Selection of Marche proverbs, sayings and idioms most used in the Marche, including translation into Italian, as a testimony to the wisdom of its people.
Marches' idioms
- Sci nasci purittu, died also straccu. (If you are born poor, you also die tired)
- Lassa is going to take the moje away. (Leave it alone, he got his wife taken away)
- Quanno will speak them here, the truth will shut her up. (When money talks, the truth is silent)
- The Bordei s'arfànn d'pezza. (Children make up for a piece)
- My teeth are more dentist than I am. (The dentist eats more with my teeth than I do)
- As the host is the door, it is a sign that the vin is sad. (When the innkeeper stands at the door it is a sign that his wine is bad)
- A cojó at home knows more than a hundred known at casa d'ardri. (A fool in his house knows more than a hundred saputelli in the house of others)
- Cassa da mortu, vestitu that does not fold. (The dead chest is the only dress that does not crease)
- Better stinks 'de vi' than holy djo. (Better to smell of wine than of holy oil)
- Too many roosters at cantà, not if it ever jornu. (Too many roosters to sing, there is never a day)
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- The evil does not take mango to the cà. (Evil doesn't wish dogs either)
- Quanno trona and lu monde d'Angona, pija li bovi and laôra. (When it thunders on the mountain of Ancona take the oxen and work)
- El Signore manna 'l cold according to the clothes. (The Lord tests each according to his ability)
- Po tené lo gra that spica? He stuffed the jende he didn't say. (Can you stop the wheat from making the ears? So people can talk)
- The woman and the fire must be tickled 'gni little. (The woman and the fire must be teased often)
- A piece of cure 'l there, a piece of cure' l lepro. (A little bit the dog runs, a little bit the hare runs)
- El zzumàru carégia el vì e béve l'aqua. (The donkey carries wine and drinks water)
- Messy Joendu makes tribbulated old age. (Messy youth, troubled old age)
- No harm is done, because it is a sin. Nun does well, because it is dirty. (Do not harm, because it is a sin. Do not do good, because it is wasted)
- Who pays late in advance is mad or late. (Who pays early or is mad or exalted)
Marches sayings
- Who magna and does not invite if rubbing any molica. (Whoever eats and does not invite may choke on each crumb)
- The varbiere makes you fleece, it makes you guappo, the femmena makes you stupid. (The barber makes you beautiful, the wine makes you guappo, the woman makes you stupid)
- Sci nasci purittu te ricchi ricchi, sci nasci stupetu not then healed. (If you are born poor you can become rich, but if you are born stupid you cannot heal)
- The young people go in groups, the adults in pairs, the old ones are alone. (Young people go in groups, adults in pairs, old people are alone)
- Envy of amigu is' l pègiu nemìgu. (The envy of a friend is the worst enemy)
- If he falls' sir he has snapped, if he falls' poretto adè 'drunk. (If a gentleman falls it means that he has slipped, if a poor man falls he means that he is drunk)
- Life is like an onion: the more you leaf through it, the more it makes you sick. (Life is like an onion: the longer it gets, the more it makes you cry)
- You have your head to share the 'recchie. (You only have your head to split your ears)
- Fiji ciuchi, troubles ciuchi, big fiji, big trouble, blunt fiji doubled trouble. (Little children little troubles, big kids big troubles, married kids doubled troubles)
- Le cerque does not melange. (Oaks don't make oranges)
- Who has dent, ‘en c’ha‘ l pan; who has ‘l sacc,‘ en c’ha ‘l gran. (Who has teeth, does not have bread; who has sack, does not have wheat)
- Sème all 'na people, but nën sèmë all' na mende. (We are all the same people, but we are not all the same mind)
- De prepotendi there are three: who has nothing, lu papa, lu rre. (There are three bullies: those who have nothing, the pope, the king)
- On 'I am unhinged the thief a little' sues the robbed him. (In this rough world the thief can sue the robbed)
- The man tra du dame plays the part of the salami !. (The man between two ladies plays the part of the salami)
- Love is the most tenacious of ailments, it lasts from ten to ninety years. (Love is more tenacious than ailments, it can last from ten to ninety years)
- Chi pija moje, pija guai chi no ’the pija no je manga ever. (Those who take wives get troubles, but also those who don't take it, there is plenty of trouble)
- To them ’joeni if‘ mbara from old. (To be young you learn from old)
- The woman shows the years before breakfast, the man after dinner. (The woman shows the years before breakfast, the man after dinner)
- Le bott del vin bon and omm brèvi fnischn prest. (Barrels of good wine and good men end soon)
Marche Proverbs
- Li fiji villitti if you tie them. (Beautiful children are born in poor families)
- Quadrini and santidà: those who have it say it, those who say it don't have it. (Money and holiness: whoever has it doesn't say it, who says he has it doesn't have it)
- Lo vi makes three moves: jò la panza, on the head, between the cosse. (Wine goes in three places: in the belly, on the head and between the thighs)
- Modesty is the setting for talent. (Modesty is the habit of talent)
- I quadrì manna the water upwards. (The money makes the water go upwards)
- Whoever loses time pours it there jo the sea. (Those who waste time pour wine into the sea)
- 'Every year of history, a thousand shame and' glory. (Every hundred years of history, a thousand shame and a glory)
- If you get married, 'a woman vella rocks you a sentry. (If you marry a beautiful woman you have to be sentry)
- It is megghie a born fertenate that no figucchi de re. (It is better to be lucky than to be children of the king)
- Lu first viceroy serves for thirst, lu sicunnu for happiness, lu terzu for pleasure, lu quartu for ’mpriacasse. (The first glass of wine to quench your thirst, the second for joy, the third for pleasure, the fourth for getting drunk)
- It is worth more in a house and a condendo core than a building full of vèndo. (A house and a happy heart are worth more than a palace full of wind)
- Frustrated priests, evicted friars, armed friends and heated cavaos was not good. (Rushed priests, evicted friars, reconciled friends and heated cabbages are never good)
- You got a little bit more, it will become a pasha, so much you stink sembre de carzolà. (You can get rich, become a person in sight, but you always smell like a shoemaker)
- To call nun zze sbùgia a còrnu. (The chatter doesn't unravel the problems)
- Whoever does not want to wear clothes does not want to miss Christian wings. (Who doesn't love animals doesn't love people too)
- You will never be beloved, if you only piss. (You will never be loved if you think only of yourself)
- If he knows if he is born but not if he knows if he is more. (We know how we are born, but we don't know how it will end)
- Aecce sembre da fa 'adè' n sec pe 'does not age. (Always having to do is a secret not to grow old)
- Quanno says badly, you also chew the sheep. (When it goes wrong, the sheep also bite you)
