CAPISTRANO, CALABRIA PROVERBS

PROVERBS FROM CAPISTRANO

DIALETTO/ DIALECT ENGLISH

Quandu u gattu no ’nc’e’, i surici abballanu.	When the cat is missing the mice start dancing.

Cu no senta a mamma e u patra na mala muarti mora.	He who does not listen to his mother and father will have a very bad end.

Quandu e vera fhami quagghia sula.	If you're really hungry, you will eat.

Fai bene e scordati. Fai male e guardati.	Do good and forget about it. Do evil and be on guard.

A cumpidenza è patruna da malacrijanza.	He who gets too familiar will finally become disrespectful.

Cu ava puacu sordi sempa cunta, cu ava mugghiari bella sempa canta.	He who has little money counts it often; he who has a beautiful wife always sings.

Cu dassa a via vecchia pa via nova sapa chiju chi dassa ma non sapa chiju chi trova.	He who leaves the old way for the new knows what he left behind but not what he's getting into..

Cu si curca in dui si aza in tri’.	If you go bed in two, you'll get up in three.

Cu sparta e no tena, mala Pasqua nci vena.	He who only gives and doesn't keep will have a bad Easter.

Cu no pensa prima paga duappu.	If you don't think before, you'll pay after.

U cana chi abbaia truappu no muzzica	The dog that barks too much doesn't bite.


Cu nescia tundu no pò morira quatru.	He who is born round cannot die square.

A gatta presciarola facia i gattini orbi.	A hasty cat gives birth to blind kittens.

Cu ciantu liabura vo m’acchiappa unu fhughia e l’atru scappa.	He who wants to capture one hundred rabbits, will see them all run away.

Amuri viacchiu e pana tuastu ogni vota chi vai ’nda truavi nu muarzu.	Old love and hard bread; every time you go to them you'll find some left.

Luntanu e luacchi, luntanu do cuari.	Far from the eye, far from the heart.

Cu mangia cu dui ganghi, saffuca.	He who eats with both sides of the mouth, will end up chocking.

U cane muzzica sempa u sciancatu.	The dog always bites the beggar.

Dammi fhortuna e jiettami a mare.	Give me luck and throw me into the sea.

E’ miagghjiu cu nu’ giovani godire, ca no’cu nu’viacchiu dinari cuntara.	It is best to rejoice with a young man than to count money with an old man.

Non c’e’ vecchia senza doluri; non c’e’giuvani senza amuri; non c’e’ majiu senza fhiuri.	There is no old woman without pain; there is no youth without love; there is no month of May without flowers.

Mbiscati i carti e jocati i scarpi.	Play cards and lose your shoes.

Duanni e vua de pajisi tua.	Women and oxen from your own town.

U ciucciu che’ ’mparatu a ficara, si caccia u vizzu quandu mora.	The donkey who is used to eating figs from the fig tree, will lose his habit only when he dies.

Si vua mu sai quantu hai, paga a cu divi.	If you want to know how much you really have, pay first your debts.

Dimmi cu ccui vai e ti dicu chi ffai.	Tell me who's company you keep, and I will tell you what you do.

Dammi arti e no mi dunare parti.	Give me a skill for a trade, not an inheritance.

U gurdu non crida o dighiunu, e u sanu non crida o malatu.	The person who is full will not believe the one who is starving; a healthy person will not believe the one who is ill.

Cu’ si fà i caspiti sua campa cent’anni.	He who minds his own business will live one hundred years.

U ghiumbarusu ammianzu a via, non vidia a ghiumba chi avia.	He who has faults will tend to see the faults of others, not his own.

U lupu cangia u pilu ma no u vizzu.	The wolf may lose its hair but not its habits.

Quandu a tavula è misa cu no mangia perda a spisa.	When the table is set, go ahead and eat, or starve.

Cu’ pecura si fhace u lupu sa mangia.	If you show yourself to be like a sheep, the wolf will eat you.

I guai da pignata i sapa a cucchiara chi i gira..	The woes of the pot are known only by the spoon that turns in it.

Palumbu mutu no’mpo’essere servutu.	A silent pigeon cannot be served.

A petra chi no pigghia lippu, sa leva l’acqua.	The stone that refuses to become smooth will be pushed down by rushing waters.


Cu va cu zuappu ’mpara a zoppicare.	If you hang around the lame, you too will become lame.

Fhattila cu i miagghiu e tia e paganci i spisi.	Spend your time with people who are better than you are and you will do well.

Quandu u diavulu t’accarizza vola l’anima.	When the Devil caresses you you wants your soul.

Fhatti i fhatti tua ca campi cent’anni.	Mind your business and you'll live one hundred years.

Cu’ prima no penza duappu sospira.	If you first don't think, you'll pay later.

Vale chiu’ namicu sinceru ca ciantu ducati.	It's better to have a true friend than many riches.

Cu dorma no pigghia pisci.	The fisherman that sleeps will catch no fish.

Miagghiu na mala matina, ca na mala vicina.	It's better to have a bad morning than a bad neighbor.

U ciucciu de tanti patruni moriu da fami e da siti.	The donkey who has many masters died of hunger and thirst.

Cu s’avanta n’cuna cosa nci manca.	He who brags is lacking something.

Ama l’uamu tuo a secundu de vizi sua.	Love your own man in spite of his weaknesses.

U buanu juarnu si vida da matina.	A good morning becomes evident from the morning.

Senza sordi no’ ssinda cantanu missi.	Without money you won't even get a Mass.

Paga caru e siadi mparu.	Pay a lot and you'll have peace of mind.

U cane cuattu si spagna e laqua fridda.	The dog who has been burned is even afraid of cold water.