A
- Ako ne počneš nećeš ni završiti
- Translation: If you don’t start, you won’t finish
B
- Bez muke nema nauke.
- Translation: Without suffering, there is no learning.
- English equivalent: No pain, no gain.
- Bog je prvo sebi bradu stvorio.
- Translation: God first created a beard for himself. (Meaning that everybody looks after themselves first)
- Bog visoko, a Rusija daleko.
- Translation: God is high above, and Russia is far away. (Meaning that help is far and unlikely)
- Bolje ikad nego nikad.
- Translation: Better ever than never.
- English equivalent: Better late than never.
- Bolje sprečiti nego lečiti
- Translation: Better to prevent than to have to cure.
- English equivalent: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
- Slično: A stitch in time (saves nine)
- Bolje vrabac u ruci, nego golub na grani.
- Translation: A sparrow in the hand is better than a pigeon on the branch.
- English equivalent: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
C
- Čovek je čoveku vuk.
- English equivalent: Man is man’s wolf.
- Latin equivalent: Homo homini lupus est.
- Čovek sanja, Bog određuje.
- Translation: Men wishes(dreams), but god decides.
- English equivalent: Man proposes, but God disposes.
D
- Da padne na leđa,razbio bi nos.
- Translation: If he fell onto his back, he’d broke his nose.
- English equivalent: ? when the person is very unlucky
- Dala baba dinar da se uhvati u kolo, a dva da se pusti.
- Translation: Grandma gave a dinar to dance, and two to stop.
- English equivalent: Be careful what you wish for.
- Daleko od očiju, daleko od srca
- Translation: Far from the eyes, far from the heart
- English equivalent: Out of sight, out of mind
G
- Gde ima dima ima i vatre.
- Translation: Where there is smoke, there is fire too.
- English equivalent: Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
- Gde ti mnogo obećavaju, malu torbu ponesi
- Translation: Where people are promising much to you, bring a small bag.
- English equivalent: ? Similar to There is no free lunch.
- Glava u oblacima.
- Translation: (To have the) head in clouds.
- English equivalent: To have one’s head in the clouds
- Gvožđe se kuje dok je vruće.
- Translation: Iron is worked when it’s still hot.
- English equivalent: Strike while the iron is hot.
I
- Il’ kuj, il ne mrči gaćâ!
- English equivalent: Shit or get off the pot.
- Imati veće oči od želuca. (Samo su mi oči gladne – only my eyes are hungry)
- Translation: To have bigger eyes than the stomach.
- English equivalent: Your eyes are bigger than your stomach.
- Ispalo vragu iz torbe.
- Translation: (Something that has) fallen out of a devil’s pouch.
- English equivalent: untamed.
- Ispeci pa reci.
- Translation: Bake it and then say it.
- English equivalent: Think before you speak.
- Iver ne pada daleko od klade.
- Translation: A splinter doesn’t land far from the trunk.
- English equivalent: An apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
J
- Jabuka ne pada daleko od stabla.
- Translation: The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
- Jedna lasta ne čini proleće.
- Translation: One swallow does not make a spring.
- English equivalent: One swallow does not make a spring.
- Source of original proverb: Aristotle
- Jutro je pametnije od večeri.
- Translation: Morning is smarter than evening.
K
- Kad mačke nema, miševi kolo vode.
- Translation: When cat is absent, mice dance.
- English equivalent: When the cat’s away the mice will play.
- Kad na vrbi rodi grožđe.
- Translation: When willows bear grapes.
- English equivalent: When pigs fly.
- Kako došlo, tako prošlo.
- Translation: The way it came is the way it will go.
- English equivalent: Easy come, easy go.
- Kao mačka oko vruće kaše.
- Translation: Like the cat around the hot meal.
- English equivalent: Beating around bush.
- Ko drugome jamu kopa sam u nju pada.
- Translation: Who digs a trap for others ends up in it himself.
- English equivalent: What goes around, comes around.
- Ko nema u glavi, ima u nogama.
- Translation: Who doesn’t have in his head has in his feet.
- English equivalent: Absent-minded do the work twice.
- Ko rano rani, dve sreće grabi. (Ptica ranoranilica prva crva nađe)
- Translation: One who gets up early is doubly lucky.
- English equivalent: The early bird gets (catches) the worm.
- Ko s vragom tikve sadi, o glavu mu se obiju.
- Translation: If one sows pumpkins with the devil, they will bash onto one’s head.
- English equivalent: ? Similar to As you sow, so you shall reap.
- Ko se na mleko opeče, i u jogurt duva.
- English equivalent: A burnt child dreads the fire.
- Ko seje vetar, žanje oluju.
- Translation: Who sows wind will harvest storm.
- English equivalent: ? Similar to As you sow, so you shall reap.
- Ko uči znaće, ko štedi imaće
- Translation: Those who study will know, those who save will have.
- English equivalent: ?
- Ko ume, njemu dve
- Translation: The one who’s able gets two.
- English equivalent: Skilled worker is paid double.
- Ko vino večera, vodu doručkuje.
- Translation: Who has wine for dinner, he has water for breakfast.
- English equivalent: ? You can’t avoid paying consequences for your deeds.
- Kruh bez motike. (SR: Nema hleba bez motike)
- Translation: Bread without shovel.
- Krv nije voda.
- Translation: Blood is not water.
- English equivalent: Blood is thicker than water.
L
- Lepa reč i gvozdena vrata otvara.
- Translation: A kind word opens even the iron doors.
- English equivalent:You can succeed in anything by being polite.
M
- Mi o vuku, a vuk na vrata.
- Translation: (speaking) of the wolf as the wolf (comes) to the door.
- English equivalent: Speak of the devil.
- Latin equivalent: Lupus in fabula.
N
- Na mladima svet ostaje.
- Translation: The world is left to the young.
- Na muci se poznaju junaci.
- Translation: In trouble you know a hero.
- Na nevidišu nema krivice.
- Translation: If it isn’t seen, there’s no guilt.
- If you do something without being caught it isn’t done.
- Najtamnije je ispod sveće
- Translation:Its the darkest underneath the candle.
- Its the darkest underneath the candle.
- Naći iglu u plastu sena.
- English equivalent: Finding a needle in a haystack.
- Navika je dobar sluga, ali loš gospodar.
- Translation: Habit is a good servant, but a poor master.
- Ne gledaj poklonjenom konju u zube. (Poklonjenom konju se ne gleda u zube)
- Translation: Don’t look a gift horse in the teeth.
- English equivalent: Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
- Ne laje pas zbog sela, nego radi sebe.
- Translation: The dog doesn’t bark because of the village. (everybody cares about themselves the most)
- Ne maljaj vraga na zid. (SR: Ne crtaj vraga)
- Translation: Don’t paint the devil on the wall. Don’t invite misfortune; don’t talk about bad things that might happen because that could invite them to happen
- Ne može kruška da rodi jabuku.
- Translation: A pear tree cannot bear an apple.
- English Equivalent: ? Similar to An apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
- Ne možeš imati i ovce i novce.
- Translation: You can’t have both money and sheep.
- English equivalent: You can’t eat your cake and have it too
- Ne kupuj mačka u vreći. (Ne kupuj mačku u džaku)
- Translation: Don’t buy a cat in a bag.
- English equivalent: Don’t buy a pig in a poke.
- Ne vidi šumu od drveća.
- English equivalent: Can’t see the forest for the trees
- Ne stavljaj sva jaja u jednu košaru.
- Translation: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
- Ne sej tikve gde jos nisu nikle!
- Translation: Don’t plant pumpkins where they never sprouted!
- English equivalent: ? Don’t waste your time trying things which are proven not to work.
- Ne trči pred rudo. (SR: Ne trči pred rudu)
- Translation: Don’t run in front of a carriage.
- English equivalent: Don’t jump the gun.
- Nema hleba bez motike
- Translation: There’s no bread without a hoe
- English equivalent: You cannot make omelets without eggs.
- Similar to Only hard work pays off.
- Nema vatre bez dima.
- Translation: There is no fire without smoke.
- English equivalent: Where there is smoke there is fire.
- Nema mirnog deteta ni mlade babe.
- Translation: There’s no quiet child nor young grandmother.
- Nesreća nikad ne dolazi sama.
- Translation: Misfortune never comes alone.
- English equivalent: When it rains, it pours.
- English equivalent: Bad luck comes in threes.
- German equivalent: Bad luck rarely comes alone. (Ein Unglück kommt selten allein.)
- Nije zlato sve što sija.
- English equivalent: All that glitters is not gold.
- Fool’s gold (lažno zlato; zlato lažnog sjaja; zamka za budale)
- Novac se na novac lepi.
- Translation: Money sticks to money.
- English equivalent: Money hangs around money.
- O mrtvima sve najbolje.
- Translation: Speak only the best of the dead.
- English equivalent: Don’t speak ill of the dead.
- Latin equivalent: De mortuis nil nisi bonum.
O
- Od Kulina bana i dobrijeh dana.
- Translation: Since Koohleen the prince and the good times; in remembrance of the good old days of Lord Kulin
- English Equivalent: Back in the good old days.
- Obećanje ludom radovanje
- Translation: Promise makes a fool happy.
- English equivalent: Do not be fooled by empty promises.
- Odelo ne čini čoveka.
- Translation: A suit doesn’t make a man.
- English equivalent: You can’t tell a book by its cover.
- French equivalent: L’habit ne fait pas le moine.
- Odneti gaće na štapu. (Na kraju ostanu samo gaće na štapu)
- Translation: To end up with underpants on a stick. (i.e. be really poor)
- Ovca bleji, zalogaj gubi!
- Translation: The sheep that bleats – loses it’s share in food.
P
- Pametniji popušta.
- Translation: The smarter one yields
- English equivalent: Every fool is quick to quarrel /By yielding you conquer
- Papir trpi sve.
- Translation: Paper can withstand anything (doesn’t mean it’s true (a fact))
- Pas koji laje, ne grize. (SR: Pas koji laje ne ujeda)
- Translation: A dog that barks does not bite.
- English equivalent: All bark, no bite. Barking dogs seldom bite; His bark is worse than his bite.
- Po jutru se dan poznaje.
- Translation: The morning shows how the day will be.
- Počisti prvo pred svojim vratima.
- Translation: First sweep the ground in front of your own door.
- English equivalent: The pot calling the kettle black.
And why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye, and not notice the beam which is in your own eye? - People who live in glass houses should not throw stones (don’t criticize other people when you yourself have faults and weaknesses…)
- Pomozi si sam pa će ti i Bog pomoći. (SR: Pomozi sam sebi pa će ti i Bog pomoći)
- Translation: First help yourself and then God will help you.
- English equivalent: God helps those who help themselves.
- Pomozi sirotu na svoju sramotu.
- Translation: Help the poor one for your own shame.
- Pored takvih prijatelja što će mi neprijatelji.
- Translation: With such friends, one doesn’t need enemies anymore.
- English equivalent: With friends like those, who needs enemies?
- Posle kiše dolazi sunce. (Posle kiše uvek dođe sunce)
- Translation: After rain comes sun.
- Praviti od komarca magarca. (od muve slona).
- Translation: To make a donkey out of a mosquito.
- English equivalent: To make a mountain out of a molehill.
- Prodati rog pod svijeću.
- Translation: To sell a horn as if it was a candle.
- Prodati mačka u vreći.
- Translation: To sell a cat in a bag.
- To succeed in selling something useless or of a very poor quality.
- Translation: To sell a cat in a bag.
- Prosto ko pasulj.
- Translation: As simple as beans
- English equivalent: As easy as pie.
- Prošla baba s kolačima.
- Translation: The old lady with cakes has already passed by.
- Now it is too late to act (you have missed the opportunity to do something).
- English: To miss the boat; American Sign Language: train go sorry
- Prvo skoči pa reci hop.
- Translation: First leap, and then say “hop”!
- English equivalent: Look before you leap.
- Do something before you brag about it.
- Puno baba, kilavo dijete. (SR: Mnogo babica kilava dečica)
- Translation: Many midwives, child will be feeble.
- English equivalent: Too many cooks spoil the broth.
R
- Raditi račun bez krčmara. (SR: Praviti račun bez krčmara= raditi nepromišljeno)
- Translation: To make the bill without the bartender (to do something hasty)
- Rugala se sova senici. (SR: Rugala se šerpa loncu, široka mu usta; Rugala se ruga; )
- Translation: The owl mocked the tit. / A pan was mocking a pot because his mouth is big.
- English equivalent: The pot calls the kettle black.
- Ruka ruku mije.
- Translation: One hand washes the other.
- English equivalent: You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.
- Latin equivalent: Manus manum lavat.
- Ružnoj devojci ogledalo krivo.
- Translation: An ugly girl blames the mirror.
- English equivalent: ? A bad craftsman blames his tools.
S
- Samo Sloga Srbina Spasava
- Translation: Only unity saves the Serbs.
- Sit gladnom ne veruje.
- Translation: The well fed one does not believe the hungry one.
- Svakog gosta tri dana dosta.
- Translation: Three days of any guest is plenty.
- English equivalent: Fish and visitors stink after three days.
- Sve je dobro što se dobro svrši.
- English equivalent and translation: All’s well that ends well.
- Sve se vraća sve se plaća
- Translation: Everything has to be returned, everything has to be paid for.
- English equivalent: What goes around, comes around.
- Sve što je brzo je i kuso.
- Translation: Quickly doing things results in a poor ending.
- English equivalent: Haste makes waste.
- Sve što je dobro kratko traje.
- Translation: All that’s well lasts short.
- English equivalent: All good things come to an end.
- Svuda pođi, kući dođi.
- Translation: Go everywhere, but come back home.
- English Equivalent: There’s no place like home.
- Svi putevi vode u Rim.
- English equivalent and translation: All roads lead to Rome.
- Strpljen – spašen.
- Translation: Patient – saved.
- English equivalent: All things come to he who waits.
- Što bi gore sad je dolje, a što bi dolje sad je gore.
- Translation: What once was up now is down and what once was down now is up
- English equivalent: What goes around comes around.
- Što je previše, ni s kruhom nije dobro.
- Translation: What is too much is not good even with bread.
- English equivalent: Too much of anything is bad for you
- Što možeš danas, ne ostavljaj za sutra.
- Translation: Do not leave for tomorrow, things you can do today.
- English equivalent: Don’t put off until tomorrow what can be done today (Better now than later).
T
- Teško žabu u vodu natjerati.
- Translation: It is difficult to chase a frog into the water. (sarcasticaly)
- Tiha voda brege dere. (SR: Tiha voda breg roni)
- Translation: Still water wears down mountains./Anything is possible with time.
- English equivalent: Still waters run deep.
- Tko kupuje što mu ne treba, prodavat će što mu treba.
- Translation: He who buys what he does not need will (eventually have to) sell what he needs.
- Tko pita, ne skita. (SR: Ko pita ne skita)
- Translation: He who asks, need not wander.
- Tko pod drugim jamu kopa, sam u nju pada. (SR: Ko drugom jamu kopa, sam u nju upada)
- Translation: He who digs a hole under someone else will fall into it himself.
- Tko rano rani, dvije sreće grabi. (SR: Ko rano rani, dve sreće grabi)
- Translation: He who wakes up early, catches two fortunes.
- English equivalent: The early bird catches the worm.
- Tko s malom djecom liježe, popišan se budi. (SR: Ko sa decom spava, popišan se budi)
- Translation: If one goes to bed with small kids, wakes up wet.
- Tko se zadnji smije, najslađe se smije. (SR: Ko se poslednji smeje, najslađe se smeje)
- Translation: He who laughs last has the sweetest laugh.
- English equivalent: He who laughs last laughs best.
- Tko umije, njemu dvije.
- Translation: He who can, gets two.
- Tko želi rata, bio mu u kući.
- Translation: Who wishes war, may war be in his house.
- Tri loša ubiše Miloša.
- Translation: Three bad ones killed Milosh.
- Triput meri, jednom seci.
- Translation: Measure thrice, cut once; think first, act later.
- English Equivalent: Think twice before you cut; Think first, act later.
- Similar to: Think before you speak
U
- U laži su kratke noge.
- Translation: In lies one has short legs.
- English equivalent: A lie has no legs.
- U tom grmu leži/čuči zec!
- Translation: That’s the bush where the hare squats.
- English equivalent: ? to find a solution to a problem
- Umiljato jagnje dve ovce sisa.
- Translation: Cuddly lamb sucks two ewes.
- English equivalent: Similar to Flattery will get you anywhere.
- Uzdaj se u se i u svoje kljuse.
- Translation: Trust yourself and your horse.
- English Equivalent: If you want to get things done, do it yourself.
V
- Vreme je novac.
- English equivalent and translation: Time is money.
- Vrana vrani oči ne vadi
- Translation: A crow doesn’t pick out another crow’s eyes.
- English equivalent: A thief does not steal from another thief.
- Vuk dlaku menja, ali ćud nikada.
- Translation: A wolf changes his hair, but never his character.
- English equivalent: A leopard can’t change its spots
- Latin equivalent: Vulpes pilum mutat, non mores. A fox may change its skin, but never its character.
Z
- Željezo se kuje dok je vruće. (SR: Gvožđe se kuje dok je vruće)
- English equivalent and translation: Forge while the iron is hot.
- Žuri polako.
- Translation: Hasten slowly.
- English equivalent: Slowly but carefully.
- Latin equivalent: Festina lente.