A Sprichwort (proverb) is a short memorable sentence or saying, which summarizes reoccurring experiences of human mankind. They can be found in almost every language.
English and German language roots and cultural influences are closely linked and therefore many proverbs are very similar in both languages. For the foreign language student it is very desirable, the icing on the cake so to speak, to master proverbs in the other language.
I would like to introduce some proverbs from time to time in my blog to encourage students to use them when speaking German. Continue reading if you want to find out about proverbs, their English language equivalent, literal translations and practical examples from German speaking articles.
Man soll den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben*.
*loben = to praise
Don't count your chicken before they are hatched.
It means that you shouldn't celebrate and announce a success or happy event before it has happened.
Der Apfel faellt nicht weit vom Stamm.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
It means that children often look like their parents and adobe their habits and behaviour.
