Albanian proverbs

Helping orphans the way you would do it

The following are some Albanian proverbs and other well-known sayings from Albania in alphabetical order. A literal translation and the believed origin are also given for most proverbs.

A B C ÃÂÃÂ D E F G Gj H I K L M N Nj P Q R S Sh T U V

A

A rrohet me zemÃÂÃÂ«r tÃÂÃÂ« lepurit? --South

Can you live with the heart of a rabbit?

Ai qÃÂÃÂ« ndÃÂÃÂ«rton me djersÃÂÃÂ«, mbron me gjak. --South

Who builds with sweat, defends with blood.

Ai qÃÂÃÂ« pÃÂÃÂ«rton sot, pendohet mot. --VlorÃÂÃÂ«

Who is lazy today, regrets it later.

Ai qÃÂÃÂ« s'ka zemÃÂÃÂ«r, s'ka as thembÃÂÃÂ«r. --South

Who has no heart, has no heels.

Asht kollaj me ia pre bishtin ujkut tÃÂÃÂ« vramÃÂÃÂ«. --ShkodÃÂÃÂ«r

It is easy to cut the tail of a dead wolf.

B

Balta -- m'ÃÂÃÂ« ÃÂÃÂ«mbÃÂÃÂ«l se mjalta. --VlorÃÂÃÂ«

The mud [in Albania] is sweeter than honey [elsewhere]

Bujku i mirÃÂÃÂ«, ia merr me zorr bukÃÂÃÂ«n tokÃÂÃÂ«s. --TropojÃÂÃÂ«

A good farmer takes with force the bread from the earth.

Burri nÃÂÃÂ« shtÃÂÃÂ«pi, si dreqi nÃÂÃÂ« xhami. --Elbasan

A man at home, like the devil in a mosque.

C

C'ma ka zemra, ma qit vena. --ShkodÃÂÃÂ«r

What I have in my heart is brought out by the wine.

Cdo njeri ÃÂÃÂ«shtÃÂÃÂ« mbret nÃÂÃÂ« shtÃÂÃÂ«pinÃÂÃÂ« e tij. --South

Every person is king in his own home.

ÃÂÃÂ

ÃÂÃÂelÃÂÃÂ«si qÃÂÃÂ« punon, nuk ndryshket. --MallakastÃÂÃÂ«r

The key that is used does not rust.

D

Dembeli ÃÂÃÂ«shtÃÂÃÂ« nÃÂÃÂ«na e tÃÂÃÂ« gjithÃÂÃÂ« veseve. --North

Lazyness is the mother of all bad habits.

Dera e pÃÂÃÂ«rtimit, caku i mjerimit. --Librazhd

The door of lazyness is the boundary of suffering.

Dielli, edhe kur ka re, ndrit. --GjirokastÃÂÃÂ«r

The sun shines even when it is cloudy.

Difton fmija, c'ka shtÃÂÃÂ«pia. --North

The child tells what is in the house.

Dita pa punÃÂÃÂ« nata pa gjumÃÂÃÂ«. --South

The day without work, the night without sleep.

Dora me baltÃÂÃÂ« buka me mjaltÃÂÃÂ«. --Kosovo

The hand with mud, the bread with honey.

Dora e larÃÂÃÂ«, zorrÃÂÃÂ« e tharÃÂÃÂ«. --South

When the hand is clean, the intestine is dry.

Duket zogu qÃÂÃÂ« nÃÂÃÂ« ve. --South

You know the bird since it is an egg.

E

E vÃÂÃÂ«rteta rri si vaji mbi ujÃÂÃÂ«. --North

The truth stays like oil on water.

Edhe ujÃÂÃÂ«t po tÃÂÃÂ« rrijÃÂÃÂ« nÃÂÃÂ« njÃÂÃÂ« vend qelbet. --South

Even water gets stale if it stays in one place.

F

Fikut ulÃÂÃÂ«t i hyp kushdo. --KrujÃÂÃÂ«

The low fig [fruit branch] can be climbed by everyone.

Fjala e plakut, e pushka e djalit. --KrujÃÂÃÂ«

The word of the old, and the gun of the young.

G

Gruaja qÃÂÃÂ« nuk do tÃÂÃÂ« gatuajÃÂÃÂ«, shosh gjithÃÂÃÂ« ditÃÂÃÂ«n. --Skrapar

Gj

GjarpÃÂÃÂ«ri ecÃÂÃÂ«n dhe fshin gjurmÃÂÃÂ«t me bisht. --KorÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ«

The snake moves and erases its tracks.

Gjithsecili nÃÂÃÂ« punÃÂÃÂ«n e tij ÃÂÃÂ«shtÃÂÃÂ« zot. --South

Each person at his job is a god.

Gjykon puna, s'gjykon guna. --Librazhd

You tell by the work, not by the [clothes].

H

Hekuri sa punohet, aq zbukurohet. --VlorÃÂÃÂ«

The more worked the steel is, the more beautiful it becomes

I

I mjeri ai qÃÂÃÂ« s'mendon pÃÂÃÂ«r pleqÃÂÃÂ«ri. --ShkodÃÂÃÂ«r

Poor he who does not think of old age.

I riu ka fuqi, plaku mÃÂÃÂ«ncuri. --South

The young have strength, the old have knowledge.

K

Kali plak tÃÂÃÂ« len barrÃÂÃÂ«n nÃÂÃÂ« rrugÃÂÃÂ«. --North

The old horse leaves the load on the road.

Kau qÃÂÃÂ« nuk vete nÃÂÃÂ« arÃÂÃÂ« e pret sÃÂÃÂ«pata. --KurvÃÂÃÂ«llesh

The cow that does not go in the field gets the axe.

Kazma nÃÂÃÂ« dorÃÂÃÂ«, buka nÃÂÃÂ« gojÃÂÃÂ«; kazma nÃÂÃÂ« katua, trasta del pÃÂÃÂ«r miell hua. --Skrapar

Pickaxe at hand, bread in mouth; pickaxe in cellar, the sack comes out for borrowed flour.

KÃÂÃÂ«nga pÃÂÃÂ«r darkÃÂÃÂ«, brenga pÃÂÃÂ«r drekÃÂÃÂ«. --South

The song for dinner, the grief for lunch.

Ku ka bletÃÂÃÂ«, ka dhe mjaltÃÂÃÂ«. --PÃÂÃÂ«rmet

Where there are bees, there is honey.

Ku ka zemÃÂÃÂ«r ka dhe krahÃÂÃÂ«. --South

Where there is heart, there are hands.

Kullote dhinÃÂÃÂ« tÃÂÃÂ« tÃÂÃÂ« mbushÃÂÃÂ« kusinÃÂÃÂ«. --GjirokastÃÂÃÂ«r

Feed the goat to fill the pot.

Kur s'ke mbjellÃÂÃÂ«, s'ke ÃÂÃÂ§farÃÂÃÂ« korr. --South

If you do not sow, you do not have anything to reap.

Kur s'ke punÃÂÃÂ« luaj derÃÂÃÂ«n. --PÃÂÃÂ«rmet

When you do not have any work, move the door.

Kush di me lavdue, din edhe me cpifÃÂÃÂ«. --KrujÃÂÃÂ«

Who knows how to praise knows also how to lie.

Kush fÃÂÃÂ«rkon pulÃÂÃÂ«n, ha edhe vezÃÂÃÂ«n. --KorÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ«

Who rubs the chicken, eats even the egg.

Kush fle ngrohtÃÂÃÂ« ka edhe ftohtÃÂÃÂ«. --ArbÃÂÃÂ«reshÃÂÃÂ«t

Who sleeps warmly, feels even cold.

Kush i kullot deshÃÂÃÂ«t, ai qeth dhe leshÃÂÃÂ«t. --PÃÂÃÂ«rmet

Who lets the rams graze gets the wool.

Kush ka turp, vdes pÃÂÃÂ«r bukÃÂÃÂ«. --South

Who is shy dies from hunger.

Kush mori udhÃÂÃÂ«, dhe do tÃÂÃÂ« lodhet. --GjirokastÃÂÃÂ«r

Who travels will also get tired.

Kush nuk di ÃÂÃÂ§'ÃÂÃÂ«shtÃÂÃÂ« lodhja, ai nuk di ÃÂÃÂ§'ÃÂÃÂ«shtÃÂÃÂ« ÃÂÃÂ§lodhja. --Berat

Who knows what is to be tired, does not know how to be ['not tired'].

Kush pÃÂÃÂ«rton vdes urije. --Berat

Who is lazy dies from hunger.

Kush rri nÃÂÃÂ« pemÃÂÃÂ«, ha edhe kokrrat. --KorÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ«

Who stays under the tree, eats the fruits.

Kush s'punon, dheut i rÃÂÃÂ«ndon. --South

Who does not work, is heavy to the earth.

Kush zÃÂÃÂ« brumÃÂÃÂ« do tÃÂÃÂ« gatuajÃÂÃÂ«. --South

Who makes the dough will also cook.

Kushtrimi del pÃÂÃÂ«r tÃÂÃÂ« ligshtin, pse trimi kujtohet vet. --ShkodÃÂÃÂ«r

The Clarion-call is for the weak, because the brave remember on their own.

L

Liria i ka rrÃÂÃÂ«njÃÂÃÂ«t nÃÂÃÂ« gjak. --South

Freedom has roots in blood.

Lima dalÃÂÃÂ«ngadalÃÂÃÂ« bÃÂÃÂ«ri tranÃÂÃÂ« gjilpÃÂÃÂ«rÃÂÃÂ«. --South

Slowly, the file turns the beam into a needle.

M

Malet tunden, po nuk bien. --South

The mountatins shake but do not fall.

Mbill me njÃÂÃÂ« dorÃÂÃÂ«, korr me tÃÂÃÂ« dyja. --South

Sow with one hand, reap with both.

Mbroje atdhenÃÂÃÂ« si shqipja folenÃÂÃÂ«. --ShkodÃÂÃÂ«r

Protect your motherland like the eagle protects its nest

Me fal gjakun ÃÂÃÂ«shtÃÂÃÂ« burrni. --Kosovo

To forgive the blood [ as in a killing] is to be a man.

Me lopatÃÂÃÂ« ari dhe shat argjÃÂÃÂ«ndi tundÃÂÃÂ«n e lÃÂÃÂ«kundÃÂÃÂ«n edhe malet nga vÃÂÃÂ«ndi. --SarandÃÂÃÂ«

With a spade of gold and a hoe of silver they rocked and swayed even the mountains from their places.

MÃÂÃÂ« mirÃÂÃÂ« "punÃÂÃÂ« e mbarÃÂÃÂ«", se "mirÃÂÃÂ« se tÃÂÃÂ« gjej". --ShkodÃÂÃÂ«r

Better to say "good work" than "I hope to find you well".

MÃÂÃÂ« mirÃÂÃÂ« te vdesÃÂÃÂ«sh mÃÂÃÂ« kÃÂÃÂ«mbÃÂÃÂ«, sesa tÃÂÃÂ« jetosh mÃÂÃÂ« gjunjÃÂÃÂ«. --Berat

It is better to die standing up, than to live on your knees.

MirÃÂÃÂ« se tÃÂÃÂ« gjej, o hija e madhe! -MirÃÂÃÂ« se vjen o dembel hamÃÂÃÂ«. -A kamÃÂÃÂ« leje tÃÂÃÂ« rri pak? -Po pate me hangÃÂÃÂ«r rri sa tÃÂÃÂ« duash. --TiranÃÂÃÂ«

Hope to find you well, o big shadow! Welcome o lazy glutton. -Do I have permission to stay a while? If you have something to eat you can stay as long as you want.

Mos kij turp nga kush s'ka turp. --South

Do not by shy of whom is not shy.

Mos prit tÃÂÃÂ« tÃÂÃÂ« kÃÂÃÂ«rkojÃÂÃÂ« e mira, po kÃÂÃÂ«rkoje. --VlorÃÂÃÂ«

Do not wait for good things to search for you, but search for them.

Mos rri si nusja nÃÂÃÂ« dasÃÂÃÂ«m. --South

Do not stand like the bride at a wedding.

Mos u fshi si miu prapa poÃÂÃÂ§es. --Skrapar

Do not hide like the mouse behind the pot.

Mos u fshi si miza nÃÂÃÂ«n bishtin e kalit. --KorÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ«

Do not hide like a fly under the tail of a horse.

Moti ndihmon atÃÂÃÂ«qÃÂÃÂ« punon. --Berat

The weather helps he who works.

Mushka do dru, e demi kular. --SarandÃÂÃÂ«

The mule needs wood, and the bull a yoke.

N

NÃÂÃÂ« kurdhÃÂÃÂ«n e nxehtÃÂÃÂ«, s'rrihet me ÃÂÃÂ§ekan druri. --South

Nga del fjala, del dhe shpirti. --South

From whence comes the word, comes the soul.

Nga puna po nuk rrodhi, domosdo do pikojÃÂÃÂ«. --VlorÃÂÃÂ«

From work if it does not flow, it will certainly drip.

Nuk mund tÃÂÃÂ« dalÃÂÃÂ« punÃÂÃÂ« e madhe nga ai qÃÂÃÂ« nuk do tÃÂÃÂ« voglÃÂÃÂ«n. --Berat

You will not get a big job done from whom does not want a small one.

Nuk rron peshku pa uje. --Kosovo

A fish cannot live without water.

Nuk zihet pleshti me dorashka. --KorÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ«

You cannot catch a flea with gloves.

Nj

Njeriut iu bÃÂÃÂ«j njeri, qenit bÃÂÃÂ«niu qen. --South

To the man behave like a man, to the dog behave like a dog.

NjÃÂÃÂ« ujÃÂÃÂ« qÃÂÃÂ« nuk ecÃÂÃÂ«n s'pihet. --Elbasan

The water that does not flow is not fit to drink.

P

Paraja nuk i zgjedh njerÃÂÃÂ«zit. --VlorÃÂÃÂ«

Money does not choose the people.

PleqÃÂÃÂ«ria vjen me shokÃÂÃÂ«. --South

Old age comes with friends.

Po kÃÂÃÂ«rciti dhÃÂÃÂ«mbÃÂÃÂ«t qeni i qÃÂÃÂ«ndro me shkop nÃÂÃÂ« dorÃÂÃÂ«. --South

If a dog shows his teeth, show him the wood.

Po nise njÃÂÃÂ« udhÃÂÃÂ«, do kaptosh dhe sheshe, dhe male, dhe gurÃÂÃÂ«. --Devoll

If you start on a travel, you will also cross plains, mountains and stones.

Po nuk e pate tÃÂÃÂ« ligÃÂÃÂ«n brÃÂÃÂ«nda, s'tÃÂÃÂ« vjen nga jashtÃÂÃÂ«. --VlorÃÂÃÂ«

If you do not have malice inside, it will not come from outside.

Po nuk qau fÃÂÃÂ«mija, nuk i jep nÃÂÃÂ«na sisÃÂÃÂ«. --South

If a child does not cry, his mother will not breast feed him.

Po nuk u turbullua, nuk kthjellohet. --PÃÂÃÂ«rmet

If it does not get cloudy, it will not get clear.

Po shkove me tÃÂÃÂ« kÃÂÃÂ«rciturit gishtÃÂÃÂ«rinjtÃÂÃÂ« sot, mos u anko nga tÃÂÃÂ« kÃÂÃÂ«rciturit e zorrÃÂÃÂ«ve nesÃÂÃÂ«r. --VlorÃÂÃÂ«

If you start with the popping of the fingers today, do not complain of the popping of the intestines tomorrow (i.e. hunger).

Pula qÃÂÃÂ« kÃÂÃÂ«ndon nÃÂÃÂ« mbrÃÂÃÂ«mje nuk bÃÂÃÂ«n vezÃÂÃÂ« nÃÂÃÂ« mÃÂÃÂ«ngjes. --South

The chicken that cries at night does not lay egg in the morning.

Puna e rinisÃÂÃÂ«, jorgan i pleqÃÂÃÂ«risÃÂÃÂ«. --TiranÃÂÃÂ«

The work of the youth is the blanket of the old.

Q

Qan ara se nuk i vjen fara. --SarandÃÂÃÂ«

Weeps the field because it does not get any seeds.

R

Ruaj dhinÃÂÃÂ« tÃÂÃÂ« pish qumÃÂÃÂ«shtin. --SarandÃÂÃÂ«

Mind the goats so that you will drink their milk.

S

S'bÃÂÃÂ«het vreshti me urata, po me shata e lopata. --South

The vinery is no made with blessings, but with hoes and spades.

S'gjuhet me zagar tÃÂÃÂ« lidhur. --Berat

You cannot hunt with a tied dog.

Sa mÃÂÃÂ« shpejt kositet livadhi; aq mÃÂÃÂ« shpejt lind bari. --TropojÃÂÃÂ«

The more you mow the lawn, the faster the grass grows.

Sh

Shpjere gojÃÂÃÂ«n te buka e jo bukÃÂÃÂ«n te goja. --South

Take the mouth to the bread, not the bread to the mouth.

Shqiponja fluturon nÃÂÃÂ« qiell, po folenÃÂÃÂ« e bÃÂÃÂ«n nÃÂÃÂ« tokÃÂÃÂ«. --LabÃÂÃÂ«ri

The eagle flies in the sky, but nests on the ground.

T

Trupi shÃÂÃÂ«ndoshet me tÃÂÃÂ« punuar, mÃÂÃÂ«ndja ndÃÂÃÂ«rtohet me tÃÂÃÂ« mÃÂÃÂ«suar. --South

The body builds up with work, the mind with studying.

U

Ujku e ka qafÃÂÃÂ«n e trashÃÂÃÂ«, se ka kambÃÂÃÂ«t e shpejta. --KrujÃÂÃÂ«

The wolf has a thick neck because it has fast legs.

V

Vure vezÃÂÃÂ«n more pulÃÂÃÂ«n. --KrujÃÂÃÂ«

If you put an egg, you get a chicken.

Albanian proverbs

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B

C

ÃÂÃÂ

D

E

F

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Gj

H

I

K

L

M

N

Nj

P

Q

R

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