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: е-з 5 of 15 | < Prev Next >

- E -
Е́дешь на́ день, хле́ба бери́ на неде́лю.	Always be prepared. Literal: If you go for a day trip, take a week’s supply of bread.
Ем, да свой, а ты пода́льше посто́й.	Literal: I eat it, and it's mine, and you stay away from me.
Ему́ па́лец в рот не клади́ -- всю ру́ку отку́сит.	Give one an inch, and he will take a mile.
Ерёма, Ерёма, сиде́л бы ты до́ма, точи́л бы свои́ веретёна.	Literal: Yeryoma (Jeremy), Yeryoma, you would better sit at home and cut your spindles.
Е́сли бы да кабы́ да во рту росли́ грибы́.	If ifs and buts were candy and nuts; If ifs and ands were pots and pans, then we would need no tinkers. Literal: If and when mushrooms grew in the mouth.
Если бы да кабы.	If ifs and ands were pots and pans.
Если бы молодость знала, если бы старость могла.	Youth is wasted on the young. Literal: If only the youth would know, if the old age would be able to.
Есть квас, да не про вас.	Literal: I've got kvass, but not for you.
Есть-то есть, да не про ва́шу честь.	Literal: I have it indeed, but it's not for you.
Ешь вволю, пей в меру.	Eat with pleasure, drink with measure.
Ешь пирог с грибами, да язык держи за зубами.	The more you know, the less you should talk. Literal: Eat a pie with mushrooms and keep your tongue behind your teeth.
Ещё рыба не поймана, а уже принялись уху варить.	Never fry a fish till it's caught. Literal: The fish is not caught yet, but you've already started to cook ukha (fish soup).

- Ж -
Живы бу́дем -- не помрём.	Literal: If we will be alive we will not die.
Жизнь коротка́, а дел мно́го.	Life is short. Literal: Life is short, but there's a lot to be done.
Жизнь прожи́ть -- не по́ле перейти́.	Life is not a bed of roses. Literal: Living through one's life is not like crossing a field.

- З -
За двумя зайцами погонишься, ни одного не поймаешь	Grasp all, lose all.
За́ морем телу́шка-полу́шка, да рубль перево́з.	Literal: Overseas, a cow costs a quarter of kopeck, but it will cost a ruble to ship it here.
За одного́ би́того двух неби́тых дают.	Experience is worth it. Literal: A beaten one is worth two unbeaten ones.
За спрос не бьют в нос.	It doesn't hurt to ask. Literal: They don't hit you in the nose for asking.
За чем пойдёшь, то и найдёшь.	As you sow, so shall you reap. Literal: What you'll go looking for, that you will find.
За что купи́л, за то и продаю́.	I give you this for what it's worth. Literal: I sell it for what I bought it.
За́втрак съешь сам, обе́д раздели́ с дру́гом, у́жин отда́й врагу́.	Breakfast like a king, lunch like a queen and dine like a pauper. Literal: Eat breakfast yourself, share dinner with your friend, give the supper to your enemy.
За́дним умо́м всяк кре́пок.	Hindsight is 20/20. Literal: Everyone is strong in the hindsight.
Закон суров, но это закон.	The law is hard, but it is law.
Зако́н что ды́шло, куда́ повернёшь -- туда́ и вы́шло.	Every law has a loophole. Literal: Law is like a shaft of a cart, it points wherever you turn it to.
Зала́дила соро́ка Я́кова одно́ про вся́кого.	You told it through the hat. Literal: Yakov's magpie started chattering the same thing about anyone.
Занято́й, как пчела́.	As busy as a bee. Literal: As busy as a bee.
Запа́с не ноша, рук не оття́нет.	Store is no sore.
Зарека́лася лиса́ кур не ворова́ть.	The leopard cannot change his spots. Literal: Vixen resolved not to steal chicken.
Заста́вь дурака́ Бо́гу моли́ться -- он лоб расшибёт.	Zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse. Literal: Make a fool pray to God, he will hurt his forehead.
Здоро́вье ухо́дит пуда́ми, а прихо́дит золотни́ками.	Diseases come on horseback, but steal away on foot. Literal: Health leaves you in pounds, but comes in zolotniks.
Злые языки страшнее пистолета.	Words can kill before arms.
Зна́ет ко́шка, чьё мя́со съе́ла.	Literal: The cat knows whose meat it has eaten.
Знай край, да не падай.	You shouldn't go over the edge.
Знай толк, не бери в долг.	Better go to bed supperless than rise in debt. Literal: Know sense, do not make debts.
Знай, кошка, своё лукошко.	Know your place / limits.
Знал бы где упа́сть -- соло́мки б подстели́л.	Had I known then what I know now. Literal: Would I know where I will fall down, I'd lay some straw.
Знал бы, где упасть, там соломки постлал бы.	If you could know where you fall, you would spread some straw.
Знать всё -- значит не знать ничего.	To know everything is to know nothing.

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Index of Russian proverbs and sayings

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