Russian Proverbs and Sayings
Work and effort
🛏️ Кто рано встает, тому Бог подает (kto rano vstayot, tomu Bog podayot).
Translation: God gives to those who wake up early.
Meaning: Those who take initiative reap better rewards.
🚶 Сделал дело — гуляй смело (sdelal delo — gulyai smelo).
Translation: The job is complete – feel free to stroll.
Meaning: You should relax and enjoy your free time only when your work is done.
😌 Терпение и труд всё перетрут (terpeniye i trud vsyo peretrut).
Translation: Patience and work will cut through anything.
Meaning: With enough effort and resilience, you can overcome any obstacle.
⛏️ Дело мастера боится (delo mastera boitsya).
Translation: The craft fears the craftsman.
Meaning: Expertise and knowledge can solve any challenge.
Relationships and friendship
🐐 Любовь зла – полюбишь и козла (lyubov zla – polyubish i kozla).
Translation: Love's evil – you may even love a goat.
Meaning: Love can blind you to a person’s faults and imperfections.
🍏 Яблоко от яблони недалеко падает (yabloko ot yabloni nedaleko padayet).
Translation: The apple falls not so far away from the apple tree.
Meaning: Children often resemble their parents in appearance or character.
👥 Старый друг лучше новых двух (staryy drug luchshe novykh dvukh).
Translation: An old friend is better than two new ones
Meaning: Long-standing friendships are often more valuable and reliable than new acquaintances.
💆 Одна голова хорошо, а две — лучше (odna golova khorosho, a dve — luchshe).
Translation: One head is good, but two heads are better.
Meaning: Teamwork makes for better solutions than working alone.
💸 Не имей сто рублей, а имей сто друзей (ne imey sto rubley, a imey sto druzey)
Translation: It is better to have a hundred friends than a hundred rubles
Meaning: Having a network of friends and support is more valuable than having money.
Learning and growth
🥞 Первый блин всегда комом (pervyi blin vsegda komom).
Translation: The first pancake is always a blob.
Meaning: The first attempt is often imperfect, but it's a natural part of the process.
👀 Глаза боятся, а руки делают (glaza boyatsya, a ruki delayut).
Translation: The eyes are afraid, but the hands do the work.
Meaning: Some tasks only seem intimidating until you start doing them.
📖 Век живи — век учись (vek zhivi — vek uchis).
Translation: Live for a century — learn for a century.
Meaning: No one can ever know everything and there’s always room for growth.
🏎️ Тише едешь — дальше будешь (tishe yedesh — dal'she budesh).
Translation: Ride slower – you'll get further.
Meaning: Taking a slow and steady approach can lead to greater success in the long run.