Italian Proverbs Relating to Marriage
What People in Italy Say about Marriage
"Ne di Venere Ne di Marte non si sposa ne si parte!"
Neither marriage nor war will go away once you start.
"Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata"
Rain on the day you get married brings good luck
"La buona moglie fa il buon marito"
A good wife makes a good husband.
"La moglie e' la chiave di casa"
A good wife is the key to a good home.
"Tra moglie e marito ... non mettere il dito."
Don't meddle in a quarel between a husband and his wife
"Moglie e buoi ...dei paesi tuoi."
Marry a wife from your own people.
"La prima e' Matrimonio, la seconda compania, la terza un'eresia."
First woman you marry is your wife, the second a companion, the thrid you have veered off course.
"Meglio il marito senz'amore, che con gelosia."
Better to have a husband without love than one who is jealous.
"Chi ha moglie ha doglie"
A wife means pains.
"Chi non ha moglie non ha padrone."
A man without a wife is a man without a master.
"Casa senza fimmina ‘mpuvirisci"
(Sicillian proverb) How poor is a home without a woman!
"Matrimoni e viscuvati, di lu celu su mannati"
(Sicillian proverb) Weddings and spititual matters are heaven sent.
Lu mio cumpare ha uno cervellu finu
Che tutto il mondo ha girato assai
Percio’ questa faccenda me rovina
E intanto ‘na mugliera ho da trovar
A mio cumpare ho chiesto uno consiglio
E stai attento come la pigli.
Se te la pigli troppo bella
Ti ci vuole la sentinella
E se te la pigli troppo brutta
Ti rimane la bocca asciutta
E se te la pigli troppo grassa
Tutta la casa ti sconquassa
E se te la pigli ricca assai
Chi comanda non lo sai
In ogni modo e in ogni maniera
Ma che guaio e’ la mugliera!
My close friend has a very fine mind
He has traveled the world over.
I have this problem that is troubling me
I’ve got to find a wife.
Therefore I asked my friend for some advice
Regarding your desire to marry he said:
“
Be careful who you marry!
If she is too beautiful -
You will need to keep her under guard.
If she is too ugly -
Your mouth will dry up.
If you find a wife that is too heavy -
She will destroy your house.
If you find a wife that is very rich -
You will never be the boss.
No matter how you look at it -
It’s a real problem finding a wife!”
Maggio belle rose
Gioia delle spose
The beautiful roses during May
Are a brides great joy.
Oggi una pioggia di fiori
Domani sorrisi di bimbi
Today, on the day of your wedding, there will be a shower of flowers
Tomorrow
will appear with the smiles of many children.
La pioggia d’aprile e’ come la
sposa novella
Piu’ invecchia e diventa piu’ bella
The rain dropping during the month of April is like the newly wed bride,
The older they get the more beautiful they become.
