Azerbaijani proverbs in English

Atalar sözləri ingilis dilində

These are the 43 proverbs our game Atalar Sözləri starts with. Each one comes with two English versions. The word-for-word translation keeps the Azerbaijani picture: “Whoever rushes falls into the oven.” The English equivalent is the proverb an English speaker would actually say in the same situation: “Haste makes waste.”

37 of them have a close English partner. The rest don’t, and those are often the best ones to discuss in class: what would you say in English instead?

43 proverbs

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Ağıl yaşda deyil, başdadır.
Word for word
Wisdom is not in age, it is in the head.
In English
No close equivalent
Words to learn
wisdom
Nə əkərsən, onu da biçərsən.
Word for word
Whatever you sow, you will reap.
In English
You reap what you sow.
Words to learn
sow, reap
Dost dar gündə tanınar.
Word for word
A friend is recognized on a difficult day.
In English
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Words to learn
recognize, in need, indeed
Tək əldən səs çıxmaz.
Word for word
A single hand cannot make a sound.
In English
Many hands make light work.
Words to learn
single, make light work
Birlik harada, dirlik orada.
Word for word
Where there is unity, there is life.
In English
Unity is strength.
Words to learn
unity, strength
Yüz ölç, bir biç.
Word for word
Measure a hundred times, cut once.
In English
Measure twice, cut once.
Words to learn
measure
Tələsən təndirə düşər.
Word for word
Whoever rushes falls into the oven.
In English
Haste makes waste.
Words to learn
rush, oven, haste, waste
Ağac bar verəndə başını aşağı salar.
Word for word
When a tree bears fruit, it lowers its head.
In English
The boughs that bear most hang lowest.
Words to learn
bear fruit, lower, bough
Danışmaq gümüşdür, susmaq qızıl.
Word for word
Speaking is silver, silence is gold.
In English
Speech is silver, silence is golden.
Words to learn
silence, speech
Söz var kəsdirər başı, söz var kəsər savaşı.
Word for word
There is a word that cuts off a head, and a word that ends a battle.
In English
No close equivalent
Words to learn
cut off, battle
Şirin dil ilanı yuvasından çıxarar.
Word for word
A sweet tongue brings a snake out of its nest.
In English
You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
Words to learn
tongue, nest, vinegar
Ac toyuq yuxusunda darı görər.
Word for word
A hungry hen sees millet in its dream.
In English
No close equivalent
Words to learn
hen, millet
Dostunu göstər, deyim sən kimsən.
Word for word
Show me your friend, and I will tell you who you are.
In English
A man is known by the company he keeps.
Words to learn
company
Görünən dağa nə bələdçi?
Word for word
Who needs a guide to a visible mountain?
In English
The facts speak for themselves.
Words to learn
guide, visible
Dağ dağa rast gəlməz, insan insana rast gələr.
Word for word
A mountain never encounters a mountain, but a person encounters a person.
In English
Friends may meet, but mountains never greet.
Words to learn
encounter, greet
Su axar, çuxurunu tapar.
Word for word
Water flows and finds its own pit.
In English
Water finds its own level.
Words to learn
flow, pit
Dama-dama göl olar.
Word for word
Drop by drop, it becomes a lake.
In English
Every little helps.
Words to learn
drop
Əl əli yuyar, əl də üzü.
Word for word
A hand washes a hand, and hands wash the face.
In English
You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours.
Words to learn
scratch
Şər deməsən, xeyir gəlməz.
Word for word
If you do not speak of evil, good will not come.
In English
No close equivalent
Words to learn
evil
Bəy verən atın dişinə baxmazlar.
Word for word
Nobody looks at the teeth of a horse given by a lord.
In English
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Words to learn
lord, gift horse
Niyyətin hara, mənzilin ora.
Word for word
Where your intention is, there is your destination.
In English
Where there's a will, there's a way.
Words to learn
intention, destination, will
Hər şeyin təzəsi, dostun köhnəsi.
Word for word
Everything is better brand-new, but a friend is better old.
In English
Old friends and old wine are best.
Words to learn
brand-new
Dost dosta tən gərək, tən olmasa gen gərək.
Word for word
A friend should be equal to a friend; if not equal, keep your distance.
In English
Birds of a feather flock together.
Words to learn
equal, keep your distance, feather, flock together
Dost acı deyər.
Word for word
A friend tells you the bitter truth.
In English
Faithful are the wounds of a friend.
Words to learn
bitter, truth, faithful, wound
Yaxşılıq et, dənizə at; balıq bilməsə, Xaliq bilər.
Word for word
Do good and throw it into the sea; if the fish do not know, the Creator will.
In English
Cast your bread upon the waters.
Words to learn
creator, cast
Nə tökərsən aşına, o çıxar qaşığına.
Word for word
Whatever you pour into your soup comes up in your spoon.
In English
As you make your bed, so you must lie in it.
Words to learn
pour, whatever
İşləməyən dişləməz.
Word for word
Whoever does not work does not bite.
In English
No pain, no gain.
Words to learn
bite, gain
Ayağını yorğanına görə uzat.
Word for word
Stretch your legs according to your blanket.
In English
Cut your coat according to your cloth.
Words to learn
stretch, according to, blanket, cloth
Qorxunun əcələ faydası yoxdur.
Word for word
Fear has no benefit against fate.
In English
What will be, will be.
Words to learn
fear, benefit, fate
Gün doğmadan nələr doğar.
Word for word
Before the sun rises, many things are born.
In English
Who knows what tomorrow will bring?
Words to learn
rise
Zərərin yarısından qayıtmaq da qazancdır.
Word for word
Turning back halfway through a loss is also a profit.
In English
Cut your losses.
Words to learn
turn back, halfway, loss, profit
Uzaq qohumdansa yaxın qonşu yaxşıdır.
Word for word
A close neighbour is better than a distant relative.
In English
Better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
Words to learn
distant, relative
Yalançının evi yandı, heç kim ona inanmadı.
Word for word
The liar's house burned down, but nobody believed them.
In English
A liar is not believed even when telling the truth.
Words to learn
liar, burn down
Yalan ayaq tutar, amma yeriməz.
Word for word
A lie can stand up, but it cannot walk.
In English
A lie has no legs.
Words to learn
lie
Arxalı köpək qurd basar.
Word for word
A dog that has support can defeat a wolf.
In English
There is strength in numbers.
Words to learn
support, defeat, wolf
At ölüb, itlərin bayramıdır.
Word for word
The horse has died; it is a feast for the dogs.
In English
One man's loss is another man's gain.
Words to learn
feast, loss, gain
Dəvədən böyük fil var.
Word for word
There is an elephant bigger than a camel.
In English
There's always a bigger fish.
Words to learn
camel
Əyri otur, düz danış.
Word for word
Sit crooked, but speak straight.
In English
Honesty is the best policy.
Words to learn
crooked, straight, honesty
El bir olsa, dağ oynadar yerindən.
Word for word
If people are united, they can move a mountain from its place.
In English
United we stand, divided we fall.
Words to learn
united, divided
Eşşək nə bilir zəfəran nədir?
Word for word
What does a donkey know about saffron?
In English
Don't cast pearls before swine.
Words to learn
donkey, saffron, pearl, swine
İgid ölər, adı qalar.
Word for word
A hero dies, but the name remains.
In English
No close equivalent
Words to learn
hero, remain
İt hürər, karvan keçər.
Word for word
The dog barks, the caravan passes.
In English
No close equivalent
Words to learn
bark, caravan
Ucuz ətin şorbası olmaz.
Word for word
Cheap meat makes no broth.
In English
You get what you pay for.
Words to learn
broth

Using proverbs in an English lesson

Proverbs are short, full of useful vocabulary, and students already know what they mean in Azerbaijani, so all the effort goes into the English. A few ways to use them:

Match them. Give the word-for-word translations on one side and the English equivalents on the other, and let pairs match them up.
Explain the picture. Why would a lowered head mean a wise person? Why a blanket? Ask students to explain the image in English.
Find the missing ones. Take a proverb without an English equivalent and ask the class what an English speaker might say instead.
Race for it. Play Atalar Sözləri: the class rebuilds the translation from scrambled words on their phones, and the fastest correct answer wins.