Sicilian proverbs

Proverbs from all Sicilian speaking parts of the world.

C

 * Chi la dura la vinci.
 * Translation: He who perservers shall win.
 * English equivalent: Perservere and never fear.


 * Cui a speranza d autru la pignata metti, Nun ha paura di lavari piatti.
 * English equivalent: He that waits on another man's trencher, makes many a late dinner.


 * Cui mali accumensa, peju finisci.
 * English equivalent: A bad beginning makes a bad ending.
 * Meaning: "It is as impossible that a system radically erroneous, once commenced, should end well, as it is that a mathematical problem, commenced wrong, should come out right."
 * Source for meaning:


 * Cui a speranza d autru la pignata metti, Nun ha paura di lavari piatti.
 * English equivalent: He that waits on another man's trencher, makes many a late dinner.


 * Cui si fa pecura lu lupu si la mancia.
 * English equivalent: He that makes himself a sheep shall be eaten by the wolf.

E

 * È tintu lu nudu, chiu tintu lu sulu, ma megghiu sulu chi mala accumpagnatu.
 * English equivalent: Better be alone than in bad company.
 * Source for proverb:

L

 * Lu minsugnaru chi dici la verità non è crittu.
 * English equivalent: A liar is not believed when he tells the truth.


 * Lu tempu è priziusu.
 * Translation: Time is precious.
 * English equivalent: There is nothing more precious than time.

M

 * Medicu pietusu fa la chiaja verminusa.
 * English equivalent: Mild physician – putrid wounds/you need to crack an egg to make an omelet.

N

 * Nil novi sub sole Suttu lu celu nenti c è di novu dem Himmel gibt's nichts.
 * English equivalentː Nothing is new under the sun.

P

 * Porta rispettu a lu locu unni stai.
 * English equivalent: Cast no dirt into the well that gives you water.
 * "People who can put themselves in the place of other people – who can understand the workings of their minds, need never worry about what the future has in store for them."
 * Dale Carnegie, How To Win Friends And Influence People (1934)

Q

 * Quannu s' abbrucia la casa di lu to vicinu, porta l' acqua a casa to.
 * ̽English equivalentː When thy neighbour s house doth burn (is on fire) be careful (beware) of thine own.