Traditional proverbs of Moldova in ro and English — each with its meaning and source.
Cine se scoală de dimineață, departe ajunge.
“He who rises early goes far.”
Early effort and diligence lead to greater success.
Source: Traditional Moldova proverb, public-domain oral tradition
Vorba dulce mult aduce.
“A sweet word brings much.”
Kind and gentle speech achieves more than force or harshness.
Nu tot ce zboară se mănâncă.
“Not everything that flies can be eaten.”
Not everything that looks appealing is actually good or useful.
Lupul își schimbă părul, dar năravul ba.
“The wolf changes its fur, but not its habits.”
A person's outward appearance may change, but their true nature endures.
Graba strică treaba.
“Haste spoils the work.”
Rushing a task usually ruins its quality.
Cine sapă groapa altuia, cade singur în ea.
“He who digs a pit for another falls into it himself.”
Those who scheme to harm others often bring harm upon themselves.
Ochii care nu se văd, se uită.
“Eyes that do not see each other are forgotten.”
Distance and absence gradually weaken memory and bonds; out of sight, out of mind.
După faptă și răsplată.
“As the deed, so the reward.”
People receive outcomes that match their actions.
Prietenul la nevoie se cunoaște.
“A friend is known in need.”
True friendship reveals itself in times of hardship.
Nu lăsa pe mâine ce poți face azi.
“Do not leave for tomorrow what you can do today.”
Avoid procrastination; act while you have the chance.
Minciuna are picioare scurte.
“A lie has short legs.”
Lies do not travel far before they are discovered.
Apa trece, pietrele rămân.
“The water passes, the stones remain.”
Fleeting things pass away, but what has true substance endures.
Cine aleargă după doi iepuri, nu prinde niciunul.
“He who chases two rabbits catches neither.”
Trying to pursue two goals at once often means achieving neither.
Omul sfințește locul.
“The person sanctifies the place.”
It is the quality of a person, not the location, that gives a place its worth.
Ce ție nu-ți place, altuia nu-i face.
“What you do not like for yourself, do not do to another.”
Treat others the way you wish to be treated.
Câinele care latră nu mușcă.
“The dog that barks does not bite.”
Loud threats are often empty and less dangerous than they appear.
Bate fierul cât e cald.
“Strike the iron while it is hot.”
Act on an opportunity while conditions are favorable.
Vorba multă, sărăcia omului.
“Much talk is a man's poverty.”
Excessive talking wastes time and effort that could bring real gain.
Cine nu muncește, nu mănâncă.
“He who does not work does not eat.”
Reward comes only through effort; there is no gain without work.
Pomul se cunoaște după roade.
“The tree is known by its fruit.”
A person or thing is judged by the results they produce, not by words.
Mai bine mai târziu decât niciodată.
“Better late than never.”
Doing something after a delay is preferable to never doing it at all.
Paza bună trece primejdia rea.
“A good watch overcomes a bad danger.”
Careful vigilance protects against harm; better safe than sorry.
Cu răbdarea treci marea.
“With patience, you cross the sea.”
Patience allows a person to overcome even the greatest obstacles.
Nevoia te învață.
“Necessity teaches you.”
Hardship forces people to learn skills and find solutions they otherwise would not.
Ajută-te singur, ca să te ajute și Dumnezeu.
“Help yourself, so that God may help you too.”
Self-reliance and effort invite further good fortune.
Câte bordeie, atâtea obiceiuri.
“As many huts, so many customs.”
Different households and communities each have their own ways of doing things.
Cine se joacă cu focul, se arde.
“He who plays with fire gets burned.”
Reckless behavior around danger eventually brings harm.
Fiecare pasăre pe limba ei piere.
“Every bird perishes by its own tongue.”
Careless words often bring about a person's own downfall.
Nu da vrabia din mână pe cioara de pe gard.
“Do not trade the sparrow in your hand for the crow on the fence.”
A smaller certain gain is worth more than a larger uncertain one.
Cine se aseamănă, se adună.
“Those who are alike come together.”
People with similar natures and habits tend to gather with one another.
Vorba multă, treabă puțină.
“Much talk, little work.”
People who talk excessively often accomplish very little.
Cum îți așterni, așa dormi.
“As you make your bed, so shall you sleep.”
You live with the consequences of the choices you make.
Ce naște din pisică, șoareci mănâncă.
“What is born of a cat eats mice.”
Children tend to inherit the nature and habits of their parents.
Vorbește puțin și fă mult.
“Speak little and do much.”
Actions carry more weight than words.
Din pom strâmb, roade strâmbe.
“From a crooked tree, crooked fruit.”
Flawed origins or upbringing tend to produce flawed results.
Nu e fum fără foc.
“There is no smoke without fire.”
Rumors and suspicions usually have some basis in truth.
Cine seamănă vânt, culege furtună.
“He who sows the wind reaps the storm.”
Reckless or harmful actions bring consequences far greater than intended.
Cine are carte, are parte.
“He who has learning has a share of fortune.”
Education and knowledge open the way to opportunity and a better life.
Unde nu e cap, vai de picioare.
“Where there is no head, woe to the feet.”
Without wise leadership or forethought, everyone else suffers for it.
Limba noastră-i o comoară în adâncuri înfundată.
“Our language is a treasure that surges from the depths of the past.”
The opening line of "Limba noastră," celebrating the enduring worth and beauty of the Romanian language spoken in Moldova.
Source: Alexei Mateevici, "Limba noastră" (1917), lyrics of the national anthem of the Republic of Moldova
Banul la bani trage.
“Money draws to money.”
Having money makes it easier to attract even more money.
Nu tot ce lucește e aur.
“Not everything that glitters is gold.”
Something that looks impressive on the surface is not always genuinely valuable.
La pomul lăudat să nu te duci cu sacul.
“Do not go to the praised tree with a sack.”
Do not rely too heavily on something simply because it has been highly praised; reality often falls short.
Cine te bate cu piatra, tu bate-l cu pâine.
“He who strikes you with a stone, strike him back with bread.”
Answer cruelty with kindness rather than repaying harm with harm.
Frica păzește bostănăria.
“Fear guards the melon patch.”
A healthy sense of caution protects what a person values from being lost or stolen.
Capul plecat sabia nu-l taie.
“A bowed head is not cut by the sword.”
Humility and yielding in a conflict can prevent harm that stubborn pride would invite.
Cu o floare nu se face primăvară.
“One flower does not make spring.”
A single good sign is not enough to prove that real change has arrived.
Dracul nu-i așa de negru cum se zugrăvește.
“The devil is not as black as he is painted.”
Situations that seem frightening at first are often less terrible than they appear.
Fiecare cu norocul lui.
“Everyone has their own luck.”
Each person carries a different fate, and outcomes are not the same for everyone.
Nu-i frumos ce-i frumos, ci-i frumos ce-mi place.
“Beautiful is not what is beautiful, but what pleases me.”
Beauty is subjective; what one person finds appealing may not be so to another.
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