[armeniandigest]
Armenian proverbs (transliterated and translated)Tuesday,
March 24, 2009 11:49 AM
From: "John Havoonjian"
Armenian proverbs: Interesting expressions of folk wisdom!
Aratzner -- proverbs
Transliteration: Aghves@ beran@ khaghoghin chi hasnoom, asoom e khak e.
Translation: When the fox can't reach the grape, says it's unripe.
Meaning: When one who can't achieve something downplays it.
Transliteration: Amenin mi achqov e nayoom.
Translation: S/he sees everyone with one eye.
Meaning: S/he sees/treats everyone equally.
Transliteration: Ashkharh@ mi khosqi e, zhamanak@ voski e.
Translation: The world agrees in one word, time is golden.
Transliteration: Achq@ inch tesnar, sirt@ chi mornar.
Translation: Whatever the eye sees, the heart won't forget.
Transliteration: Arach mtatzir, heto khosir.
Translation: First think, and then speak.
Transliteration: Arevin asoom e doors mi ari, yes doors em yekel.
Translation: She tells the sun: don't come out, I have come out.
Meaning: Used referring to someone's extreme beauty.
Transliteration: Arevn ampi tak chi mna.
Translation: The sun won't stay behind the cloud.
Meaning: The truth won't stay hidden and will come out.
Transliteration: Bazari achq@ hanel es.
Translation: You have taken out the eye of the bazaar.
Meaning: You bought the worst stuff in the market.
Transliteration: Bakht@ mi anqam e aytseloom.
Translation: Fortune visits only once.
Meaning: Don't miss a good opportunity.
Transliteration: Gayli glkhin Avetaran en kartoom, asoom e shoot arek, galles gnats.
Translation: While they are reading the Bible to the wolf, it says: hurry up, my flock is leaving.
Meaning: After giving advice on doing good to someone, s/he still hastens to do the bad.
Transliteration: Gar@ garnan, dzyoon@ dzmran.
Translation: Lamb in the spring, snow in the winter.
Meaning: Everything has its own time. [This is also a tongue-twister]
Transliteration: Gyoogh@ kangni, geran k@ kotri.
Translation: If the village stands, it can break a trunk.
Meaning: Strength increases in unity.
Transliteration: Gogh@ goghits goghatsav, Astvatz nayets zarmatsav.
Translation: The thief stole from the thief, God looked on and got astonished.
Transliteration: Gootse oozetsav iran gtsi hor@, doo el k@ gtses?
Translation: Maybe s/he wanted to throw herself/himself in the well, would you follow?
Meaning: Don't follow others blindly.
Transliteration: Yekav oonq@ sarqi, achqn el qoratsrets.
Translation: S/he tried to fix the eyebrow, ended up blinding the eye too.
Meaning: Used when someone tries to fix something minor, but causes a bigger problem.
Transliteration: Erb vor katsin@ ekav antar, tsarer@ asatsin... >
Translation: When the axe came to the forest, the trees said: "The handle is one of us."
Meaning: There is no one to blame but self in a given situation.
Transliteration: Yerp medznas ays ameneh geh mornas.
translation: When you grow up you will forget it happened.
Meaning: Used in reference for emotional and physical pain(cuts, bumps, worry, concern, etc) in order to comfort the individual from that experience.
Transliteration: Yerger shat gitem, bayts yergel chgitem.
Translation: I know many songs, but I cannot sing.
Meaning: I know the method something should be done, but I cannot actually do it.
Transliteration: Yot anqam chapir, mek anqam ktrir.
Translation: Measure seven times, cut once.
Meaning: Think thoroughly before you act.
Transliteration: Es akanjov lsoom e, myoosov doors e anoom.
Translation: S/he hears it from this ear, and throws it out from the other.
Meaning: S/he doesn't follow advice.
Transliteration: Inch kap ooni Aleksandri bekherin?
Translation: What is the connection with Alexander's moustache?
Meaning: This is mentioned after one brings up something completely off-topic in a conversation.
Transliteration: Inch vor tsanes, ayn k@ hndzes.
Translation: Whatever you sow, that's what you'll reap.
Meaning: You'll receive the consequence of your own actions.
Transliteration: Inchqan lezoo imanas, aynqan mart es.
Translation: You are as many a person as the languages you know.
Meaning: This proverb is to emphasize the importance of learning multiple languages.
Transliteration: Lezud chlner - agravner@ achqer'd hanel ein.
Translation: If not for your tongue, the crows would have gouged out your eyes.
Transliteration: Looits ookht en sarqoom.
Translation: They make a camel out of a flea.
Meaning: They exaggerate a situation/action.
Transliteration: Khndzor@ tzarits heroo chi @nknoom.
Translation: The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Meaning: The offspring usually incline to their parents' habits.
Transliteration: Khoramank aghves@ yerkoo votov e takardn @nknoom.
Translation: The sly fox falls in the trap with both legs.
Meaning: Being sly/cunning to avoid a problem gets one in double trouble.
Transliteration: khoskov pilav chepvir.
Translation: Rice is not cooked with only words.
Meaning: Nothing can be done only with words.
Transliteration: Tzar@ inchqan berq ta oo bari , glookh@ enqan khonarh k@ pahi.
Translation: However much fruit a tree bears, it humbles its head that much more.
Meaning: The more wisdom one acquires, the more humble s/he becomes.
Transliteration: Tzarav ktani joorn oo het k@ beri.
Translation: [S/he] will take one to the water and bring him/her back thirsty.
Transliteration: Tzooylootyoonits sev eshin asoom e "orhnya ter".
Translation: Out of laziness, s/he calls to the black donkey "bless me Lord".
Meaning: This proverb emphasizes the laziness of one [This is because an extremely lazy person would not raise her/his head to see who s/he is meeting, and could potentially confuse a black donkey with a priest, who wears black].
Transliteration: Ham@ hotits hanets.
Translation: S/he took the taste out of the smell.
Meaning: Enough is enough. Or: S/he overdid it.
Transliteration: Harsi vorov pesun lavutyun a anum.
Translation: Uses the bride's ass to do a favor to the groom.
Transliteration: Hars@ parel chi karogh, asoom e getin@ tzoor e.
Translation: The bride doesn't know how to dance, she says the floor is slanted.
Meaning: One blames her/his own incompetence on the circumstances.
Transliteration: Hats oo panir, ker oo parir.
Translation: Bread and cheese, eat and dance.
Meaning: Be satisfied with whatever little you may have.
Transliteration: Hetevin asoom e hetevitss mi ari, hot es tali .
Translation: S/he tells his/her ass: don't follow me, you stink.
Meaning: Used when someone is seeing himself/herself as better than anyone around him/her.
Transliteration: Hetevn el kpatz chelner ktar otari.
Translation: If his/her ass wasn't attached, s/he would give that away too.
Meaning: Refers to someone's extreme generosity.
Transliteration: Dzooagogh@ dziagogh k@ darna.
Translation: An egg-thief will become a horse-thief.
Meaning: Great misdeeds start from small mistakes.
Transliteration: Tjakatagritz ches pakhchi.
Translation: You cannot escape from destiny.
Transliteration: Tjisht kartzes pghi ktitsa @nkel.
Translation: As if s/he has fallen from an elephant's nose.
Meaning: Refers to someone being a snob.
Transliteration: Tjtern ashnann en hashvum.
Translation: Chicks ought to be counted in the fall.
Meaning: It is the end result that matters.
Transliteration: Tjstasoghi glkhark@ tzak e.
Translation: There is a hole in the truth-teller' s hat.
Meaning: Used when one is telling the truth, but not being taken seriously.
Transliteration: Mek nalina khpoom, mek mekhin.
Translation: S/he once hits the horseshoe, and once hits the nail.
Meaning: Used when someone alternates in one's position in an argument/deal
Transliteration: Mek gizh qar gtsets hor@, qarasoon kheloq chkaroghatsan hanel.
Translation: One idiot threw a stone in the well, forty wise people could not get it out.
Meaning: Being careless can cause such problems that many a mind cannot solve.
Transliteration: Mek tzaghikov garoon chi ga.
Translation: Spring will not come with one flower.
Transliteration: Mek dzerq@ tzap chi ta.
Translation: One hand will not clap.
Meaning: Some things cannot be done by one person alone.
Transliteration: Mek@ terterin e siroom, mek@ terteraknkan.
Translation: One likes the priest, and one likes the priest's wife.
Meaning: Different people have different tastes.
Transliteration: Minchev Shooshan@ zartarvi, zham@ k@ lrvi.
Translation: The mass will be over by the time Shooshan gets ready.
Meaning: Someone is taking too long to get ready.
Transliteration: Miootyoon@ oozh e.
Translation: Unity is power.
Transliteration: Missuh tsezi, vosgoruh indzi.
Translation: The meat is yours, the bones are mine.
Meaning: Do anything you like to my son/daughter in order to teach him, as long as he/she is kept alive.
Transliteration: Mook@ @ski inq@ tzak@ chi mtnum, hl@ tzakhaveln el kapel a voritz.
Translation: Even though there is barely room enough for the mouse; it is trying to enter the hole with a besom tied to its ass.
Transliteration: Nooynisk epatz havi tzitzaghn e galis.
Translation: Even a cooked hen would laugh.
Meaning: The situation is very ridiculous.
Transliteration: Nvirvatz dzioo atamner@ chen hashvi.
Translation: Don't count the teeth of a gift horse.
Meaning: Be grateful for your gifts.
Transliteration: Shan anoon@ toor oo pet@ vertsroo.
Translation: Speak of the dog and pick up the stick.
Meaning: This proverb is used when someone shows up right when her/his name is mentioned in a conversation [picking up the stick is symbolic for being ready/expecting] . Similar to English "Speak of the devil."
Transliteration: Shinogh@ michits hanets.
Translation: S/he brought its maker out of it.
Meaning: Used when someone is being extremely curious/inquisitive .
Transliteration: Shoon@ shan mis chi ooti.
Translation: Dog won't eat dog's meat.
Transliteration: Vortegh hats, ayntegh kats.
Translation: Wherever there's bread, stay there.
Transliteration: Vortegh panir, ayntegh banir.
Translation: Wherever there's cheese, work there.
Transliteration: Ov ashkhati, na kooti.
Translation: Whoever works, s/he will eat.
Transliteration: Ov chashkhati voch dalari.
Translation: Whoever doesn't work it won't get green.
Meaning: It takes work to make progress.
Transliteration: Ov t@ri, ov eta sanatoria.
Translation: One farts, and another goes to a resort.
Meaning: Sometimes one is punished for a crime they didn't commit (or is rewarded while lacking merit).
Transliteration: Oosh lini, noosh lini.
Translation: Let it be late, let it be good.
Meaning: It's all right if something takes long to complete, as long as the results are good.
Transliteration: Oos oosi vor tanq, sarer shoor ktanq.
Translation: Once we give shoulder to shoulder, we can turn mountains.
Meaning: Call for unity.
Transliteration: Ootem, titem [nstem], mtni qnem.
Translation: Let me eat, let me sit, when it gets dark let me sleep
Meaning: Refers to the extent of one's laziness.
Transliteration: Oorishi harsi hetev@ karmira.
Translation: The back of the bride of someone else is red.
Meaning: The grass on the other side is greener.
Transliteration: Chka chariq, arants bariq.
Translation: There is no evil without goodness.
Transliteration: Paterazm chka yerp vor martik ****ak mart en.
Translation: There is no reason for war that reasonable men cannot resolve.
Transliteration: Joor@ gnoom e, avaz@ mnoom e; Mart@ mernoom e, hishatak@ mnoom e.
Translation: The water goes, the sand remains; The person dies, the memory remains.
Meaning: It is the memory of the person that has a longer life than his/her own, like water leaving the sand.
Transliteration: Joor@ tjampan k@ tjari.
Translation: The water will find its way.
Meaning: One with the potential to get something done will do it.
Transliteration: Satkatz havi vra el vor vortq dnes ktjrra.
Translation: If you step on a dead hen, it'll also squeak.
Meaning: Used when someone is being quiet/reserved until someone else brings up a certain topic.
Transliteration: Sar@ sarin chi hasni, mart@ martoon k@ hasni.
Translation: A mountain won't get to a mountain, but a human will get to a human.
Meaning: Don't mistreat a person thinking that there's no tomorrow and there won't be any consequences.
Transliteration: Sooti votqer@ kartj en.
Translation: The feet of a lie are short.
Meaning: A lie cannot get too far and the truth will finally come out.
, :
Transliteration: Trem yes, bampem qez.
Translation: Let me fart, and then hit you.
Meaning: Used when one is blaming another for the consequences of her/his own actions.
Transliteration: Papook lezvov noonisk odz@ bnits doors k@ qashes.
Translation: With a soft tongue(speech) you can even pull a snake out of its nest.
Meaning: You speak very gently - or - try to speak gently.
Transliteration: Pet@ vertsnes, gogh shoon@ kimana.
Translation: When you pick up the stick, the robber dog knows.
Meaning: Guilty people are always on guard, and immediately know when you refer to their wrongdoing.
Transliteration: Pogh@ hashiv a sirum.
Translation: Money likes a count.
Transliteration: Qani lezoo imanas, aynqan mart es.
Translation: However many languages you know, that much of a human you are.
Meaning: Pretty close to the translation.
Transliteration: Kezanitz Poghos Petros doors chi ga.
Translation: Neither Poghos nor Petros will become of you.
Meaning: At this rate you won't become anyone.
Transliteration: Keznits kez bor amal ga.
Translation: From you grows a wound on you.
Meaning: The self is responsible for mishappenings from misdeeds.
Transliteration: Kef anoghin kef chi paksil.
Translation: Joy won't lessen for the joyful (or the partier).
Etymology: This enters the language from a story concerning Harun al Rashid [Abbasid caliph] who went around at nights disguised as a poor person to see what's going on in his capital, Baghdad . In one of these night journeys he encountered a poor person who would always party and have fun even though he didn't have much. The story continues as Harun tries to make him more miserable to see whether his joy will continue, and since it does, Harun rewards him in the end. An English language retelling of this story, as also told in
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