HGS Languages

Russian Phrase of the Week

Аво́сь да как-нибу́дь до добра́ не доведу́т.

• Transliteration: Avos' da kak-nubud' do dobra ne dovedut.
• Translation: Maybe and somehow won't make any good.
• Moral: Don't rely on chance.

Italian Phrase of the Week

Nella vita - chi non risica - non rosica.

• Literal translation: In life: who risks nothing - gains nothing.
• Equivalent meaning: In life: nothing ventured - nothing gained.

Spanish Phrase of the Week

• Divide y vencerás
  • Translation: Divide and conquer

German Phrase of the Week

• Probieren geht über studieren.
  • Lit. translation: Trying is worth more than studying.
  • English equivalent: The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

French Phrase of the Week

• L'habit ne fait pas le moine.
  • Idiomatic translation 1: One cannot judge a book by its cover.
  • Idiomatic translation 2: Clothes don't make the man.
  • Literal translation: The dress doesn't make the monk.

Italian Phrase of the Week

Non affoga colui che cade in acqua - ma affoga chi male incappa.

• Literal translation: Who falls in water doesn't drown - but who falls badly will.

Russian Phrase of the Week

Вода́(ка́пля) ка́мень то́чит.

• Transliteration: Voda(kaplya) kamen' tochit.
• Translation: Water(water drops) cuts through stone.
• English version: Little strokes fell great oaks.
• See aslo: Исподво́ль и ольху́ согнёшь; Я́годка по я́годке - бу́дет кузово́к.

Russian Phrase of the Week

Вода́(ка́пля) ка́мень то́чит.

• Transliteration: Voda(kaplya) kamen' tochit.
• Translation: Water(water drops) cuts through stone.
• English version: Little strokes fell great oaks.
• See aslo: Исподво́ль и ольху́ согнёшь; Я́годка по я́годке - бу́дет кузово́к.

Spanish Phrase of the Week

• No por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano.
  • Translation: Waking up earlier won't make the sun rise any quicker.
  • Interpretations:
    • Just because you do something daily doesn't mean things around you will arrange themselves to you.
    • You can't push on a rope.
    • Some things cannot be changed.

German Phrase of the Week

• Nur tote Fische schwimmen mit dem Strom
  • Translation: Only dead fish swim with the stream
  • Meaning: People who do not possess willpower and individuality will simply follow the majority, doing what everyone else does, without thinking.