ProverbChallenge
German origin
German originNot macht erfinderisch
Meaning: Difficult situations push people to find clever solutions.
Literally: Need makes one inventive
Example: “Ohne Werkzeug hat er das Regal mit einem Löffel festgeschraubt. Not macht erfinderisch.” — With no tools, he screwed the shelf in with a spoon: necessity is the mother of invention.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Italian, and 4 more languages
English: Necessity is the mother of invention
French: Nécessité est mère d'invention (literally: Necessity is the mother of invention)
Spanish: La necesidad es la madre de la invención (literally: Necessity is the mother of invention)
Japanese: 必要は発明の母 (Hitsuyō wa hatsumei no haha) (literally: Necessity is the mother of invention)
Italian: La necessità aguzza l'ingegno (literally: Necessity sharpens the wits)
Portuguese: A necessidade aguça o engenho (literally: Necessity sharpens the wits)
Dutch: De nood maakt vindingrijk (literally: Need makes one inventive)
Russian: Голь на выдумки хитра (Gol' na vydumki khitra) (literally: The poor are clever at inventing)
Polish: Potrzeba matką wynalazków (literally: Need is the mother of inventions)
Origin: Where English makes necessity a mother, German simply says need makes you inventive.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- Blaukraut bleibt Blaukraut und Brautkleid bleibt Brautkleid. A 'bl' / 'br' brain-twister.
- Zehn zahme Ziegen ziehen zehn Zentner Zucker zum Zoo. A sustained 'z' / 'ts' drill — every word starts with the same affricate.
- Wenn Fliegen hinter Fliegen fliegen, fliegen Fliegen Fliegen nach. Fliegen means 'flies' (insects), 'to fly', and 'flying' — all at once, relentlessly.
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