Lipari, Salina, Filicudi, Alicudi, Vulcano, Stromboli and Panarea

Aeolian Genealogy

Italian Proverbs

Some are in Italian, others in dialect.
Send in your favourite Italian proverbs so they can be added to the growing list!

Proverbs Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

<---- Previous Page Page 2 Next Page ---->

Italian	English
Cu ciavi poco soldi sempre cunta	He who has little money is always counting it
Cu faci is fatti sua campa cent'anni	He who minds his own business lives to 100
Quannu u megghiu c'e' 'un si canusci u peggiu	When one is only used to prosperity, he doesn't understand the hard times
Cu soffri p'amuri, nun senti duluri	He who suffers for love doesn't feel any pain
L'arbero si adirizza quannu e nicu	You straighten a tree when it's young
Cu picca avi, caru teni	He who has little, holds it dear
U gilusu mori curnutu	The jealous person dies cheated
'na mamma poti campari 100 figghi, ma 100 figghi 'un ponnu campari 'na mamma	A mother can support 100 children, but 100 children can't support a mother
'na cosa cercata è menza pagata	Something asked for is half paid for
U parrinu dici "fa cumi ti dicu e no cumu fazzu"	The priest says "do as I tell you and not as I do"
I parenti sunu parenti e i stranii sunu sempri i stranii	Relatives are relatives and strangers are always strangers
Cu sputa in cielu in faccia ritorna	Whoever spits in the air, it will hit them in the face
Cu di spiranza campa, dispiratu mori	He who lives in hope will die in despair
I palori di nnimici fannu ridiri, chiddi di l'amici fanni chianciri	Words from enemies makes one laugh, those from friends makes one cry
Cu e chiu fissa? U carnivale o chiddu cu porta 'ncuoddu?	Who's the jerk? The clown or the one who carries him on his shoulders?
Cu avi pani, avi carni	Whoever has bread has meat
Fari a fissi pi nun iri a guerra	To play stupid so you don't have to go to war

<---- Previous Page Page 2 Next Page ---->

Proverbs Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10