Selection of Venetian proverbs, sayings and idioms most used in Veneto, including translation into Italian, as testimony to the wisdom of its people.
Venetian idioms
- Whoever tropes if he bows, shows his ass. (He who bows too much, shows his butt)
- When it rains and bàcaro is full and vias piassa. (When it rains and there is a storm, the square is empty and the tavern is full)
- Cough, love and panzeta, no if you hide them in any site that if the meta. (Cough, love and belly can't be hidden anywhere)
- El dying is the last mistake he makes. (Dying is the last mistake you make)
- After the confeti if you see the defects. (After the confetti you can see the defects)
- To wash the head of the breast, if it loses lissia and saon. (Soap and water are lost when washing the donkey's head)
- Le femene xe: saints at home, elderly in the street, devils at home, on the balcony and at the door the xe gazete. (The women are: saints in the house, angels in the street, devils in the house, owls on the balcony and on the front door are gossip)
- To whom the pots were unlucky, it rains on the cul to feel. (Who is unlucky, it rains on the ass even when sitting)
- Co little if he lives and co gnente if more. (With little you live and with nothing you die)
- As long as ghe xe pan in the convent, friars are not missing. (As long as there is bread in the convent, there is no shortage of friars)
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- All those who are semi-born, for that buso que semi-born. (We all go crazy for that hole we were born from)
- The wrath of incöi lasla par dmön. (Today's wrath leave her for tomorrow)
- I faxúi and polenta i is the meat of the poaret tooth. (Beans and polenta are the meat of the poor)
- As long as ‘na bela xe vardà,‘ na bruta xe marry. (While a beautiful is being watched, an ugly is being married)
- A la china in the evening, a la matina bisi. (In the evening drunk, in the morning stunned)
- The fairies lose the cavéi, and the brutes keep them all. (Young handsome people lose their hair, and young ugly ones keep it all)
- A baso is ‘na forbìa, el baso sè will go away. (One kiss and one clean and the kiss is gone)
- The woman makes the man. (Woman makes man)
- To pay and to die, there is always time. (There is always time to pay and to die)
- La boca l is small, but l is bona de magnar fields and velada. (The mouth is small but it is capable of eating fields and clothes)
- The misfortunes are always ready, like the taverns of the taverns. (Misfortunes are always ready, like tavern tables)
- No tor mai consegi da zent andada down the drain. (Never take advice from people gone to hell)
- With one x and bad luck, even if you feel it, it rains on the river. (When one is persecuted by bad luck, even if he is sitting, it rains on his butt)
- No one knows about the secret of the women, other than that I want and all the community. (The secret of women nobody knows except me, you and the whole municipality)
- If envy was frightening, the whole world of scotaria. (If envy were fever, the whole world would burn)
- Peoples if mace and kings if abraza. (Peoples kill each other and kings embrace each other)
- Magna and drink that life is a flash. (Eat and drink that life is short)
- Name and some despoia ciese. (Make a name for yourself and then strip the churches too)
- I mona if I heard from two things: from talking, when I should be talking and from tesére when I should be talking. (The fool can be recognized by two things: from speaking, when he should be silent and from being silent when he should speak)
- The schei de la virtue are worth more. (Today money is worth more than virtue)
- El cafè l'è bon with three Ss: he hears shaking and scraping. (Coffee is good with three S: sitting, burning and scrounged)
- Death does not disappear from the kings of France or Spain. (Death spares no kings of France or Spain)
- Who ga inventà el vin, se nol xe in Paradiso, el xe vive. (Whoever invented the wine, if he is not in Heaven, is nearby)
- Love does not respect anyone. (Love does not respect anyone)
- Mai manar tut cuel que se á; mai créder tut cuel que se dis; never say all who knows. (Never eat everything you have; never believe everything you say; never say everything you know)
- Proverbs i x and the wisdom of man. (Proverbs are the wisdom of man)
- El cuor de le done xe made in melon. (Women's hearts are made into wedges like a melon)
- Amor makes me wear socks. (Love makes me wear floppy socks)
- Donate if you complain, donate if dol, donate if you love her, when vol. (The woman complains, hurts and gets sick when she likes)
- Who abuses the beasts, abuses the Christians too. (Who mistreats animals, mistreats Christians too)
- Pecato confesses, half is forgiving. (Sin confessed, half forgiven)
- The x gives it like the wave, used it or founds it. (The woman is like the wave, lifts you or sends you to the bottom)
- To know smart, he flew smart and mezo. (To fool a clever one takes a clever one and a half)
- Who lives hoping, more shitting. (Who lives in hope dies in shit)
- Val depí an hour de alegría que zhento de malinconía. (It is more an hour of joy than a hundred of melancholy)
- Of love and taste is the fogo de straw, x and the istia tagia. (The taste of love and the fire of straw are the same size)
Venetian sayings
- Amor sensa barufa is a mufa. (Love without quarrels makes mold)
- There is more than luganeghe. (There are more days than sausages)
- Love makes time pass and time makes love pass. (Love makes time pass and time makes love pass)
- Without spies, no, if he snatches thieves. (Thieves are not taken without spies)
- Since the xè 'ndà soa luna le stajon no le xè pì quee de' na volta. (Since we went to the moon the seasons are no longer as they once were)
- God lays down, but don't overdo it. (God let you do but don't overdo it)
- Amar e no vegnir amà, xe how to flip the 'cul without having shit. (Loving without being loved is like wiping your butt without shitting)
- Love passes seven walls. (Love passes through seven walls)
- The distance is the fiola de la dimenticansa. (Distance is the daughter of forgetfulness)
- Who always spits honey, at discount 'l fiel. (Who always spits honey, keeps the gall hidden)
- Cuel que bíu ben, al dorm ben; and cuel que dormò ben, no l fá pecá; but cuel que no fá pecá, al nda in paradixo: elora beón fin que crepòn. (Those who drink well, sleep well; those who sleep well do no harm; those who do no harm go to heaven: then we drink well until we die)
- I hate xe el marìo and vendeta xe so mugier. (Hate is the husband and revenge is his wife)
- A little robar if he goes to jail, a lot robar if he is a career. (Stealing a little you go to jail, stealing a lot you make a career)
- Those who go to the whole world see, and those who stay at home do not believe it. (Whoever goes around the world sees everything, and who stays at home doesn't believe it)
- When the homo xe estimates el pole to read and say that the ga suà. (When a man is esteemed, he can piss in bed and say he has sweated)
- Amor veccio does not ruzene. (Old love does not rust)
- Because three done go together, ghe vol one alive, one dead, and a piturada on the door. (Three women only get along if one is alive, another is dead, and a third is painted on the door)
- Hi desfa bosco and desfa pra ’, if it does harm and doesn't know. (Whoever ruins the forest or the lawn, does the damage to himself and does not know it)
- The bone words onze and the cative ponze. (Good words grease and bad ones sting)
- Far e desfar xe tuto on laorar. (Doing and undoing is all working)
- Co ciàcole not if 'mpasta frìtole. (We don't mix pancakes with small talk)
- The galina vecia vole un galéto zovane. (The old hen wants a young cock)
- With no guen it is more polenta, it is bone hip crust. (When there is no more polenta, the crusts are also good)
- Sometimes' na busia save'na truth. (Sometimes a lie saves a truth)
- With the beard I am between bianquín, asa la zhémena and trate a al vin. (When the white beard leaves the female and thrown into the wine)
- To know the truth, you need to hear do busiari. (To know the truth, you need to hear two liars)
- From putèi tuti bèi, from dead all tuti saints. (From children all beautiful, from dead all saints)
- Do comare makes them marcà da soe. (Two talkative women make the market alone)
- If all the bechi brought a lampion, that great illumination. (If all the cuckolds brought a lamppost, what a great illumination)
- Those who choose to marry do not spend. (Who says bride says shopping)
- Only one is not well in heaven. (Alone you don't feel comfortable even in heaven)
- El vin is good blood. (Wine is good for blood)
- You can hear from those who praise you: either who has cheated you or who is about to cheat you. (Beware of those who praise you: they have cheated you or are about to do it)
- Who tropes if he pulls Indrio ends with the ass in the river. (Those who pull too far back end up with their ass soaking)
- The nose of the gates, the zenocio of the omeni, is the butt of the done x and always fredi. (The nose of the cats, the knee of the men, the butt of the women are always cold)
- In a woman the sympathy is worth more than the beauty. (In a woman, sympathy is more important than beauty)
- Stone trato and word fingers no more indrìo back. (Stone thrown and spoken word do not go back)
- Who xe to suto when it rains and xe mona se'l if move, if'l if move e'l if wet xe a cogion if po'l if he complains. (Who is dry when it rains is a fool if he moves, if he moves and gets wet he is then an idiot if he complains)
- First i me dent and after i me parént. (First my teeth and then my relatives)
- Who not if happy with the honesty, will lose the manego and the basket. (Those who are not satisfied with the just lose the handle and also the basket)
- Amor de fradei, amor de cortei. (Love between brothers and love of knives)
- Vardate from the exploitations, from the man who speaks sotovose, from the xente who does not drink wine and from the woman who did not like ... el codessin. (Beware of the cracks, the man who speaks softly, the people who don't drink wine and the woman who doesn't like ... the cotechino)
- The stuff that if you throw away with the pies, comes the zorno that rancures it with the hands. (The things that are thrown away with the feet, the day comes that are collected with the hands)
- De Nadal a cold coral; de vecia a chilling cold. (From Christmas a tremendous cold, from the Befana a cracking cold)
- Mejo ceo and well done that grateful insemiio. (Better short but healthy than tall and stupid)
- Na lavà and na sugà and no and apparently gnan doparà. (Washed and dried it doesn't even seem used)
Venetian proverbs
- She wants it out, she tries it, the widows remember it. (Girls want it, wives try it, widows remember it)
- To walk in a wind if it is fatigue senpre. (It is always difficult to walk upwind)
- De siuri ghe nè de three sorts: siorsì, siorn and sior mona. (There are three types of gentlemen: sir, sir and sir stupid)
- You must have the oci anca de drio. (You have to have your eyes also from behind)
- To tell the truth a cojon is enough, but to say busie ghe vol a bricon. (To tell the truth a jerk is enough, but to tell lies it takes a rascal)
- The cough x and 'the drum of death. (Cough is the drum of death)
- Pan Padovan, Visentino wines, tripe from Treviso and Venetian made. (Paduan bread, Vicenza wines, Treviso tripe and Venetian women)
- Stà mejo on sorxe in boca al gato, who on cristian in man de n’awat. (A rat in the cat's mouth is better than a Christian in the hands of a lawyer)
- A tuti gue pias véder al choc in piazha, but que no l sía de la so razha. (Everyone likes to see the drunk in the square but who is not his family)
- The x and fairies asked her: with the ciacole of the siori, with the blasphemies of the masons and with the schei of the poarets. (The churches are done: with the chatter of the rich, with the blasphemies of the masons and with the money of the poor)
- Every can mena la coa, every mona means soa. (Every dog leads its tail and every fool wants to have his say)
- The screenings of the poarets and the bale of the can le xè the stuff in sight. (The money of the poor and the balls of dogs are the most visible things)
- Co 'l cavelo pulls el bianchin, relaxes the gift and keeps the wine. (When the hair starts to whiten, leave the woman and give yourself to the wine)
- Butar is related to pianzar. (Throwing is related to crying)
- When that shit gets stuck, or that it spurts it or gives it. (When shit goes up on the bench, if it doesn't stink it does damage)
- Who is under the napa del camin, smokes of smoke. (Who is under the chimney hood smells like smoke)
- From a woman to a molin no gh’e is a great difference. (There is not much difference between a woman and a mill)
- With the galo sings from galina, the house is ruined. (When the rooster crows like a hen, the house is ruined)
- Amor xe orbo. (Love is blind)
- Who xe to coverto when pive, it is well mato if ’l if move! (Who is indoors when it rains, is very crazy if he moves)
- You get smart like a gato de prìa. (You're smart as a stone cat)
- Vinegia does not have as many gondoliers as Vicenza counts and knights. (Venice does not have as many gondoliers as Vicenza counts and knights)
- Val deposed a to que zhento to command. (One who does more than a hundred who command is worth more)
- Who does not ga el gato, keeps the sorzi; and who ga el gato, maintained and surprised. (Who does not have the cat keeps mice; and who has the cat, keeps the cat and mice)
- The woman must have four meters: matron in the street, modest in church, massera in the house, and matron in bed. (The woman must be four meters tall: matron on the street, modest in church, housewife in the house, and matron in bed)
- If you taxi, and xente no understand that you yes on idiot. (If you keep quiet, people don't understand you're a fool)
- The time xe remains to be marched, seem to be no longer in command. (Time remained a bachelor not to let himself be commanded)
- Pitosto who pèrdare 'na tradhsion, xe mèjo brusare a country. (Rather than losing a tradition, it's better to burn the country)
- Love that was born in sickness, when he heals and passes away. (The love that is born during an illness ends with healing)
- Toni ga works, sior Antonio makes fate the schei c mister Antonio i ga magna.(Toni worked, Sister Antonio made his money and Mister Antonio ate it)
- Anyone who zerca cavalo and fémena without defect, no'l gavarà ever ridalo in stala and fémena in leto. (Whoever looks for the horse and the woman without defects, will never have a horse in the stable and a woman in the bed)
- Looks like he's making money, that's what he's making. (Father who earns, children who eat)
- April, don't find out; May, it goes slowly; June, cavite el codegugno but do not stay busy, for tuto quee che pol capitar! (April, don't find yourself; May goes slowly; June, take off your coat but don't commit it, for all that can still happen)
- Books, done and cavai no if you ever borrow. (Books, women and horses never lend themselves)
- With the pots the xé all beautiful, with the if he marries the xé all siori, with the blackberries the xé all saints. (When they are born they are all beautiful, when they marry they are all rich, and when they die they are all saints)
- Robar a poareto is like robar in ciesa. (Stealing from a poor man is like stealing from church)
- Xe pèso el tacòn del buso. (The patch of the hole is worse)
- It gives her more capric than you don. (The woman has more tantrums than curls)
- Prima de parlar, tasi. (Before speaking shut up)
- The donation is subject to four diseases per year, and each lasts three months. (The woman has four diseases per year and each lasts three months)
- Viagiar descanta. But if you leave mona you come back mona. (Traveling opens the mind, but whoever goes stupid goes stupid)
- He gives it x and like the balanza, which hangs it on the side that most receives it. (The woman is like the scale, hangs on the side where she receives the most)
- La lengua de le done la xe like the forbese, or the tagia or the ponze. (Women's tongue is like a scissor, or cuts, or stings)
- It gives it x and fickle by nature. (Woman is fickle by nature)
- Done and trouble, never fails. (Women and troubles never fail)
- Tears of woman, fountain of malice. (Tears of woman, fountain of malice)
- Le done ghe knows a card more than the devil. (Women know one more than the devil)
