Ancient wisdoms, including proverbs, help shaping a country’s modern-day culture. In Indonesia, proverbs and sayings are still reflected in country’s culture and philosophies. Learning Indonesian proverbs helps you understand the local culture and wisdom. However, the problem with proverbs is it is not always easy to translate proverbs and saying in literal way because it might alter the meaning. So, in this article we are going to talk about Indonesian proverbs with English equivalent.
Also read:
- Indonesian words with no English equivalent
- Indonesian phrases basic for beginner
- Indonesian heritage language and literature
| Indonesian proverbs | English Equivalent |
| Air tenang menghanyutkan | Still water runs deep |
| Air beriak tanda tak dalam | Barking dogs never bite |
| Ada asap ada api | Every why has its wherefore |
| Air tenang jangan disangka tak ada buaya | Look before you leap, because snakes among sweet flowers do creeps |
| Air susu dibalas dengan air tuba | Bite the hands that feed you |
| Air tenang menghanyutkan | The mills of God grinds slowly but sure |
| Ada ubi ada talas, ada budi ada balas | An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth |
| Ada musuh dibalik selimut | There is s snake under the grass |
| Ada udang dibaik batu | To have an axe to grind |
| Banyak jalan menuju roma | There is more than one way to skin a cat |
| Berakit-rakit ke hulu berenang-renang ketepian. Bersakit-sakit dahulu bersenang-senang kemudian | No pain no gain |
| Berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing | Birds of feather flock together |
| Buah jatuh tidak jauh dari pohonnya | Like father like son |
| Bagai telur diujung tanduk | Dancing with elephants |
| Bersatu kita teguh, bercerai kita runtuh | United we stand, divided we fall |
| Besar pasak dari pada tiang | Do not bite off more than you can chew |
| Buruk rupa cermin dibelah | A bad workman blames his tools |
| Bermain api basah, bermain api hangus | Sow wind reap a whirlwind |
| Dikasih hati minta jantung | Give him an inch and he will take a yard |
| Dimana ada kemauan, disitu ada jalan | Where there is a will, there is a way |
| Dimana bumi dipijak, di situ langit dijunjung | When in Rome, do as the Romans |
| Habis manis sepah dibuang | He is a fair weather friend |
| Gali lobang tutup lobang | Robbing Peter to pay Paul |
| Hemat pangkal kaya | A penny saved is a penny gained |
| Jadilah kumbang, hidup sekali di taman bunga. Jangan jadi lalat , hidup sekali di bukit sampah. | Life is what you make of it |
| Lebih baik satu burung ditangan dari pada sepuluh burung di pohon. | A bird in hand is worth two in the bush |
| Karena nila setitik, rusak susu sebelanga | The rotten apple spoils the whole barrel |
| Nasi sudah menjadi bubur | Do not cry over spilled milk |
Indonesian Proverbs with English Equivalent
| Kejarlah cita-citamu setinggi langit | Hitch your wagon to a star |
| Mengharap burung terbang tinggi, punai ditangan dilepaskan | Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow. |
| Kesempatan tidak datang dua kali | Opportunity never knocks twice at any man’s door. |
| Pikir dahulu pendapatan, sesal kemudian tiada guna | Look before you leap |
| Siapa cepat dia dapat | The early birds catches the worm |
| Teman saat duka adalah teman sejati | A friend in need is a friend indeed |
| Tak kenal maka tak sayang | Out of sight, out of mind |
| Tua muda sengsara bersama | When you lie on roses while young, you will lie on thorns when you are old |
| Sambil menyelam minum air | Killing two birds with one stone |
| Seperti duri dalam daging | Like a thorn in one’s flesh |
| Sekali mednayung, dua tiga pulau terlampaui | Killing two birds with one stone |
| Rajin pangkal pandai | Persevere and never fear |
| Sepandai-pandai tupai melompat akhirnya jatuh juga | A good marksman may miss, the pitcher goes so often to the well that it is broken at last |
| Rumput tetangga selalu lebih hijau | The grass is always greener on the other side |
| Setiap perbuatan akan kembali ke diri sendiri | What goes around comes around |
| Tangan diatas lebih baik daripada tangan di bawah | It is better to give than to receive |
| Tong kosong nyaring bunyinya | It is not the hen that cackles the most that lay the most eggs |
| Tak ada rotan akar pun jadi | A half loaf is better than none |
| Tak ada asap tanpa api | Leaves do not wave if there is no wind |
| Sudah jatuh tertimpa tangga pula | Misery loves company |
| Bagai menelan empedu | To eat a crow |
| Lembar batu sembunyi tangan | Pass the buck |
| Bagai air dengan minyak | Like cat and dog |
| Jangan menilai seseorang dari penampilannya | Do not judge a book by its cover |
| Tak ada gading yang tak retak | No rose without thorn |
Also read:
Those are the popular Indonesian proverbs with English equivalent which mostly used in everyday life. Believe it or not, most people still live up to some of the proverbs in life. There should be no difficulty in learning Indonesian proverbs as there are English equivalent.