TÜRKÇE ATASÖZLERİ

[edit]A

Acıkan doymam (sanır), susayan kanmam sanır.

Literal translation: A hungry man thinks he won't be satiated, a thirsty man

thinks he won't be quenched.

Acele işe şeytan karışır.

Literal translation: The Devil interferes with hurried work.

Meaning: If you hurry your work it will turn out wrong.

Aç tavuk kendini buğday ambarında görür.

Literal translation: A hungry hen sees herself in a wheat silo.

Meaning: When one is in need of something, he dreams about himself having

it lavishly.

Aç ayı oynamaz.

Literal translation: A hungry bear won't dance.

Meaning: One needs to be paid to do some work.

Açın halini tok bilmez, hastanın halini sağ bilmez.

Literal translation: A satiated man doesn't know what's hunger, a healthy man

doesn't know what's 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.

Adam adama gerek olur.

Literal translation: Man needs man.

Meaning: We need each other. We can only do great things through

teamwork.

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.

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 one's 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.

Allah gümüş kapıyı kaparsa altın kapıyı açar.

Literal translation: If God closes the silver door He will open the golden door.

Meaning: For every loss there is opportunity.

Ana gibi yar, vatan gibi diyar olmaz.

Literal translation: There is no love like a mother's nor a place like your

homeland.

Meaning: No others' love can be compared to mothers' love and no place is

"better" than the homeland.

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: Everone is wise after the event. (Everyone tends to be wise with

advices not before an incident has happened)

Armut dibine düşer.

Literal translation: A pear will fall to its root.

Meaning: Children resemble their parents. (Children take after their parents)

Aslan yattığı yerden belli olur.

Literal translation: You can tell a lion from where he dwells.

Meaning: A person's 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.

Ateş demekle ağız yanmaz.

Literal translation: Saying "fire" does't burn the tongue.

Meaning: Offensive words cannot hurt you.

Ateş düştüğü yeri yakar.

Literal translation: Fire burns where it falls.

Meaning: Pain is suffered most by the one who is inflicted.

Ateş olmayan yerden duman çıkmaz.

Literal translation: No smoke will come out from a place where there is no fire.

(Where there is smoke, there is fire)

Ayıpsız dost arayan dostsuz kalır.

Literal translation: A man who seeks a perfect friend, will turn out having

none.[edit]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.

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. (No use

regretting after losses)

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.

Bedava sirke baldan tatlıdır.

Free vinegar is sweeter than honey.

Bekara karı boşamak kolay.

Literal translation: Divorcing a wife is easy for a single guy.

Meaning: If somebody is looking at the situation from outside, he can't fully

comprehend it.

Bekara karı boşamak kolay gelir.

Literal translation: It's easy for a single to divorce a woman.

Meaning: Things seem easier to the one who isn't involved.

Bin bilsen de bir bilene danış.

Literal translation: Even if you know a thousand things, still ask someone who

knows one thing.

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.

(You can't get a clapping sound by a single hand)

Meaning: People produce more or better work if they cooperate.

Bir kanatla kuş uçmaz.

Literal translation: A bird will not fly with one wing.

Bitli baklanın kör alıcısı olur.

Literal translation: Wormy beans will have blind buyers.

Meanning: Even worthless things find a buyer.

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.

Bükemediğin bileği öpeceksin.

Literal translation: You should kiss the hand that you can't bend.

Meaning: You should respect someone who is superior, 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.[edit]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.

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.[edit]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 won't be cut from the soul that has not expired.

Meaning: As long as there is life, there is hope.

Çok yaşayan bilmez, çok gezen bilir.

Literal translation: Not he who lived long knows, but he who traveled much

knows.

Meaning: Experience counts more than years.[edit]D

Dağ dağa kavuşmaz,insan insana kavuşur.

Literal translation: Mountain won't 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.

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. Beggars can't

be choosers.

Dervişin fikri neyse zikri de odur.

Literal translation: Whatever the thoughts of the dervish, so are his formulas.

Meaning: Man's thoughts are revealed in his speech.

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.

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).

Dünyayı sel bassa ördeğe vız gelir.

Literal translation: If the world is flooded, it wouldn't matter for the duck.[edit]E

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.[edit]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.[edit]G

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.

Görünen köye klavuz istenmezmiş.

Meaning: Every situation which is seen doesn't need a comment.

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.

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

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 won't know the

value of shadow.

Meaning: One will not appreciate something, if they haven't ever been in need

of it.[edit]H

Hamama giren terler.

Literal translation: Who enters the Turkish bath will sweat.

Meaning: To bear the consequences of one's 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 requisits.

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.

Hayy'dan gelen Hû'ya 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.

Variant: Someone will end up the way he started.

Hazıra dağlar dayanmaz.

Literal translation: Mountains won't endure on what lies ready.

Meaninng: One cannot live forever on one's 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.

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 too many roosters morning will come late.

Meaning: With too much deliberation a solution won't be reached.[edit]I

Isıracak köpek dişini göstermez.

Literal translation: A dog that intends to bite does not bare its teeth.

Meaning: Malicious action is done surreptitiously.[edit]İ

İki ucu boklu deynek.

Literal translation: A stick with both sides covered in shit.

Meaning: Either of the options is unsatisfactory.

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.

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.

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.

İşleyen demir pas tutmaz.

Literal translation: Iron that works does not rust.

Meaning: One has to practise to keep up one's performance.

İt ürür, kervan yürür.

Literal translation: Dogs bark but caravan still moves on.

Meaning: Great achievements can't be prevented by insignificant people.

İti an, çomağı hazırla.

Literal translation: Name the dog, ready the stick.

Meaning: Used for people who show up instantly when they have been talked

about. Usually has an unpleasant meaning. Check "İyi insan lafının üzerine

gelirmiş." for the other one.

İtle dalaşmaktansa çalıyı dolaşmak yeğdir.

Literal translation: It is better to walk around a bush than fight with a dog.

İyi insan lafının üzerine gelirmiş.

Literal translation: A good person always arrives on the uttering of his name.

Meaning: Used for people who show up instantly when they have been talked

about. Has a pleasant meaning, unlike "İti an, çomağı hazırla."

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.[edit]K

"En iyi karar, verilmiş karardir"

Literal meaning: The best decision is a made decision.

Karga demiş: "Benim ak pak evladim".

Literal translation: The crow said: "Oh, my snow-white child".

Meaning: Eveyone 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 thyself.

Kaz gelecek yerden tavuk esirgenmez.

Literal translation: A chicken won't 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: Akin to in the land of the blind, the man with one eye is king

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 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.

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.

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.[edit]L

Lafla peynir gemisi yürümez.

Literal translation: With talking the cheese ship won't move.

Meaning: It's action that will yield tangible results, not the talking.[edit]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 critisized

for.

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 tresspasses.

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 he's

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)[edit]N

Namazda gözü olmayanın ezanda kulağı olmaz.

Literal translation: Who has no intention to pray has no ears for the call to

prayer.

Meaning: One's perceptions depend on her/his intentions.

Ne ekersen onu biçersin.

Literal translation: You will reap whatever 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).[edit]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.

[edit]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.[edit]R

Rüşvet kapıdan girince iman bacadan çıkar.

Literal translation: When bribery enters through the door, faith goes out

through the chimney[edit]S

Sabır acıdır, meyvesi tatlıdır.

Literal translation: Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.

Sakinilan göze cöp 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 insignificant 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 spouse's faults noticed. / Also used if

someone overbrags on his/her achievements for an extended period of time.

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 each

other as an underling.

Serçeden korkan darı ekmez.

Literal translation: Who fears the sparrows must not sow millet.

Meaning: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Soğanın acısını yiyen bilmez, doğrayan bilir.

Literal translation: Who eats it won't know the bitterness of the onion, but who

chops it does.

Meaning: You can not know how hard a work is, unless you are involved in it.

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.

Meaning: Better to save money when you are able to work.

Sütten ağzı yanan yoğurdu üfleyerek yer.

Literal translation: One who has once burnt his tongue while drinking milk will

blow to yoghurt before eating it.

Meaning: One who has experienced pain will be cautious even in the least

dangerous situation.[edit]Ş

Şeyh uçmaz, müridi uçurur.

Literal translation: The sheik 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.[edit]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 won't have results.

Taşıma su ile değirmen dönmez.

Literal translation: The mill won't turn with carried water.

Meaning: A job can't be done with inadequate means.

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. / Also used as a catalyzer in an argument to state

to the other side that, they are insignificant and not to worth to be paid

attention for the speaker.

Tembele iş buyur, sana akıl öğretsin.

Literal translation: Order the lazybones a task; he will give you advice.

Meaning: Lazy people only talk.

"Tencere dibin kara." "Seninki benden kara."

Literal translation: "Pot, your bottom is black." "Yours is blacker than me."

Meaning: Examine your own mistakes and faults first, before blaming others.

Tiz-i reftar olanın payine damen dolaşır, erişir menzil-i maksuda aheste giden.

Literal translation: (original sentence is in Ottoman language rather than

modern Turkish) He, who walkes hastily will eventually fall down, but he who

strides slowly will reach his target.

Meaning: If you try to do everything so fast, eventually they will all fail. Take it

slow and you will succeed.[edit]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.

Uyuyan yılanın kuyruğuna basma.

Literal translation: Don't tread on the tail of a sleeping snake.[edit]Ü

Üşenenin oğlu kızı olmaz.

Literal translation: A reserved will not have sons and daughters.

Meaning: A person who shys 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.[edit]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: Know where to speak.

Vardığın yer körse, sen de gözünü kapa.

Literal translation: If the place you have arrived at is blind, shut your eyes.

Meaning: When in Rome, do as Romans do.[edit]Y

Yalancının evi yanmış, kimse inanmamış.

Literal translation: The liar's house burned, but nobody believed it.

Yalancının mumu yatsıya kadar yanar.

Literal translation: A liar's 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.

A proverb from the district of Körfez.

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.

Yüzü güzel olanın huyu da güzel olur.

Who has a beautiful face has a beautiful character too.[edit]Z

Zaman sana uymazsa sen zamana uy.

Literal translation: If time doesn't fit you, you fit time.

Meaning: Create your own opportunities.

Zararın neresinden dönülse kardır.

Literal translation: Whenever you turn from loss, there is gain.

Meaning: No matter how far down the wrong road you have gone, turn back.

Zemheride yoğurt isteyen, cebinde bir inek taşır.

Literal translation: Who wants yoghurt 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 man's belongings will tire a poor man's jaw.

Zorla güzellik olmaz.

Literal translation: Forced beauty won't do.

Meaning: You cannot force someone to get along with you.[edit]