Passed down through generations, these proverbs are full of wisdom, humor, and local color.
These are all popular Sicilian sayings I heard growing up with their English translations:
Proverbs about Life
- “Cu’ nesci, arrinesci.”
- Translation: Those who leave, succeed.
- Meaning: Sometimes, stepping out of your comfort zone is the key to success.
- “Acqua passata nun macina mulinu.”
- Translation: Water that has passed doesn’t turn the mill.
- Meaning: What’s done is done; you can’t change the past.
Proverbs about Love
- “L’amuri è comu a fortuna: orba, e cu’ a voli, si a pigghia.”
- Translation: Love is like luck: blind, and whoever wants it, takes it.
- Meaning: Love, like luck, is unpredictable but available to those who seek it.
- “Lu cori fa jiri a pedi unni un po’ jiri la testa.”
- Translation: The heart takes you where the mind cannot go.
- Meaning: Love often defies logic and reason.
Proverbs about Work and Perseverance
- “Cu voli aviri chiù di quattru pedi, si nni voli fari tri.”
- Translation: If you want more than four feet, you’ll need to make three.
- Meaning: Ambition requires effort and compromise.
- “A vita è comu un stissu di nivi: si squagghia senza t’avviri.”
- Translation: Life is like a snowflake: it melts away before you realize it.
- Meaning: Life is fleeting, so appreciate it while you can.
Proverbs about Wisdom
- “Cu mancia fa muddichi.”
- Translation: Those who eat make crumbs.
- Meaning: No matter what you do, there will always be consequences.
- “Megghiu un cori cuntenti ca tri palazzi.”
- Translation: Better a happy heart than three palaces.
- Meaning: True happiness is more valuable than material wealth.
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