Few languages can pack a whole lifetime of wisdom into a single line, but German does it with every Sprichwort.
A Sprichwort is a traditional German proverb, polished by generations of farmers, craftsmen, parents and travellers, and still spoken daily from Hamburg to Munich.
This collection gathers 69 German Proverbs with plain English translations, so every saying can be used, shared and remembered.
So pour yourself a coffee, and let’s walk through centuries of hard-won common sense.
14 German Proverbs on Hard Work and Perseverance
Übung macht den Meister. Practice makes the master.
German Proverb
Aller Anfang ist schwer. Every beginning is difficult.
German Proverb
Ohne Fleiß kein Preis. No prize without diligence.
German Proverb
Wer rastet, der rostet. Whoever rests, rusts.
German Proverb
Steter Tropfen höhlt den Stein. A constant drop hollows the stone.
German Proverb
Was du heute kannst besorgen, das verschiebe nicht auf morgen. What you can take care of today, do not put off until tomorrow.
German Proverb
Es ist noch kein Meister vom Himmel gefallen. No master has ever fallen from heaven.
German Proverb
Von nichts kommt nichts. Nothing comes from nothing.
German Proverb
Wer nicht wagt, der nicht gewinnt. Whoever does not dare does not win.
German Proverb
Schmiede das Eisen, solange es heiß ist. Forge the iron while it is hot.
German Proverb
Erst die Arbeit, dann das Vergnügen. First the work, then the pleasure.
German Proverb
Probieren geht über Studieren. Trying is better than studying.
German Proverb
Frisch gewagt ist halb gewonnen. Boldly ventured is half won.
German Proverb
Viele Hände, schnelles Ende. Many hands, a quick end.
German Proverb
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14 German Proverbs on Wisdom and Patience
Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund. The morning hour has gold in its mouth.
German Proverb
Gut Ding will Weile haben. A good thing needs time.
German Proverb
Kommt Zeit, kommt Rat. With time comes advice.
German Proverb
Eile mit Weile. Hurry with leisure.
German Proverb
Reden ist Silber, Schweigen ist Gold. Speech is silver, silence is gold.
German Proverb
Erfahrung ist die beste Lehrmeisterin. Experience is the best teacher.
German Proverb
Man lernt nie aus. One never finishes learning.
German Proverb
Der Ton macht die Musik. The tone makes the music.
German Proverb
In der Kürze liegt die Würze. In brevity lies the spice.
German Proverb
Alles hat seine Zeit. Everything has its time.
German Proverb
Die Zeit heilt alle Wunden. Time heals all wounds.
German Proverb
Rom wurde auch nicht an einem Tag erbaut. Rome was not built in a day either.
German Proverb
Wo gehobelt wird, fallen Späne. Where wood is planed, shavings fall.
German Proverb
Man soll den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben. One should not praise the day before evening.
German Proverb
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14 German Proverbs on Life and Time
Ende gut, alles gut. All’s well that ends well.
German Proverb
Besser spät als nie. Better late than never.
German Proverb
Wo ein Wille ist, ist auch ein Weg. Where there is a will, there is also a way.
German Proverb
Jeder ist seines Glückes Schmied. Everyone is the smith of their own fortune.
German Proverb
Aus den Augen, aus dem Sinn. Out of sight, out of mind.
German Proverb
Auf Regen folgt Sonnenschein. Sunshine follows rain.
German Proverb
Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei. Everything has an end; only the sausage has two.
German Proverb
Das Leben ist kein Ponyhof. Life is not a pony farm.
German Proverb
Nichts wird so heiß gegessen, wie es gekocht wird. Nothing is eaten as hot as it is cooked.
German Proverb
Aller guten Dinge sind drei. All good things are three.
German Proverb
Wer zuletzt lacht, lacht am besten. Whoever laughs last, laughs best.
German Proverb
Kleinvieh macht auch Mist. Small livestock also produces manure.
German Proverb
Andere Länder, andere Sitten. Other countries, other customs.
German Proverb
Unverhofft kommt oft. The unexpected comes often.
German Proverb
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13 German Proverbs on Love, Friendship and Family
Liebe macht blind. Love is blind.
German Proverb
Alte Liebe rostet nicht. Old love does not rust.
German Proverb
Liebe geht durch den Magen. Love goes through the stomach.
German Proverb
Was sich liebt, das neckt sich. Those who love each other tease each other.
German Proverb
Gleich und Gleich gesellt sich gern. Like and like gladly associate.
German Proverb
Kleine Geschenke erhalten die Freundschaft. Small gifts preserve friendship.
German Proverb
Eine Hand wäscht die andere. One hand washes the other.
German Proverb
Geteiltes Leid ist halbes Leid. Shared sorrow is half sorrow.
German Proverb
Blut ist dicker als Wasser. Blood is thicker than water.
German Proverb
Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm. The apple does not fall far from the tree.
German Proverb
Geteilte Freude ist doppelte Freude. Shared joy is double joy.
German Proverb
Kindermund tut Wahrheit kund. A child’s mouth reveals the truth.
German Proverb
Jeder Topf findet seinen Deckel. Every pot finds its lid.
German Proverb
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14 German Proverbs on Honesty, Character and Consequences
Ehrlich währt am längsten. Honesty lasts the longest.
German Proverb
Lügen haben kurze Beine. Lies have short legs.
German Proverb
Wer einmal lügt, dem glaubt man nicht, und wenn er auch die Wahrheit spricht. Whoever lies once is not believed, even when telling the truth.
German Proverb
Wer anderen eine Grube gräbt, fällt selbst hinein. Whoever digs a pit for others falls into it themselves.
German Proverb
Wer im Glashaus sitzt, soll nicht mit Steinen werfen. Whoever sits in a glass house should not throw stones.
German Proverb
Wie man in den Wald hineinruft, so schallt es heraus. As one calls into the forest, so it echoes back.
German Proverb
Hochmut kommt vor dem Fall. Pride comes before the fall.
German Proverb
Wer A sagt, muss auch B sagen. Whoever says A must also say B.
German Proverb
Wer Wind sät, wird Sturm ernten. Whoever sows wind will reap storm.
German Proverb
Gebranntes Kind scheut das Feuer. A burned child fears the fire.
German Proverb
Aus Schaden wird man klug. Through damage, one becomes wise.
German Proverb
Wie man sich bettet, so liegt man. As one makes one’s bed, so one lies.
German Proverb
Eigenlob stinkt. Self-praise stinks.
German Proverb
Was du nicht willst, das man dir tu, das füg auch keinem anderen zu. What you do not want done to you, do not do to anyone else.
German Proverb
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Keep the German proverb that spoke to you close at hand, and share it the next time a friend needs plain advice in a few honest words. The best wisdom is the kind that still rings true tomorrow.
