A beautiful French town - Lourdes
Every language has its own sayings or proverbs that give some kind of advice, express truth or make statements about life. In France, proverbs are used in everyday situations and, therefore, learning French would not be perfect without learning French proverbs as well. Learning French proverbs is a very effective way to expand your vocabulary and make you more French. It also provides an insight into French history and culture. In this article, I would like to share 20 French proverbs (with their translations and meanings) with my readers.
1. A mauvais ouvrier point de bons outils.
Translation: A bad workman blames his tools.
Translation: A bad workman blames his tools.
Meaning: A person who blames the equipment when he / she has done something badly because he /she lacks the necessary skills.
2. Aux innocents les mains pleines.
Translation: Full hands for the innocents.
Meaning: The meek will inherit the earth.
Translation: It is not the cow that moos the loudest that gives the most milk.
Meaning: Talkers are not always doers. Those who talk the most are not always the smartest, in other words, actions speak louder than words.
4. C'est en forgeant qu'on devient forgeron.
Translation: It is by forging that one becomes a blacksmith.
Translation: It is by forging that one becomes a blacksmith.
Meaning: Practice makes perfect. It's by doing something that one can master a skill.
5. C'est la poule qui chante qui a fait l'oeuf.
Translation: It's the hen that sings that has laid the egg.
Translation: It's the hen that sings that has laid the egg.
Meaning: The guilty dog barks the loudest.
6. Ce sont les tonneaux vides qui font le plus de bruit.
Translation: It's the empty barrels that make the most noise.
Translation: It's the empty barrels that make the most noise.
Meaning: Empty vessels make the most noise.
7. Il faut casser le noyau pour avoir l'amande.
Translation: You have to break the kernel to get the almond.
Translation: You have to break the kernel to get the almond.
Meaning: No pain no gain.
8. Il ne faut pas juger les gens sur la mine.
Translation: Don't judge people by their appearance.
Translation: Don't judge people by their appearance.
Meaning: Don't judge a book by its cover, in other words, looks can be deceiving.
9. La faim chasse le loup du bois.
Translation: Hunger drives the wolf out of the woods.
Translation: Hunger drives the wolf out of the woods.
Meaning: Hunger knows no law.
10. La raison du plus fort est toujours la meilleure.
Translation: The strongest always prevail, whether or not they are right.
Translation: The strongest always prevail, whether or not they are right.
Meaning: Might is always right.
11. Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien.
Translation: Better is the enemy of good.
Translation: Better is the enemy of good.
Meaning: Do not push yourself to achieve perfection if it is unattainable. Be content with something good.
12. Le loup retourne toujours au bois.
Translation: The wolf always returns to the woods.
12. Le loup retourne toujours au bois.
Translation: The wolf always returns to the woods.
Meaning: We always go back to our roots.
13. L'exactitude est la politesse des rois.
Translation: Punctuality is the politeness of kings.
13. L'exactitude est la politesse des rois.
Translation: Punctuality is the politeness of kings.
Meaning: Punctuality is the hallmark of a gentleman.
14. Paris ne s'est pas fait en un jour.
Translation: Paris wasn't made in one day.
14. Paris ne s'est pas fait en un jour.
Translation: Paris wasn't made in one day.
Meaning: Rome wasn't built in a day.
15. Qui casse les verres les paie.
Translation: He who breaks the glasses has to pay for them.
15. Qui casse les verres les paie.
Translation: He who breaks the glasses has to pay for them.
Meaning: As you make your bed, so you must lie in it (You have to pay for your mistakes).
16. Qui craint le danger ne doit pas aller en mer.
Translation: He who fears danger should not go to sea.
16. Qui craint le danger ne doit pas aller en mer.
Translation: He who fears danger should not go to sea.
Meaning: If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
17. Qui n'entend qu'une cloche n'entend qu'un son.
Translation: He who hears only one bell hears only one sound.
17. Qui n'entend qu'une cloche n'entend qu'un son.
Translation: He who hears only one bell hears only one sound.
Meaning: Always listen to both sides of the story.
18. Qui ne risque rien n'a rien.
Translation: He who risks nothing, gains nothing.
18. Qui ne risque rien n'a rien.
Translation: He who risks nothing, gains nothing.
Meaning: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
19. Tel est pris qui croyait prendre.
Translation: He is caught who thought he could catch.
19. Tel est pris qui croyait prendre.
Translation: He is caught who thought he could catch.
Meaning: Hoist with his own petard (To fall into one's own trap).
20. Un malheur ne vient jamais seul.
Translation: Misfortune never comes alone.
Translation: Misfortune never comes alone.
Meaning: It never rains but it pours (Bad things or situations always come in groups / Bad luck never comes alone).
You may also like to read FRENCH IDIOMS and HOW TO LEARN FRENCH EFFICIENTLY ON YOUR OWN. To view the content page of this blog, please click here.
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