Turkish Proverbs

We have collected and put the best Turkish Proverbs and Turkish Sayings. Enjoy reading these insights and feel free to share this page on your social media to inspire others.

May these Turkish Proverbs inspire you to never give up and keep working towards your goals. Who knows—success could be just around the corner.

See also: Turkish Folklore, Turkish Folktales, and Told in the Coffee House – Turkish Tales

Turkish people or the Turks (Türkler), also known as Anatolian Turks (Anadolu Türkleri), are a Turkic ethnic group and nation living mainly in Turkey and speaking Turkish, the most widely spoken Turkic language. They are the largest ethnic group in Turkey, as well as by far the largest ethnic group among the speakers of Turkic languages. Ethnic Turkish minorities exist in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire. In addition, a Turkish diaspora has been established with modern migration, particularly in Western Europe.

Turkish Proverbs in English

A “bad” may have a “worse”. – Turkish Proverbs
[But try to make the best of the current situation to prevent something worse from happening.]

A bachelor’s life is a lot of foolishness. – Turkish Proverbs

A bad neighbour forces you to have your own pots and pans. – Turkish Proverbs
[A reminder not to depend much on others, to become more self-reliant]

A bee knows which flower to take honey from. – Turkish Proverbs
[A smart person knows where his profit lies.]

A belly is nearer than a brother. – Turkish Proverbs

A big fish swallows up a small fish. – Turkish Proverbs

A bird flies in its own flock. – Turkish Proverbs

A bird is not taken with the hand. – Turkish Proverbs

A bird will not fly with one wing. – Turkish Proverbs

A boiling cauldron can’t keep a lid on. – Turkish Proverbs
[When the pot’s full, it will boil over.]

A boxwood comb for a bald head. – Turkish Proverbs
[Used to make a point when someone indulges beyond his financial means.].

A building without foundation is soon demolished. – Turkish Proverbs

A calf of little worth is better than an ox in which you have only a share. – Turkish Proverbs

A camel might go to Mecca forty times, but that doesn’t make him a pilgrim. – Turkish Proverbs

A camel with bells is not lost. – Turkish Proverbs

A camel’s head does not pass through the eye of a needle. – Turkish Proverbs

A caravan does not turn back at the howling of a dog. – Turkish Proverbs

A chain is no stronger than its weakest link. – Turkish Proverbs

A cheerful wife is the joy of life. – Turkish Proverbs

A child is the fruit of a home. – Turkish Proverbs

A clever thief surprises the master of the house. – Turkish Proverbs

A covetous man serves his riches, not they him. – Turkish Proverbs

A cup of coffee commits one to forty years of friendship. – Turkish Proverbs

A day has an evening. – Turkish Proverbs
[Every day ends with an evening.]

A debt is extinguished by force of paying, a journey by force of walking. – Turkish Proverbs

A debt is not paid with words. – Turkish Proverbs

A debt, of which there is no written acknowledgment, is not demanded. – Turkish Proverbs

A defeated wrestler is not tired of wrestling. – Turkish Proverbs

A desperate man will face many a risk. – Turkish Proverbs

A diamond, though men throw it in the mud, is still a diamond. – Turkish Proverbs

A dog fought with another dog and thus the traveler’s journey went smoothly. – Turkish Proverbs

A dog knows his master. – Turkish Proverbs

A dog that intends to bite does not bear its teeth. – Turkish Proverbs

A donkey does not appreciate fruit compote. – Turkish Proverbs

A doubtful bargain spoils the stomach. – Turkish Proverbs

A farmer’s granary lies at the tip of his plow. – Turkish Proverbs
[If you want a good harvest, till your fields as fits.]

A fish gets smart after it has gotten into the net. – Turkish Proverbs

A fool always rushes to the fore. – Turkish Proverbs

A fool dreams of wealth; a wise man, of happiness. – Turkish Proverbs

A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. – Turkish Proverbs

A fool may sometimes speak to the purpose. – Turkish Proverbs

A forked peg will not enter the ground. – Turkish Proverbs

A friend is easier lost than found. – Turkish Proverbs

A friend is known on black [bad] days. – Turkish Proverbs

A friend is never known till a man have need. – Turkish Proverbs

A full purse is ones best companion. – Turkish Proverbs

A full purse never lacks friends. – Turkish Proverbs

A garden scarecrow is not a man. – Turkish Proverbs

A good companion shortens the longest road. – Turkish Proverbs

A good example is better than precept. – Turkish Proverbs

A good friend is shown in a black day. – Turkish Proverbs

A good man will appear when talked about. – Turkish Proverbs

A good maxim is never out of season. – Turkish Proverbs

A good wife is a good prize. – Turkish Proverbs

A good wife makes a good husband. – Turkish Proverbs

A goose and a girl are never satisfied. – Turkish Proverbs

A guest does not get the food he expects but what he’s served. – Turkish Proverbs

A guilty conscience feels continual tear. – Turkish Proverbs

A half-learned doctor can take your life; a half-learned priest can take your creed. – Turkish Proverbs

A halterless horse is not mounted. – Turkish Proverbs

A heart in love with beauty never grows old. – Turkish Proverbs

A heavy cauldron takes long to boil. – Turkish Proverbs

A heavy stone is not easily moved. – Turkish Proverbs

A horse is not caught with an empty sack. – Turkish Proverbs

A house is essential. – Turkish Proverbs

A house without a wife is like a safe without money. – Turkish Proverbs

A hungry bear does not play. – Turkish Proverbs

A hungry bear won’t dance. – Turkish Proverbs
[To work, one needs incentives that matter.] – Turkish Proverbs

A hungry hen sees herself in a wheat silo. – Turkish Proverbs

A hungry stomach has no ears. – Turkish Proverbs

A jealous head is soon broken. – Turkish Proverbs

A joke may easily become a serious matter. – Turkish Proverbs

A kind word warms a man throughout three winters. – Turkish Proverbs

A knife wound heals; a wound caused by words does not. – Turkish Proverbs

A knife-wound heals, but a tongue wound festers. – Turkish Proverbs

A lake forms drop by drop. – Turkish Proverbs

A lamb [sheep] away from the herd will be devoured by wolves. – Turkish Proverbs

A lion sleeps in the heart of every brave man. – Turkish Proverbs

A little bird is content with a little nest. – Turkish Proverbs

A little fire can light a lot of wood. – Turkish Proverbs
[It only takes a few troublemakers to upset the general peace.]

A little help is worth a deal of pity. – Turkish Proverbs

A little is better than none. – Turkish Proverbs

A low donkey is easy to ride on. – Turkish Proverbs

A man believes that he has been born, he does not believe that he will die. – Turkish Proverbs

A man deceives a man once. – Turkish Proverbs

A man does not become a savant by licking ink. – Turkish Proverbs

A man does not seek his luck, luck seeks its man. – Turkish Proverbs

A man had better have a good character rather than a handsome face. – Turkish Proverbs

A man is as wise as his head, not his years. – Turkish Proverbs

A man is born of his mother in order to die. – Turkish Proverbs
[The first breath is the beginning of death.]

A man is judged by his work. – Turkish Proverbs

A man is known by his company. – Turkish Proverbs
[Every cat to her kind.]

A man is known by his friends. – Turkish Proverbs

A man is known by the company he keeps. – Turkish Proverbs

A man is to be feared from his speech, water from its floods. – Turkish Proverbs

A man who knows not what is good is not counted a man. – Turkish Proverbs

A man without a trade, a tree without fruit. – Turkish Proverbs

A meal prepared by others won’t be good, and besides it will be late. – Turkish Proverbs
[Don’t rely so much on others.]

A mouse in time may shear a cable asunder. – Turkish Proverbs

A nail saves a horseshoe; a horseshoe saves a horse, a horse saves a rider and a rider saves a country. – Turkish Proverbs
[A small task may be part of the preparation for an important outcome.]

A nail will come out, but its hole remains. – Turkish Proverbs

A near neighbour is better than a far-dwelling kinsman. – Turkish Proverbs

A neighbor that is near is better than a relative of no benefit. – Turkish Proverbs

A neighbors hen looks as big as a goose, and his wife as young as a girl. – Turkish Proverbs

A old wolf does not lose his way. – Turkish Proverbs

A pear will fall to the root of the tree. – Turkish Proverbs
(Children may turn out like their parents in more ways than one.)

A pear will fall to the tree’s root. – Turkish Proverbs

A person does not seek luck; luck seeks the person. – Turkish Proverbs – Turkish Proverbs

A person who associates with scoundrels will acquire their habits. – Turkish Proverbs

A poor man has no friend. – Turkish Proverbs
[One that is unhappy has seldom friends.]

A pound is sixteen ounces wherever you go. – Turkish Proverbs

A promise comes from the mouth. – Turkish Proverbs
[An honourable person keeps his word.]

A proverb is an ornament to language. – Turkish Proverbs

A proverb is the wisdom of age and antiquity. – Turkish Proverbs

A quilt is not burnt to get rid of fleas. – Turkish Proverbs

A red apple invites stones. – Turkish Proverbs

A red shirt cannot be hidden. – Turkish Proverbs
[Truth will out.]

A remedy without pain is not to be hoped for. – Turkish Proverbs

A rope breaks at a worn place. – Turkish Proverbs
[Trouble begins at a weak spot.]

A shepherd cannot be made from a wolf. – Turkish Proverbs

A shepherd that is free from debt is better than a penniless prince. – Turkish Proverbs

A ship with two captains sinks. – Turkish Proverbs

A shop is not opened for the sake of one customer. – Turkish Proverbs

A single advantage is worth a thousand sorceries. – Turkish Proverbs

A single bad experience is worth a thousand threats. – Turkish Proverbs

A small key opens big doors. – Turkish Proverbs

A small leak will sink a great ship. – Turkish Proverbs

A snake is not taken with the hand. – Turkish Proverbs

A stitch in time saves nine. – Turkish Proverbs

A stone you would not have expected hurts your head. – Turkish Proverbs

A straightforward word is bitter. – Turkish Proverbs

A straw will show which way the wind blows. – Turkish Proverbs

A sweet tongue deceives many folks. – Turkish Proverbs

A thief is worthy of a scaffold and a criminal a dungeon. – Turkish Proverbs
[Crime does not pay after time.]

A thief needs no key. – Turkish Proverbs

A thief passes for a gentleman when stealing has made him rich. – Turkish Proverbs

A thousand friends are too few; one enemy is one too many. – Turkish Proverbs

A thousand regrets do not pay one debt. – Turkish Proverbs

A tree is bent while it is young. – Turkish Proverbs
[Add why and how too].

A tree without water gives no fruit. – Turkish Proverbs

A tribulation is better than a hundred warnings. – Turkish Proverbs

A true friend is better than relations. – Turkish Proverbs

A true word needs no oath. – Turkish Proverbs

A true word should never need any oath. – Turkish Proverbs

A twig is bent while it is green. – Turkish Proverbs

A village in sight does not require a guide. – Turkish Proverbs

A village that you can see in a distance do not require a guide. – Turkish Proverbs
[It is used to denote that events are heading to an obvious conclusion, so that further discussion may not be needed.]

A weapon is an enemy even to its owner. – Turkish Proverbs

A white day sheds light, and a black day sheds darkness. – Turkish Proverbs

A whole herd can take shelter in the shade of a great tree. – Turkish Proverbs

A wingless bird cannot fly. – Turkish Proverbs

A wise man does his own work. – Turkish Proverbs

A wise man is strong. – Turkish Proverbs

A wise man remembers his friends at all times; a fool, only when he has need of them. – Turkish Proverbs

A word is more valid than a signature. – Turkish Proverbs

A word to the wise is enough. – Turkish Proverbs

A worthy man is still worthy even penniless, a donkey is a donkey even if he is finely saddled. – Turkish Proverbs

A wrestler who is beaten can never get his fill of wrestling. – Turkish Proverbs

Ability has no school. – Turkish Proverbs

Abundance is from activity. – Turkish Proverbs

Act wisely and care not if you are called a fool. – Turkish Proverbs

Activity breeds prosperity. – Turkish Proverbs

Addictions are a curse. – Turkish Proverbs

After the conflagration ruins remain. – Turkish Proverbs

After the horse is stolen what remedy is it to lock the stable door? – Turkish Proverbs
[Negligence causes loss.]

Age breeds aches. – Turkish Proverbs

Age is no barrier to learning. – Turkish Proverbs

Ale in, wit out. – Turkish Proverbs

All clouds bring not rain. – Turkish Proverbs

All hoods make not monks. – Turkish Proverbs

All is not lost that is delayed. – Turkish Proverbs

All lay loads on a willing horse. – Turkish Proverbs

All that glitters is not gold. – Turkish Proverbs

All work and no play will make such a dull boy. – Turkish Proverbs

An acorn one day proves an oak. – Turkish Proverbs

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. – Turkish Proverbs

An arrow once shot never comes back. – Turkish Proverbs

An ass does not appreciate fruit compote. – Turkish Proverbs

An ass is but an ass though laden with gold. – Turkish Proverbs

An athlete does not tell all his secrets. – Turkish Proverbs

An ember burns where it falls. – Turkish Proverbs
[Used when expressing some sympathy for the pained people who are close to the injured or hurt person.]

An empty sack will not stand up. – Turkish Proverbs
[Skills might help a person get along.]

An eye that sees something has some right. – Turkish Proverbs

An ignorant person is his own enemy, how can he be a friend to another? – Turkish Proverbs

An illness comes by the pound and goes away by the ounce. – Turkish Proverbs

An intelligent foe is better than a silly friend. – Turkish Proverbs

An old chicken produces a good soup. – Turkish Proverbs

An old fox understands the trap. – Turkish Proverbs

An old friend is a mount for a black day. – Turkish Proverbs

An open door invites callers. – Turkish Proverbs

An open enemy is preferable to a hidden friend. – Turkish Proverbs

An open mouth remains no hungry. – Turkish Proverbs

An ounce of luck is better than a pound of misery. – Turkish Proverbs

An unexpected stone can split the head. – Turkish Proverbs

An uninvited guest might not get a warm welcome. – Turkish Proverbs

Animals are governed by their reins; people by their, promises. – Turkish Proverbs
[Words bind men.]

Appearance often deceives. – Turkish Proverbs

Appearances can be deceptive. – Turkish Proverbs

As soon as man is born he begins to die. – Turkish Proverbs

As you make your bed, so you must lie on it. – Turkish Proverbs

As you sow, so (shall) you reap. – Turkish Proverbs

Ask the banker about gold, the jeweler about gems. – Turkish Proverbs

At length the fox is brought to the furrier. – Turkish Proverbs

At table keep a short hand; in company keep a short tongue. – Turkish Proverbs

At the near end of the Long Market a man tells a lie, at the further end, he believes in it himself. – Turkish Proverbs
[To deceive oneself is easy, but not classy.]

Bad news is soon heard. – Turkish Proverbs
[travels quickly, – has wings.]

Barren ground should not be sown. – Turkish Proverbs
[Don’t throw your seeds into the place where nothing grows.]

Be just before you are generous. – Turkish Proverbs

Be thine enemy an ant, see in him an elephant. – Turkish Proverbs

Beat the iron while it is hot. – Turkish Proverbs

Beautiful women give men a lot of trouble; they rob them and finally turn them into paupers. – Turkish Proverbs

Beauty alone is not enough. – Turkish Proverbs

Beauty and folly are often companions. – Turkish Proverbs

Beauty cannot be by force. – Turkish Proverbs

Beauty displays perfection. – Turkish Proverbs

Beauty fades like a flower. – Turkish Proverbs

Beauty may have fair leaves, yet bitter fruit. – Turkish Proverbs

Beauty passes, but perfection remains with us. – Turkish Proverbs

Beauty passes, wisdom remains. – Turkish Proverbs
[Used to make a point: Heed wisdom above physical beauty.]

Beauty won’t make the pot boil. – Turkish Proverbs

Before buying the cloth look at the sample; before marrying a girl look at her mother. – Turkish Proverbs

Beggar’s bags won’t be filled. – Turkish Proverbs
[Some people don’t get enough fish.]

Believe no tales from an enemy’s tongue. – Turkish Proverbs

Better a calf of ones own than a jointly owned cow. – Turkish Proverbs

Better a dinner of herbs with love than a stalled ox where hate is. – Turkish Proverbs

Better a lean jade than an empty halter. – Turkish Proverbs

Better a wise foe than a foolish friend. – Turkish Proverbs

Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow. – Turkish Proverbs

Better are some small fish than an empty dish. – Turkish Proverbs

Better be a fool than a knave. – Turkish Proverbs

Better be half hanged than ill wed. – Turkish Proverbs

Better born lucky than wise. – Turkish Proverbs

Better go to heaven in rags than to hell in embroidery. – Turkish Proverbs

Better ride on an ass that carries me than a horse that throws me. – Turkish Proverbs

Better the crow I have than the nightingale others have. – Turkish Proverbs

Better to ask the way than go astray. – Turkish Proverbs

Better wit than wealth. – Turkish Proverbs

Between the cup and the lip a morsel may slip. – Turkish Proverbs

Between two stools you fall to the ground. – Turkish Proverbs

Beware of a returning arrow. – Turkish Proverbs

Beware of a silent man and still water. – Turkish Proverbs

Beware of an enemy, even though he be only an ant. – Turkish Proverbs

Beware of no man more than yourself. – Turkish Proverbs

Bread, unless it be chewed, is not swallowed. – Turkish Proverbs

Burn not your house to scare the mouse away. – Turkish Proverbs

Business opens business. – Turkish Proverbs

By renown and estimation the son of the noble is noble. – Turkish Proverbs

By the side of the dry the green [or wet] also burns. – Turkish Proverbs
[Sometimes the innocent suffer along with the guilty.]

Carrion crows bewail the dead sheep, and eat them. – Turkish Proverbs
[He looks one way and rows another.]

Catch the bear before you sell its skin. – Turkish Proverbs

Charity begins at home, but does not have to end there – Turkish Proverbs

Children have wide ears and long tongues. – Turkish Proverbs

Coffee should be black as Hell, strong as death, and sweet as love. – Turkish Proverbs – Turkish Proverbs

Common fame is seldom to blame. – Turkish Proverbs

Consult one who knows, but do what you know. – Turkish Proverbs

Contentment is an inexhaustible treasure. – Turkish Proverbs

Cotton cannot play with fire. – Turkish Proverbs

Counsel is irksome when the matter is past remedy. – Turkish Proverbs

Custom is nature to a man. – Turkish Proverbs

Cut off a dog’s tail and he will be a dog still. – Turkish Proverbs

Cut your coat according to your cloth. – Turkish Proverbs

Death in time of youth, poverty in time of age, are hard. – Turkish Proverbs

Death is a black camel that lies down at every door. Sooner or later you must ride the camel. – Turkish Proverbs

Desire is for the handsome and rich. – Turkish Proverbs

Destiny spoils plans. – Turkish Proverbs

Difficulties teach a man. – Turkish Proverbs

Distance is not taken by haste. – Turkish Proverbs

Do as you would be done by. – Turkish Proverbs

Do good, if you expect to receive it. – Turkish Proverbs

Do not be the partner of one more powerful than yourself. – Turkish Proverbs

Do not bring weariness to a council by having all the talk to yourself. – Turkish Proverbs

Do not dock the donkey’s tail in a crowd, some will say it’s too long, others it’s too short. – Turkish Proverbs

Do not leave to morning the business of evening. – Turkish Proverbs

Do not leave undone what is in your power to do. – Turkish Proverbs

Do not roll up your trousers before reaching the stream. – Turkish Proverbs

Do not search for a calf under an ox. – Turkish Proverbs

Do well and have well. – Turkish Proverbs

Do what your teacher says but not what he does. – Turkish Proverbs

Dogs bark but the caravan moves on. – Turkish Proverbs
[Great achievements may not be prevented by barks.]
[Whatever is done or said, it may have no significan’t effect on what happens or its the outcome].

Doing good to the evil is like doing evil to the good. – Turkish Proverbs

Don’t be captivated by beauty; look for disposition. – Turkish Proverbs
[A fragile gift is beauty.]

Don’t be deceived by the look of a book or a man, rather look inside. – Turkish Proverbs
[You cannot tell a book by its cover.]

Don’t believe in foretellings but don’t stay without them. – Turkish Proverbs
[Some forms of foretelling, like prognoses and weather forecasts, hold benefits for different reasons.]

Don’t call every crooked branch your bow and don’t call everyone you see your uncle. – Turkish Proverbs
[Don’t seize on the first thing that looks good.]

Don’t change the sour milk you know for the butter milk you don’t know. – Turkish Proverbs

Don’t climb higher than your boot. – Turkish Proverbs
[Said to one who meddles with things he does not understand.]

Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched. – Turkish Proverbs

Don’t cry for the moon. – Turkish Proverbs

Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face. – Turkish Proverbs

Don’t cut the bough you are standing on. – Turkish Proverbs

Don’t disclose your secret linen. – Turkish Proverbs
[Don’t wash your dirty linen in public. Wash your dirty linen at home.]

Don’t fall into a fire in order to avoid the smoke. – Turkish Proverbs

Don’t foul the well you have drunk from. – Turkish Proverbs

Don’t go into a matter you don’t understand. – Turkish Proverbs

Don’t go too far in something. – Turkish Proverbs

Don’t gossip while children are around. – Turkish Proverbs
[Children have wide ears and long tongues.]

Don’t halloo till you are out of the wood. – Turkish Proverbs

Don’t let the box be opened; otherwise they will say bad things. – Turkish Proverbs
[If you bring up a certain subject you risk hearing unpleasant things.]

Don’t look at the envelope, but at what is inside. – Turkish Proverbs
[None can guess the jewel by the casket.]

Don’t look at the shape—look at the character. – Turkish Proverbs

Don’t play with edged tools. – Turkish Proverbs

Don’t promise what you cannot perform. – Turkish Proverbs

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. – Turkish Proverbs
[Have two strings to your bow.]

Don’t put your hand between the bark and the tree. – Turkish Proverbs
[i.e. Don’t meddle in family quarrels.]

Don’t rely on a man, he may die; don’t lean on a tree, it may dry up, and don’t lean on a wall, it may fall down. – Turkish Proverbs
[If you trust before you try, you may repent before you die.]

Don’t roll up your trousers before reaching the stream. – Turkish Proverbs
[Wait till you come to the river before you pull off your shoes.]
[One should not be overly eager and optimistic about an outcome.]

Don’t say you have wheat until it is stocked in the barn, and don’t say you have a son before you have experienced poverty. – Turkish Proverbs

Don’t strip off too many clothes, or you may get cold. – Turkish Proverbs
[Don’t exceed your capabilities or you will suffer for it.]

Don’t take a heavy burden, otherwise you may hurt your back. Forecast is better than work-hard. – Turkish Proverbs

Don’t take for friends all who smile to your face. – Turkish Proverbs

Don’t tell your secret to your friend; he will tell it to his friend. – Turkish Proverbs

Don’t throw a lasso at stars in the sky. – Turkish Proverbs
[It is no use crying for the moon.]

Don’t try to teach your grandmother to suck eggs. – Turkish Proverbs

Drawn wells are seldom dry. – Turkish Proverbs

Dress up a stick, and it does not appear to be stick. – Turkish Proverbs

Drive your business, don’t let it drive you. – Turkish Proverbs

Drop by drop, it will make a lake. – Turkish Proverbs
[Small savings can lead to substantial wealth. Used to encourage people to save.]

Drunken days have their tomorrows. – Turkish Proverbs

Each brave man eats yogurt in his own way. – Turkish Proverbs
[Everyone has his own way of doing things.]

Eagles don’t hunt flies. – Turkish Proverbs

Eat and drink with a friend, but have no business transaction with him. – Turkish Proverbs

Eat and drink with your friends but do not trade with them. – Turkish Proverbs

Eat peas with the king, cherries with the beggar. – Turkish Proverbs

Either drive this camel to pasture or leave the country. – Turkish Proverbs

Empty vessels make the most noise. – Turkish Proverbs
[A fool talks too much.]

Empty words don’t fill one’s stomach. – Turkish Proverbs

Empty words will not fill an empty stomach. – Turkish Proverbs

Envy eats nothing but its own heart. – Turkish Proverbs

Even if you know a thousand things, check it with an expert. – Turkish Proverbs

Even if you put a golden saddle on its back, a donkey is still a donkey. Though he endeavour all he can, an ape will never be a man. – Turkish Proverbs

Even the ant has his bite. – Turkish Proverbs

Even the cock is jealous concerning his hen. – Turkish Proverbs

Even the highest tree has an axe waiting at its foot. – Turkish Proverbs

Even though you know a thousand things, ask the man who knows one. – Turkish Proverbs

Even too much praise is a burden. – Turkish Proverbs

Every bird admires its own nest. – Turkish Proverbs

Every bird loves to hear herself sing. – Turkish Proverbs

Every cock scratches around in his own garden. – Turkish Proverbs

Every cock will crow upon his own dunghill. – Turkish Proverbs

Every cook praises his own broth. – Turkish Proverbs

Every day of your life is a leaf in your history. – Turkish Proverbs

Every day the harm arising from carelessness is endured. – Turkish Proverbs

Every departure has an arrival. – Turkish Proverbs

Every ditch is full of afterwit. – Turkish Proverbs

Every door may be shut, but death’s door. – Turkish Proverbs

Every flower has a different smell. – Turkish Proverbs

Every man can rule an ill wife but him that has her. – Turkish Proverbs

Every man has a roll in his sleeve. – Turkish Proverbs

Every man has his faults. – Turkish Proverbs

Every man has his own way of eating yogurt. – Turkish Proverbs
[A reminder that others may have a different way of doing things, and hence asking for some tolerance.]

Every man likes his own things best. – Turkish Proverbs

Every misfortune is a counsel. – Turkish Proverbs

Every Muslim needs a wife [or more, up to four].

Every one is a lord in his own home. – Turkish Proverbs

Every one knows best where the shoe pinches him. – Turkish Proverbs

Every person admires his own character – Turkish Proverbs

Every potter praises his own pot. – Turkish Proverbs

Every rooster crows in its own pen. – Turkish Proverbs

Every sheep is hung by his own leg. – Turkish Proverbs

Every tub must stand on its own bottom. – Turkish Proverbs

Everybody beats the donkey that has no owner. – Turkish Proverbs

Everybody cries for his own dead. – Turkish Proverbs

Everyone admires his own character. – Turkish Proverbs

Everyone burns according to his own sins. – Turkish Proverbs

Everyone takes advantage of a mild person. – Turkish Proverbs

Everyone’s faults are not written on their foreheads. – Turkish Proverbs

Expect the worst, and any surprise will be a happy one. – Turkish Proverbs

Fair fall truth and daylight. – Turkish Proverbs

Fair without, false within. – Turkish Proverbs
[Many are like that.]

Fair words butter no parsnips. – Turkish Proverbs

Fair words don’t fill the belly. – Turkish Proverbs

Fair words will not make the pot play – Turkish Proverbs

False friends are worse than bitter enemies. – Turkish Proverbs

Familiarity breeds contempt. – Turkish Proverbs

Fear an ignorant man more than a lion. – Turkish Proverbs

Fear does not empty tomorrow of its sadness; it empties today of its power. – Turkish Proverbs

Fear him who fears not God. – Turkish Proverbs

Fear takes molehills for mountains. – Turkish Proverbs

Feed a crow and it will pluck out your eyes. – Turkish Proverbs

Fetters of gold are still fetters. and silken cords pinch. – Turkish Proverbs

Few may play with the devil and win. – Turkish Proverbs

Fingers were made before forks. – Turkish Proverbs

First find your neighbour and then settle. – Turkish Proverbs

First impressions are most lasting. – Turkish Proverbs

First kill the bear then sell its skin. – Turkish Proverbs
[Don’t sell the skin till you have caught the bear.]

First learn, then discern. – Turkish Proverbs

First think, then speak. – Turkish Proverbs

Fish begins to stink at the head. – Turkish Proverbs

Fit and good activity can breed prosperity in the long haul. – Turkish Proverbs

Flattery sits in the parlour when plain dealing is kicked out of doors. – Turkish Proverbs

For every wise man there is one still wiser. – Turkish Proverbs

For finding happiness one must walk till he be wearied. – Turkish Proverbs

For that which you can do yourself, rely not on another. – Rely on yourself alone. – Turkish Proverbs

For the birds that cannot soar, God has provided low branches. – Turkish Proverbs

Forced beauty won’t quite do. – Turkish Proverbs

Fortune favours those who use their judgement. – Turkish Proverbs

Free vinegar is sweeter than honey. – Turkish Proverbs

Friends criticise, foes flatter. – Turkish Proverbs

Friendship and business are two different things. – Turkish Proverbs

Friendship is a plant that must be often watered. – Turkish Proverbs

From a base person comes no fidelity, from a harlot no shame. – Turkish Proverbs

From bad iron there cannot be a good saber. – Turkish Proverbs

Give advice to those who will heed your words and keep it in their ears (i.e. minds); don’t waste your breath on others. – Turkish Proverbs

Give nine, save ten. – Turkish Proverbs

God finds a low branch for the bird that cannot fly. – Turkish Proverbs

God gives according to the heart of each. – Turkish Proverbs

God has created us brothers but has given us separate purses. – Turkish Proverbs

God lets man sink but not be drowned. – Turkish Proverbs

God sends pine to those who ask for pine, and wax to those who ask for wax. – Turkish Proverbs
[Seek your provision from above, and thank too].

Gold does not rust on the ground, and rocks don’t get soaked in the rain. – Turkish Proverbs

Gold takes no rust. – Turkish Proverbs

Good actions are not lost. – Turkish Proverbs

Good actions are rarely all lost. – Turkish Proverbs

Good advice is given, good esteem is not given. – Turkish Proverbs

Good bait catches fine fish. – Turkish Proverbs

Good clothes open all doors. – Turkish Proverbs

Good counsel may be given but not good breeding. – Turkish Proverbs

Good counsel may come too late to be of help. – Turkish Proverbs

Good deeds remain, all things else perish. – Turkish Proverbs

Good actions are never lost. – Turkish Proverbs

Goodness is better than skin deep beauty. – Turkish Proverbs

Grace could be natural. – Turkish Proverbs

Great oaks from little acorn grow. – Turkish Proverbs

Great vices, as well as great virtues, make men famous. – Turkish Proverbs

Guests bring good luck with them. – Turkish Proverbs

Gut no fish till you get them. – Turkish Proverbs

Habit is more dogged than rabies. – Turkish Proverbs

Habit is worse than rabies. – Turkish Proverbs

Hair will not grow on an egg. – Turkish Proverbs

Half a loaf is better than no bread. – Turkish Proverbs

Happiness comes from the health of soul. – Turkish Proverbs

Happiness is like crystal — when it shines the most, it soon cracks. – Turkish Proverbs

Happy is he that is happy in his children. – Turkish Proverbs

Has there ever been a day without an evening? – Turkish Proverbs
[Many good things must end at some time.]

Hasty climbers have sudden falls. – Turkish Proverbs

Hasty is the judgement of every fool. – Turkish Proverbs

Have two strings to your bow. – Turkish Proverbs

Having two ears and one tongue, we should listen twice as much as we speak. – Turkish Proverbs

He beats his breast who does not beat his child. – Turkish Proverbs

He bites his tongue who speaks in haste. – Turkish Proverbs

He considers ill that considers not both sides. – Turkish Proverbs

He gives twice who gives quickly. – Turkish Proverbs

He is a fool that kisses the maid when he may kiss the mistress. – Turkish Proverbs

He is a good friend that speaks well of us behind our backs. – Turkish Proverbs

He is like a fish out of water. – Turkish Proverbs

He is wise that is ware in time. – Turkish Proverbs

He laughs best who laughs last. – Turkish Proverbs

He may give heartily who gives merely little. – Turkish Proverbs

He teaches ill, who teaches all. – Turkish Proverbs
[This is an advise not to tell the learner everything, or even a lot at once. And “A ladder is climbed rung by rung” is behind graded teachings too.]

He that comes first to the hill may sit where he will. – Turkish Proverbs

He that conceals his grief finds no remedy for it. – Turkish Proverbs

He that falls by himself never cries. – Turkish Proverbs

He that forecasts all perils will never sail the sea. – Turkish Proverbs

He that goes far to be married, will either deceive or be deceived. – Turkish Proverbs

He that handles thorns unawares may smart for it. – Turkish Proverbs

He that has done ill once will do it again. – Turkish Proverbs

He that is down need fear no fall. – Turkish Proverbs

He that is fallen cannot help him that is down. – Turkish Proverbs

He that is ill to himself will be good to nobody. – Turkish Proverbs

He that knows least commonly presumes most. – Turkish Proverbs

He that knows nothing, doubts nothing. – Turkish Proverbs

He that loves noise, must buy a pig. – Turkish Proverbs

He that mischief hatches, mischief catches. – Turkish Proverbs

He that prepares for ill, gives the blow a meeting and breaks its stroke. – Turkish Proverbs

He that respects not is not respected. – Turkish Proverbs

He that sows virtue, reaps fame. – Turkish Proverbs

He that speaks truth must have one foot in the stirrup. – Turkish Proverbs

He that strikes with his tongue must ward with his head. – Turkish Proverbs

He that thinks everyone is like himself is deceived. – Turkish Proverbs

He that travels far, knows how to. – Turkish Proverbs

He that travels far, knows much. – Turkish Proverbs

He that will be rich before night, may be hanged before noon. – Turkish Proverbs

He that will cheat at play, will cheat you anyway. – Turkish Proverbs

He that will eat the kernel, must crack the nut. – Turkish Proverbs

He that would be old long/well old, must be old betimes. – Turkish Proverbs

He that would have eggs must endure the cackling of hens. – Turkish Proverbs

He who at first suffers afterwards finds ease. – Turkish Proverbs

He who bears trouble patiently receives his reward. – Turkish Proverbs

He who borrows gets sorrows. – Turkish Proverbs

He who can’t bother to get married will have no children. – Turkish Proverbs

He who chastises not his children is himself at last chastised. – Turkish Proverbs

He who comes late shuts the door. – Turkish Proverbs

He who comes to the mill consents to his turn. – Turkish Proverbs

He who comes without invitation sits without cushion. – Turkish Proverbs

He who conceals his origin is a bastard. – Turkish Proverbs

He who cuts down a shoot cuts down someone’s head. – Turkish Proverbs
[A person needlessly cutting down trees is a killer of a sort.]

He who desires to have children must be willing to endure their hardships. – Turkish Proverbs

He who desires tranquility must be deaf, blind, and tongueless. – Turkish Proverbs

He who does evil to another, has done it to himself. – Turkish Proverbs

He who does evil to others, does it to himself. – Turkish Proverbs

He who dreads fire, guards himself even from smoke. – Turkish Proverbs

He who eats cheese finds water. – Turkish Proverbs

He who eats his crops when they are green will go hungry at harvest time. – Turkish Proverbs
[Many sorts of vegetables are harvested when they are green, though.]

He who eats when he is full digs his grave with his teeth. – Turkish Proverbs

He who endures the trouble knows what it is. – Turkish Proverbs
[Every one knows best where the shoe pinches him.]

He who enters a bath will sweat. – Turkish Proverbs
[Everybody may bear the consequence of their acts.]

He who falls into the sea will grasp at an eel. – Turkish Proverbs
[A desperate man will face many a risk.]

He who gives fair words, feeds you with an empty spoon. – Turkish Proverbs

He who gives the money makes the fife play. – Turkish Proverbs

He who goes on a chase without a greyhound comes home without a hare. – Turkish Proverbs

He who goes out on a journey without a guide loses his way. – Turkish Proverbs

He who has bitter in his breast spits not sweet. – Turkish Proverbs

He who has had his mouth burnt is prudent on another occasion. – Turkish Proverbs

He who has many vineyards has many cares. – Turkish Proverbs

He who has no bread has no authority. – Turkish Proverbs

He who has no peace in his home, is in hell on earth. – Turkish Proverbs

He who helps the enemy is also considered an enemy. – Turkish Proverbs

He who is a man does not make a mistake twice. – Turkish Proverbs

He who is a traitor is a coward. – Turkish Proverbs

He who is hungry embraces the sword. – Turkish Proverbs

He who is wasting away with trouble must seek remedy. – Turkish Proverbs

He who keeps his head at home, loses not his hat in the crowd. – Turkish Proverbs

He who knows himself best esteems himself least. – Turkish Proverbs

He who knows not (i.e. fears not) God does not benefit from such as baldness. – Turkish Proverbs

He who laughs much, weeps much. – Turkish Proverbs

He who lives on hope dies of hunger. – Turkish Proverbs

He who marries early makes no mistake. – Turkish Proverbs

He who pays no heed to the words of his elders mounts a wild horse. – Turkish Proverbs

He who plants a walnut-tree may not eat of its fruit. – Turkish Proverbs
[It takes 6-8 years after the seedlings are planted, till the first walnuts appear. And some walnut trees don’t bear walnuts.]

He who puts a donkey up on a roof has to get it down again himself. – Turkish Proverbs

He who saves his ship is the captain. – Turkish Proverbs
[A clever man can weigh up the situation and gain quickly.]

He who sees death, consents to sickness. – Turkish Proverbs

He who sells cheap, sells quickly. – Turkish Proverbs

He who sends a child on an errand must go after him as well. – Turkish Proverbs

He who sets out on a journey without guidance loses his way. – Turkish Proverbs

He who sleeps with a blind man will wake up cross-eyed. – Turkish Proverbs

He who speaks much, errs much. – Turkish Proverbs

He who takes no thought at first will at the last repent. – Turkish Proverbs

He who throws a stone at his relatives will never prosper, give the kinsman his due. – Turkish Proverbs
[Charity begins at home, but which home?]

He who wants a mule without fault must walk on foot. – Turkish Proverbs

He who would catch fish must not mind getting wet. – Turkish Proverbs

He who would hang his dog gives out first that it is mad. – Turkish Proverbs

He whom the heart loves is the handsome one. – Turkish Proverbs

He whose account is clean will have a happy face. – Turkish Proverbs
[Happiness comes from the health of soul.]

Health and wealth create beauty. – Turkish Proverbs

Health is better than wealth. – Turkish Proverbs

Health is not valued till illness comes. – Turkish Proverbs

Hear much, speak little. – Turkish Proverbs

High places have their precipices. – Turkish Proverbs

Himself an old man in need of help, how can he help another? – Turkish Proverbs

His actions speak themselves. – Turkish Proverbs

His bark is worse than his bite. – Turkish Proverbs

Hoist your sail when the wind is fair. – Turkish Proverbs

Hold fast when you have it. – Turkish Proverbs

Hope for the best and prepare for the worst. – Turkish Proverbs

Hope often deludes the foolish man. – Turkish Proverbs

How we live [co]determines how we die. – Turkish Proverbs

However lean the meat may be, it goes well upon bread. – Turkish Proverbs

However much snow falls, still it does not endure summer. – Turkish Proverbs

Hunger makes the wolf come out of the forest. – Turkish Proverbs

I have rather an ass that carries me than a horse that throws me. – Turkish Proverbs

I would rather have an donkey that carries me than a horse that throws me. – Turkish Proverbs

“If’ and “when” were planted, and “nothing” grew. – Turkish Proverbs

If a dog’s prayers were answered, bones would rain from the sky. – Turkish Proverbs

If a man anticipated his death, he would dig his own grave. – Turkish Proverbs

If a stone falls on an egg, it is bad for the egg; if an egg falls on a stone, it is still bad for the egg. – Turkish Proverbs

If a tree afford you shade, don’t cut it down. When the tree falls, the shade is gone. – Turkish Proverbs

If and When were planted and Nothing grew – Turkish Proverbs

If cats had wings, sparrows would become extinct. – Turkish Proverbs

If everyone were of the same mind, there couldn’t be a shepherd for sheep. – Turkish Proverbs

If everyone were of the same mind, there would be no market in Bilecik. – Turkish Proverbs

If everyone would go to heaven, hell would be empty. – Turkish Proverbs

If I spit downward, (I defile) my beard; if upward, my mustache. – Turkish Proverbs
[It is a difficult situation.]

If skill could be gained by watching, every dog would become a butcher. – Turkish Proverbs

If the bald knew a remedy he would rub it on his own head. – Turkish Proverbs

If the carriage be not greased, it does not move on. – Turkish Proverbs

If the dog’s prayer were accepted, there would be a shower of bones from heaven. – Turkish Proverbs

If the head be left empty, it is not well. – Turkish Proverbs

If the insolent man is strong, the one in the right is considered guilty. – Turkish Proverbs

If the partridge had the woodcock’s thing, it would be the best bird that ever fly. Speak without ifs and ands. – Turkish Proverbs

If the wind does not blow, the leaves do not move. – Turkish Proverbs

If the world is flooded, it will be easy for the duck. – Turkish Proverbs

If violence comes by the door, law goes out by the chimney. – Turkish Proverbs

If we have not money, let us have honor. – Turkish Proverbs

If wishes were butter cakes, beggars might bite. – Turkish Proverbs

If you are an anvil, be patient; if you are a hammer, be strong. – Turkish Proverbs

If you cannot bite never show your teeth. – Turkish Proverbs

If you corner a cat, it will jump on you. – Turkish Proverbs

If you deal with a fox, think of his tricks. – Turkish Proverbs

If you do not know what to say, say what your elders said. – Turkish Proverbs

If you don’t know how to swim, why are you at the seashore? – Turkish Proverbs

If you give him cloth, hell ask for the lining. – Turkish Proverbs

If you have fallen, then cling to the ground. – Turkish Proverbs

If you have wicked children, of what use is money; and if good, again, of what use is it? – Turkish Proverbs

If you leap into a well, providence is not bound to fetch you out. – Turkish Proverbs

If you lie down with hogs, you will get up with fleas. – Turkish Proverbs

If you look after it it will become a vineyard; if you don’t, a barren field. – Turkish Proverbs

If you search for a faultless woman, you will remain a bachelor. – Turkish Proverbs

If you speak the truth, keep a foot in the stirrup. – Turkish Proverbs

If you trust before you try, you may repent before you die. – Turkish Proverbs

If you wish to do a good deed, consult no one. – Turkish Proverbs

If you wish to know a man, give him authority. – Turkish Proverbs

If your head be without pain don’t thrust it into trouble. – Turkish Proverbs
[When you are well hold yourself so.]

In a flat country a hillock thinks itself a mountain. – Turkish Proverbs

In a great river, great fish are found, but take heed to avoid getting drowned. – Turkish Proverbs

In an office of trust there must be no treachery. – Turkish Proverbs

In every business be steadfast. – Turkish Proverbs

In fair weather prepare foul. – Turkish Proverbs

In for a penny, in for a pound. – Turkish Proverbs

In many words, a lie or two may escape. – Turkish Proverbs

In proportion as anger comes, sense departs. – Turkish Proverbs

In the absence of qualified men, the ignorants will rule. – Turkish Proverbs

In the estimation of the nightingale, a cage of gold is a prison. – Turkish Proverbs

In the heart of every brave man a lion sleeps. – Turkish Proverbs

In the place where the cat is not found, there are plenty of rats. – Turkish Proverbs

In the place where there are many cocks, the morning is early. – Turkish Proverbs

In the presence of an expert a lie is not uttered. – Turkish Proverbs

In the spot where honey is, flies too are found. – Turkish Proverbs

In truth is right. – Turkish Proverbs

Incline not toward those who do wrong lest the fire touch you. – Turkish Proverbs

Instead of having a handful of gold, it [could be better] to have a handful of earth (i.e. a piece of land). – Turkish Proverbs

Instead of opening your mouth, open your eyes. – Turkish Proverbs

Intelligence is a man’s capital. – Turkish Proverbs

Intelligence is not sold for money. – Turkish Proverbs

Iron that works does not rust. – Turkish Proverbs
[One has to practise to keep up one’s performance.]

Iron with use grows bright. – Turkish Proverbs

Isn’t another’s example enough for you? – Turkish Proverbs
[One man’s fault is another man’s lesson.]

It could be better to have an ugly husband than none. – Turkish Proverbs

It has snowed on trees with red cherries. – Turkish Proverbs
[Even very unlikely things sometimes happen.]

It is a bad bird that fouls its own nest. – Turkish Proverbs

It is a good thing to listen to the words of one woman in forty. – Turkish Proverbs

It is a long road that has no turning. – Turkish Proverbs

It is a poor heart that never rejoices. – Turkish Proverbs

It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest. – Turkish Proverbs

It is better to be born lucky than rich. – Turkish Proverbs

It is better to misplace our charity on nine unworthy persons than to deny alms to one that is really in need. – Turkish Proverbs

It is easier to make a camel jump a ditch than to make a fool listen to reason. – Turkish Proverbs

It is easy for a bachelor to divorce a wife. – Turkish Proverbs
(Said to a person who demands to be helped out of a difficulty for which he himself is responsible.)
[From a safe port one can luckily advise comfortably.]

It is easy to catch a serpent with someone elses hand. – Turkish Proverbs

It is easy to say Come difficult to say Go. – Turkish Proverbs

It is good to be merry and wise. – Turkish Proverbs

It is good to listen to the words of one woman in forty. – Turkish Proverbs

It is good to strike the serpent’s head with your enemy’s head. – Turkish Proverbs

It is hard to teach an old dog tricks. – Turkish Proverbs

It is more difficult to contend with oneself than with the world. – Turkish Proverbs

It is no play where one greets [weeps] and another laughs. – Turkish Proverbs

It is not by saying, Honey, honey, that sweetness comes into the mouth. – Turkish Proverbs

It is not disgraceful to ask, it is disgraceful not to ask. – Turkish Proverbs

It is not how long, but how well we live. – Turkish Proverbs

It is not in speaking continually of honey that sweetness comes into the mouth. – Turkish Proverbs

It is not what is eaten but what is digested that nourishes the body. – Turkish Proverbs

It is proper that the tongue of a debtor be short. – Turkish Proverbs

It is the first step that is troublesome. – Turkish Proverbs

It is the human tongue which makes tremble both man and beast. – Turkish Proverbs

It is the squalling child that gets the milk. – Turkish Proverbs

It is too late to husband when all is spent. – Turkish Proverbs

It is too late to spare when the bottom is bare (when all is spent). – Turkish Proverbs

It matters less to a person where they are born than where they can live. – Turkish Proverbs

It may be better to have honour than wealth. – Turkish Proverbs

It’s easy to be wise after the event. – Turkish Proverbs

Jack of all trades would teach his grandma a howling wolf had quiet depths. – Turkish Proverbs

Justice is the aider of the upright. – Turkish Proverbs

Justice watches the eye like a bird. – Turkish Proverbs

Keep guard over the tongue that is in your mouth. – Turkish Proverbs

Keep straw, its time will come. – Turkish Proverbs

Keep your eyes open: a sale is a sale. – Turkish Proverbs

Keep your mouth shut and your ears open. – Turkish Proverbs

Kill not the goose that lays the golden eggs. – Turkish Proverbs

Kind words will unlock an iron door. – Turkish Proverbs

Kiss the hand which you cannot wring. – Turkish Proverbs

Know your own faults before blaming others for theirs. – Turkish Proverbs

Know yourself. – Turkish Proverbs

Knowledge without practice makes but half an artist. – Turkish Proverbs

Laugh, and the world would laugh with you; weep, and you weep alone. – Turkish Proverbs

Lawful property is not lost. – Turkish Proverbs

Laziness keeps on and on, but it arrives at poverty. – Turkish Proverbs

Learn not and know not. – Turkish Proverbs

Leave a jest when it pleases you best. – Turkish Proverbs

Lend only that which you can afford to lose. – Turkish Proverbs

Let another’s shipwreck be your seamark. – Turkish Proverbs

Let bygones be bygones. – Turkish Proverbs

Let the cobbler [shoemaker] stick to his last. – Turkish Proverbs

Let’s wait and see how things will turn out in the morning. – Turkish Proverbs
[It could be better to do things in the morning, if fresh, rested and in good shape, if time allows it.]

Life is half spent before we know what. – Turkish Proverbs

Like hen, like chicken. – Turkish Proverbs

Like loves (likes) like. – Turkish Proverbs
[A jackdaw always perches beside another of its kind.]

Listen a hundred times; ponder a thousand times; speak once. – Turkish Proverbs

Listen to others, but use your own mind. – Turkish Proverbs

Little by little we become fat. – Turkish Proverbs

Little pigs have big ears. – Turkish Proverbs

Little pitchers have big (great) ears. – Turkish Proverbs

Little sins make room for great. – Turkish Proverbs

Little thieves are hanged, but great ones escape. – Turkish Proverbs

Live and learn. – Turkish Proverbs

Long absence changes a friend. – Turkish Proverbs

Long life has long misery. – Turkish Proverbs

Look at the mother before marrying the daughter. – Turkish Proverbs
[Observe the mother before you take the daughter.]

Look before you leap. – Turkish Proverbs

Look not at the shape, look at the character. – Turkish Proverbs

Look to yourself when the neighbour’s house is on fire. – Turkish Proverbs

Love and a king accept no partnership. – Turkish Proverbs

Love is an empire-it admires no partnership. – Turkish Proverbs

Love is daring. – Turkish Proverbs

Love is lawless. – Turkish Proverbs

Love is the mother of all godliness. – Turkish Proverbs

Love me, love my dog. – Turkish Proverbs

Love your friend, but look to yourself. – Turkish Proverbs

Love your neighbour, yet don’t pull down your hedge. – Turkish Proverbs

Mad people think others mad. – Turkish Proverbs

Make haste in buying land, but not in taking a wife. – Turkish Proverbs

Make hay while the sun shines. – Turkish Proverbs

Make no one an enemy without cause. – Turkish Proverbs

Man is harder than iron, stronger than stone and more fragile than a rose. – Turkish Proverbs

Manners make the man. – Turkish Proverbs

Many a little make a mickle. – Turkish Proverbs

Many ants kill a camel. – Turkish Proverbs

Many will show the proper way after the carriage (variant: ox cart) has overturned. – Turkish Proverbs
[Many seem to be wise with advice after the event.]

Many will show you the way once your cart has overturned. – Turkish Proverbs

Many will throw stones at red apples. – Turkish Proverbs

Marriage is no playhouse. – Turkish Proverbs

May both seller and buyer see the benefit. – Turkish Proverbs

May God grant one luck of the ugly. – Turkish Proverbs

May your charity increase as much as your wealth. – Turkish Proverbs

Maybe the bottom will turn out better than the top. – Turkish Proverbs

Measure a thousand times and cut once. – Turkish Proverbs

Measure is treasure. – Turkish Proverbs
[Sound moderation (sound measure) in many things helps.]

Measure twice, cut but once. – Turkish Proverbs

Men are not all alike. – Turkish Proverbs

Men love to hear well of themselves. – Turkish Proverbs

Men make houses, women make homes. – Turkish Proverbs

Mercy to the criminal may be cruelty to the people. – Turkish Proverbs

Mere talk does not satisfy the stomach. – Turkish Proverbs

Mischief comes not from a friend. – Turkish Proverbs

Misfortune arrives on horseback but departs on foot. – Turkish Proverbs

Money covers blame. – Turkish Proverbs

Money does not always help. – Turkish Proverbs

Money is needed both by monk and dervish. – Turkish Proverbs

Money will come to one who trusts in his art [Art and craft]. – Turkish Proverbs

Much talk makes no money. – Turkish Proverbs

Music befits a house where there is a wedding. – Turkish Proverbs

Never answer a question until it is asked. – Turkish Proverbs

Never catch at a falling knife or a falling friend. – Turkish Proverbs

Never cross a bridge till you come to it. – Turkish Proverbs

Never do business with a relative. – Turkish Proverbs

Never hit a man when he’s down. – Turkish Proverbs

Never judge from appearance. – Turkish Proverbs

Never marry for money, you’ll borrow it cheaper. – Turkish Proverbs

Never swap horses in midstream. – Turkish Proverbs

Never trifle with love. – Turkish Proverbs

Never trust a spiteful man. – Turkish Proverbs

Never venture out of your depth till you can swim. – Turkish Proverbs

No day so clear but has dark clouds. – Turkish Proverbs

No flock without dog and shepherd. – Turkish Proverbs

No forest without a bear. – Turkish Proverbs

No home is complete without a woman. – Turkish Proverbs

No man is his craft’s master the first day. – Turkish Proverbs

No matter how far you have gone on a wrong road, turn back. – Turkish Proverbs

No matter how far you have gone on the wrong road, it’s time to stop. – Turkish Proverbs

No matter how far you have gone on the wrong road, turn back. – Turkish Proverbs

No matter how much snow falls, it won’t remain there all the way till summer. – Turkish Proverbs

No matter how tall a tree grows its leaves always fall to the ground. – Turkish Proverbs

No matter where you go, your destiny follows you. – Turkish Proverbs

No rose without a thorn, or a love without a rival. – Turkish Proverbs

No smoke will come out from a place where there is no fire. – Turkish Proverbs

No sound comes forth from a single hand. – Turkish Proverbs

None so blind as those that will not see. – Turkish Proverbs

Not every fault is to be reminded. – Turkish Proverbs

Not every flower is for smelling. – Turkish Proverbs
[It may not be discerning to flirt with every pretty girl around.]

Not every one’s inner self and outer appearance are the same. Everyone’s faults are not written on their foreheads. – Turkish Proverbs

Not every tree produces fruit. – Turkish Proverbs

Not everything that shines is gold. – Turkish Proverbs

Nothing enters into a close hand. – Turkish Proverbs

Nothing has no savour. – Turkish Proverbs

Now is now, and then was then. – Turkish Proverbs

Of all crafts, to be an honest man is the master craft. – Turkish Proverbs

Of every perfection there is a decline. – Turkish Proverbs

Of everything else the newest; of friends, the oldest. – Turkish Proverbs

Of prayer there must be acceptance. – Turkish Proverbs

Of savings comes having. – Turkish Proverbs

Old age is sickness of itself. – Turkish Proverbs

Old birds are not caught with chaff. – Turkish Proverbs

Old churches have dim windows. – Turkish Proverbs

Old shoes are easiest. – Turkish Proverbs

Old sins cast long shadows. – Turkish Proverbs

Old vessels must leak. – Turkish Proverbs

Old young, young old. – Turkish Proverbs
[i.e. If a person seems oldish in his childhood, he may become childish in his old as if to make up for it.]

Once a friend, always a friend. – Turkish Proverbs

One armpit cannot hold two watermelons. – Turkish Proverbs

One arrow does not bring down two birds. – Turkish Proverbs

One bad person harms seven districts. – Turkish Proverbs

One by one we count the beans. – Turkish Proverbs

One calamity is better than a thousand counsels. – Turkish Proverbs

One can never repay ones debt to ones mother. – Turkish Proverbs

One can not carry two watermelons under one armpit – Turkish Proverbs

One can rarely be too careful. – Turkish Proverbs

One can’t enter heaven by worshiping, one needs to have a pure heart. – Turkish Proverbs

One cannot be a lover by force. – Turkish Proverbs

One cannot eat the cake and have it. – Turkish Proverbs
[You cannot have it both ways.]

One cock is enough for five hens. – Turkish Proverbs

One cup of wine takes away the whole of a person’s bashfulness. – Turkish Proverbs

One does not burn a blanket to get rid of a flea. – Turkish Proverbs

One does not cut cloth for a yet unborn child. – Turkish Proverbs
[A caution not to invest or risk a lot based on assumptions.]

One does not descend into a well by a rotten rope. – Turkish Proverbs

One does not despair of desires. – Turkish Proverbs

One doesn’t need a guide to a village that is in sight. – Turkish Proverbs

One eats while another watches—that is how revolutions are begun. – Turkish Proverbs

One foot is better than two crutches. – Turkish Proverbs

One good forewit is worth two afterwits. – Turkish Proverbs

One good turn deserves another. – Turkish Proverbs

One guest loves not another guest; the master of the house dislikes both. – Turkish Proverbs

One is equally indebted to ones teacher and to God. – Turkish Proverbs

One is often blind to the faults in one’s own work. – Turkish Proverbs

One man’s fault is another man’s lesson. – Turkish Proverbs

One man’s loss is another man’s gain. – Turkish Proverbs

One may know by your nose what pottage you love. – Turkish Proverbs

One must ask the delight of opium from one that smokes it. – Turkish Proverbs

One must do a job after careful thinking. – Turkish Proverbs

One must look at a man’s company. – Turkish Proverbs

One must treat inferiors with reserved politeness, or probably they will take liberties. – Turkish Proverbs

One nail drives out another. – Turkish Proverbs

One needs muscles of iron to fight against love. – Turkish Proverbs

One neighbor’s fowl seems a goose to another neighbor. – Turkish Proverbs

One pays for what one does. – Turkish Proverbs
[As they brew, so let them drink.]

One rotten apple soon spoils the whole basket. – Turkish Proverbs

One scabbed sheep will mar the whole flock. – Turkish Proverbs

One scabby sheep mars the whole flock. – Turkish Proverbs

One searches for someone else’s donkey while singing songs. – Turkish Proverbs

One should measure a thousand times and cut once. – Turkish Proverbs
[You may be too careful.]

One should not betray a trust. – Turkish Proverbs

One topic leads to another. – Turkish Proverbs

One who handles honey, licks his fingers. – Turkish Proverbs
[Somebody in charge of handling money or resources, may enjoy some benefits from it.]

One who is afraid of debts does not open his door wide. – Turkish Proverbs
[A person who wants to avoid debts is careful with his expenses and with his generosity.]

One’s mouth is nearer than that of a dear one. – Turkish Proverbs

Opportunities mean rubies. – Turkish Proverbs

Opposition to everyone is a mistaken act. – Turkish Proverbs

Other times, other manners. – Turkish Proverbs

Our neighbour’s ground yields better corn than ours. – Turkish Proverbs
[Said to be a common distortion – fairness and candid observation may be called for, unless it is used humorously.]

Part with your head, but not with your secret. – Turkish Proverbs

Patience is bitter, but it bears sweet fruit. – Turkish Proverbs

Patience is safety, haste is blame. – Turkish Proverbs

Patience is the key of joy. – Turkish Proverbs

Patience is the key to paradise. – Turkish Proverbs

Pear, get ripe and fall right into my mouth. – Turkish Proverbs
[You may have to gape a while before it happens.]

Peasant erect is taller than peasant on bended knee. – Turkish Proverbs

People are masters over people till arriving at the throne of God. – Turkish Proverbs

Pigs might fly if they had wings. – Turkish Proverbs

Plan your work for winter and if it turns out to be summer, count it a blessing. – Turkish Proverbs
[Expect the worst, and any surprise will be a happy one.]

Plant good seed, and don’t suffer from hunger. – Turkish Proverbs

Plant pears for your heirs. – Turkish Proverbs

Planting trees is as blessed an act as raising children. – Turkish Proverbs

Poison is poison though it comes in a golden cup. – Turkish Proverbs

Poor folks are glad of porridge. – Turkish Proverbs

Poverty is a shirt of fire. – Turkish Proverbs

Practice makes perfect. – Turkish Proverbs

Praise is not pudding. – Turkish Proverbs

Praises fill not the belly. – Turkish Proverbs

Press not the tail of a sleeping snake. – Turkish Proverbs

Prettiness makes no pottage. – Turkish Proverbs

Prevention is better than cure. – Turkish Proverbs

Prick yourself with a needle first before you stick a darning needle into others. – Turkish Proverbs

Profit is the brother of loss. – Turkish Proverbs

Prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them. – Turkish Proverbs

Proverbs are the children of experience. – Turkish Proverbs

Proverbs are the daughters of daily experience. – Turkish Proverbs

Put your foot down where you mean to stand. – Turkish Proverbs

Put your hand no further than your sleeve will reach. – Turkish Proverbs
[Spend according to your income.]

Quiet persons are welcome everywhere. – Turkish Proverbs

Refrain from getting involved in something that hasn’t been well thought out. – Turkish Proverbs

Remain hungry but do not start begging. – Turkish Proverbs

Remember the dog and have your stone ready. – Turkish Proverbs
[If you’re going to deal with an aggressive person, you ought to be ready for a fight.]

Remove an old tree and it will wither to death. – Turkish Proverbs

Repentance comes too late. – Turkish Proverbs

Resignation is fitting for destiny. – Turkish Proverbs

Reversing losses at whatever point will benefit you. – Turkish Proverbs
[Used to help folks to take better directions than going down or astray, or taking a wrong path.]

Riches alone make no man happy. – Turkish Proverbs

Riches are for spending. – Turkish Proverbs

Rose without thorns, love without rival, cannot be. – Turkish Proverbs

Roses grow where a teacher hits. – Turkish Proverbs

Rumour is a lying jade. – Turkish Proverbs

Running water takes no defilement. – Turkish Proverbs

Salt enters into all food. – Turkish Proverbs

Satisfaction of the heart is better than wealth. – Turkish Proverbs

Save a stranger from the sea, and he’ll turn your enemy. – Turkish Proverbs

Say little but to the point. – Turkish Proverbs
[Speak words straight to the point.]

Say nothing but think the more. – Turkish Proverbs

Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. One good turn deserves another. – Turkish Proverbs

Season resembles not season. – Turkish Proverbs

Seeing is believing. – Turkish Proverbs

Seeing once is better than reading a thousand times. – Turkish Proverbs

Seek that which may be found. – Turkish Proverbs

Seek truth in meditation, not in moldy books. Look in the sky to find the moon, not in the pond. – Turkish Proverbs

Self-praise is no recommendation. – Turkish Proverbs

Serving one’s own passions is the greatest slavery. – Turkish Proverbs

Shallow streams make the most din. – Turkish Proverbs

Sharp vinegar may damage its container. – Turkish Proverbs
(It is said to calm down or moderate a person.)

Show pity to the lowly, obedience to the lofty. – Turkish Proverbs

Sickness shows us what we are. – Turkish Proverbs

Silence comes from admission. – Turkish Proverbs

Silks and satins put out the fire in the chimney. – Turkish Proverbs

Slander leaves a score behind it. – Turkish Proverbs

Sleep is the excuse of sleep. – Turkish Proverbs

Sleep over it. – Turkish Proverbs

Sleepless nights shorten one’s life. – Turkish Proverbs

Slow but sure wins the race. – Turkish Proverbs

Some are wise and some are otherwise. – Turkish Proverbs

Soon ripe, soon rotten. – Turkish Proverbs

Sorrow will pay no debt. – Turkish Proverbs

Spare the rod and spoil the child. – Turkish Proverbs

Speech is silence, silence is golden. – Turkish Proverbs

Stairs are climbed step by step. – Turkish Proverbs

Step after step the ladder is ascended. – Turkish Proverbs

Storm in a walnut shell – Turkish Proverbs

Stretch out your legs according to your quilt. – Turkish Proverbs
[Spend according to your income.]

Stretch your feet according to your blanket. – Turkish Proverbs
[One often does well to spend within one’s means.]

Strike while/when the iron is hot. – Turkish Proverbs

Study from new books but from old teachers – Turkish Proverbs

Such music, such people. – Turkish Proverbs

Suit your comb to your beard, and search and find the one you will be happy with throughout your life. – Turkish Proverbs

Sweet things are bad for the teeth. – Turkish Proverbs

Sweetness charms the soul. – Turkish Proverbs

Take many counsellors, but don’t abandon the counsel of your own heart. – Turkish Proverbs

Take the currycomb and go into the stable, the one with the saddle gall will flinch. – Turkish Proverbs
[When there is an investigation, a guilty person may betrays himself by nervous fidgeting and anxiety.]

Taking counsel is a noble precept. – Turkish Proverbs

Tell me who your friend is, and I’ll tell you who you are. – Turkish Proverbs
[Tell me what company you keep, and I’ll tell you who you are.]

Tell me your company and I’ll tell you your manners. – Turkish Proverbs

That which is far from the eye is far from the heart. – Turkish Proverbs

“The grapes are sour,” the fox said when he could not reach them. – Turkish Proverbs

The account of the donkey is different from the account of the donkey-man. – Turkish Proverbs

The angry beggar is left with an empty bag. – Turkish Proverbs
[Poverty and anger don’t agree.]

The apple never falls far from the tree. – Turkish Proverbs

The arrow that is shot returns not back. – Turkish Proverbs

The ass that has not enough strength throws down his pack saddle. – Turkish Proverbs

The bad neighbour forces one to have one’s own pots and pans. – Turkish Proverbs

The barrel smells after the first wine. – Turkish Proverbs

The bears in the mountains eat the best of pears. – Turkish Proverbs

The bee stays not in a hive that has no honey. – Turkish Proverbs

The best laid plans fail. – Turkish Proverbs

The best of words are spoken as jokes. – Turkish Proverbs
[Many a true word is spoken in jest]
[Many an earnest word is spoken in jest.]

The best remedy against an ill man is much ground between. – Turkish Proverbs

The best throw of the dice is to throw them away. – Turkish Proverbs

The bird flies not without cause. – Turkish Proverbs

The bird is known by his note, the man by his words. – Turkish Proverbs

The biter is sometimes bit. – Turkish Proverbs

The blackness of soot is cleaned, but the blackness face (i.e. shame) is not. – Turkish Proverbs

The branch shows the tree. – Turkish Proverbs

The brave dies, his name remains. – Turkish Proverbs

The bright coin is kept for dark days. – Turkish Proverbs
[Money saved can come to one’s rescue in a time of need.]

The butcher minds the fattening, but the goat the slaughter. – Turkish Proverbs

The buyer repents, the seller also repents. – Turkish Proverbs

The camel carries the burden, the dog does the panting. – Turkish Proverbs

The camel never sees its own hump, but that of its brother is always before its eyes. – Turkish Proverbs

The camel that leads the file pays no attention to the rear. – Turkish Proverbs

The cat cannot catch the hare. – Turkish Proverbs

The cat would eat fish but dislike to wet its feet. – Turkish Proverbs

The command of custom is great. – Turkish Proverbs

The condition of the lover is evident from his words and expressions. – Turkish Proverbs

The cord breaks at last by the weakest pull. – Turkish Proverbs

The cow knows not what her tail is worth till she has lost it. – Turkish Proverbs

The cow that has died used to give a lot of milk. – Turkish Proverbs

The cure for old age is the grave. – Turkish Proverbs

The devil looks after his own. – Turkish Proverbs

The devil takes a hand in what is done in haste. – Turkish Proverbs

The devil tempts all other men, but idle men tempt the devil. – Turkish Proverbs

The devil wipes his tail with the poor man’s pride. – Turkish Proverbs

The dog barks and the caravan passes on. – Turkish Proverbs

The dog bites not his master. – Turkish Proverbs

The dog knows the hand that gives him bread. – Turkish Proverbs

The dog that knows not how to bark brings the wolf to the sheep. – Turkish Proverbs

The donkey’s plan is different from than that of the rider’s. – Turkish Proverbs

The early bird gets the worm. – Turkish Proverbs

The earth has ears, it hears every word. – Turkish Proverbs

The egg of today is better than the fowl of tomorrow. – Turkish Proverbs

The elephant is bigger than the camel. – Turkish Proverbs

The end of every disgraceful action is repentance. – Turkish Proverbs

The end of haste is repentance. – Turkish Proverbs

The excellence of a man is a benefit to the public. – Turkish Proverbs

The eye sees only what it has the power of seeing. – Turkish Proverbs

The eye that sees all things else doesn’t see itself. – Turkish Proverbs

The eyes are the window of the soul. – Turkish Proverbs

The eyes of the bat are hurt by the light. – Turkish Proverbs

The face of an official is cold. – Turkish Proverbs

The fire burns the place where it falls.

The first step is the hardest. – Turkish Proverbs

The fish is caught from the head. – Turkish Proverbs

The fish stinks from the head. – Turkish Proverbs

The fly is small, but it is big enough to make one sick. – Turkish Proverbs

The fool continues procrastinating, the wise man waits a fit occasion. – Turkish Proverbs

The foreigner attaches a handle to an egg. – Turkish Proverbs

The fox comes forth from a hole you would not have expected. – Turkish Proverbs

The frog saw how the horses were shod, so she also lifted up her foot. – Turkish Proverbs

The gardener, for the sake of one rose, becomes the servant of a thousand thorns. – Turkish Proverbs

The girl should be married off while she has suitors. – Turkish Proverbs

The goat drank wine and went up the mountain to look for wolves. – Turkish Proverbs

The goat has a beard too. – Turkish Proverbs

The gold being gone, let us look to the silver. – Turkish Proverbs

The granary is at the point of the plowshare. – Turkish Proverbs

The great thieves hang the little ones. – Turkish Proverbs

The greatest step is that out of doors. – Turkish Proverbs

The green twig is easily bent. – Turkish Proverbs

The grocer does not open his shop for the sake of one customer. – Turkish Proverbs

The ground has ears. – Turkish Proverbs
[Fields, hedges, and woods and walls, all have ears.]
[Meaning: Be careful so that unwanted listeners may not overhear you.]

The hand that gives is above that which receives. – Turkish Proverbs

The hare is in the mountain, but the soup water is on the fire. – Turkish Proverbs
[The situation may soon change.]

The hated man seldom ends well. – Turkish Proverbs

The hazelnut emerged from its shell and did not like the look of it. – Turkish Proverbs

The head that bends is not cut off. – Turkish Proverbs

The head that is cut off does not shoot again. – Turkish Proverbs

The horse ambles according to his master. – Turkish Proverbs

The house that receives no guests, never receives angels. – Turkish Proverbs

The hungry ass runs more strongly than the horse. – Turkish Proverbs

The hungry dog does not push on in the chase. – Turkish Proverbs

The hungry man is not satiated by looking in the face of the full man. – Turkish Proverbs

The hunter in the chase is like the traveler on a journey. – Turkish Proverbs

The ignorant person is like a cock out of season. – Turkish Proverbs

The jeweler knows the value of jewels. – Turkish Proverbs

The keen sword cuts not its scabbard. – Turkish Proverbs

The kick of a quiet horse is hard. – Turkish Proverbs
[The quiet man’s anger can get most dangerous.]

The knife cuts not its sheath. – Turkish Proverbs

The knife does not make the cook. – Turkish Proverbs

The law gives sentence on what is apparent. – Turkish Proverbs

The leeful man is the beggar’s brother. – Turkish Proverbs

The lion is known by his den. – Turkish Proverbs

The lion is valiant, the leopard treacherous. – Turkish Proverbs

The little hill of a low district becomes a mountain. – Turkish Proverbs

The lover walks in the snow and does not make his tracks visible. – Turkish Proverbs

The lover who suffers not anguish knows not the worth of pleasure. – Turkish Proverbs

The master of the house is the servant of his guest. – Turkish Proverbs

The master’s eye is a groom for the horse. – Turkish Proverbs
[If the owner of a business cares about its keys of success, his workers might also do a good job.]

The master’s eye makes the cow fat. – Turkish Proverbs

The middle of every thing is good. – Turkish Proverbs

The mill cannot grind with the water that is past. – Turkish Proverbs

The mill won’t turn with carried water. – Turkish Proverbs

The miser and the open-handed spend the same in the long run. – Turkish Proverbs

The moon does not heed the barking of dogs. – Turkish Proverbs

The more one knows, the less one believes. – Turkish Proverbs

The mosquito is without a soul, but its whizzing vexes the soul. – Turkish Proverbs

The mouse that has but one hole is quickly caught. – Turkish Proverbs

The mouth is not worn away by dint of talking. – Turkish Proverbs

The mouth of a young bird is big. – Turkish Proverbs

The multitude is like a flock of sheep. – Turkish Proverbs

The nightingale was put in a golden cage, but it cried for its home. Freedom is better than gold. – Turkish Proverbs

The nose of him whose guide is a crow will never get out of the shit. – Turkish Proverbs

The old fox does not fear the trap. – Turkish Proverbs

The one who asks has one side of his face dark; the one who refuses to give has both sides dark. – Turkish Proverbs
[Used to put the shame or burden on the side that can give but refuses to do so.]

The one who burns his mouth for drinking milk too hot, eats even yogurt carefully. – Turkish Proverbs
[Experiences teach people to be more cautious.]

The one who enters a Turkish bath is in for sweating. – Turkish Proverbs
[On bearing consequences of one’s choices somehow.]

The owl thinks all her young ones beauties. – Turkish Proverbs

The parents’ trade remains an inheritance to the children. – Turkish Proverbs

The pear falls not far from its tree. – Turkish Proverbs

The physician prescribes the medicine, the vulture waits for the body. – Turkish Proverbs

The place of your birth is less important than how you live. – Turkish Proverbs

The plumber’s toilet always leaks. A defeated wrestler is not tired of wrestling. – Turkish Proverbs

The polite man has learned from the unpolite. – Turkish Proverbs

The poor man seeks for food, the rich man for an appetite. – Turkish Proverbs

The priest does not eat pilaff every day. – Turkish Proverbs

The priest likes a dead man. – Turkish Proverbs
[Everyone is wrapped up in his own concerns.]

The quietness of the cat lasts till he sees the mouse. – Turkish Proverbs

The raven sees its chicks as falcons. – Turkish Proverbs

The real friend tells the bitter truth. – Turkish Proverbs
[Used to soften the blow when a friend needs to give some unpleasant advice.]

The rich mans wealth tires the poor man’s jaw. – Turkish Proverbs

The rotten apple injures its neighbours. – Turkish Proverbs

The saber cuts not its own scabbard. – Turkish Proverbs

The sage speaks of what he sees; the fool, of what he hears. – Turkish Proverbs

The sea is an emperor that listens to no words. – Turkish Proverbs

The sea never buys fish. – Turkish Proverbs

The seashore is never free of waves. – Turkish Proverbs
[Some places seem to attract waves, or trouble.]

The shame of a bald man is hidden by the cap. – Turkish Proverbs

The sheep separated from the flock can get eaten by the wolf. – Turkish Proverbs
[Used to encourage a person to keep a useful and classy network and group somehow.]

The ship of him who confides in God founders not. – Turkish Proverbs

The shroud has no pockets. – Turkish Proverbs
(Spend your wealth wisely and do good before wearing one.)

The snake issues from a hole you would not have supposed. – Turkish Proverbs

The snake, unless he be straightened out, cannot enter his hole. – Turkish Proverbs

The son of a wolf will be a wolf, even if he grows up with man. – Turkish Proverbs

The sparrow has no song, but plenty of twitter. – Turkish Proverbs

The stairs are mounted step by step. – Turkish Proverbs

The stone of patience cracked. – Turkish Proverbs
[There may be a limit to one’s patience.]

The stone that lies in your gate won’t break your toes. – Turkish Proverbs
[i.e. The stone that doesn’t lie in my way need not offend me.]

The strength of a chain is in the weakest link. – Turkish Proverbs
[A chain is no stronger than its weakest link.]

The submitting to one wrong brings on another. – Turkish Proverbs

The teeth of a gift horse are not inspected. – Turkish Proverbs

The testimony of the heart is stronger than a hundred witnesses. – Turkish Proverbs

The testimony of the liar is not accepted. – Turkish Proverbs

The thief is sorry he is to be hanged, but not that he is a thief. – Turkish Proverbs

The thing which is rare is dear. – Turkish Proverbs
[It often happens.]

The thread breaks where it is weakest. – Turkish Proverbs
[Trouble begins at a weak spot.]

The tide must be taken when it comes. – Turkish Proverbs

The tongue slays quicker than the sword. – Turkish Proverbs

The tool does the work but the hand is proud of it. – Turkish Proverbs
[The real work is often done by people who don’t get the credit for it.]

The tool works, the hand boasts. – Turkish Proverbs

The true worth of a person comes out when he is working. – Turkish Proverbs

The truth can be told even in jest. – Turkish Proverbs

The use of certain markers on these page is for easing the reading. At the bottom part of of pages is a link to explanations of the markers. – Turkish Proverbs

The village that is in sight needs no guide. – Turkish Proverbs

The village that one can see requires no guide. – Turkish Proverbs

The vulture catches not the fly. – Turkish Proverbs

The wasp makes not honey. – Turkish Proverbs

The wealth of the world is not reliable. – Turkish Proverbs

The wolf and the sheep cannot be of one mind. – Turkish Proverbs

The wolf catches not the sheep that are counted. – Turkish Proverbs

The wolf catches the sheep that separates from the flock. – Turkish Proverbs

The wolf changes his skin, but not his nature. – Turkish Proverbs

The wolf eats of the sheep that have been warned. – Turkish Proverbs

The wolf enters a flock that is without a dog. – Turkish Proverbs

The wolf may lose his teeth, but never his nature. – Turkish Proverbs

The woolly sheep is easy to shear. – Turkish Proverbs

The workman is known by his work. – Turkish Proverbs

The world is a large inn, he who settles there also moves away. – Turkish Proverbs

The world is ruined by tyranny, it is not ruined by pickaxe and spade. – Turkish Proverbs

The world’s coin is ingratitude. – Turkish Proverbs

The worst wheel of the cart creaks the most. – Turkish Proverbs

The worth of a thing is best known by the want of it. – Turkish Proverbs

The worth of gold is due to its scarcity. – Turkish Proverbs
[ – as for yellow corn, its abundance too.]

The wound of the hand heals; the wound of the tongue heals not. – Turkish Proverbs

The young cock crows as he hears the old one. – Turkish Proverbs

There are friends and friends. – Turkish Proverbs
[Different sorts of friends, and maybe so-called friends also.]

There are many who fall into the misfortunes of their companions. – Turkish Proverbs

There are many who throw stones at a red apple. – Turkish Proverbs
[Something of value may not be riskily exposed.]

There cannot be a general without soldiers. – Turkish Proverbs

There comes nought out of the sack but what was there. – Turkish Proverbs

There is a madman in every house, but in our house everybody is mad. – Turkish Proverbs

There is a scorpion under every stone. – Turkish Proverbs

There is an uphill for every downhill, and a downhill for every uphill. – Turkish Proverbs

There is comfort in changing of places. – Turkish Proverbs

There is no axe that cannot penetrate a tree. – Turkish Proverbs

There is no friend to a man like his mother. – Turkish Proverbs

There is no fruit from a dry tree. – Turkish Proverbs

There is no garden without its weed. – Turkish Proverbs
[Poison seems to do away with “weeds”, but at a price.]

There is no grape without a stalk. – Turkish Proverbs

There is no lake without frogs. – Turkish Proverbs

There is no one in the world without pain. – Turkish Proverbs

There is no rose without thorns. – Turkish Proverbs

There is no rule without an exception. – Turkish Proverbs
[What about this one?]

There is no shame in learning. – Turkish Proverbs

There is no sovereignty like bachelorhood. – Turkish Proverbs

There is no trust in horse or woman. – Turkish Proverbs

There is not a single season without fruit. – Turkish Proverbs

There is nothing lost by civility. – Turkish Proverbs
[Often. With senseless civility it may be different.]

There must be a handle to an axe. – Turkish Proverbs

There will be a day when laughter comes to mourners. – Turkish Proverbs

There’s naught so queer as folk. – Turkish Proverbs

They asked for vinegar from he who claimed that his vinegar was forty years old; his answer was “If I had given to all who asked for it, would I still have vinegar of forty years?” – Turkish Proverbs

They asked the camel why its neck was curved. “What of me is straight?” it said. – Turkish Proverbs

They asked the Turkmen whether he wants to buy bees, he said Why should I have all that buzz with my money? – Turkish Proverbs

They call “past” a thing that is past. – Turkish Proverbs

They call you “generous” and make you lose your property, they call you “brave” and make you lose your life. – Turkish Proverbs
[Watch out, accordingly.]

They put the nightingale in a golden cage, it still craved for its country. – Turkish Proverbs
[Golden cages and golden fetters are signs of inherently menial conditions. What about the nobility?]

They put up minds for sale on the market, everyone liked his own mind. – Turkish Proverbs

They throw stones at a tree with fruit. – Turkish Proverbs
(The trees that bear fruit are stoned to make fruits fall down and be taken.)
(The good and talented may be envied and criticised a lot.)

They told the poor man it was snowing, and he said “I’m ready to shiver.” – Turkish Proverbs
[The poor get hardships.]

They who are skillful in art do not continue in slipper making. – Turkish Proverbs

They who guard against treachery are few. – Turkish Proverbs

They who live longest, [may] see most. – Turkish Proverbs

They will soon enough cut off the head of a cock that crows before it is time. – Turkish Proverbs

Things are not always what they seem. – Turkish Proverbs

Things never go so well that one should have no fear, and never so ill that one should have no hope. – Turkish Proverbs

Think first and speak afterwards. – Turkish Proverbs

Think on the end before you begin. – Turkish Proverbs

This world is the unbeliever’s paradise. – Turkish Proverbs

Thorns and roses grow on the same tree. – Turkish Proverbs

Those aspiring to higher positions must be equipped with enough talent or equipment, or otherwise foolish ambition may be the cause of their downfall. – Turkish Proverbs

Those who know do not talk; those who talk do not know. – Turkish Proverbs

Those with a vineyard in the hill have a burning brand in their hearts. – Turkish Proverbs
[Having properties don’t mean you are free from cares and worries.]

Though speech be silver, yet silence is gold. – Turkish Proverbs

Though the proverb is abandoned, it is not falsified. – Turkish Proverbs

Though the rain fall for forty years it does not pass into marble. – Turkish Proverbs

Time stays not the fool’s leisure. – Turkish Proverbs

Timidity prevents progress. – Turkish Proverbs

To a bachelor, divorcing a wife comes easy. – Divorcing a wife is easy for a single guy. – Turkish Proverbs
[The outsider may lack significan’t or telling information.]

To a lover, melancholy is no shame. – Turkish Proverbs

To be forewarned is to be forearmed. – Turkish Proverbs

To be penitent at long last is no use. – Turkish Proverbs

To deceive oneself is very easy. – Turkish Proverbs

To die full is better than walking in hunger. – Turkish Proverbs

To do good to an ungrateful man is to throw rosewater in the sea. – Turkish Proverbs

To exceed is as bad as to fall short. – Turkish Proverbs

To pull even a single hair from a pig is a gain. – Turkish Proverbs
[- a stingy or unfriendly man.]

To speak of honey will not make the mouth sweet. – Turkish Proverbs

To the big-mouthed the ladle is a spoon. – Turkish Proverbs

To the wise, the noise of a gnat suffices, to the unwise the sound of a bass drum not. – Turkish Proverbs

To work without payment is better than sitting idle. – Turkish Proverbs

Today a good cheer, tomorrow on the bier. – Turkish Proverbs

Today to me but tomorrow to you. – Turkish Proverbs

Today’s egg is better than tomorrow’s hen. – Turkish Proverbs

Today’s fowl is better than tomorrow’s goose. – Turkish Proverbs

Tomorrow is another day. – Turkish Proverbs

Too late to cut a stick when the fight is over. – Turkish Proverbs

Too many cooks make the porridge too salty. – Turkish Proverbs

Too many cooks spoil the broth. – Turkish Proverbs

Too much barley makes the horse burst. – Turkish Proverbs

Too much hope deceives. – Turkish Proverbs

Too much kindness is of no profit to a child or man. – Turkish Proverbs

Too much kindness to a man is not profitable, for he becomes ungrateful. – Turkish Proverbs

Too much of a thing can be good for nothing. – Turkish Proverbs

Too much sympathy with the unfortunate makes you unhappy. – Turkish Proverbs

Tread not on a rotten plank. – Turkish Proverbs

Trust is a mother of deceit. – Turkish Proverbs

Trust is good, but distrust is better. – Turkish Proverbs

Trust not a woman when she weeps. – Turkish Proverbs

Trusting too much to others is the ruin of many. – Turkish Proverbs

Truth breeds hatred. – Turkish Proverbs

Two blacks don’t make a white. – Turkish Proverbs

Two captains cause one ship to sink. – Turkish Proverbs

Two captains sink the ship. – Turkish Proverbs

Two cocks won’t crow on the same dunghill. – Turkish Proverbs

Two dogs do not share one bone. – Turkish Proverbs

Two heads are better than one. – Turkish Proverbs

Two horses are not tied to one stake. – Turkish Proverbs

Two swords do not enter one scabbard. – Turkish Proverbs

Two watermelons do not go under one armpit. – Turkish Proverbs

United we stand, divided we fall. – Turkish Proverbs

Unless a job is begun, it can never be finished. – Turkish Proverbs

Unless the oven is hot, bread will not bake. – Turkish Proverbs

Unless there be a sowing there will be no reaping. – Turkish Proverbs

Until a man dies his value is not known. – Turkish Proverbs

Until the soup boils over, the ladle has no value. – Turkish Proverbs

Use makes mastery. – Turkish Proverbs

Venture a small fish and catch a great one. – Turkish Proverbs

Verdicts are pronounced according to the way the matter is presented. – Turkish Proverbs
[The result depends on how the case is presented.]

Vigilance and precaution are safety. – Turkish Proverbs

Vinegar at a cheap rate is sweeter than honey. – Turkish Proverbs

Violence spoils the game. – Turkish Proverbs

Virtue shows itself. – Turkish Proverbs

Vows made in storms are forgotten in calms. – Turkish Proverbs

Waiting is more grievous than fire. – Turkish Proverbs

Wake not a sleeping lion. – Turkish Proverbs

Walls have ears. – Turkish Proverbs

Want of wit is worse than want of wealth. – Turkish Proverbs

Water flows to the low ground. – Turkish Proverbs

Water is not carried out in a sieve. – Turkish Proverbs

“We always advance,” says the tortoise. – Turkish Proverbs

We are living in a time when people are after money. – Turkish Proverbs

We may give advice, but we cannot give conduct. – Turkish Proverbs

We plant walnuts and pears for our heirs. – Turkish Proverbs

We soon believe what we desire. – Turkish Proverbs

Wealth and success don’t just come to a man on a silver platter. – Turkish Proverbs

Wealth can be both a friend and an enemy to a man. – Turkish Proverbs

Well is, that well does. – Turkish Proverbs

What business does a dog have in the shop of the blacksmith. – Turkish Proverbs

What cannot be cured must be endured. – Turkish Proverbs

What is the use of a gold basin to a person coughing up blood? – Turkish Proverbs
[Money does not always help.]

What makes a tree beautiful is its leaves. – Turkish Proverbs

What news do you have beside bad news? – Turkish Proverbs

What one thousand scholars may not know, one wise man may know. – Turkish Proverbs

What the elder sister wears, the younger sister wants to wear also. – Turkish Proverbs

What the eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t grieve over. – Turkish Proverbs

What the eye sees the heart wants. – Turkish Proverbs
[We soon believe what we desire.]

What we first learn, we best can. – Turkish Proverbs

What will be, will be. – Turkish Proverbs

Whatever the thoughts of the dervish, so are his actions. – Turkish Proverbs

When a drunkard gets sober, he starts thinking. – Turkish Proverbs
[Drunken days have their tomorrows.]

When a man grows angry, his reason rides out. – Turkish Proverbs

When a pine tree falls, men gather around both with and without axes. – Turkish Proverbs
[People like to profit by or enjoy a great man’s fall.]

When an opportunity is in your hand do not allow it to pass. – Turkish Proverbs

When death comes, the dog presses up to the wall of the mosque. – Turkish Proverbs

When fortune smiles, embrace her. – Turkish Proverbs
[Cf. When fortune knocks, open the door (German, Italian).]

When in Rome, do as the Romans (do). – Turkish Proverbs

When justice comes, that which is false goes. – Turkish Proverbs

When one door shuts, another opens. – Turkish Proverbs

When one’s shoes are tight the world becomes tight on one’s head. – Turkish Proverbs

When the belly is full, the bones would be at rest. – Turkish Proverbs

When the bundles of tobacco are ready, dancing begins. – Turkish Proverbs

When the carriage has been smashed, they who show the road are many. – Turkish Proverbs

When the cat is away, the mice will play. – Turkish Proverbs

When the heart is a fire, some sparks will fly out of the mouth. – Turkish Proverbs

When the horse dies, the foal takes its place. – Turkish Proverbs

When the well is full, it will run over. – Turkish Proverbs

When the wine is in, the wit is out. – Turkish Proverbs

When two jars are dashed together, one must be broken. – Turkish Proverbs

When you are well hold yourself so. – Turkish Proverbs

When you tell the truth, have one foot in the stirrup. – Turkish Proverbs

Where the front wheels a the carriage passes, the hind wheels follows. – Turkish Proverbs

Where there is carcass, there are also crows. – Turkish Proverbs

Wherever the head goes, the foot also goes. – Turkish Proverbs

While the tree is a sapling it is bent. – Turkish Proverbs

White clothes soon get dirty. – Turkish Proverbs

Who buys cheap buys dear. – Turkish Proverbs

Who desires the rose must also consent to the thorns. – Turkish Proverbs

Who enters the Turkish bath will sweat. – Turkish Proverbs

Who fears the sparrows must not sow millet. – Turkish Proverbs

Who gossips to you will gossip about you. – Turkish Proverbs

Who has a fair wife, needs more than two eyes. – Turkish Proverbs

Who has never been burned in the sun won’t know the value of a shadow. – Turkish Proverbs

Who has no beard has no authority. – Turkish Proverbs

Who has no intention to pray has no ears for the call to prayer. – Turkish Proverbs

Who is in fault suspects everybody. – Turkish Proverbs

Who keeps company with the wolf, will learn to howl. – Turkish Proverbs

Who loves roses will endure the thorns. – Turkish Proverbs

Who nothing has shall nothing save. – Turkish Proverbs

Who seeks a friend without faults, dies alone. – Turkish Proverbs

Who sets off on a journey without any provisions, will have his both eyes on another’s bag. – Turkish Proverbs

Who takes the devil for a comrade, a bad comrade has he. [The Koran] – Turkish Proverbs

Who trusts to rotten boughs, may fall. – Turkish Proverbs

Whoever digs a pit for his neighbor should dig it his own size. – Turkish Proverbs

Whoever is fond of cream should take the cow around with him. – Turkish Proverbs

Whoever speaks evil to you of others will speak evil of you to others. – Turkish Proverbs

Whoever the heart loves, she is the beauty. – Turkish Proverbs

Wholesome and poisonous herbs grow in the same garden. – Turkish Proverbs

Why keep a cow when you can buy milk? – Turkish Proverbs

Wife and children are bills of charges. – Turkish Proverbs

Wish well, be well. – Turkish Proverbs

With foxes one must play the fox. – Turkish Proverbs

With haste catch a fly. – Turkish Proverbs

With one arrow two birds are not struck. – Turkish Proverbs

With patience the cocoon of the moth on the mulberry leaf is made into a silk gown. – Turkish Proverbs

With patience the sour grape becomes sweet and the mulberry leaf, satin. – Turkish Proverbs

With patience, mulberry leaves become satin. – Turkish Proverbs

With talking the cheese ship won’t move. – Turkish Proverbs

Without a guide, even into Paradise there is no entering. – Turkish Proverbs

Without hammering there is no fastening. – Turkish Proverbs

Without provisions, one does not start upon a journey. – Turkish Proverbs

Without wisdom wealth is worthless. – Turkish Proverbs

Womankind is long haired, short witted. – Turkish Proverbs

Words are but wind, but seeing’s believing. – Turkish Proverbs

Work as if you were to live forever; live as if you were to die tomorrow. – Turkish Proverbs

Work is not his who does it, but his who makes others do it. – Turkish Proverbs

Work is the mirror of a person, don’t look at mere words. – Turkish Proverbs

Worse things happen at sea. – Turkish Proverbs

You can tell a lion from where he dwells. – You can tell what kind of a lion he is by his lair. – Turkish Proverbs
[You learn a lot about a person if you see how well his home is kept.]

You can tell that the customer wants a shroud just by looking at his face. – Turkish Proverbs

You can’t expect a good thing to go on for ever. – Turkish Proverbs

You can’t make a spoon out of just any wood. – Turkish Proverbs
[It takes the right person and/or materials to do a job right.]

You cannot get blood out of a stone. – Turkish Proverbs

You cannot know the wine by the cask [or barrel]. – Turkish Proverbs

You cannot lose what you never had. – Turkish Proverbs

You cannot make a crab walk straight. – Turkish Proverbs

You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. – Turkish Proverbs

You cannot please everyone. – Turkish Proverbs

You cannot pluck roses without fear of thorns, nor enjoy a fair wife without danger of horns. – Turkish Proverbs

You don’t wash blood away with blood but with water. – Turkish Proverbs

You harvest what you sow. – Turkish Proverbs

You may have too much of a good thing. – Turkish Proverbs

You may visit your aunt, but not very frequently. – Turkish Proverbs

You must lose a fly to catch a trout. – Turkish Proverbs

You must not expect old heads on young shoulders. – Turkish Proverbs

You never know till you have tried. – Turkish Proverbs

You reap where you have sown. – Turkish Proverbs

You should make sure that you are perfect before you make fun of the imperfections of others. – Turkish Proverbs

You sometimes come back to your first love. – Turkish Proverbs

Young men’s knocks old men feel. – Turkish Proverbs

Your work of the day is your sleep – Turkish Proverbs

Turkish, English and Meaning

A:

* Acıkan doymam (sanır), susayan kanmam sanır.
Literal translation: A hungry man thinks he wont be satiated, a thirsty man thinks he wont be quenched.

* Acele işe şeytan karışır.
Literal translation: The Devil would intrude upon hurried work.
English equivalent: Haste makes waste.
Meaning: don’t be too hasty.

* Aç tavuk kendini buğday ambarında görür.
Literal translation: A hungry hen sees herself in a wheat silo.
Meaning: If you are in need, anything seems useful.

* Aç ayı oynamaz.
Literal translation: A hungry bear wont dance.
Meaning: One needs food to do some work.

* Açın halini tok bilmez, hastanın halini sağ bilmez.
Literal translation: A satiated man doesn’t know whats hunger, a healthy man doesn’t know whats disease.

* Açma sırrını dostuna, o da söyler dostuna.
Literal translation: don’t tell your secret to your friend, he will tell it to his friend.

* Ağacı kurt, insanı dert yer.
Literal translation: It is worms which destroy a tree, it is worry which destroys a human.

* “Aĝaç yaş iken eĝilir”
Literal translation: Trees bend when they are young.
Meaning: You can only learn at a young age, when you get older you will not be able to learn.

* Ak gün ağartır, kara gün karartır.
Literal translation: A white day sheds light, a black day sheds darkness.

* Akıl yaşta değil baştadır
Literal translation: (A man is as wise as his head, not his years.)
Meaning: Used to make a point that even an old person may not have all the wisdom.

* Akılları pazara çıkarmışlar, herkes kendi aklını beğenmiş.
Variant: Herkes aklını pazara çıkarmış, yine kendi aklını beğenmiş.
Literal translation: They put up minds for sale on the market, everyone liked his own mind. (Variant: Everyone put up his mind for sale on the market, and liked his own mind.)
Meaning: To stick to ones own opinion.

* Alçak yerde yatma sel alır, yüksek yerde yatma yel alır.
Literal translation: don’t lie down in low places, flood will take you, don’t lie down in high places, wind will take you.
Meaning: Do not do extreme things, stay casual.

* Al elmaya taş atan çok olur.
Literal translation: There are many who throw stones at a red apple.
Meaning: Good will be envied.
English equivalent: No enemies is a sign that fortune has forgotten you.
“Heh, heh… Thanks… Your’e nice. Umm… Can I ask… a question? The right thing… What is it? I wonder… If you do the right thing… Does it really make… everybody…happy? (Child wearing Gyorgs mask)“

* Altın kılıç her kapıyı açar.
English equivalent: Money opens all doors except those to heaven.

* Ana gibi yar, vatan gibi diyar olmaz.
Literal translation: There is no lover like mothers nor place like homeland.
Meaning: No lovers love can be compared to mothers love and no place is “better” than the homeland.

* Anasına bak kızını al.
Literal translation: (Look at the mother before marrying the daughter.)
Meaning: Expresses the view that a young girl (or a bride) will eventually look and behave like her mother

* Anlayana sivrisinek saz, anlamayana davul zurna az.
Literal translation: To one who understands, a mosquito is a lute, to one who does not understand, a drum and zurna are little.
Meaning: A good listener needs only half a word.

* Araba devrilince yol gösteren çok olur.
Variant from the city of Kırşehir: Kağnı devrilince yol gösteren çok olur.
Literal translation: Many will show the way after the carriage (variant: ox cart) has overturned.
Meaning: Everyone is wise after the event.

* Araba devrilince (teker kırılınca) yol gösteren çok olur
Literal translation: (Many will point to the right way after the wheel is broken.)
Meaning: Used to make a point about second guessing after the outcome is known.

* Armut dibine düşer.
Literal translation: A pear will fall to its root.
Meaning: Children resemble their parents.
English equivalent: The apple does not fall far from the tree.
“Children observe daily and — in their behaviour — often follow the example of their parents.”

* Aslan yattığı yerden belli olur.
Literal translation: You can tell a lion from where he dwells.
Meaning: A persons character shows itself from his surroundings.

* Aşağı tükürsen sakal, yukarı tükürsen bıyık.
Literal translation: If you spit downwards, it hits the beard, if you spit upwards, the mustache.
Meaning: Either way, the situation is bad.

* Aşkın Gözü Karadır
Literal translation: (Love is daring.)
Meaning: Can mean that a lover can do anything without calculating the consequences or that love has a blind eye.

* Ateş düştüğü yeri yakar.
Literal translation: Fire burns where it falls.
Meaning: Pain is suffered most by the one who has experienced it.

* Ateş olmayan yerden duman çıkmaz.
Literal translation: No smoke will come out from a place where there is no fire.
English equivalent: No smoke without fire. – Where there is smoke, there is fire

* Atın ölümü arpadan olsun
Literal translation: (Let the horse die from to much barley.)
Meaning: Used to express the feeling that the benefits over weigh the risks.

* Ayağını yorganına göre uzat.
Literal translation: (Stretch your feet according to your blanket.)
Meaning: Used to make a point that one should spend according to his means.

* Ayıpsız dost arayan dostsuz kalır.
Literal translation: A man who seeks a perfect friend, will turn out having none.

B:

* Babası oğluna bir bağ bağışlamış, oğul babaya bir salkım üzüm vermemiş.
Literal translation: The father donated a vineyard to his son, the son didn’t give a bunch of grapes to the father.
Meaning: Used when a person does something ungrateful and selfish to another person who made good deeds for him.
The father bequeathed a vineyard to his son, but the son denied his father even a bunch of grapes.

* Baban nasılsa oğlu da öyledir.
English equivalent: Like father, like son.
Meaning: “Sons may look and behave like their fathers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily.”

* Bal tutan parmak yalar.
Literal translation: (One who handles honey, licks his fingers.)
Meaning: Somebody in charge of handling money or resources, get to keep or enjoy some benefits for himself.

* Balık ağa girdikten sonra aklı başına gelir.
Literal translation: A fish only comes to its senses after it is caught in the net.
Meaning: You will only learn when something happens to you.

* Bana arkadaşını söyle, sana kim olduğunu söyleyeyim.
Literal translation: Tell me who your friend is, and I will tell you who you are.

* Baş başa vermeyince taş yerinden kalkmaz.
Literal translation: The stone will not move from its place, unless you cooperate.
Meaning: Hard tasks can be accomplished by collaboration.

* Başkasına fenalık eden kendine etmiş olur.
Literal translation: He who does evil to another, has done it to himself.
Meaning: Sow the wind, reap the storm.

* Bekâra karı boşamak kolay.
Literal translation: Divorcing a wife is easy for a single guy.
Meaning: Things seem easier to the one who isn’t involved. When one does not carry a responsibility, it is easy for them to give advice.

* Bekârlık sultanlıktır.
Literal translation: (A bachelor feels like a sultan.)
Meaning: Used by bachelors when asked to explain why they are still single.

* Beterin beteri vardır.
Literal translation: (Every “bad” has its “worse.”.)
Meaning: Used to make a point that things can always go even worse and one should make the best of current situation.

* Bedava sirke baldan tatlıdır
Literal translation: (Free vinegar is sweeter than honey.)
Meaning: Used to make a point when someone goes after something just because it is free or very cheap even though they would not normally even want it.

* Bıçak yarası geçer, dil yarası geçmez
Literal translation: (A knife-wound heals, but a tongue wound festers.)
Meaning: Used to make a point that one should be careful before using hurtful language.

* Bilmemek değil, öğrenmemek ayıptır.
English equivalent: There is no shame in not knowing something; the shame is in not being willing to learn.

* Bin bilsen de bir bilene danış.
Literal translation: Even if you know a thousand things, still ask someone who knows.
Meaning: It is advisable to check with an expert.

* Bir elin nesi var, iki elin sesi var.
Literal translation: What does one hand have? Two hands make a sound.
Meaning: People produce more or better work if they cooperate.
Similar to “it takes two to tango.

* Bir fincan kahvenin kırk yıl hatırı vardır
Literal translation: (A cup of coffee commits one to forty years of friendship.)
Meaning: Used to remind that friendships should not be taken lightly and that one should have a long term commitment.

* Bir kanatla kuş uçmaz.
Literal translation: A bird will not fly with one wing.

* Bir vurmakla ağaç devrilmez.
English equivalent: A tree wont fall with a single blow.
Meaning: “A difficult task, e. g. removing a person or group from a strong position, or changing established ideas cannot be done quickly. It can be achieved gradually, by small steps, a little at a time.”

* Bitli baklanın kör alıcısı olur.
Literal translation: Wormy beans will have blind buyers.
Meaning: Even worthless things find a buyer.

* Boş laf (lakırdı) karın doyurmaz
Literal translation: (Empty words will not fill an empty stomach.)
Meaning: Used to make a point that one is using empty promises without any real action.

* Bir müsibet, yüz tembihten iyidir.
Literal translation: (A tribulation is better than a hundred warnings.)
Meaning: Used to make a point that one learns better from their mistakes or misfortunes rather than the advice of others.

* Boşboğazı cehenneme atmışlar, “Odun yaş” diye bağırmış.
Literal translation: They put the blabbermouth in hell, and he shouted “The wood is damp!”
Meaning: Used for extremely idiot people.

* Bu Ne Perhiz Bu Ne Lahana Turşusu.
Literal translation: (What is this diet, what is this pickled cabbage?)
Meaning: Used to point out inconsistencies in one’s behaviour or words.

* Bükemediğin bileği öpeceksin.
Literal translation: You should kiss the hand that you can’t bend.
Meaning: You should respect someone who bests you, rather than grudging towards him.

* Bülbülü altın kafese koymuşlar, ah vatanım demiş.
Literal translation: They put the nightingale in a golden cage, it still craved for its country.

C:

* Cahile söz anlatmak, deveyi hendekten atlatmaktan zordur.
Literal translation: Explaining something to an ignorant person is harder than making a camel jump over a ditch.

* Can çıkmayınca huy çıkmaz.
Literal translation: Habits don’t expire until the soul expires.

* Ceviz Kabuğunda fırtına.
Literal translation: (Storm in a walnut shell.)
Meaning: Similar to tempest in a tea cup.

* Cömert der maldan ederler, yiğit der candan ederler.
Literal translation: They call you “generous” and make you lose your property, they call you “brave” and make you lose your life.

Ç:

* Çıkar ağzındaki baklayı.
Literal translation: Remove that bean hiding under your tongue.
Meaning: Tell what are you really are going to tell me, rather than prolonging the conversation.

* Çıkmayan candan umit kesilmez.
Literal translation: Hope wont be cut from the soul that has not expired.
Meaning: As long as there is life, there is hope.
English equivalent: Hope springs eternal.

* Çok yaşayan bilmez, çok gezen bilir.
Literal translation: Not he whom lived long knows, but he who traveled much knows.
Meaning: Experience counts more than years.

D:

* Dağ dağa kavuşmaz,insan insana kavuşur.
Literal translation: Mountain wont meet mountain, but man will meet man.
Meaning: Consider that whatever you do to a person, you may meet him again.

* Damlaya damlaya göl olur.
Literal translation: Drop by drop the lake is formed.
Meaning: From little acorns, mighty oak trees grow. Small savings will lead to substantial wealth. Used to encourage people to save.

* Davulun sesi uzaktan hoş gelir.
Literal translation: The sound of drums sounds nicely from far away.
Meaning: The grass looks greener on the other side.

* Denize düşen yılana sarılır.
Literal translation: Who falls into the sea will take hold even of a snake.
Meaning: If you are in a bad situation, you will accept any help. Used to point out that one may have to chose an unpleasant alternative in a dire situation.

* Dereyi görmeden paçayı sıvama
Literal translation: (Do not roll up your trousers before reaching the stream.)
Meaning: Used to make a point that one should not be overly eager and optimistic about an outcome.

* Dervişin fikri neyse zikri de odur.
Literal translation: Whatever the thoughts of the dervish, so are his formulas.
Meaning: Mans thoughts are revealed in his speech.

* Deve bir pula, deve bin pula.
Literal translation: (A camel for a dime, a camel for a thousand dimes.)
Meaning: Used to show the irony when a person could not afford something even when it is very cheap, but can later afford it when it is thousand times more expensive.

* Deveye hendek atlatmaktan daha zor.
Literal translation: (It is more difficult than teaching a camel to jump (than to reason with fool).)
Meaning: Used to express frustration in discussion.

* Deveye sormuşlar neden boynun eğri. “Nerem doğru ki?” demiş.
Literal translation: They asked the camel why its neck was curved. “What of me is straight?” it said.
Meaning: Used for extremely unpleasant and pessimistic situations. Also used to insult people.

* Doğmadık çocuğa kaftan (don) biçilmez.
Literal translation: (One does not cut cloth for a yet unborn child.)
Meaning: Used to remind that one should not go far ahead of events or make to many assumptions.

Doğru söyleyeni dokuz köyden kovarlar.
Literal translation: The one who speaks truth would be expelled from nine villages.
Meaning: Who always speaks the truth is not popular.
Note: “Dokuz” (nine) displays alliteration with “doğru” (truth).

* Dost acı söyler.
Literal translation: (The real friend tells the bitter truth.)
To soften the blow when a friend needs to give bitter advise.

* Dost kara günde belli olur.
A friend is known on black (i. e bad days).
English equivalent: A friend in need is a friend indeed.
“Pure friendship is something which men of an inferior intellect can never taste.”

* Dünyayı sel bassa ördeğe vız gelir.
Literal translation: If the world is flooded, it wouldn’t matter for the duck.

E:

* El elden üstündür.
Literal translation: (One hand may be superior to another.)
Meaning: One should not assume no one else can do better.

* El elin eşeğini türkü çığırarak arar.
Literal translation: One searches for someone else’s  donkey while singing songs.
Meaning: People are not disheartened by the trouble of others.

* Eleştiri hakkı çalışmaktan doğar
Literal translation: The right to criticize comes from working.
Meaning: Those who haven’t done it shouldn’t criticize it.

* Emek olmadan yemek olmaz.
Literal translation: Without effort there is no food.
Meaning: No pain, no gain.

F:

* Fala inanma falsız kalma.
Literal translation: Don’t believe in foretellings but don’t stay without them.
Meaning: Foretellings are not to be believed but they might have benefits.

G:

* Geçti dost kervanı, eyleme beni.
Literal translation: Already passed the caravan of friends, just leave me alone.
Meaning: When some bad event reaches a point of no return.

* Gel demesi kolay, git demesi zordur.
Literal translation: (It is easy to say “Come,” difficult to say “Go.”.)
Meaning: Used to caution that it is easy to invite someone, but difficult to ask them to leave.

* Gençliğin kıymeti ihtiyarlıkta bilinir.
Literal translation: The value of youth will be known in old age.

* Gençlık bir kuştur, ucar tutamam. Yaşlılık yüktür, bir kuruşa satamam.
Literal translation: Youth is a bird, escapes my capture. Old age is a heavy burden, can’t sell it for a penny.

* Gökyüzünde düğün var deseler, kadınlar merdiven kurmaya kalkar.
Literal translation: If they say there is a wedding in the sky, women would try to put up a ladder.
Meaning: Turkish women like weddings very much.

* Görünen köy kılavuz istemez.
Literal translation: The village that one can see requires no guide.
Meaning: No need to say something when it is obvious.

* Göz görmeyince gönül katlanır.
Literal translation: (Heart endures when eye does not see.)
Meaning: One can endure being far way from loved ones by not seeing them.

* Gözden uzak olan gönülden de uzak olur.
Literal translation: Who is far from the eye will also be far from the heart.
Meaning: One who is out of sight is also out of mind.
English equivalent: Out of sight, out of mind. or Out of sight ,out of hearth

* Gözden ırak olan, gönülden de ırak olur.
Literal translation: (If one is far away, one also gets far away from the heart.)
Meaning: Expresses the feeling that by being far away, one risks losing the love and affection of a person.

* Gülü seven dikenine katlanır.
Literal translation: Who loves a rose will endure its thorns.
Meaning: If you love something, you need to accept its undesirable attributes./ everything has its consequences
English equivalent: the one who loves a rose, should put up with the thorns.

* Güneş balçıkla sıvanmaz.
Literal translation: Sun cannot be daubed using wet clay.
Meaning: One cannot conceal something very obvious whatever they try.

* Güneşte yanmayan gölgenin kıymetini bilmez.
Literal translation: Who has never been burned in the sun wont know the value of shadow.
Meaning: One will not appreciate something, if they haven’t ever been in need of it.
Unless one gets a sunburn, one may not appreciate the shade
English equivalent: He knows good best who has experienced evil.

* Güzellik geçer, akıl kalır.
Literal translation: (Beauty passes, wisdom remains.)
Used to make a point that wisdom matters more than physical beauty.

H:

* Hamama giren terler.
Literal translation: Who enters the Turkish bath will sweat.
Meaning: To bear the consequences of ones actions.

* Harman yel ile, düğün el ile olur.
Literal translation: Winnowing is with the wind, wedding is with the people.
Meaning: Every situation has its own requisites.

* Hatasiz Kul Olmaz.
Literal translation: Flawless human is impossible
Meaning: Nobody’s Perfect.

* Havan dövücünün hık deyicisi.
Literal translation: He who hiccups of him who beats the pestle.
Meaning: To pretend to help but not do anything.

* Havlayan köpek ısırmaz.
Literal Translation: A barking dog doesn’t bite.
Meaning: Someone who lets out his fury by shouting will not do any physical harm. Display of aggression is usually bluff.
English equivalent: Barking dogs seldom bite.
“People who make the most or the loudest threats are the least likely to take action.”

* Hayydan gelen Hûya gider.
Literal translation: What comes from The Ever Living One will go to him.
Meaning: He who comes from the creator, will return to him at the end.

* Hazıra dağlar dayanmaz.
Literal translation: Mountains wont endure on what lies ready.
Meaning: One cannot live forever on ones savings.

* Her gönülde bir aslan yatar.
Literal translation: There lies a lion in every heart.
Meaning: Everybody has bravery somewhere in themselves.

* Her horoz kendi çöplüğünde öter.
Literal translation: Every rooster crows in its own pen.
Meaning: People take courage from being in familiar surroundings.

* Her koyun kendi bacağından asılır.
Literal translation: Every sheep is hanged from its own leg.
Meaning: Everyone is responsible for his own actions.

* Her kuşun eti yenmez.
Literal translation: One cannot eat the meat of every bird.
Meaning: Not every person will do as you say.

* Her şeyin yenisi, dostun, şarabın eskisi.
Literal translation: Every thing is best when new, a friend and wine are best when old.

* Her taş, baş yarmaz.
Literal translation: Not every stone will hurt your head.
Meaning: You should not be scared of every little obstacle.

* Her yiğidin bir yoğurt yiyişi vardır
Literal translation: (Every man has his own style of eating yogurt.)
Meaning: Used to remind that others may have a different way of doing things and hence asking for tolerance.

* Herkes kendi yıldızının demircisi.
English equivalent: Every man is the smith of his own fortune.
Meaning: “In shaping ones own fortune one should not rely on the help of others, as they are also concerned mainly about their own matters.”

* Hocanın vurduğu yerde gül biter.
Literal translation: A rose will sprout from the place where a teacher has hit.
Meaning: No learning without beating.

* Horozu çok olan köyün sabahı geç olur.
Literal translation: In a village with to many roosters morning will come late.
Meaning: With to much deliberation a solution wont be reached.

I:

* Isıracak köpek dişini göstermez.
Literal translation: A dog that intends to bite does not bare its teeth.
Meaning: Malicious action is done surreptitiously.
English equivalent: The biting dog does not show its teeth.

İ:

* İmam gülerse, cemaat kahkaha atar.
Literal translation: If the imam scoffs, the community will chortle.
Meaning: The leader serves as a model for the people.

* “İki ucu boklu deynek.”
Literal translation: A stick with both sides covered in Shit.
Meaning: Either of the options is unsatisfactory.

* İmam osurursa, cemaat sıçar.
Literal translation: If the imam farts, the whole congregation will defecate.
Meaning: The leader serves as an example to his followers.

* İnsan yedisinde ne ise, yetmişinde de odur.
Literal translation: (What a man is at seven is also what he is at seventy.)
Meaning: When expressing dissatisfaction in unchanged human behavior or the fact that one never learns from ones mistakes.

* İncir çekirdeğini doldurmaz
Literal translation: (It won’t fill a fig seed.)
Meaning: To express the insignificance of someones point in an argument.

* İsin yanına varan is, misin yanına varan mis kokar.
Literal translation: Who goes near soot smells of soot, and who goes near musk smells of musk.
Meaning: A person is influenced by the company he keeps with.

* İsteyenin bir yüzü kara, vermeyenin iki yüzü
Literal translation: (The one who asks has one side of his face dark; the one who refuses to give has both sides.)
Meaning: Used to put the shame or burden on the side that can give but refuses to do so.

* İşleyen demir pas tutmaz.
Literal translation: Iron that works does not rust.
Meaning: One has to practice to keep up ones performance.

* İt ürür, kervan yürür.
Literal translation: Dogs bark but caravan still moves on.
Meaning: Great achievements can’t be prevented by insignifican’t people.
English equivalent: The dogs bark, but the caravan passes on.
To put down someones efforts or words and Meaning that it wont have any effect on the outcome. It is a rude but effective expression

* İti an, çomağı hazırla.
Literal translation: Name the dog, ready the stick.
Meaning: For people who show up instantly when they have been talked about.

* İtin (köpeğin) duası kabul olsaydı gökten kemik yağardı
Literal translation: (If a dog’s prayers were answered, bones would rain from the sky.)
Meaning: Used as response against somebody with a hurtful or evil wish. It is rude and used only in a verbal fight.

* İyi insan lafının üzerine gelirmiş.
Literal translation: A good person always arrives on the uttering of his name.
Meaning: For people who show up instantly when they have been talked about.

* İyi bașlamak yarı bitirmektir.
English equivalent: Well begun, is half done.
Meaning: “Starting properly ensures the speedy completion of a process. A beginning is often blocked by one or more obstacles (potential barriers), the removal of which may ensure the smooth course of the process.”

* İtle dalaşmaktansa çalıyı dolaşmak yeğdir.
Literal translation: It is better to walk around a bush than fight with a dog.

* İyilik yap denize at, balık bilmezse halik bilir.
Literal Translation: Do good and throw it into the sea; if the fish don’t know it, God will.

K:

* “En iyi karar, verilmiş karardir”
Literal Meaning: The best decision is a made one

* Karga demiş: “Benim ak pak evladim”.
Literal translation: The crow said: “Oh, my snow-white child”.
Meaning: Everyone thinks their child is beautiful.

* Karga kekliği taklit edeyim derken, kendi yürüyüşünü unutmuş.
Literal translation: As the crow tried to imitate the partridge, it forgot its own walking style.
Meaning: Be yourself.

* Kaz gelecek yerden tavuk esirgenmez.
Literal translation: A chicken wont be grudged to a place a goose will come from.
Meaning: You need to be ready to sacrifice smaller things to reach your bigger goals.

* “Koyun bulunmadigi yerde keciye Abdur Rahim Celebi derler”.
Literal Translation: In the land where there are no sheep, they call goats. Abdur Rahim Chelebi
Meaning: In the land of the blind, the man with one eye is a king.

* Kedinin kanadı olsaydı serçenin adı kalmazdı
Literal Translation: If cats had wings there would be no ducks in the lake.
Meaning:

* Kefenin cebi yok.
Literal translation: The shroud has no pockets.
Meaning: You cannot take your earthly belongings with you when you die.
Make better things with your wealth.

* Kel başa şimşir tarak
Literal translation: (A boxwood comb for a bald head.)
Meaning: Used to make a point when a person indulges beyond his financial means.

* Kel ölür sırma saçlı olur, kör ölür badem gözlü olur.
Literal translation: The bald becomes golden haired when he dies, the blind becomes almond eyed when he dies.
Meaning: People will attribute unrealistically good qualities to a person once he dies.

* Keskin sirke küpüne (kabına) zarar verir .
Literal translation: (Sharp vinegar only damages its container.)
Meaning: To calm down or moderate a person.

* Kılavuzu karga olanın burnu boktan çıkmaz.
Literal translation: The nose of him whose guide is a crow will never get out of the shit.
Meaning: Follow the right advise.

* Kızım sana söylüyorum gelinim sen anla.
Literal translation: (I tell it to my daughter, for my daughter-in-law to understand.)
Meaning: Used to point out that sometimes a message is intended for someone other than the actual recipient

* Kızını dövmeyen, dizini döver
Literal translation: (One who does not slap his children, will slap his knees.)
Meaning: Parents that do not discipline their children early on, will beat themselves later on when they learn the bad things their grown children have done.

* Körle yatan şaşı kalkar.
Literal translation: Who lies with the blind gets up cross-eyed.
Meaning: If you are with the wrong person, you will adopt the mistakes.

* Köşeye sıkışan sıçan kedi taşağı yalar.
Literal translation: The cornered rat will lick the balls of the cat.
Meaning: A stranded person will act subserviently in order to survive.

* Kötü komşu insanı (adamı) hacet (mal) sahibi eder.
Literal translation: (Bad neighbour forces one to have his own pots and pans.)
Meaning: Used to remind that not depending on others, makes one self reliant.

* Kumaşını verince, astarını ister.
Literal translation: (If you give him cloth, he’ll ask for the lining.)
Meaning: Used to make a point one is being greedy.

* Kurda ensen neden kalın demişler, kendi işimi kendim görürüm de ondan demiş.
Literal translation: They asked the wolf: “Why is your neck thick?”, and it said: “I do my job myself, that’s why.”

* Kurunun yanında yaş da yanar.
Literal translation: Near the dry, the damp will burn.
Meaning: If you are with wrongdoers, nobody cares if you are innocent.

* Kuzguna yavrusu şahin görünür.  or Kuzguna yavrusu (anka) görünür.
Literal translation: (To the ravens eye, its chickens look like falcons.)
Meaning: To express the feeling that any baby looks beautiful to its mother.

L:

* Lafla peynir gemisi yürümez.
Literal translation: With talking the cheese, ship wont move.
Meaning: Its an action that will yield the tangible results, not the talking.

M:

* Mal canı kazanmaz, can malı kazanır.
Literal translation: Property will not earn life, but life will earn property.
Meaning: Health is more important than wealth.

* Mart kapıdan baktırır, kazma kürek yaktırır.
Literal translation: March makes one look through the door, and makes one burn hoes and shovels.
Meaning: Do not act carelessly under influence of enthusiasm, or you might find yourself in a darer situation.

* Merd-i kıpti şecaat arzederken sirkatin söyler.
Literal translation: A brave/daring gypsy will brag on his robberies. (A gypsy, so daringly fool, confesses his own inapplausable acts without even being asked)
Meaning: Do not brag with the things that are not suitable to brag with. (Do not brag about unworthy acts)

* Meyveli ağaçı taşlarlar.
Literal translation: They throw stones at a tree with fruit. (Always the trees that bear fruit are stoned)
Meaning: Those who are good and talented are the most envied and criticized for.

* Meyveli (mevye veren) ağaç taşlanır.
Literal translation: (The tree bearing fruit, gets stoned.)
Meaning: Used to point out that only a productive person trying to do new things gets to be criticized.

* Minareyi çalan kılıfını hazırlar.
Literal translation: Dare to steal the minaret but first prepare the sack for hiding it.
Meaning: Excuses have to be prearranged before the trespasses.

* Minareyi yaptırmayan yerden bitmiş sanır.
Literal translation: He who did not help building the minaret, thinks that it just grew out from the ground.

* Misafir umduğunu yemez, bulduğunu yer.
Literal translation: A guest does not get the food he expects but what hes served.

* Mühür kimde ise Süleyman odur.
Literal translation: Whoever has the Seal, he is Solomon [the prophet]. (Solomon is he who has the seal)
Meaning: He who is the boss is the one who calls the shots. (Those who are empowered have the right to enforce authority)

N:

* Namazda gözü olmayanın ezanda kulağı olmaz.
Literal translation: Who has no intention to pray has no ears for the call to prayer.
Meaning: Ones perceptions depend on her/his intentions.

* Ne Arabın sakızı, ne Şamın şekeri
Literal translation: Neither gum Arabic, nor sweets of Damascus
Meaning: One cannot trust the Arabs. Refer to Ottoman history of early 20th century

* Ne ekersen onu biçersin.
Literal translation: You will reap whatever you sow.
English equivalent: What you reap, is what you sow..

* Nerede hareket orada bereket.
Literal translation: Where there is activity, there is fertility.

* Nereye gitsen okka dört yüz dirhemdir.
Literal translation: Wherever you go, an okka is four hundred dirhem.
Meaning: It makes no difference, fact is fact. (An okka is a weight of 1282 gr, or 400 dirhem)

O:

* Oğlan babadan öğrenir sofra açmayı, kız anadan öğrenir biçki biçmeyi.
Literal translation: A son will learn from his father to make a living, a daughter will learn from her mother to cut clothes.

* Olacakla öleceğe çare bulunmaz.
Literal translation: There is no remedy for what will be and who will die.

* Olan dört bağlar, olmayan dert bağlar.
Literal translation: He who has wraps four, he who has not wraps trouble.
Meaning: The rich have valuables, the poor have troubles.

* Olsa ile bulsayı ekmişler, yel ile yuf bitmiş.
Literal translation: They sowed “if only” and “if found”, and wind and waste sprang up.

Ö:

* Öfkeyle (öfke ile) kalkan, zararla (ziyanla) oturur.
Literal translation: (He who starts up in anger, sits down with a loss.)
Meaning: One is trying to calm an angry person.

* Öküz altında buzağı aranmaz.
Literal translation: (Do not search for a calf under a bull.)
Meaning: When someone shows unnecessary amount of suspicion for an action.

P:

* Papaz her gün pilav yemez.
Literal translation: The priest does not eat rice every day.
Meaning: To grab an opportunity.

* Parayla imanın kimde olduğu belli olmaz.
Literal translation: It is unclear who has money and who faith.

* Parayı veren düdüğü çalar.
Literal translation: Who gives the money will play the flute.
Meaning: There is no free lunch.

* Pire için yorgan yakmak.
Literal translation: (Burning a bed-cover for a louse.)
Meaning: Used when an action taken does not match the unimportance of the situation.

R:

* Rüşvet kapıdan girince iman bacadan çıkar.
Literal translation: When bribery enters through the door, faith goes out through the chimney

* Rüzgar eken fırtına biçer.
Literal translation: (One who sows wind will reap hurricane.)
Meaning: To caution people to moderate their actions.

S:

* Sabır acıdır, meyvesi tatlıdır.
Literal translation: Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.

* Sakınılan göze çöp batar.
Literal translation: An over-protected eye gets the speck.
Meaning: Being overly careful invites misfortunes.

* Sakla samanı, gelir zamanı.
Literal translation: Keep straw, its time will come.
Meaning: Don’t throw away even an insignifican’t thing, there might be a time, when it will be needed.

* Sarımsağı gelin etmişler, kırk gün kokusu çıkmamış.
Literal translation: They made the garlic a bride, its smell did not come out for forty days.
Meaning: Only after some time are a spouses faults noticed.

* Sen ağa, ben ağa, bu ineği kim sağa?
Literal translation: You a master, I a master, who is to milk this cow?
Meaning: Said when a job is not done because everybody considers it beneath him.

* Serçeden korkan darı ekmez.
Literal translation: Who fears the sparrows must not sow millet.
Meaning: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

* Sinek küçüktür ama mide bulandırır.
Literal translation: (The fly is small, but it can upset your stomach.)
Meaning: An event that seems insignifican’t to others, still bothers a person.

* Soğanın acısını yiyen bilmez, doğrayan bilir.
Literal translation: Who eats it wont know the bitterness of the onion, but who chops it does.

* Sormak ayıp değil, sormamak (bilmemek) ayıp.
Literal translation: (It is not disgraceful to ask, it is disgraceful no to know.)
Meaning: To encourage people to be inquisitive.

* Son gülen iyi güler.
Literal translation: Who laughs last, laughs the best.

* Su akarken testiyi doldurmalı.
Literal translation: One must fill the pitcher while the water is flowing.

* Sürüden ayrılanı (ayrılan kuzuyu, koyunu) kurt kapar.
Literal translation: (The sheep separated from the flock gets eaten by the wolf.)
Meaning: To encourage a person to stay within the group as it plans a move.

* Sütten ağzı yanan yoğurdu üfleyerek yer.
Literal translation: One who has once burnt his tongue while drinking milk will blow to yogurt before eating it.
Meaning: One who has experienced pain will be cautious even in the least dangerous situation.

* Sütten ağzı yanan, ayranı üfleyerek içer (yoğurdu üfleyerek yer)
Literal translation: (The one who burns his mouth for drinking milk too hot, eats even yogurt carefully.)
Meaning: Used to make the point that life’s bad experiences teach people to be cautious.

Ş:

* Şeyh uçmaz, müridi uçurur.
Literal translation: The sheikh cannot fly, but his disciple lets him fly.
Meaning: Followers tend to attribute characteristics to a leader that he has not got.

* Şeytanla ortak buğday eken samanını alır.
Literal translation: Who sows wheat with the devil will get its chaff.

T:

* Tabancanın dolusu bir kişiyi korkutur, boşu kırk kişiyi.
Literal translation: A charged pistol scares one person, an empty one scares forty people.
Meaning: Control your power. If it is controlled, only the target will be concerned. Otherwise, you create panic.

* Tarlada izi olmayanın harmanda yüzü olmaz.
Literal translation: Who leaves no traces in the field, will be put to shame at harvest.
Meaning: Who does not attend to his tasks wont have results.

* Taşıma su ile değirmen dönmez.
Literal translation: The mill wont turn with carried water.
Meaning: A job can’t be done with inadequate means.

* Tatlı dil yılanı deliğinden çıkarır
Literal translation: (Kind words will get a snake out of its hole.)
Meaning: Used to express the effectiveness of kind words as opposed to confrontation.

* Tatsız aşa tuz neylesin, akılsız başa söz neylesin.
Literal translation: What is salt to tasteless food, what is a word to a foolish head?

* Tavşan dağa küsmüş, dağın haberi olmamış.
Literal translation: The hare (rabbit) was offended with the mountain, but the mountain did not notice.
Meaning: It is senseless to show resentment towards an unresponsive and unrelated person or entity.

* Tembele iş buyur, sana akıl öğretsin.
Literal translation: Order the lazybones a task; he will give you advice.
Meaning: Used to point out that a lazy person will come out with many reasons why a task should or could not be done in order to avoid doing the task.

* “Tencere dibin kara.” “Seninki benden kara.”
Literal translation: “Pot, your bottom is black.” “Yours is blacker than me.”
Meaning: The sorrows are not visible but overwhelming (darker than the bottom of a pot).

U:

* Ucuz etin yahnisi yavan (tatsız, pek) olur.
Literal translation: The stew of cheap meat will be tasteless (hard).
Meaning: Cheap possessions disappoint.

* Umut fakirin ekmeğidir.
Literal translation: Hope is the bread of the poor.
Meaning: Used to point out that hope helps sustain the poor or needy.

* Uyuyan yılanın kuyruğuna basma.
Literal translation: Don’t tread on the tail of a sleeping snake.

Ü:

* Üşenenin oğlu kızı olmaz.
Literal translation: A reserved will not have sons and daughters.
Meaning: A person who shy is away from engaging social interactions will stay single.

* Üzüm üzüme baka baka kararır.
Literal translation: Grapes will darken by looking at each other.
Meaning: People mature by learning from their peers. People become bad through bad company.

V:

* Vakit nakittir.
Literal translation: Time is cash.
Meaning: Time is money.

* Vakitsiz öten horozun başı kesilir.
Literal translation: The head of the rooster that crows out of time will be cut off.
Meaning: There is proper time for every thing.

* Vardığın yer körse, sen de gözünü kapa.
Literal translation: If the place you have arrived at is blind, blink your eye.

Y:

* Yalancının evi yanmış, kimse inanmamış.
Literal translation: The liars house burned, but nobody believed it.

* Yalancının mumu yatsıya kadar yanar.
Literal translation: A liars candle will burn until bed-time.
Meaning : A lie will be eventually exposed.

* Yavuz hırsız ev sahibini bastırır.
Literal translation: smart thief overcomes the landlord
Meaning: even when he is wrong, he makes others believe with his aggressive behavior that he is right

* Yaz günü gölgede yatanın, kış günü ekmeği esmer olur.
Literal translation: the one who lays in shade in summer, whose bread becomes dark in winter
Meaning: if you don’t work in summer, you don’t get comfort in winter

* Yenilen pehlivan güreşe doymaz.
Literal translation: The beaten wrestler is never satisfied with wrestling
Meaning: He who fails will always want to try again and again until success.

* Yiğit lakabıyla anılır.
Literal translation: The brave is known by his fame.

* Yolsuz tüccar bozuk para sayarmış.
Literal translation: A broke merchant counted his small change.
Meaning: Said when an underachiever recounts his petty achievements.

* Yuvarlanan taş yosun tutmaz.
English equivalent: A rolling stone gathers no moss.
“There are a Set of People that are of such restless Temper, that before they are well settled in one Habitation, always dip into another. Such Persons fall under the Doom of this Proverb, which is design’d to fix the Volatility of their Tempers, by laying before them the ill Consequences of such fickleness.”

* Yüzü güzel olanın huyu da güzel olur.
Literal translation: Who has a beautiful face has a beautiful character too.

Z:

* Zenginin malı, züğürdün çenesini yorar.
Literal translation: (The rich man’s wealth tires the poor man’s jaw.)
Meaning: Poor talks to much about what the wealthy have.

* Zararın neresinden dönülse (dönersen – dönsen) kardır.
Literal translation: (Reversing losses at whatever point is a profit.)
Meaning: Used to point out that best action is to reverse course if one is going down the wrong path.

* Zemheride yoğurt isteyen, cebinde bir inek taşır.
Literal translation: Who wants yogurt in winter must carry a cow in his pocket.
Meaning: If you want something difficult, you must be willing to take the trouble to obtain it.

* Zengin arabasını dağdan aşırır, züğürt düz ovada yolunu şaşırır.
Literal translation: A rich man will get his carriage over the mountains, a poor man will lose his way on a level plain.

* Zenginin horozu bile yumurtlar.
Literal translation: Even the rooster of a rich man lays eggs.

* Zenginin malı fakirin çenesini yorar.
Literal translation: A rich mans belongings will tire a poor mans jaw.

* Zorla güzellik olmaz.
Literal translation: Forced beauty wont do.