80 great phrases and expressions in Italian (and their meaning)
The Italians are the direct heirs of the ancient Roman Empire and also one of the oldest cultures of the old world. They are a people well known for their temperament and outgoing character.
The way Italians are made to be loved or hated depends on where they are, but what we can certainly appreciate about them is the innate facility they have to relate to everyone. What are the most relevant phrases in Italian?
Italian phrases and expressions (and translation)
Italian has hundreds of great phrases that possess a great wisdom that we should all know, but in this case we wanted to make a selection with the 80 great phrases in Italian and their translation more interesting from our point of view. We hope you enjoy them!
Cui niente sa, di niente dubita.
He who knows nothing, doubts nothing.
2. Chi la dura la vince.
He who perseveres wins.
3. Speranza mi da vita.
Hope gives me life.
4. It is better to be alone than to be badly accompanied.
Better to be alone than in bad company.
5. Non v’è rosa senza spina.
There are no roses without thorns.
6. Chi non fa, non falla.
He who does not, does not fail.
7. The bad company is that which threatens the men at the fork.
Bad company leads men to the gallows.
8. Finché c’è vita c’è speranza.
Where there is life, there is hope.
9. It’s best to do a little research.
Better to have little than nothing.
10. Dimmi con chi vai, and he’ll tell you who I am.
Tell me who you’re going with and I’ll tell you who you are.
11. A nemico che fugge, fa un ponte d’oro.
Make a golden bridge for a fleeing enemy.
12. Odi, veti et tace, se voi vivir in pace.
Keep your mouth shut and your ears open.
13. Pigrizia is the key to poverty.
Laziness is the key to poverty.
14. Amor tutti fa uguali.
Love makes all men equal.
15. Quel ch’è fatto, è fatto.
What’s done is done.
16. Belle parole non pascon i gatti.
Good words don’t feed cats.
17. Every time, the nest itself is beautiful.
The bird loves its own nest.
18. Dai nemici mi guardo io, dagli amici mi guardi Iddio.
I will protect myself from my enemies, may God protect me from my friends.
19. Save the money you spent.
Look before you jump.
20. E la sua volontate è nostra pace.
In doing our will we find our peace.
21. Soccorso non viene mai tardi.
Help never comes too late.
22. Can che abbaia non morde.
Barking dog, not very biting.
23. Val meglio essere matti in compagnia che savi da soli.
Better crazy in company than wise alone.
24. Oggi a me, domani a te.
Today for me, tomorrow for you.
25. Amor non conosce travaglio.
Love never tires.
26. Running horse has no need for sprints.
Running horse doesn’t need spurs.
27. Di buona volontà esta pieno l’inferno.
Hell is full of goodwill.
28. A caval donato non si guarda in bocca.
You don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
29. Quale il padre tale il figlio.
Like father, like son.
30. Amore è cieco.
Love is blind.
31. Danari fanno danari.
Money makes money.
32. Ad ogni santo vien su festa.
Every saint has his own festival.
33. Ride bene chi ride last.
He who laughs last laughs best.
34. Calmness is the virtue of the strong.
La calma es la virtud del fuerte.
35. Love holds without law.
El amor gobierna sin reglas.
36. Beat the iron while it’s hot
Golpea mientras el hierro está caliente.
37. The great pains are dumb.
Los grandes dolores son mudos.
38. Where gold speaks, every tongue is silent.
Donde habla el oro, toda lengua es silenciosa.
39. Head of the opera.
Obra teacher.
40. Need has no law.
La necesidad no conoce la ley.
41. Let’s waste time to those who know more sorry.
La pérdida de tiempo apena más al que conoce más.
42. Again.
De nuevo.
43. He doesn’t notice.
No es de importancia.
44. Chive d’oro opens every door.
Llave de oro abre todas las puertas.
45. Those who have done evil, do penance.
El que hace el mal, hace la penitencia.
46. Whoever wants to get rich in a year is hanged in six months.
Quien quiere enriquecerse en un año, es ahorcado en seis meses.
47. There’s a sea between saying and doing.
Entre el decir y el hacer hay un mar.
48. The first will be the last.
Los primeros serán los últimos.
49. The night is the mother of thoughts.
La noche es la madre de los pensamientos.
50. Gold is what gold is worth.
El oro, gold is worth.
51. It’s no problem.
No hay problem.
52. Prudence is a mother of safety.
La prudencia es la madre de la seguridad.
53. Everything has reason.
Todo has a case.
54. The best defense is offense.
La mejor defensa es el ataque.
55. The forbidden fruits are the sweetest.
La fruta prohibida es la más dulce.
56. With patience one acquires science.
Con la paciencia se adquiere la ciencia.
57. He who does not let himself be advised, cannot be helped.
El que no puede ser aconsejado, no puede ser ayudado.
58. Who loves me, loves my dog.
El que me ama, ama a mi perro.
59. The bad weed never dies.
Mala hierba nunca muere.
60. Nice thing to do.
La ociosidad es una bella cosa.
61. For revenge never healed the plague.
Venganza nunca cured a herida.
62. At first glance.
At first sight.
63. Whom I trust, God watch over me, whom I will not watch over.
The enemigos de un hombre, son a menudo los de su propia casa.
64. Year of snow, year of good.
Año de nieve, año rico.
65. We couldn’t have a perfect life without friends.
No podemos tener una vida perfecta sin amigos.
66. He who never comes back runs far.
El que corre lejos nunca vuelve.
67. He who has love in his chest has the spur to his side.
El que tiene amor en el pecho, tiene espuelas en los costados
68. You give the finger, you take the arm.
Dales el dedo y tomarán tu brazo.
69. Unsolicited apology, manifest accusation.
Una conciencia culpable no necesita acusador.
70. Good placito.
A su placer.
71. Mind your own business.
Métete en tus propios asuntos.
72. Boss of the year.
Año nuevo.
73. Better late than never.
Más vale tarde que nunca.
74. Nothing dries more badass than tears.
Nada se seca antes que las lágrimas.
75. The suit doesn’t make the monk.
El hábito no hace al monje.
76. Better late than never.
Mejor tarde que nunc