BASQUE PROVERBS ESAERA ZAHARRAK - Buber

BASQUE PROVERBS

ESAERA ZAHARRAK

November 29, 1994

This collection of Basque proverbs was selected, standardized, translated, and commentary was added by Jon Aske.
Thanks are due to Inaki Heras Saizarbitoria and friends from the Basque Culture List, Basque-L, for invaluable
assistance.

The published sources are cited at the end of the list. The proverbs were posted to Basque-L during the months of
July-November 1994 at the rate of about 2 a day.

Feel free to reproduce this collection for your personal use or to give to friends. Please include this note with it.
Please do not use for publication or for profit without first consulting with me.

Enjoy!

Jon Aske
[email protected]

Note: This copy was formatted by Blas Uberuaga. The references that were mentioned above have been taken out
to lessen the amount of information contained.
Blas Uberuaga
[email protected]

Esaera Zaharrak

BASQUE PROVERBS / ESAERA ZAHARRAK

A, zer parea! Karakola eta barea! Aldi luzeak, guztia ahaztu
Oh, what a pair, a snail and a slug. With time, all things are forgotten.
FRIENDS, RELATIONSHIPS, MISCHIEF, TIME, FORGIVENESS, FORGETTING

CHARACTER, BEHAVIOR

Abadearen lapikoa, txikia baina gozoa Alfer egon eta alfer-lana egin, biak berdin
The priest's pot is small but tasty. Doing nothing and doing useless work are the same
CLERGY, FOOD
thing.
LAZINESS, WORK

Aberats izatea baino, izen ona hobe Alferkeria, askoren ondamendia
It's better to have a good name than to be rich. Laziness leads many people astray.

WEALTH, REPUTATION LAZINESS

Adiskide onekin, orduak labur Alferrak, beti lanez beterik
With a good friend the hours are short. Lazy people are always busy.

FRIENDSHIP, TIME LAZINESS

Adiskidegabeko bizitza, auzogabeko heriotza Alferrarendako lanik ez, eta astirik ez
Life without friends means death without neighbors. The lazy person has no work and has no time.

FRIENDSHIP, DEATH, LIFE, LONELINESS LAZINESS, TIME

Aditu nahi ez duenak, ez du esan behar Alferrarentzat jana eta langilearentzat lana, ez da
He who doesn't want to hear, shouldn't say. inoiz faltako

TALKING There is never a lack of food for the lazy person, nor
of work for the industrious.
Aditzaile onari, hitz gutxi
A good listener needs few words. LAZINESS, WORK, FOOD
TALKING, CONVERSATION
Alferrik da, ura joan eta gero, presa egitea
Agindua zorra, esan ohi da It is useless, once the water is gone, to hurry.
A promise is a debt, it's always been said.
OPPORTUNITIES, TIMING
DEBT, PROMISES
Amari egindako zorrak ez dira inoiz ordaintzen
Aita biltzaileari, seme hondatzaile The debts made to one's mother are never paid.
A thrifty father begets a squandering son. MOTHERS, DEBT
FAMILY, DIFFERENCES, FATHERS, SONS

Amen: Zu hor eta ni hemen Basque Proverbs
Amen: you there and me here
ARGUMENT, DISAGREEMENT Aski ez duena, deusik ez duena
Not having enough is like not having anything
Apaizaren eltzea, txikia baina betea
The priest's pot is small but full. DISSATISFACTION, PRIVATION
CLERGY, FOOD
Asko baduk/n, asko beharko duk/n
Ardi galdua atzeman daiteke, aldi galdua berriz If you have much, you will need much.
ez SIMPLICITY, AMBITION, WEALTH

The lost sheep may be recovered, the lost time Asko daki zaharrak, erakutsi beharrak
cannot. Old people know much; they were taught by
TIME
necessity.
Ardi txikia, beti bildots NECESSITY, OLD AGE, KNOWLEDGE,
The small sheep, always a lamb.
REPUTATION, CATEGORIZATION EXPERIENCE

Ardiak beeka egonik, ez du jaten belarrik Asko dakin/k/zu, bizitzen baldin badakin/k/zu
A bleating sheep eats no grass. You know much if you know how to live.
ACTING, TALKING WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE

Arian, arian, zehetzen da burnia Askoren mina, tontoen atsegina
Working and working at it, iron can be pulverized. The stupid find relief in the suffering of others.
INDUSTRY, PERSISTENCE, PERSEVERANCE
CONSOLATION, CONTENTMENT
Arranoak lumak behar, txepetxak ere bai
The eagle needs feathers, and the wren does too. Asto askok, lasto asko
A lot of donkeys means a lot of hay.
SIMILARITIES
FAMILY, EXPENSES
Arrotz-herri, otso-herri
A foreign land is a land of wolves. Astoari ezin mendeka, mendeka albardari
DISTRUST, STRANGERS, FOREIGNERS Not able to take revenge on the donkey, take it out on

Aseak gosea ezin ikus the saddle.
The satiated cannot see the hungry. REVENGE
HUNGER, INEQUALITY, SELFISHNESS
Aukera maukera, azkenik trankera
The choosy one ends up with the ordinary.
CHOICES, RELATIONSHIPS, HUSBANDS,

COURTSHIP

3

Esaera Zaharrak Bat izatea hobe, bi itxo egitea baino
It's better to have one than be waiting for two.
Aurrera begiratzen ez duena, atzean dago
Those who don't look forward, stay behind. SECURITY, CERTAINTY

EXCELLENCE, INDUSTRY Begi bat aski du saldunak, ehun ez ditu sobera
erostunak
Azeri zaharrak ile zaharra uzten du, aztura
zaharrik ez One eye is enough for the seller, but one hundred is
not too many for the buyer.
The old fox sheds its old hair, but not its old habits.
HABITS, OLD AGE BUSINESS AND COMMERCE, BUYING,
SELLING
Azeria solas ematen zaukanean ari, gogo emak
heure oiloari Begiak noraino, nahia haraino
As far as the eyes can see, that's how far one's
When the fox is engaging you in conversation, keep
an eye on your chicken. desires go.
DESIRE, GREED
MISCHIEF, DISTRUST, VIGILANCE
Begietatik urruti, bihotzetik urruti
Azken gaizto egingo duk, txoria, gazterik egiten ez Far from the eyes, far from the heart.
baduk habia
FEELINGS
You will have a sad end, bird, if you don't make your
nest while you're still young. Beltz guztiak ez dira ikatz
All things black are not coal.
OLD AGE, YOUTH, WORK DECEPTION, APPEARANCES, COMPARISONS

Bakoitzari berea, eta beti adiskide Berbak handiak, ezkurrak txikiak
To each their own, and always friends. The words are big but the acorns are small.

FRIENDSHIP, JUSTICE TALKING, ACTIONS

Balantza duen aldera erortzen da arbola Bere etxe pobrea, erregearena baino hobea
The tree falls towards the side it's leaning. His or her poor house is better than a king's..
POVERTY, SIMPLICITY, HAPPINESS, HOME
PREDISPOSITION, INCLINATIONS
Berri gaiztoa bera zaldi
Balizko errotak, irinik ez Bad news is it's own horse.
An imaginary mill produces no flour.
NEWS
ILLUSIONS
Beste lekutan ere, zakurrak oinutsik ibiltzen dira
Bat eman eta bi hartu, gure etxean ez berriz sartu In other places dogs go barefoot too.
Giving one and taking two, don't come back into our COMPARISONS, SIMILARITIES

house.
SELFISHNESS, DECEIT, DISHONESTY,

SNEAKINESS

Besteen faltak aurreko aldean, geureak Basque Proverbs
bizkarrean
Burla minena, egia dioena
Other people carry their faults up front. We carry The most painful insult is the one that's true.
our own behind our backs.
INSULTS, MOCKERY
FAULTS, DIFFERENCES
Bururik ez duenak, hankak ibili behar
Besteren ama ona, norberea askoz hobea If you don't have a good head, then you better have
Another's mother is good, but our own is much
good legs.
better. INCOMPETENCE
MOTHERS
Bururik ez duenak, txapel-beharrik ez
Beti on nahi duena, maiz gaizki Those who don't have heads don't need hats.
The one who wants everything perfect, often gets just
INCOMPETENCE
the opposite.
AMBITION, PERFECTION Buztana lastozkoa duena, suaren beldur
Those who have their tail made of straw are afraid of
Beti ordu duena, beti berandu heldu dena
The one who has a lot of time to spare, is the one fire.
WEAKNESS, FEAR
who always arrives late.
HABITS, TARDINESS, CONTRAST Dagonean bonbon, ez dagonean egon
When there is, spend lavishly, and when there isn't,
Bi etxetako txakurra, goseak jan
A dog which belongs to two houses dies of hunger. that's life.
ADVERSITY, CIRCUMSTANCES
RESPONSIBILITY
Dakien guztia ez derrala, ahala oro jan ez dezala
Bihotzean dagoena, mihira irten Don't say as much as you know, and don't eat as
What is in the heart, comes to the tongue. much as you can.
TALKING, EATING
TALKING, FEELINGS, EMOTIONS
Dakienak, dakien adina esaten du
Bost sosen pupua, eta hamar sosen trapua One who knows, tells everything one knows.
A ten cent bandage for a five cent booboo.
TALKING
EXAGGERATION, COMPLAINING
Dakizunaz gutxi mintza zaitez, ez dakizunaz bat
Burdina berotan jo behar da ere
Iron must be hammered when it's hot.
OPPORTUNITIES, COURAGE, INDECISION, Say little about what you know, and don't say
anything about what you don't know.
PROCRASTINATION TALKING, IGNORANCE

5

Esaera Zaharrak Egi guztiak ez dira on esateko
Not all truths are good to say.
Danbolin ordainduak soinu txarra jotzen du
A paid drum plays bad music. TRUTH, TALKING

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE Egia, askoren erregarria
For many, the truth hurts.
Dantzatu nahi ez dana, ez doala dantzara
If you don't want to dance you shouldn't go to a TRUTH, PAIN

dance. Egia da latz eta garratz
CHOICES, DECISIONS The truth is bitter and unpleasant.

Denbora badoa eta gu harekin TRUTH, PAIN
Time goes by, and we go with it.
Egiak esan eta adiskideak gal
TIME Telling the truth, you may lose your friends.

Dezagun gutxi, dezagun beti TRUTH, FRIENDS
Let us have little, but let us always have enough.
WEALTH, SIMPLICITY, CONTENTMENT, Egizu beti on, ez jakinarren non
Do always the right thing, even if you don't know
SECURITY
who benefits.
Dirua, mutilik hoberena eta nagusirik txarrena GOODNESS, ACTION, GENEROSITY
Money is the best of servants, but the worst of bosses.
Eguzki bera, on ala gaiztoentzat
MONEY The sun shines equally on the good and the bad.

Diruak malkarrak zelaitzen EQUALITY
Money flattens hilly terrain.
Eguzkia nora, zapiak hara
MONEY Where the sun is, that's where you should hang your

Edozein txoriri, eder bere habia clothes.
Every bird thinks its own nest is beautiful. FREEDOM, OPPORTUNITIES, ADAPTATION,

HOME CIRCUMSTANCES

Edozeinek, edanondoan, dio bere iritzia Ekark idia, edo begia
After drinking everyone gives their opinion. Bring the ox or bring the eye.

DRINKING, TALKING, OPINIONS DEBTS

Egarri dagoenarentzat, ur loirik ez Elizatik hurreanena, paradisutik urrunena
For one who is thirsty, there is no muddy water. The closest to the church are the farthest from

CONTENTMENT, ADVERSITY paradise.
CHURCHES, RELIGION, PARADISE

Entzun eta isil, baiezko borobil Basque Proverbs
If you hear something and you don't object, people
Etxe hutsa, haserre hutsa
will assume that you agree. In an empty house, there's nothing but anger.
AGREEMENT, TALKING FAMILY, HOME, ANGER, PRIVATION,

Eroriz, eroriz, oinez ikasten da SCARCITY
By falling, one learns to walk.
Etxean gatza ugari dagoela eta, ez dezazula
WALKING, OBSTINACY, PERSISTENCE, bazkaria gehiegi gazitu
PERSEVERANCE
Just because there is a lot of salt in the house, you
Esaera zaharrak, gezurrik ez shouldn't make your food too salty.
The old sayings tell no lies. EXCESS, MODERATION
PROVERBS, NATURE
Etxean ikusia, umeak ikasia
Esana da erraz eta egina garratz What is seen at home is what the child learns.
Talking is easy, doing is hard. CHILDREN, HOME, GROWING UP, LEARNING,
TALKING, ACTION
NURTURE
Esana esan, emana eman
What's said is said, what's given is given. Etxeko sua etxeko hautsez estali behar da
The home's fire must be put out with the home's
TALKING, GIFTS
ashes.
Esaten baduk nahi duana, entzungo duk nahi ez FAMILY, HOME, PROBLEMS
duana
Ez ardo bizidunik, ez andre bizardunik
If you say anything you want, you will hear things Two things to avoid: sparkling wine and bearded
you don't want to.
women.
TALKING, INSULTS, OFFENDING WINE, WOMEN

Eskola-mutilak sasiz sasi, asko jan eta gutxi ikasi Ez da horixe atzo goizekoa
School children from bush to bush, they eat a lot, but That wasn't invented yesterday.

learn little. HISTORY, INVENTIONS
STUDENTS, SCHOOLS, LEARNING
Ez da ogirik neke gaberik
Eskuko behatzak ere, ez zituen Jainkoak berdinak There is no bread without pain.
egin WORK, SUFFERING, DIFFICULTIES

God didn't make even the fingers all the same. Ez dakusan begik, ez nigarrik
DIFFERENCES Eyes that don't see don't cry.

KNOWLEDGE, EMOTIONS, OBLIVIOUSNESS,
AWARENESS

7

Esaera Zaharrak Gaitz guztiak, bere gaitzagoa
For every evil, there is always something worse.
Ez egin gaitzik eta ez izan beldurrik
If you do no wrong, you need not be afraid. EVIL, COMPARISONS, RELATIVITY

GOODNESS, EVIL, FEAR Gaitza, gaitzagoak derahatza
The worse makes you forget about the bad.
Ez egin oihanean, eder ez denik kalean
Don't do in the forest what you shouldn't do in the RELATIVITY

street. Gaitza, ongi hator, baldin bakar bahator
ACTION, RIGHT AND WRONG Be welcome, misfortune, as long as you come alone.

Ez gehiegi hitz egin, ez ba da nahi huts egin EVIL, DISEASE
Don't speak too much if you do not want to make
Gaizki esanak barkatu, ondo esanak ondo hartu
mistakes. Forgive the badly said, take well the well said.
TALKING, ERROR TALKING, CONVERSATION

Ez naiz joaten elizara, maingu naizelako; joaten Garaipena, neke askoren ondorena
naiz tabernara, ardoa on zaidalako Success is the result of a lot of hard work.
SUCCESS, SACRIFICE, SUFFERING
I don't go to church, because I'm lame; but I do go to
the bar, because I like the wine. Gaua, gogapenen ama
Night is the mother of thought.
CHURCHES, DRINKING, EXCUSES
NIGHT, THOUGHT
Ezer ez duena, emateko prest
One who has nothing is always willing to give. Gaur hitza eman, bihar haizeak eraman
Today's promise carries air tomorrow.
GIFTS, GIVING PROMISES

Ezina, ekinez egina Gaurko izerdia, biharko ogia
Through effort and sacrifice, the impossible can be Today's sweat is tomorrow's bread.
EFFORT, SACRIFICE, CONSEQUENCES,
done.
SACRIFICE, DETERMINATION, INDUSTRY, RESULTS

STRUGGLE Gaztean alfer, zaharrean lander
In youth, lazy; in old age, destitute.
Ezkondu baino lehen, ezagutzea lehenago LAZINESS, YOUTH, OLD AGE
Before getting married, get to know your partner.

MARRIAGE, RELATIONSHIPS

Ezkondu baino lehen, kontu zer egiten den
Before you get married, make sure you know what

you're doing.
MARRIAGE, RELATIONSHIPS

Edukiago eta nahiago Basque Proverbs
The more one has the more one wants.
Gogoa den tokian, aldaparik ez
AMBITION, CONTENTMENT, In a place of one's liking, there are no hills.
DISSATISFACTION, WEALTH HAPPINESS, CONTENTMENT, OPTIMISM

Gehiegi baino, aski hobe Goiz jagia, ez da egunsentia
Having just enough is better than having too much. Just because you get up doesn't mean it's dawn.

AMBITION, WEALTH, CONTENTMENT MORNING, WAKING

Geroa, alferraren leloa Gorostian gorosti, eta Donostian donosti
The lazy person's motto: 'Later'. In the holly tree you will find holly, and in Donostia
LAZINESS, PROCRASTINATION
(San Sebastian), Donostia.
Gezurra esan nuen etxean: ni baino lehenago CUSTOMS
kalean
Gure beiak erro handiago eta zuenak esne
I told a lie at home and it was in the street before me. gehiago
LIES
Our cow has a larger teat, but yours gives more milk.
Gezurra esan nuen Getarian, eta ni baino ENVY, DECEPTION, COMPARISONS,
lehenago zen atarian APPEARANCES

I told a lie in Getaria and it was home before me. Gutxi edatea eta gutxi sinistea, zintzoaren egitea
LIES The wise person drinks little and believes little.
DRINKING, TRUST, CREDULITY
Gezurrak hankak motzak ditu
Lies have short legs. Guztia gura izatea, guztia galtzea
LIES Wanting everything, you will lose everything.

Gezurtiak zer duen merezi? Egia esatean ez AMBITION, EXCESS
sinetsi
Guztien adiskide dena, ez da inorena
What does a liar deserve? To not be believed when One who is everybody's friend, is no one's friend.
telling the truth.
LIES FRIENDSHIP

Gilen, bihar hilen, etzi ehortziren, etzidamu Guztien gogora egitea, da gauza nekea
ahantziren Pleasing everyone is tiresome.
ACTION, TASTE, PLEASING
Tomorrow will kill you, the next day will bury you,
and the day after will forget you. Gutxiegia eta larregia, beti kaltegarria
DEATH Too little or too much: both are harmful.

EXCESS

9

Esaera Zaharrak Hauxe da lorra! Goian zerua eta behean lurra
What a life! Below the earth and above the sky.
Gutxika gutxika, asko egiten da
Little by little, much is done. POVERTY

INDUSTRY, PERSISTENCE, PERSEVERANCE Hazi gaiztoa, bera sortzen
The bad seed grows by itself.
Haitzean jaioak, haitzera nahi
What's born on rocks, to the rocks wants to return. EVIL, NATURE

HOME, PEOPLE AND PLACES Hegaztia airerako, gizona lanerako
Birds are meant to fly and people are meant to work.
Handiak, txikia ahantzarazten
The big things make you forget about the little things. WORK

FORGETTING Hil arteraino bizi, han arte ez izi
Live until you die. Until then, don't panic.
Haria meheenean eten ohi da
A thread usually breaks where it is thinnest. LIFE, ADVERSITY, CALMNESS

WEAKNESS Hilak lurpera, biziak mahaira
May the dead go under ground and the living to the
Harri ibiliak goroldiorik ez, erle uxatuak
aberaskarik ez table.
DEATH, BURIAL, FEASTS, MOURNING
A rolling stone gathers no moss; and a bee that
scares easily builds no honeycomb. Hiru belarritan igaren hitz isila, orotan lasterka
ACTION, ACTIVITY, BUSINESS dabila

Hartuak, emana zor A secret that has been through three ears is soon
That which is taken is owed. found running all over the place.
GRATITUDE, DEBT, GIFTS, RECEIVING, SECRETS, GOSSIP

GIVING Hitzontzi, hutsontzi
Lots of talk, lots of mistakes.
Hartzen dena, zortzen dena
What you receive, you owe. TALKING, ERROR
DEBT, GIFTS, GRATITUDE, RECEIVING
Hobe da ezer, ezer ez baino
Haurrak hazi, nekeak hasi Something is always better than nothing.
One's troubles really begin when one begins to raise
PROPERTY, SECURITY
children.
CHILDREN, FAMILY, TROUBLES, Hobe da gorde eta ez eske
It is better to save than beg.
DIFFICULTIES THRIFT, SECURITY, BEGGING, LOOKING

AHEAD, SAVING

Hobe da oinez eta segurora, eta ez zaldiz eta Basque Proverbs
zulora
Iretargia argi da, baina eguna baizen argi ez.
It's better to go by foot and arrive safely than to go Inoren ama ona da, baina norberena baizen ona
on horseback and fall into a hole.
ez.
SAFETY, SECURITY, CERTAINTY, The moon is bright, but not as bright as the sun.
CONTRASTS Anybody else's mother is good, but not as good as

Hobe da txori bat eskuan, eta ez bost ezkurrean one's own.
One bird in the hand is better than five in the tree. MOTHERS

SAFETY, SECURITY, CERTAINTY Iturri txikiak, handiak adina egarria kendu
A small fountain quenches your thirst as well as a big
Hordikeria, gizatasunaren lotsaria
Drunkenness is a disgrace to humanity. one.
SIMPLICITY
DRINKING
Izena duen guztiak izatea ere badauke
Ibiltari gauean, logura goizean Everything with a name exists.
Late night walkers are sleepy in the morning. NAMES, EXISTENCE

MORNING, NIGHT, SLEEP Izenak ez du egiten izana
A name doesn't make something true.
Idia adarretik eta gizona hitzetik
Hold oxen by their horns and people to their word. NAMES, EXISTENCE

PROMISES, TALKING, RESPONSIBILITY Jaio zara, hilko zara
You were born, you will die.
Igaitea gorago, eroria dorpeago LIFE, DEATH, CERTAINTY
The higher the climb, the harder the fall.
Jakindunen artean dabilena, jakindun
FAILURE, CONSEQUENCES One who spends his time among wise people is also

Igaroa, igaro wise.
The past has passed. WISDOM

TIME Jakiteak ez du ogirik jaten
Knowledge doesn't eat bread.
Ihaurk egin dezakeana ez utzi besteri egiten
Don't let another do what you can do yourself. KNOWLEDGE

RESPONSIBILITY, DISTRUST Jakiteko hartzen, ikas ezazu ematen
To know how to receive, learn to give.
Inoren oiloak, gureak baino arraultz gehiago
Everybody else's chickens lay more eggs than ours. GIFTS, GIVING, TAKING

ENVY

11

Esaera Zaharrak Lagun onak, ondu; gaiztoak, gaiztotu
A good friend makes one a better person, a bad
Jan behar ba duk/n, lan egin beharko duk/n
If you must eat, then you must work. friend makes one worse.
WORK, EATING, SURVIVAL FRIENDS

Jan eta edan eta pakea eman Lan baratza, lan aratza
Eat and drink and be quiet. A job done slowly, is a job done well.
EATING
WORK
Jan-edanaren gozoa! Kontu-emanaren gaiztoa!
How sweet it is to eat and drink! How terrible to Lan lasterra, lan alferra
Hasty work is useless work.
have to pay the bill!
EATING, DRINKING, PAYING RUSHING

Jaten duten santuekin, ez dago fidatzerik Lanik errazena, agintzea
Those who eat with saints cannot be trusted. The easiest of jobs is giving orders.

RELIGION, TRUST, DECEPTION, WORK, HIERARCHY
APPEARANCES, SAINTLINESS
Lapiko txikiak, laster gainez
Jende ederra, jende alferra A small pot soon overflows.
Beautiful people are lazy people.
NATURE, CONSEQUENCES, LIMITATIONS
LAZINESS, BEAUTY
Lastoaren sua, ez da luzaroko sua
Kanpoan uso, etxean otso Fire from straw is not long-lasting.
A dove to the world, but a wolf at home. DECEPTION, LAZINESS, APPEARANCES

HOME, RELATIONSHIPS Lastozko isatsa duenak, atzera begira
Those who have tails made of straw are always
Katurik ez dagoen etxean, saguak dantzan
In a house without a cat, the mice are dancing. watching their backs.
FEAR, WEAKNESS
FREEDOM, MISCHIEF
Lehen hala, orain hola, gero ez jakin nola
Etorkizuna, kontakizuna Before, things were that way; now, this way; and it is
The future has yet to be told.
not known how they will be later.
FUTURE CHANGE, FUTURE

Kontuak garbi, eta adiskide zahar Lehenean barka, bigarrenean urka
If your accounts are settled, your friendships will The first time, forgive; the second time, hang.
FORGIVENESS, PUNISHMENT, CRIMES,
last.
DEBTS, FRIENDS FAULTS, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Lehenik jan, gero lan

First eat, then work. Basque Proverbs
EATING, WORK
Mihiaz egiten den mina, da azken sendatzen dena
Lekuan lekuan ardiak, beltzen artean zuriak The pain caused by the tongue is the last to heal.
In any place you will always find white sheep among TALKING, PAIN

the black ones Munduan nahi duenak luzaroan bizi, oiloekin
DIVERSITY ohera eta txoriekin jagi

Lur bigunean, zulo handia Those who want to live long go to bed with the
In soft ground, big hole. chickens and get up with the birds.
LIFE, WAKING, SLEEP
CIRCUMSTANCES, RELATIVITY
Nagi: utz nazak jaikitzen, has nadin lan egiten
Lurra bigunago, harra barrenago Laziness: let me get up so that I may begin to work.
The softer the ground, the deeper the worm goes.
LAZINESS, WAKING, WORK
DECEIT
Nagia, beti lantsu
Lurrak hazi, lurrak jan behar Lazy people are always busy.
The earth makes us grow and the earth must eat us.
LAZINESS, WORK
DEATH, BIRTH, GROWING UP
Nagusi eroa baino, gogorra hobe
Mando merkea, nagusiaren nekea A harsh boss is better than a crazy one.
A cheap mule is more work for the owner. MENTAL HEALTH, WORK, BOSSES
BUSINESS AND COMMERCE, QUALITY
Nahi bada jan, egin behar da lan
Mendiak mendia behar ez du, baina gizonak If one wants to eat, then one must work.
gizona bai
WORK
Mountains don't need other mountains, but people do
need other people. Nahi dukana hiretzat, besterentzat
SOCIETY What you want for yourself, want also for others.

Mihiak ez du hezurrik hausten, baina bai SOCIETY, GOLDEN-RULE
hautsarazten
Nahi izatea da ahal izatea
The tongue cant' break bones, but it can cause them Wanting is being able
to be broken. DESIRE, ABILITY

TALKING, PAIN Nahiago dut behin to, eta ez hamabi emango
I prefer one `take this' to twelve `I-will-give-you'-s.

SAFETY, SECURITY, CONTRAST, GIVING

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Esaera Zaharrak Nolako egurra, halako sua
As is the wood, thus will be the fire.
Nahigabeko ezkontzea, neke eta kaltea
An involuntary marriage brings nothing but troubles CONSEQUENCES, RESULTS

and tribulations. Non gogoa, han zangoa
MARRIAGE Where the mind goes, the legs follow.

Nekatzen da emailea, baina ez hartzailea AMBITION, WILL, HEDONISM
The giver tires, but not the taker.
GIFTS, RECEIVING, GIVING Non hilgo zara, haraxe joango zara
You are going to the place where you will die.
Neke gaberik ez da bizitzerik
Without suffering, there is no life. DEATH

LIFE, SUFFERING Nori berea, da zuzenbidea
To each their own, that is justice.
Neke ondoren, poza
After the suffering comes joy. JUSTICE
SUFFERING, HAPPINESS, JOY, CONSOLATION
Nork bere opilari ikatza
Nekez hartutako gauza, nekez utzi People always put the coals next to their own bread.
What is obtained with suffering, with suffering is
SELFISHNESS, EGOCENTRICITY
given up.
SUFFERING Nork dabilen bideak harrapatu ohi du
The road which each walks will usually catch him or
Nere etxeko kea, auzoko sua baino hobea
The smoke of my house is better than the fire of my her.
CONSEQUENCES
neighbor's.
DIFFERENCES, COMPARISONS Nork nori, zartagina zaharrak pertzari: "Utikan,
beltz hori!"
Nerea neretzat, zurea biontzat
Mine for me, yours for both of us. Look who's talking! The old frying pan said to the
PROPERTY, SELFISHNESS, SHARING pot: "Get out of there, you black!"
DIFFERENCES, SIMILARITIES
Nola bizi, hala hil
How you live is how you will die. Odolak, su gabe diraki
The blood, without fire, boils.
LIFE, DEATH
EMOTIONS, BLOOD
Nola soinu, hala dantza
As is the music, thus will be the dance. Ogi gogorrari, hortzak zorrotz
ADAPTATION, CONSEQUENCES, RESULTS If the bread is hard, give it a sharp tooth.
PROBLEMS, ADVERSITY, NECESSITY,

ADAPTATION

Ohakoan dena ikasten, ez da jagoiti ahazten

What's learned in the cradle is never forgotten. Basque Proverbs
HOME, NURTURE
Onegi dena beretzat ez da aski besterentzat
Ohitura gaiztoa, berandu ahaztua One who is too good to oneself is not good enough to
Bad habits are not easily forgotten.
others.
HABITS SELFISHNESS, EGOCENTRISM, SOCIETY

Ohiturak lege ohi dakar Ongi nahi hauenak negar eginaraziko
Custom usually becomes law. dauk/daun/dizu, gaizki nahi hauenak barre

CUSTOMS eginaraziko dauk/daun/dizu
The one who loves you will make you cry, the one
Ohoin handiak urkarazten txikiak
Big thieves execute little ones. who hates you will make you laugh.
POWER, CRIMES, THIEVES LOVE, HATE

Oihal txarra, merke dalarik, garesti da Orain oraingo eta gero geroko
Bad cloth, being cheap, is expensive. Now the present and later the future.
BUSINESS AND COMMERCE
THE PRESENT, THE FUTURE
Oilo ibiltari, azerien janari
The wandering hen will be food for the fox. Ordu batean ezin dana, bitan egiten da
What can't be done in one hour, can be done in two.
NATURE, CHOICES, ADVERSITY,
CONSEQUENCES TIME, PATIENCE, PERSISTENCE

Oiloari, oloa, astoari, lastoa Orratzak baino hariak luzeago izan behar du
To the hen, oats, to the donkey, straw. The thread must always be longer than the needle.

JUSTICE, NATURE TOLERANCE, PATIENCE

On egin dizuela janak eta kalterik ez edanak Osasuna, paregabeko ondasuna
May the food do you good and the drink do you no Health is an asset without equal.

harm. HEALTH
EATING, DRINKING
Otso gosea, ibiltari
Onak on direla, hobeak hobe A hungry wolf wanders.
As good as the good ones are, the better ones are HUNGER, NEEDS, RESTLESSNESS

even better. Otsoak otsoari gaitzik ez, eta lapurrak lapurrari
DIFFERENCES, COMPARISONS laztan

Wolves don't harm other wolves, and thieves give
affection to other thieves.

ENEMIES, THIEVES, THREATS

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Esaera Zaharrak Txakur zaunkaria, gutxitan ozkaria
A dog who barks rarely bites.
Sabelak egitean gur-gur, barteko afariak agur
When the stomach begins to growl, the previous ANIMALS, BEHAVIOR, CHARACTER,
AGGRESSION, DECEPTION, APPEARANCES
night's dinner is saying good-bye.
FOOD, EATING, SIGNS Txalupan nagusi asko daudenean, arrantza gutxi
When there are many captains in the boat, the catch
Sasian jaioak, sasian nahi; gure mandoak ez du
etxera nahi is always small.
FISHING, WORK, SOCIETY
What's born in the bush, in the bush wants to be; our
mule doesn't want to come home. Txapel batekin bi buru ezin estali
HOME, PEOPLE AND PLACES You can't cover two heads with one hat.

Senide urruna baino, auzo hurra hobe OVEREXTENDEDNESS
A nearby neighbor is preferable to a faraway
Txintxarri mihigabea, sasian usteldu
relative. A bell without a clapper will rot in the bush.
NEIGHBORS, RELATIVES
FUTILITY
Su gaberik, ez da kerik
Without fire, there is no smoke. Txori ttattarra, abesti ttattarra
An insignificant bird sings an insignificant song.
FIRE, SMOKE, SIGNS
INEVITABILITY, ANIMALS, BEHAVIOR,
Sua eta ura, belaunetik behera CONSEQUENCES, EXPECTATIONS
Fire and water, from the knee down.
Umeak! Isilik oiloak pixa egin arte
FIRE, DANGER, WATER Children! Be quiet until the chickens pee.

Sugabeko etxea, gorputza odolgabea CHILDHOOD
A house without a fire is a body without blood.
Umearen zentzuna, etxean entzuna
HOME, FIRE What children learn is what they hear at home.

Tantaka-tantaka upela bete CHILDHOOD, EDUCATION
Drop by drop the barrel fills.
TIME, PATIENCE, PERSISTENCE Ur beroaz erre txakurra, epelaren beldur da
A dog who got burned with hot water is afraid of
Tresnak jabea dirudi
The tool resembles its owner. warm water.
FEAR
APPEARANCES
Ur handietan, arrain handiak
In big waters, big fish.

DIFFERENCES, RELATIVITY

Urak dakarrena, urak darama

Basque Proverbs

What water brings, water takes away. WEATHER, BREAD
DESTINY, CHANGE, LUCK
Ustea ez da jakitea
Urde goseak, ezkurra amets Believing is not knowing.
A hungry pig dreams about acorns.
BELIEF, OPINIONS
NEED, NECESSITY
Usteak, alde erdia ustel
Urri, baina ongi Opinions are half rotten.
Little, but good.
SIMPLICITY OPINIONS

Urrun helduko da, baratz doalarik, geratu gabe Utseginaz, utsegiteak zuzentzen dira
doana By making mistakes, mistakes are corrected.

Far will reach, going slowly, one who goes without ERROR, MISTAKES
stopping.
Utzi ezan/ezak/ezazu ona hobeagatik
PATIENCE, PERSISTENCE Leave the good for the better.

Urrunago, gezurrak handiago DESIRE, AMBITION, ASPIRATION
The farther away, the bigger the lies.
Zahar eroa, gazte zoroa baino txarrago
LIES A crazy old person is worse than a foolish young

Urruneko eltzea urrez, hara orduko lurrez person.
That distant golden pot up close is clay. YOUTH, OLD AGE, STUPIDITY, MENTAL
(SELF-)DECEPTION, ILLUSIONS,
APPEARANCES ILLNESS, INSANITY

Urrutiago, berriak handiago Zahar-ele, zuhur-ele
The farther away, the bigger the news. The old one's words are wise words.

NEWS TALKING, OLD AGE

Urrutiko intxaurrak, hamalau; alderantzean, lau Zaharrari azkar joateko eta haurrari geldi
The fourteen distant walnuts turn out to be only four egoteko esatea, berdin da

up close. To tell the old person to hurry and the child to be still
(SELF-)DECEPTION, APPEARANCES is the same thing.

Urte askotan, txapela kaskoan OLD AGE, CHILDHOOD
For many years, your hat on your head.
Zakur handiak, zaunka handia
BIRTHDAYS A big dog has a big bark

Urte euritsu, urte ogitsu NATURE, CORRELATIONS
A year full of rain is a year full of wheat.
Zapatak zapata jagoten du, abarkak abarka ez
The shoe takes care of the shoe, the clog doesn't the

clog.

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Esaera Zaharrak Zorra, lorra
A debt is pain.
WEALTH, CLASS, POVERTY
DEBT
Zeinek bera nolako, besteak uste halako
Everyone believes that everyone else is like them. Zozoak beleari ipurbeltz
The blackbird calling the crow: black ass
BELIEF
INSULTS, COMPLAINTS
Zenbat buru, hainbat aburu
How many heads, that many opinions. Zuharrari ez eska gari
From the elm tree don't ask for wheat.
OPINIONS
NATURE, EXPECTATIONS
Zer egingo dugu? Hil arte bizi
What will we do? Live until death. Zura berago, harra barrenago
ACQUIESCENCE, SELF-RESIGNATION The softer the wood, the deeper the worm goes.
TOLERANCE, PATIENCE, INDULGENCE
Zer ikusi, hura ikasi
What one sees is what one learns. Zuri guztiak ez dira irin
Everything white is not flour.
LEARNING REALITY, APPEARANCES

Zeuen izenean eta neure gizenean
To your name and to my fattening.

DRINKING

Zeuen osasunerako eta neure onerako
To your health, and for my good.
DRINKING

Zor zaharra, izen txarra
An old debt is a bad name

DEBT, REPUTATION

Zor zaharra, zor txarra
An old debt is a bad debt.

DEBT

Basque Proverbs

ability, 12 INDEX family, 1, 2, 6, 9
acquiescence, 17 fathers, 1
acting, 2 contentment, 2, 5, 8 faults, 4, 11
action, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 contrast, 4, 12 fear, 4, 7, 11, 15
actions, 3 contrasts, 10 feasts, 9
activity, 9 conversation, 1, 7 feelings, 3, 4
adaptation, 5, 13 correlations, 16 fire, 15
adversity, 4, 5, 9, 13, 14 courage, 4 fishing, 15
aggression, 15 courtship, 2 food, 1, 2, 15
agreement, 6 credulity, 8 foreigners, 2
ambition, 2, 4, 8, 13, 16 crimes, 11, 14 forgetting, 1, 9
anger, 6 customs, 8, 14 forgiveness, 1, 11
animals, 15 danger, 15 freedom, 5, 11
appearances, 3, 8, 11, 15, 16, 17 death, 1, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13 friends, 1, 5, 11
argument, 2 debt, 1, 9, 17 friendship, 1, 3, 8
aspiration, 16 debts, 5, 11 futility, 15
awareness, 6 deceit, 3, 12 future, 11
beauty, 11 deception, 3, 8, 11, 15, 16 future, the, 14
begging, 9 decisions, 5 generosity, 5
behavior, 1, 15 desire, 3, 12, 16 gifts, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13
belief, 16, 17 destiny, 16 giving, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13
birth, 12 determination, 7 golden-rule, 12
birthdays, 16 differences, 1, 4, 6, 13, 14, 15 goodness, 5, 7
blood, 13 difficulties, 6, 9 gossip, 9
bosses, 12 disagreement, 2 gratitude, 9
bread, 16 disease, 7 greed, 3
burial, 9 dishonesty, 3 growing up, 6, 12
business, 9 dissatisfaction, 2, 8 habits, 3, 4, 14
business and commerce, 3, 5, distrust, 2, 3, 10 happiness, 3, 8, 13
diversity, 12 hate, 14
12, 14 drinking, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 17 health, 14
buying, 3 eating, 11 hedonism, 13
calmness, 9 eating, 4, 11, 12, 14, 15 hierarchy, 11
capital punishment, 11 education, 15 history, 6
categorization, 2 effort, 7 home, 3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 14, 15
certainty, 3, 10 egocentricity, 13 hunger, 2, 14
change, 11, 16 egocentrism, 14 husbands, 2
character, 1, 15 emotions, 4, 6, 13 ignorance, 4
childhood, 15, 16 enemies, 14 illusions, 3, 16
children, 6, 9 envy, 8, 10 inclinations, 3
choices, 2, 5, 14 equality, 5 incompetence, 4
churches, 5, 7 error, 7, 9, 16 indecision, 4
circumstances, 4, 5, 12 evil, 7, 9 indulgence, 17
class, 17 exaggeration, 4 industry, 2, 7, 9
clergy, 1, 2 excellence, 2 inequality, 2
comparisons, 3, 7, 8, 13, 14 excess, 6, 8 inevitability, 15
complaining, 4 excuses, 7 insanity, 16
complaints, 17 existence, 10 insults, 4, 6, 17
consequences, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, expectations, 15, 17 inventions, 6
expenses, 2 joy, 13
15 experience, 2
consolation, 2, 13 failure, 10

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