Learning proverbs not only improves students’ vocabulary but also provides valuable insights into the culture of the language they are learning. As proverbs and sayings employ images, students should make sure they understand the meaning before using a saying.
10 German Proverbs with Close English Equivalents
For an easy introduction to German proverbs, it makes sense to look at those German sayings with direct English equivalents first as they are easier to understand and therefore to memorize. Small deviations might occur, which are given in brackets.
- Das Eisen schmieden, solange es heiß ist. – Striking the iron while it is hot. / Strike while the iron is hot.
- Den Wald vor lauter Bäumen nicht sehen. – To not see the forest for the trees.
- Der Teufel steckt im Detail. – The devil is in the details.
- Durch Dick und Dünn gehen. – To travel (go) through thick and thin.
- Eine Schwalbe macht noch keinen Sommer. – A single swallow doth not the summer make.
- Eine Stecknadel im Heuhaufen suchen. – Looking for a needle in a haystack.
- Kleider machen Leute. – Clothes make the man (the people).
- Leichter gesagt als getan. – Easier said than done.
- Rom ist auch nicht an einem Tag erbaut worden. – Rome wasn’t built in a day.
- Viele Köche verderben den Brei. – Too many cooks spoil the broth (porridge).
Proverbs Using Animals – Sprichworte mit Tieren
Proverbs with their general appeal use images that are familiar to many; therefore, they often employ animals. In the third saying below, for example, the German proverb refers to a blind chicken finding a grain, whereas the English one uses a blind squirrel and a nut to convey the same meaning: being lucky. Though the animal proverbs below don’t translate literally, they use the same or a similar image, making it easier to learn them.
- Aus einer Mücke einen Elefanten machen. – To make an elephant out of a mosquito; inflating an issue. – Equivalent: To make a mountain out of a molehill.
- Die Katze im Sack kaufen. – Buying the cat in the bag; taking or buying something without checking it first. – Equivalent: Buying a pig in a poke.
- Ein blindes Huhn findet auch mal ein Korn. – A blind chicken finds a grain once in a while; getting lucky. – Equivalent: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.
- Einem geschenkten Gaul schaut man nicht ins Maul. – One doesn’t look into the mouth of a gifted horse (to check its teeth as they reveal the horse’s age); be happy with what you have.
- Hunde, die bellen, beißen nicht. - Dogs that bark don’t bite. – Equivalent: His bark is worse than his bite.
- Lieber ein Spatz in der Hand als eine Taube auf dem Dach. – Better a sparrow in the hand than the pigeon on the roof; be happy with what you have. – Equivalent: A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.
- Morgenstund’ hat Gold im Mund. – The early morning hour has gold in its mouth. – Equivalent: The early bird gets the worm.
- Zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen. – To hit two flies with one swatter. – Equivalent: To kill two birds with one stone.
Other German Proverbs – Weitere Deutsche Sprichwörter
The following list of German proverbs and translations is by no means complete – there are dozens of German sayings – but this selection explains those German proverbs most often used in offices, at home and in everyday situations. Any student of German mastering these sayings will impress native speakers when using them in the right context.
- Alles auf eine Karte setzen. – To bet everything on one card. – Equivalent: To put all eggs in one basket.
- Den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben. – Don’t praise the day before the evening. – Equivalent: There’s many a slip between the cup and the lip.
- Eine Hand wäscht die andere. – One hand washes the other. – Equivalent: You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.
- Ein Tropfen auf den heißen Stein. – A drop on the hot rock. – Equivalent: A drop in the sea/bucket.
- Ein Unglück kommt selten allein. – One disaster rarely comes alone. – Equivalent: When it rains, it pours.
- Eine Leiche im Keller haben. – To have a corpse in the basement. – Equivalent: To have skeletons in the closet.
- Es ist noch kein Meister vom Himmel gefallen. – No master has yet fallen from the sky. – Explanation: This saying refers to the times when apprentices learned a craft from the master craftsman (Meister). – Equivalent: Practice makes perfect.
- In der Kürze liegt die Würze. – In briefness lies the spice (wit). – Equivalent: Brevity is the soul of wit.
- Lügen haben kurze Beine. – Lies have short legs. – Meaning: Lies don’t travel far.
- Probieren geht über studieren. – Trying is better than studying. – Equivalent: The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
- Reden ist Silber, Schweigen ist Gold. – Talking is silver, silence is gold. – Equivalent: Talk is cheap, silence is golden.
- Wie man in den Wald hineinruft, so schallt es heraus. – Just as one shouts into the forest, so it echoes back. – Equivalent: What goes around, comes around.
When comparing German proverbs and sayings with their English counterparts, one can distinguish three different types:
- direct equivalents
- sayings that employ similar images, for example those involving animals
- proverbs that have no or no direct equivalent
Needless to say, the latter ones are the hardest to learn because they provide no memory hook but once their meaning is understood, familiarity will follow soon. Learning the German proverbs above in different grammatical contexts will help memorizing them further and ease correct usage.
Practice makes perfect – Übung macht den Meister!
After mastering proverbs, how about learning spoken German with cartoons? Or learn essential German soccers terms. Or read up on the usage and history of German umlauts.
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