ProverbHuman NatureInternational origin1830

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree

Meaning: Children often resemble their parents.

Origin: Known across northern Europe — in German as der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm, and in Danish and Icelandic — though which language had it first is unclear. An 1830 English grammar quoted it as an Icelandic proverb, and Ralph Waldo Emerson helped popularize it in America in 1839, citing the German form. It is still said of children who resemble their parents.

Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, German, Italian, and 6 more languages

  • French: La pomme ne tombe jamais loin de l'arbre (literally: The apple never falls far from the tree)
  • Spanish: De tal palo, tal astilla (literally: From such a stick, such a splinter)
  • Japanese: 蛙の子は蛙 (Kaeru no ko wa kaeru) (literally: A frog's child is a frog)
  • German: Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm (literally: The apple does not fall far from the trunk)
  • Italian: Tale padre, tale figlio (literally: Like father, like son)
  • Portuguese: Filho de peixe sabe nadar (literally: A fish's child knows how to swim)
  • Dutch: De appel valt niet ver van de boom (literally: The apple doesn't fall far from the tree)
  • Russian: Яблоко от яблони недалеко падает (Yabloko ot yabloni nedaleko padaet) (literally: The apple falls not far from the apple tree)
  • Polish: Niedaleko pada jabłko od jabłoni (literally: The apple falls not far from the apple tree)
  • Chinese: 有其父必有其子 (Yǒu qí fù bì yǒu qí zǐ) (literally: Such a father, such a son)
  • Arabic: ابن الوز عوام (Ibn il-wizz ʿawwām) (literally: The gosling is a swimmer)

On the map

Like parent, like child

The same idea in 23 versions, colored by the picture each one uses. Each country shows the version in its main language.

World map: fruit near the tree (English, German, French, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Czech, Hungarian, Swedish, Estonian, Hebrew, Turkish, Indonesian, Thai); chips and splinters (Spanish (Spain), Romanian); born to swim (Japanese, Portuguese, Arabic); like father, like son (Italian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Malay).

Download the full map with every saying (PNG)See all world maps

11 more languages on the map

  • Czech Jablko nepadá daleko od stromu“The apple doesn't fall far from the tree”Source: Radio Prague International; Top.cz (Czech proverbs)
  • Hungarian Nem esik messze az alma a fájától“The apple doesn't fall far from its tree”Source: TINTA Magyar közmondásszótár; Wiktionary
  • Swedish Äpplet faller inte långt från trädet“The apple doesn't fall far from the tree”Source: Omniglot; Sublearn
  • Estonian Käbi ei kuku kännust kaugele“The pine cone doesn't fall far from the stump”Source: Wiktionary; Omniglot; Estonian folklore journal (Mäetagused)
  • Hebrew התפוח לא נופל רחוק מהעץ (Ha-tapuakh lo nofel rakhok me-ha-ets)“The apple doesn't fall far from the tree”Source: Israeli Ministry of Education teaching material; Ynet
  • Turkish Armut dibine düşer“The pear falls at the foot of its tree”Source: Eğitim Sistem; Wiktionary
  • Indonesian Buah jatuh tak jauh dari pohonnya“The fruit falls not far from its tree”Source: IDN Times; Ruangguru (Indonesian school platform)
  • Thai ลูกไม้หล่นไม่ไกลต้น (Luk mai lon mai klai ton)“The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree”Source: Thai PBS; TruePlookPanya
  • Romanian Așchia nu sare departe de trunchi“The splinter doesn't jump far from the trunk”Source: Wiktionary; Wikiquote (Romanian proverbs)
  • Vietnamese Cha nào con nấy“Such a father, such a child”Source: VietJack; Vdict
  • Malay Bapa borek, anak rintik“A spotted father, a speckled child”Source: Wiktionary; eCentral (Malaysian peribahasa reference)

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