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French Proverbs
French proverbs offer insight into French culture, history, and society, and are often used in speech and writing. There is no substitute for knowing them, and if you can use them in yourself, so much the better. Below are all the standard proverbs used in French, along with English translations and explanations. Use the Search Box at left if you cant't navigate your way to what you want.
A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P Q R S T U V
Paris ne s’est pas fait en un jour
Rome wasn’t built in a day
(lit.: Paris wasn’t built in a day. Note that the cities switch)
pas de nouvelles, bonnes nouvelles
no news is good news
(lit.: a lack of news, good news)
pas de plaisir sans peine
no pleasure without pain
pauvreté n’est pas vice
poverty is not a vice
(i.e.: it is not shameful to be poor)
pécheé avoué est à demi pardonné
a sin confessed is half pardonned
petit à petit, l’oiseau fait son nid
slow and steady wins the race; every little bit helps
(lit.: little by little, the birds builds its nest)
petite pluie abat grand vent
small efforts can go a long way
(lit.: a little rain beats back strong winds)
pierre qui roule n’amasse pas mousse
a rolling stone gathers no moss
(lit.: a stone that rolls amasses no moss)
plaie d’argent n’est pas mortelle
money isn’t everything
(lit.: a financial wound is not mortal)
plus fait douceur que violence
better kindness than violence
plus on est de fous, plus on rit
the more the merrier
(lit.: the more there are insane people, the more one laughs; i.e.: it is easier to laugh in a crowd)
point (pas) d’argent, point (pas) de Suisse
nothing for nothing
(lit.: no money, no Swiss)
point de nouvelles, bonnes nouvelles
no news is good news
(lit.: no news, good news)
porter d l’eau à la rivière
carry coals to Newcastle
(lit.: to carry water to the river)
pour un clou, Martin perdit son âne
for want of a nail, the kingdom was lost
(lit.: for lack of a nail, Martin lost his donkey)
pourquoi remettre au lendemain ce que l'on peut faire le jour même
why put off until tomorrow what can be done today
prudence est mère de sûreté
discretion is the better part of valor
(lit.: caution is the mother of safety)