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

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В глаза льстит, а за глаза пакостит.	To carry fire in one hand and water in the other.
В гостя́х хорошо́, а до́ма лу́чше.	There's no place like home.; East or West, home is best. Literal: It is good to be visiting, but it is better at home.
В каждой шутке есть доля правды.	Many a true word is spoken in jest.
В кулаке все пальцы равны.	Teeth are all friends among each other.
В нога́х правды не́т.	Take a seat, please. Literal: There is no truth in feet.
В огоро́де бузина́, а в Ки́еве дя́дька.	Red herring. Literal: Elder-berry is in the kitchen-garden, and the uncle is in Kiev.
В родном углу всё по нутру.	It is good to be visiting, but it is better at home.
В семье́ не без уро́да.	Every family has its black sheep. Literal: No family has no ugly member.
В темноте все кошки серы.	All cats are grey in the dark.
В тесноте́, да не в оби́де.	The more the merrier. Literal: In a crush, yet without resentment.
В ти́хом о́муте че́рти во́дятся.	Still waters run deep. Literal: It's the still waters that are inhabited by devils.
В Ту́лу со свои́м самова́ром не е́здят.	When in Rome, do as Romans do. Literal: Nobody goes to Tula with one's own samovar. (Tula is famous as city where the best Russian samovars are made)
В чужо́й монасты́рь со свои́м уста́вом не хо́дят.	When in Rome, do as Romans do. Literal: Nobody goes to another monastery with one's own charter.
В чужо́м глазу́ сори́нку заме́тно, а в своём -- бревна́ не вида́ть.	And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? (Luke 6:41) Literal: In another persons' eye one can notice a mote, but in one's own - cannot see a log.
В чужу́ю жену́ чёрт ло́жку мёда кладёт.	The devil puts a touch of honey in a neighbor's wife. Literal: The devil puts a spoonful of honey into others' wife.
Важно не то, как долго ты прожил, а как хорошо жил.	How well you live makes a difference, not how long.
Вали́ на се́рого, се́рый всё свезёт.	Literal: Put everything onto the grey horse, he'll bear anything.
Вашими уста́ми, да мёд пить.	It is too good to be true. Literal: I'd like to drink honey with your lips.
Век живи́ -- век учи́сь.	Live and learn. Literal: Live for a century -- learn for a century.
Велик местом, а говорить не с кем.	Better fed than taught.
Вели́к те́лом, да мал де́лом.	Penny wise and pound foolish. Literal: Big of the body but small by his deeds.
Вертит языком, что корова хвостом.	As garrulous as a magpie. Literal: He twirls his tongue as the cow twirls its tail.
Весело́ весе́лье -- тяжело́ похме́лье.	Literal: Revelry is jolly, hangover is heavy.
Взя́лся за гуж -- не говори́, что не дюж.	If you pledge, don't hedge. Literal: When taking the tug do not say "I am powerless".
Ви́дит о́ко, да зуб неймёт.	Eyes watch but cannot take.; So near and yet so far. Literal: The eye can see it, but the tooth can't bite it.
Видна́ пти́ца по полёту.	A bird may be known by its song. Literal: The bird is known by its flight.
Видно мастера по работе.	The work shows the workman.
Ви́лами на воде́ пи́сано.	Nobody knows whether it will happen or not. Literal: This is written with pitchfork on a flowing water.
Вино́ вину́ твори́т.	When wine is in, wit is out. Literal: Wine causes guilt.
Вкру́те и вяз перело́мишь	Literal: In affect you can break even an elm.
Вме́сте те́сно, а врозь ску́чно.	You can't live with them and you can't live without them. Literal: Together, it's cramped; apart, it's boring.
Вода́ ка́мень то́чит.	Little strokes fell great oaks. Literal: Water cuts through stone.
Волк в ове́чьей шку́ре.	Wolf in sheep's clothing. Literal: Wolf in sheep's pelt.
Во́лка но́ги ко́рмят.	A hound's food is in its legs. Literal: The feet feed the wolf.
Волко́в боя́ться -- в лес не ходи́ть.	If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen. Literal: If you're afraid of wolves, don't go to the woods.
Волков бояться -- дров не иметь.	Being afraid of wolfs do not go to the forest.
Вор у во́ра дуби́нку укра́л.	There is no honor among thieves. Literal: A thief stole other thief's club.
Во́рон во́рону глаз не вы́клюет.	Hawks will not pick out hawk's eye. Literal: The raven will not peck another raven's eye.
Вору потакать -- что самому воровать.	The receiver is as bad as the thief.
Вот в чём загво́здка.	That's where the shoe pinches; That's the crux. Literal: That's the snag!
Вот где соба́ка зары́та.	That's where the shoe pinches; That's the crux. Literal: That's where the dog is buried.
Во́т тебе, ба́бушка, и Ю́рьев де́нь.	What an unpleasant surprise! Literal: That's, grandma, the Yuri's Day.
Временами и дурак умно говорит.	Fools may sometimes speak to the purpose.
Вре́мя -- лу́чший до́ктор	Time heals all wounds. Literal: Time is the best healer.
Врёт -- и глазом не мигнёт.	He lies easily and without blushing.
Ври, да помни.	A liar should be a man of good memory. Literal: Lie but remember.
Всё в руках божьих.	God's hand is above all. Literal: Everything is in God's hands.
Всё гениальное просто.	Genius is simplicity. Literal: Everything genius is simple.
Все дороги ведут в Рим.	All roads lead to Rome.
Все меняется, ничто не исчезает.	Nothing disappears, only changes. Literal: Everything changes, nothing disappears.
Все на солнце ровно глядим -- неровно пьём и едим.	We all see the same sun, but we don't all have the same fun.
Всё хорошо в меру.	Everything in reason. Literal: Everything is good in measure.
Всё хорошо́, что хорошо́ конча́ется.	All's well that ends well. Literal: All is well that ends well.
Всего́ с собо́й не унесёшь.	The one who dies with most toys, still dies. Literal: You can't take everything with you.
Всему своё место.	There is a place for everything, and everything in its place.
Всяк глядит, да не всяк видит.	Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it.
Всяк кули́к своё боло́то хва́лит.	Every cook praises his own broth. Literal: Every sandpiper praises his own swamp.
Всяк сверчо́к знай свой шесто́к.	Every man to his business.; What Jupiter is allowed to do, cattle are not. Literal: Every cricket must know its hearth
Вся́кому о́вощу своё вре́мя.	Everything is good in its season. Literal: Every vegetable has its time.
Вы́ше головы́ не пры́гнешь.	You can not jump above your head.

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Index of Russian proverbs and sayings

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