ProverbPerseveranceSpanish origin

Al que madruga, Dios le ayuda

Meaning: Those who get up early and get to work are the ones who prosper.

Literally: God helps those who rise early

Example: “Llegué al mercado a las siete y conseguí el mejor pescado. Al que madruga, Dios le ayuda.” — I got to the market at seven and got the best fish: the early bird catches the worm.

Equivalents in English, French, Japanese, German, Italian, and 4 more languages

  • English: The early bird catches the worm
  • French: L'avenir appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt (literally: The future belongs to those who wake up early)
  • Japanese: 早起きは三文の徳 (Hayaoki wa sanmon no toku) (literally: Waking early is worth three coins)
  • German: Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund (literally: The morning hour has gold in its mouth)
  • Italian: Chi dorme non piglia pesci (literally: Whoever sleeps catches no fish)
  • Portuguese: Deus ajuda quem cedo madruga (literally: God helps those who rise early)
  • Dutch: De morgenstond heeft goud in de mond (literally: The morning hour has gold in its mouth)
  • Russian: Кто рано встаёт, тому Бог подаёт (Kto rano vstayot, tomu Bog podayot) (literally: God gives to whoever rises early)
  • Polish: Kto rano wstaje, temu Pan Bóg daje (literally: God gives to whoever rises early)

Origin: Spanish adds God to the early bird. It has a famous counter-proverb: no por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano, getting up early doesn't make dawn come sooner.

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