Traditional proverbs of Malta in mt and English — each with its meaning and source.
Kulħadd tad-demm u l-laħam.
“We are all made of flesh and blood.”
All people share the same human nature and deserve equal compassion.
Source: Traditional Malta proverb, public-domain oral tradition
Illum jien u għada int.
“Today it's me, tomorrow it's you.”
Fortune and misfortune pass from person to person; what happens to one may soon happen to another.
M'hemmx warda bla xewk.
“There is no rose without thorns.”
Nothing beautiful or worthwhile comes without some difficulty.
Tmiem tajjeb isewwi kollox.
“All's well that ends well.”
A good outcome makes up for the struggles that came before it.
Żgur il-mewt.
“Death is the only thing that's certain.”
Nothing in life is guaranteed except death, so live wisely and without excessive worry.
Tixtrix ħut fil-baħar.
“Do not buy fish that are still in the sea.”
Do not count on something before it is actually in your hands.
Tagħmilx iz-zalza qabel taqbad il-ħut.
“Do not prepare the sauce before you have caught the fish.”
Don't plan the celebration before the task is actually accomplished.
Min jistenna jithenna.
“He who waits patiently is rewarded.”
Patience brings good results in time.
Bil-qatra l-qatra timtela l-ġarra.
“Drop by drop, the jar fills up.”
Small, steady efforts accumulate into something substantial.
Bil-flus tagħmel triq fil-baħar.
“With money you can build a road through the sea.”
Wealth can make seemingly impossible things happen.
Bil-flus ħadd ma jixtri il-ġenna.
“You can't buy heaven with money.”
Wealth cannot purchase spiritual salvation or true happiness.
Ħadd ma jieħu xejn miegħu.
“No one takes anything with him.”
Material possessions are left behind at death, so do not become attached to them.
Il-flus għandhom il-ġwienaħ.
“Money has wings.”
Money is easily and quickly spent or lost.
Il-bogħod mill-għajn, il-bogħod mil-qalb.
“Out of sight, out of mind.”
Distance and absence weaken affection and memory over time.
Fejn tħobb il-qalb jimxu r-riġlejn.
“The legs go where the heart is.”
People are drawn toward what or whom they truly love.
Il-qattus u l-far qatt ma ħasbu għalenija.
“The cat and the rat never thought alike.”
Natural rivals or opposites will never see eye to eye.
L-ilsien bla għadam imma jxoqq l-għadam.
“The tongue has no bones, yet it breaks bones.”
Words, though intangible, can cause deep and lasting harm.
Aħjar weġgħa minn demgħa.
“Better an ache than a tear.”
Physical pain is easier to bear than emotional sorrow.
Tinfaxxax rasek qabel taqsamha.
“Do not bandage your head before you break it.”
Do not worry about or prepare for misfortunes that have not yet happened.
Il-mistoqsija oħt il-għerf.
“The question is the sister of wisdom.”
Asking questions is a path toward true understanding.
Il-giddieb omru qasir.
“The liar has a short lifespan.”
Dishonesty is eventually exposed and cannot be sustained for long.
Gawdi għax mid-dinja m'għandna xejn.
“Enjoy it, for we take nothing from this world.”
Take pleasure in life since worldly things do not last forever.
Li kien kien, li kieku kieku.
“What was is no more, what if is just if.”
Focus on the present rather than dwelling on the past or hypothetical outcomes.
Kliem ix-xiħ żommu fih.
“Trust the words of the old man.”
The advice of elders, drawn from experience, deserves careful attention.
Iż-żmien hu l-akbar għalliem.
“Time is the greatest teacher.”
Experience gained over time teaches lessons no other method can.
Il-verità dejjem toħroġ f'wiċċ l-ilma.
“The truth always comes to the surface.”
Hidden truths eventually reveal themselves no matter how well concealed.
Għidli ma' min tagħmilha u ngħidlek x'int.
“Tell me who your friends are, and I'll tell you who you are.”
A person's character is shaped and revealed by the company they keep.
Qis mitt darba u aqta' darba.
“Measure a hundred times and cut once.”
Think carefully before taking an action that cannot be undone.
Il-grazzja aqwa mill-ġmiel.
“Charm is stronger than beauty.”
A pleasant, graceful manner is more valuable than physical beauty alone.
Il-borża tal-beżżiegħ la timtela w lanqas tifrieġ.
“The timid man's purse neither fills nor empties.”
Avoiding all risk also means never gaining anything.
Min ma jġarrabx il-ħażin ma jafx it-tajjeb.
“He who has not experienced evil does not know the worth of good.”
Hardship gives people the perspective to appreciate what is good.
Wara l-maltemp jiġi l-bnazzi.
“After the storm comes the calm.”
Difficult times eventually pass and are followed by peace.
Fid-dinja hawn aktar imġienen minn nies f'sensihom.
“In this world there are more fools than sane people.”
Foolish or irrational behaviour is common in the world, so keep perspective.
Fid-dinja pinta ħelu u bittija morr.
“This world is a pint of sweetness and a barrel of bitterness.”
Life holds far more hardship than pleasure, so treasure the good moments.
F'Marzu l-barri jħoss il-bard minn qrunu.
“In March the bull feels the cold through his horns.”
March can bring surprisingly sharp cold even as spring approaches.
Frar fawwar jimla l-bjar.
“February overflows and fills the wells.”
February traditionally brings the heaviest rains of the year.
Jannar kiefer u Frar bid-dwiefer.
“January is cruel, and February has claws.”
Late winter is harsher and more biting than early winter.
Ix-xita f'April, karru deheb u ieħor ħarir.
“The rain in April is a cartload of gold and silk.”
Spring rain is a precious blessing for crops and harvest.
Il-ħmura ta' fil-għaxija lesti ż-żwiemel għat-tiġrija.
“After a red evening sky, ready the horses for the race.”
A red sunset is a sign that good weather is coming.
Il-ħmura ta' fil-għodu, għalfuhom ħa joqgħodu.
“A red morning sky, let the horses rest.”
A red sunrise warns that the weather may turn, so hold back.
Riħ ta' siegħa jnaddaf qiegħa.
“An hour's wind sweeps the threshing floor clean.”
A short burst of disruption can clear away problems that had built up.
Fula f'qargħa.
“A broad bean in a pumpkin.”
Describes a rare, once-in-a-lifetime coincidence or occurrence.
Iż-żmien isajjar il-bajtar.
“Time ripens the prickly pears.”
Given enough time, people and situations mature and improve.
Il-baħar rasu iebsa u żaqqu ratba.
“The sea has a hard head but a soft belly.”
The sea looks calm and inviting but can turn dangerous without warning.
Aħjar mitt imgħallaq milli wieħed mgħarraq.
“Better a hundred hanged men than one drowned man.”
Among sailors, death by drowning was considered a uniquely dreaded fate.
Min jorqod ma jaqbadx ħut.
“Those who sleep late do not catch fish.”
Success requires rising early and putting in consistent effort.
Il-ħmar il-magħdur, id-dubbien miegħu jdur.
“Flies gather around the weak donkey.”
Misfortune tends to compound for those who are already vulnerable.
Kelb rieqed la tqajmux.
“Let sleeping dogs lie.”
Avoid stirring up old troubles or conflicts unnecessarily.
Min ibakkar jaqbad il-pluvieri mingħajr ma jsaffar.
“The early riser catches the plover without whistling.”
Getting an early start makes success come easily, without extra effort.
Il-kelb il-miżmum, kull ilma jaħsbu misħun.
“The scalded dog thinks all water is hot.”
A painful past experience makes a person overly cautious afterward.
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