
ProverbPerseverance
Dutch origin
De morgenstond heeft goud in de mond
Meaning: The early morning is the best time to get things done.
Literally: The morning hour has gold in its mouth
Example: “Ik schrijf het liefst om zes uur 's ochtends. De morgenstond heeft goud in de mond.” — I like to write at six in the morning: the early bird catches the worm.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, 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)
Spanish: Al que madruga, Dios le ayuda (literally: God helps those who rise 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)
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: The Dutch twin of German Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund; why the hour has gold in its mouth has been explained in several ways, none confirmed.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- Liesje leerde Lotje lopen langs de lange Lindelaan. Eight consecutive l-words, with the vowel behind the l changing every time.
- De kat krabt de krullen van de trap. A 'kr' cluster drill — Dutch consonant pileups that beginners approach with dread.
- Als vliegen achter vliegen vliegen, vliegen vliegen vliegen achterna. The same noun/verb homograph trap as the German version — vliegen does triple duty.
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