ProverbPerseveranceEnglish origin1670

The early bird catches the worm

Meaning: Those who act first gain advantage.

Example: “We got the best seats by arriving at seven; the early bird catches the worm.”

Origin: John Ray printed it in A Collection of English Proverbs (1670) as "The early bird catcheth the worm." Ray was a naturalist as well as a collector of sayings, and he recorded it as country wisdom already in use. The 20th century answered with a joke of its own: "the early worm gets eaten."

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

  • 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)
  • 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)

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