Italian proverbs
Here are some proverbs and other well-known phrases in Italian.
- Chi dice Siena, dice Palio.
- He who mentions Siena, mentions the Palio (that city's famous horse-race).
- Said of something that one cannot mention without calling some other thing to mind.
- Chi troppo vuole, nulla stringe
- He who wants too much, gets nothing.
- He who wants too much, gets nothing.
- Chi trova un amico, trova un tesoro.
- He who finds a friend, finds a treasure.
- He who finds a friend, finds a treasure.
- Chi va piano, va sano; chi va sano, va lontano.
- He who goes softly, goes safely; he who goes safely, goes far.
- He who goes softly, goes safely; he who goes safely, goes far.
- Commediante! Tragediante!
- Comedian! Tragedian!
- Exclaimed by Pope Pius VII during a violent scene that Napoleon made before him.
- Eppur, si muove!
- But it does move!
- Galileo is supposed to have said this after being forced by the Church to abjure the heliocentric theory.
- Fatti maschi, parole femmine.
- Thoughts are male, words are female. or Manly deeds, womanly words.
- Motto of Maryland
- In bocca al lupo.
- Into the wolf's mouth.
- Used by students to wish each other good luck before exams. The response is Crepi! (May it die!)
- L'Italia farà da sè.
- Italy will take care of itself.
- A common expression when Italy was in the process of reunification.
- Lasciate ogni speranza, voi ch'intrate.
- Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita
- Mi retrovai per una selva oscura
- Ché la diritta via era smarrita...
- Se non è vero, è ben trovato.
- If it's not true, it's a good story.
- If it's not true, it's a good story.
- Tanto gentile e tanto onesta pare
- la donna mia...
- I see my lady, so gentle and so honest...
- Famous opening lines of Dante's Sonnet 26 from La Vita Nuova
- Traduttore, traditore.
- Translator, traitor.
- Translator, traitor.
- Tu duca, tu signore e tu maestro.
- Vedi Napoli, e poi muori!
- See Naples, and then die!
- Used to express admiration for Naples.
- L'abito non fa il monaco.
- The habit does not make the monk. Clothes do not make the man.
- The habit does not make the monk. Clothes do not make the man.
- A caval donato non si guarda in bocca.
- Never look a gift horse in the mouth. Don't criticize gifts.
- Never look a gift horse in the mouth. Don't criticize gifts.
- Rosso di sera, bel tempo si spera
- Red sky in evening, we hope in good weather.
- Red sky in evening, we hope in good weather.
See also Italian musical terms.
