Russian Proverbs and Sayings

This page continues the alphabetical list of Russian proverbs and sayings along with their English versions and literal translations.

А Б В Г Д Е Ё Ж З И Й К Л M Н О П Р С Т У Ф Х Ц Ч Ш Щ Ь Ы Ъ Э Ю Я

Russian proverbs: ф-х 13 of 15 | < Prev Next >

- Ф -
Фарао́н горди́лся, да в мо́ре утопи́лся.	Literal: The faraoh was proud, but drowned in the sea.
Федо́т, да не тот.	Literal: Fedot, yet not the right one.

- Х -
Хвали день по вечеру.	Don't halloo until you are out of the wood. Literal: Praise the day in the evening.
Хвали́лась сини́ца мо́ре заже́чь.	Literal: Titmouse boasted to put sea on fire.
Хвали́лся чёрт всем ми́ром владе́ть, а Бог ему́ и над свиньёй не дал вла́сти.	Deprive a mirror of its silver and even the Caezar won't see his face. Literal: The devil boasted to rule the whole world, but God didn't give him power even over the pig.
Хва́стать -- не коси́ть, спина́ не боли́т.	A boaster and a liar are first cousins. Literal: Bragging is unlike mowing; it won't make your back ache.
Хлеб всему́ голова́.	Bread is the staff of life. / Bread - whole head! Literal: Bread is head of everything.
Хлеб за брю́хом не хо́дит.	Literal: Bread doesn't go for belly.
Хлеб-соль ешь, а правду-матку режь.	Honesty is the best policy. Literal: Eat bread and salt, cut the mother truth
Хороша́ верёвка дли́нная, а речь коро́ткая.	Literal: Rope is good when it's long; speech is good when it's short.
Хороша́ дочь А́ннушка, ко́ли хва́лит мать и ба́бушка.	Literal: Daughter Annuska is good, if praised by her mother and granny.
Хороша́ Ма́ша, да не на́ша.	Literal: Masha is good, but she's not ours.
Хорошая мысля приходит апосля.	Second thoughts are best.
Хорошая работа сама говорит за себя.	Good work speaks for itself.
Хорошего понемногу.	More than enough is too much.
Хороший совет не идет во вред.	Good counsel does no harm.
Хоро́ший това́р сам себя́ хва́лит.	True coral needs no painter's brush. Literal: Quality goods advertise themselves.
Хорошо смеётся тот, кто смеётся последним.	He laughs best who laughs last.
Хорошо тому жить, кому бабушка ворожит.	Literal: That one is happy, whose Grandma tells fortunes.
Хотеть не вредно.	Wishing has no effect.
Хоть гол, да прав.	Better go to bed supperless than rise in debt. Literal: Naked, but right
Хоть горшко́м назови́, то́лько в пе́чку не ставь.	Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Literal: You may call me even a pot, just don't put me into the oven.
Хоть есть не́чего, да жить ве́село.	Literal: Although there's nothing to eat, life is fun.
Хоть кол ему́ на голове́ теши́.	He is so pig-headed; Stubborn as a mule. Literal: You could even hew sticks on his head.
Хо́чется ры́бку съесть, да не хо́чется в во́ду ле́зть.	He who would catch fish must not mind getting wet. Literal: One wants to eat a fish, but doesn't want to get to water.
Хочешь есть калачи, не лежи на печи.	No song, no supper. Literal: If you want to eat buns, do not lie on the stove.
Хре́н ре́дьки не сла́ще.	There is small choice in rotten apples. Literal: Horseradish is no sweeter than radish.
Христо́с терпе́л и нам веле́л.	Man was born to trouble. Literal: Christ endured and told us to.
Худое долго помнится, а хорошее скоро забудется.	One can't forget or forgive.
Худо́й мир лу́чше до́брой ссоры.	Better a lean peace than a fat victory. Literal: A bad peace is better than a good quarrel.
Худу́ю траву́ с по́ля вон.	Literal: Bad grass - away from the field.
Худые вести не лежат на месте.	Bad news travels fast. Literal: Bad news don't stay in the same place.
Худы́е ве́сти не лежа́т на ме́сте.	Bad news has wings. Literal: Bad news don't lie at rest.
Ху́же нет -- ждать да догоня́ть.	Literal: Nothing is worse than waiting or chasing.

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Index of Russian proverbs and sayings

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