Milanese proverbs

Milanese is a Lombard dialect spoken in the city of Milan in northern Italy.

A

 * A roba fada inutil dà consėj.
 * English equivalent: When a thing is done, advice comes too late.


 * Amor növ el va e'l ven; amor vèc el se mantèn.
 * English equivalent: Of soup and love the first is the best.

B

 * Beat quel che impara ai spall dei alter.
 * English equivalent: Wise men learn by other men's mistakes, fools by their own.

C

 * Chi si face troppu agnellu u lupu si lu manghia.
 * English equivalent: He that makes himself a sheep shall be eaten by the wolf.


 * Chi roba el poch el pò robå anch el tant.
 * English equivalent: He that will steal a pin will steal a better thing.


 * Con piö sa e vèc, con piö crès la soma.
 * English equivalent: Age and poverty are ill to bear.

G

 * Giough, per ess bell, nô l'ha de durà tropp.
 * English equivalent: Leave a jest when it pleases you best.

L

 * L ' è la gran mader di penser la nocc.
 * English equivalent: To take counsel of one's pillow.


 * La festa l è pti bella in ca dei.
 * English equivalent: Men cut large thongs of other men's leather.

N

 * No s'à minga de spü nei vacèl che s'à mangià.
 * English equivalent: Cast no dirt into the well that gives you water.

Q

 * Quando brucia nel vicinato porta l'acqua casa tua.
 * ̽English equivalentː When thy neighbour s house doth burn (is on fire) be careful (beware) of thine own.

S

 * Sem tuti fio d'Adam.
 * English equivalent: We are all descended from Adam.
 * "There is no people, rude or learned, among whom apparitions of the dead are not related and believed."
 * Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia (1759)


 * Sto mond l'è pien d ingrat e sconoscent.
 * English equivalent: Ingratitude is the world's reward.

T

 * 'Tant dei mort che dei lontan For che in ben no sta a parlan.
 * English equivalent: Speak well of the dead.