual — People naturally gravitate toward and trust those who share their values, interests, or circumstances. Literally: Each one with his equal.
- Casamento e mortalha no céu se talha — Destined partners find each other through forces beyond human control, suggesting compatibility transcends deliberate planning. Literally: Marriage and shroud are cut in heaven.
- As boas contas fazem os bons amigos — Settling debts promptly prevents resentment from festering and eroding relationships over time. Literally: Good accounts make good friends.
- Quem canta seus males espanta — Singing actively displaces worry by occupying the mind with melody rather than anxious thoughts. Literally: Whoever sings scares away his troubles.
- Cada macaco no seu galho — Individuals excel when focusing on their own expertise rather than attempting unfamiliar work outside their competence. Literally: Every monkey on its own branch.
- Santos da casa não fazem milagres — Recognition is hardest to win from the people who know you best. Literally: Home saints don't work miracles.
Loading the full interactive collection…