Proverbs are the distilled wisdom of generations, often passed down from one person to another. They are short, common sayings or phrases that offer advice or express a universal truth. For anyone interested in learning Persian language and literature, Persian proverbs are an essential part of the journey. They not only enhance your understanding of the language but also provide insights into the culture and mindset of Persian-speaking societies.
Whether you’re diving into Persian literature, engaging in conversation, or just exploring the language, these proverbs will provide you with a wealth of knowledge and understanding. In this blog post, we’ll explore 101 Persian proverbs, each with its own unique lesson. To enhance accessibility for Persian learners, we’ve provided English translations and equivalent English proverbs for each Persian proverb. Additionally, we’ve included literary sources where applicable.
But before we dive into the list, let’s first understand why learning Persian proverbs is so beneficial.
Why Learn Persian Proverbs?
Cultural Insight and Understanding:
Proverbs offer a glimpse into the values, beliefs, and priorities of Persian-speaking cultures. By learning them, you can gain a deeper understanding of how people think, what they value, and how they approach various aspects of life. For example, the proverb “دو صد گفته چون نیم کردار نیست” emphasizes the importance of deeds over promises, reflecting a culture that values practical results.
Improving Language Fluency:
Integrating proverbs into your vocabulary can make your spoken and written Persian more natural and fluent. They allow you to express complex ideas in a concise and relatable way, making your communication more effective. For instance, instead of explaining the importance of taking advantage of an opportunity as soon as it arises, you could simply say, “تا تنور داغه نون رو بچسبون”
Enriching Your Vocabulary:
Proverbs introduce you to new words and phrases, often in contexts you might not encounter in standard textbooks. This expands your vocabulary and helps you understand how words can be used in different situations. For example, the proverb “علاج واقعه قبل از وقوع باید کرد” teaches not only the value of prompt action but also the meaning of the word “علاج” outside of a medicine/healthcare context.
Enhancing Reading Comprehension:
Many Persian literature works, including classic poems, and modern novels frequently reference or use proverbs. Understanding these proverbs can enhance your comprehension of these texts, allowing you to appreciate the layers of meaning and the author’s intentions. For example, recognizing the proverb ” هر گردی گردو نیست ” can help you understand a character’s skepticism about appearances in a story.
Developing Critical Thinking:
Proverbs often encapsulate complex ideas in a few words, encouraging you to think critically about their meaning and application. They provoke thought, prompting you to consider different perspectives and apply the wisdom to real-life situations. For example, the proverb “همهٔ تخم مرغ هایت را در یک سبد نذار” encourages reflection on risk management and diversification.
How to Use Proverbs in Everyday Persian
Learning proverbs is one thing, but using them correctly in conversation or writing is another. Here are a few tips to help you integrate proverbs into your Persian usage:
- Context is key: Make sure the proverb you choose fits the situation. For example, ” همهٔ تخم مرغ هایت را در یک سبد نذار ” is great advice for financial planning, but it might not be relevant in a conversation about relationships.
- Practice regularly: Try to use one or two proverbs a day in your conversations or writing. This will help you remember them and understand their meanings more deeply.
- Understand the nuances: Some proverbs may have a more literal meaning, while others might be more metaphorical. Understanding these nuances will help you use them more effectively. To deepen your understanding, we recommend participating in our workshops and 1-one-1 classes or referring to the book 1001 Persian-English Proverbs by Simin K. Habibian.
In our Persian language courses, such as Selections from the Golestan of Sa’di (1) and The Little Black Fish, you will encounter a rich variety of proverbs, proverbial phrases, and idioms, where such expressions are deeply woven into the curriculum.
Note on Selection Criteria
The proverbs selected in this post are chosen based on two primary criteria:
- Most Used Persian Proverbs: These are the proverbs you are most likely to encounter in everyday Persian conversation and literature.
- Near Equivalence in English: Each Persian proverb is paired with an English equivalent to help you draw parallels between the two languages and cultures.
We will update this post in the future to include additional proverbs that meet these criteria. Be sure to visit again for new additions and insights!
101 Essential Persian Proverbs
| Persian | English |
|---|---|
آب رفته به جو برنمی‌گرده. | Trasnlation: The water that has gone will not return to the stream. English Equivalent: What is done can not be undone |
آشپز كه دو تا شد، آش يا شور می‌شه یا بي‌نمک. | Trasnlation: When there are two cooks, the soup becomes either too salty or bland. English Equivalent: Too many cooks spoil the broth |
از آب گل‌آلود ماهی گرفتن. | Trasnlation: Fishing in muddy waters. English Equivalent: Fish in troubled waters. |
از تو به یک اشاره، از من به سر دویدن. | Trasnlation: With just a gesture from you, I’ll run to you by my head. English Equivalent: Your wish is my command. |
از تو حرکت از خدا برکت. | Trasnlation: You make the move, God will bless it. English Equivalent: God helps those who help themselves |
از چاله درآمدن و توی چاه افتادن. | Trasnlation: Getting out of a pit and falling into a well. English Equivalent: To fall from the frying pan into the fire. |
از دل برود هر آنکه از دیده رود. | Trasnlation: Out of sight, out of mind. English Equivalent: Long absent, soon forgotten |
از هر دست بدی، از همون دست می‌گیری. | Trasnlation: Whatever you give, you’ll get back the same. English Equivalent: What goes around comes around. |
اندکی جمال به از بسیاری مال. | Trasnlation: A little beauty is better than a lot of wealth. English Equivalent: Beauty opens locked doors |
این گوری که سرش گریه می کنی، مرده نداره. | Trasnlation: The grave you’re mourning at has no dead person. English Equivalent: Barking up the wrong tree. |
با دم شیر بازی نکن. | Trasnlation: Don’t play with the lion’s tail. English Equivalent: If you play with fire, you’ll get burned |
با یک تیر دو نشان زدن. | Trasnlation: Hitting two targets with one arrow. English Equivalent: Kill two birds with one stone. |
با یک دست نمی‌شه دو تا هندوانه برداشت. | Trasnlation: You can’t carry two watermelons with one hand. English Equivalent: You can’t dance at two weddings. |
با یه گل بهار نمی‌شه! | Trasnlation: One flower doesn’t make spring. English Equivalent: One swallow does not make summer |
باد آورده رو باد می‌بره. | Trasnlation: What the wind brings, the wind will take away. English Equivalent: Easy come, easy go. |
برو این دام بر مرغی دگر نه … | Trasnlation: Set this trap for another bird, , for the phoenix has a lofty nest. English Equivalent: You can not catch old birds with chaff |
به مرگ می‌گیره تا به تب راضی بشه. | Trasnlation: Threatening with death to make someone accept a fever. English Equivalent: Ask much to have a little. |
بى خبرى، خوش خبرى. | Trasnlation: No news is good news. English Equivalent: No news is good news |
پسر کو ندارد نشان از پدر | تو بیگانه خوان و مخوانش پسر | Trasnlation: A son who doesn’t resemble his father, consider him a stranger, not a son. English Equivalent: Like father, like son |
پول علف خرس نیست. | Trasnlation: Money is not bear’s grass. English Equivalent: Money doesn’t grow on trees. |
تا تنور داغه نون رو بچسبون. | Trasnlation: While the oven is hot, stick the bread to the oven (bake it). English Equivalent: Strike while the iron is hot |
تا نباشد چوب تر، فرمان نبرد گاو و خر. | Trasnlation: Without a stick, the cow and donkey won’t obey. English Equivalent: Spare the rod and spoil the child |
تا نباشد چیزکی مردم نگویند چیزها. | Trasnlation: Unless there is a little something, people do not say things. English Equivalent: There is no smoke without fire |
تر و خشک با هم می‌سوزن. | Trasnlation: Both the wet and the dry burn together. English Equivalent: Everyone is in the same boat. |
تربیت نا اهل را چون گردکان بر گنبد است. | Trasnlation: The upbringing of an unworthy one is like a walnut on a dome. English Equivalent: You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. |
ترک عادت موجب مرض است. | Trasnlation: Breaking a habit brings illness. English Equivalent: Old habits die hard. |
تره به تخمش می‌ره، حسنی به باباش. | Trasnlation: The leek follows its seed, and Hasan (A name for boys) follows his father. English Equivalent: The apple never falls far from the tree. |
تفرقه بنداز و حکومت کن. | Trasnlation: Divide and govern (Latin: divide et impera). English Equivalent: Divide and conquer. |
تو را که خانه نیین است، بازی نه این است. | Trasnlation: This game is not suitable for you whose house is made of straw. English Equivalent: People who live in glass houses should not throw stones |
توانا بود هر که دانا بود. | Trasnlation: Every who is wise, becomes capable/mighty. English Equivalent: Knowledge is power. |
توبهٔ گرگ مرگه. | Trasnlation: The wolf’s repentance is death. English Equivalent: You may end him but you’ll not mend him. |
جانا سخن از زبان ما می گویی. | Trasnlation: Oh dear, you speak from my tongue. English Equivalent: You took the words out of my mouth. |
جلوی ضرر رو هر موقع بگیری سوده. | Trasnlation: Anytime you stop a loss, it’s a gain. English Equivalent: Better lose the saddle than the horse |
جنگ اول به از صلح آخر. | Trasnlation: If all conditions are determined at the beginning of a task (even with extensive discussion and debate), it is much better than ending up in conflicts and reconciliation due to the lack of clear rules. English Equivalent: A word before is worth two after. |
جوجه رو آخر پاییز می‌شمرن. | Trasnlation: They count the chick at the end of autumn. English Equivalent: Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. |
چراغی که به منزل رواست به مسجد حرام است. | Trasnlation: A lamp needed at home is forbidden for the mosque. English Equivalent: Charity begins at home |
چون بد آید هر چه آید بد شود. | Trasnlation: When bad luck comes, everything becomes bad. English Equivalent: When it rains, it pours |
حساب حسابه، كاكا برادر. | Trasnlation: A deal is a deal, brother (informal, often used affectionately) is a brother. (But we separate these two matters of business and friendship.) English Equivalent: Bargain is bargain |
حقیقت تلخه. | Trasnlation: The truth is bitter. English Equivalent: Nothing hurts like the truth. |
خنده بهترین درمان است. | Trasnlation: Laughter is the best medicine. English Equivalent: Laughter is the best medicine |
خواستن توانستن است. | Trasnlation: Wanting is being able (to do it). English Equivalent: When there is a will, there is a way |
خواهی نشوی رسوا، همرنگ جماعت شو. | Trasnlation: If you don’t want to become disgraced, become the same color as the group. English Equivalent: When in Rome, do as the Romans do |
خود کرده را تدبیر نیست. | Trasnlation: There is no remedy for what one has done to oneself. English Equivalent: You must lie on the bed you have made. |
در نا امیدی بسی امید است … | Trasnlation: In despair, there is much hope. English Equivalent: Every cloud has a silver lining |
دندون اسب پیشکشی را نمی‌شمرند. | Trasnlation: They do not count the gift horse’s teeth. English Equivalent: Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. |
دو صد گفته چون نیم کردار نیست. | Trasnlation: Two hundred words are not worth half a deed. English Equivalent: Actions speak louder than words. |
دوست آن باشد که گیرد دست دوست | در پریشان حالی و درماندگی | Trasnlation: A friend is one who takes the hand of a friend in distress and helplessness. English Equivalent: A friend in need, is a friend indeed. |
دیر رسیدن بهتر از هرگز نرسیدن است. | Trasnlation: Better late than never. English Equivalent: Better late than never. |
دیگ به دیگ می‌گه روت سیاه. | Trasnlation: The pot says to the pot, ‘Your face is black.’ English Equivalent: The pot calling the kettle black. |
… رهرو آن است که آهسته و پیوسته رود. | Trasnlation: A wayfarer is not one who sometimes goes fast and sometimes tired; a wayfarer is one who goes slowly and steadily. English Equivalent: Slow and steady wins the race. |
روز از نو، روزی از نو. | Trasnlation: A new day, a new beginning. English Equivalent: Another day, another dollar. |
روزهٔ شک‌دار نگیر. | Trasnlation: If you doubt your intention for fasting, don’t fast. English Equivalent: When in doubt, do nothing. |
زیره به کرمان بردن. | Trasnlation: Bringing cumin to Kerman (a city in Iran that has long been known as one of the main centers for the production and trade of cumin). English Equivalent: To carry coals to Newcastle |
سالی که نکوست از بهارش پیداست. | Trasnlation: You can tell a good year from its spring. English Equivalent: A good beginning makes a good end |
سحر خیز باش تا کامروا شوی. | Trasnlation: Be an early riser to be successful. English Equivalent: The early bird catches the worm |
سرکه نقد به از حلوای نسیه است. | Trasnlation: vinegar in cash is better than sweet on credit. English Equivalent: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. |
سرنا را از ته گشاد آن زدن. | Trasnlation: Blowing the trumpet from the wrong end. English Equivalent: To put the cart before the horse |
سری که درد نمی‌کند دستمال نمی‌بندند. | Trasnlation: Don’t bandage a head that doesn’t hurt. English Equivalent: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it |
سنگ بزرگ علامت نزدنه. | Trasnlation: A big stone is a sign it won’t be thrown. English Equivalent: Barking dogs, seldom bite. |
شانس یکبار در خونه آدم رو می‌زنه. | Trasnlation: Luck knocks on your door only once. English Equivalent: Take a chance while it is available |
شاهنامه آخرش خوشه. | Trasnlation: The ending of the Shahnameh is happy. English Equivalent: All is well that ends well |
شتر دیدی، ندیدی. | Trasnlation: You haven’t seen the camel that you saw. English Equivalent: See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. |
عاقبت تخم مرغ دزد شتردزد می‌شه. | Trasnlation: A thief of eggs will become a thief of camels. English Equivalent: He that will steal an egg will steal an ox |
عجله كار شيطونه. | Trasnlation: Hurry is the devil’s craft. English Equivalent: All Haste Comes from the Devil = haste makes waste |
عروس نمیتونه برقصه، می‌گه زمین کجه. | Trasnlation: The bride can’t dance, she blames the floor. English Equivalent: A poor workman blames his tools |
علاج واقعه قبل از وقوع باید کرد. | Trasnlation: Prevention is better than cure. English Equivalent: a stitch in time saves nine |
علف باید به دهن بزی شرینی بیاد. | Trasnlation: The grass must taste sweet to the goat. English Equivalent: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder |
قطره قطره جمع گردد وانگهی دریا شود. | Trasnlation: Drop by drop, the sea is made. English Equivalent: Many a little make a mickle |
كس نخارد پشت من جز ناخن انگشت من. | Trasnlation: No one scratches my back like my own nails. English Equivalent: you want a thing done, do it yourself |
کاچى به از هيچى. | Trasnlation: Porridge is better than nothing. English Equivalent: Half a loaf is better than no bread |
کار از محکم‌کاری عیب نمی‌کنه. | Trasnlation: Reinforcement does not spoil the work. English Equivalent: Always have two strings to your bow. |
کار امروز را به فردا نینداز. | Trasnlation: Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today. English Equivalent: never put off until tomorrow what you can do today |
کار نيکو کردن از پر کردن است. | Trasnlation: Doing a good job comes from doing it often. English Equivalent: Practice makes perfect |
کبوتر با کبوتر باز با باز … | Trasnlation: Every kind flies with its own kind. A pigeon flies with a pigeon, a hawk flies with a hawk. English Equivalent: Birds of a feather flock together |
کفگیرش به ته دیگ خورده. | Trasnlation: His ladle has hit the bottom of the pot. English Equivalent: He is scraping the bottom of the barrel. |
کل اگر طبیب بودی، سر خود دوا نمودی. | Trasnlation: If the bald man was a doctor, he would have cured his own head. English Equivalent: Physician, heal thyself |
کنار گود نشستی می‌گی لنگش کن. | Trasnlation: You are sitting beside the wrestling mat and you are saying “make him limp”. English Equivalent: You are a backseat driver. |
کوری عصاکش کور دگر شود. | Trasnlation: The blind leads the blind. English Equivalent: The blind leading the blind. |
کوزه گر از کوزه شکسته آب می خوره. | Trasnlation: The potter drinks from a broken pot. English Equivalent: The shoemaker’s wife goes the worst shod |
گر صبر کنی ز غوره حلوا سازی. | Trasnlation: If you are patient, you can make halva from sour grapes. English Equivalent: Good things come to those who wait = Rome was not built in a day |
گنج بی مار و گل بی خار نیست. | Trasnlation: There’s no treasure without a snake, no rose without a thorn. English Equivalent: You buy land, you buy stones, you buy meat, and you buy bones |
لقمهٔ بزرگتر از دهان برداشتن. | Trasnlation: Biting off more than you can chew. English Equivalent: To bite off more than you can chew |
مارگزیده از ریسمان سیاه و سفید می ترسه. | Trasnlation: The snake-bitten one is afraid of a black and white rope. English Equivalent: A burnt child dreads the fire |
ماهی را هر وقت از آب بگیری تازه است. | Trasnlation: The fish is fresh whenever you catch it. English Equivalent: It’s never too late to mend |
مرغ همسایه غازه. | Trasnlation: The neighbor’s chicken is a goose. English Equivalent: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. |
مشت نمونه‌ی خرواره. | Trasnlation: A handful is a sample of the pile. English Equivalent: You may know by a handful the whole sack. |
نابرده رنج گنج میسر نمی‌شود … | Trasnlation: No hardship, no treasure | Oh brother, the reward (wages) is dedicated to whom who worked. English Equivalent: No pain, no gain. |
نانش در روغن است. | Trasnlation: His bread is buttered. English Equivalent: His bread is buttered on both sides / He’s living on Easy Street |
نه خود خورد نه کس دهد، گنده کند به سگ دهد. | Trasnlation: He doesn’t eat it, doesn’t give it to others, lets it rot to feed the dog. English Equivalent: He is a dog in the manger |
نوشدارو بعد از مرگ سهراب. | Trasnlation: Medicine after the death of Sohrab. English Equivalent: After death, the doctor. |
نوکه اومد به بازار، كهنه می‌شه دل آزار. | Trasnlation: When something new comes to the market, the old becomes bothersome. English Equivalent: Out with the old, in with the new |
هر جا بری آسمون همین رنگه. | Trasnlation: Wherever you go, the sky is the same color. English Equivalent: All roads lead to Rome. |
هر چقدر پول بدی، همون‌قدر آش می‌خوری. | Trasnlation: The amount of soup you eat is proportional to the amount of money you pay. English Equivalent: You get what you pay for. |
هر چه پیش آید خوش آید. | Trasnlation: Whatever happens, happens for the best. English Equivalent: Whatever comes up is welcomed. |
هر کاری راهی دارد. | Trasnlation: Everything has a way. English Equivalent: You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar |
هر که بامش بیش، برفش بیشتر. | Trasnlation: The more your roof, the more snow it catches. English Equivalent: Much coin, much care. |
هر گردی گردو نیست. | Trasnlation: Not everything round is a walnut. English Equivalent: All that glitters isn’t gold. |
هم خدا رو می‌خواد، هم خرما رو. ~ هم خر رو می‌خواد، هم خرما رو. | Trasnlation: He wants both God and the dates. ~ He wants both the donkey and the dates. English Equivalent: You can not burn the candle at both ends = You can not sell the cow and drink the milk = You can’t have your cake and eat it too |
همهٔ تخم مرغ هات را در یک سبد نذار. | Trasnlation: Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. English Equivalent: Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. |
هیچ جا خونه خود آدم نمی‌شه. | Trasnlation: There’s no place like home. English Equivalent: East, west, home’s best |
وقت طلاست. | Trasnlation: Time is gold. English Equivalent: Time is money |
یکی به میخ و یکی به نعل زدن. | Trasnlation: Striking both the nail and the horseshoe. English Equivalent: To run with the hare and hunt with the hounds |
یه دست صدا نداره. | Trasnlation: One hand does not clap. English Equivalent: It takes two to tango. |
Conclusion
Proverbs are a powerful tool in mastering Persian, offering insights into the language and the culture behind it. By learning these 101 proverbs, you can enrich your vocabulary, improve your communication skills, and gain a deeper appreciation of Persian literature.
Whether you’re a student, a traveler, or simply a language enthusiast, these proverbs are your gateway to becoming more fluent and culturally aware. So, the next time you’re reading a book, having a conversation, or even writing an essay, remember: “دو صد گفته چون نیم کردار نیست” and start using these proverbs to make your Persian truly shine!
We’d Love to Hear from You!
We invite you to join the conversation by leaving a comment below. Do you know other Persian proverbs that we haven’t included? Share them with us! If you have questions or thoughts on the proverbs listed, we’d love to hear your insights. Let’s make this a space for discussion and learning.
Don’t forget to share this post with other Persian learners and enthusiasts—let’s spread the wisdom of Persian proverbs together!
