Italian Sayings About Life: Popular Proverbs, Quotes, and Cultural Customs

Key takeaways

• Italian “blessings” are often everyday good-wishes, not only religious phrases.
• Proverbs help you understand Italian culture, humor, and values.
• Use sayings mostly in casual contexts; keep it simple in formal situations.
• Start with short, high-utility phrases like Auguri and In bocca al lupo.
• Learn expressions in context so you know when they feel natural.

Learning famous expressions is critical to dipping into the country’s culture and understanding its residents better. Italian sayings reflect the Italian way of life, offering insight into authentic Italian values and customs.

Of course, you should first master the basics, including the alphabet, grammar, conjugations, and the simplest topics like time, figures, weather, etc. When learning a new language like Italian, English speakers may find it easier due to similarities and shared roots, and their English language background can help overcome common challenges. Afterward, you can familiarize yourself with Italian quotes about love, life, and other vital themes. Such phrases will help you enrich your vocabulary and show mastery when speaking. Italian sayings are a valuable resource for understanding everyday life in Italy and can provide a refreshing perspective on common situations. It’s time to familiarize yourself with the most widespread sayings.

Introduction to Italian Culture

Let's be real — Italian culture is absolutely iconic, and honestly, it's not just because of the pizza (though that doesn't hurt!). This culture is packed with incredible heritage, amazing traditions, and people who live life with serious passion. And here's the thing: if you really want to unlock all the magic Italy has to offer, you've got to dive into the Italian language. Think of it as your key to everything — the history, the customs, the whole vibe that makes Italy, well, Italy. Italian sayings and proverbs? They're like little windows into how Italians see the world, love, and just getting through everyday life. When you start picking up these phrases and sayings, you're not just learning words — you're stepping into the local scene, making genuine connections with Italian people, and basically leveling up your entire travel game. Italian culture is all about family, friendship, and community (goals, right?), and you can totally see this in their sayings that celebrate relationships and those deep social bonds. Take "La famiglia è la patria del cuore" (Family is the heart's homeland), for example — it perfectly captures how central family is to the Italian way of life.

Wisdom Through the Ages: Italian Proverbs About Life

Using common sayings is a great idea to demonstrate deep language knowledge and respect for Italian customs. Expressions about life aim to show the beauty of everything surrounding us and the value of every little moment. Look at some common phrases:

1. La vita è bella [lˈa vˈita ˈɛː bˈɛlla] – Life is beautiful.
2. La vita è fatta così [lˈa vˈita ˈɛː fˈatːa kozˈi] – Life is like that.
3. Finché c’è vita c’è speranza [finkˈe t͡ʃˈɛː vˈita t͡ʃˈɛː sperˈant͡sa] – As long as there is life, there is hope. This phrase emphasizes optimism and resilience, reminding us to stay positive in our daily lives.
4. L’abito non fa il monaco [ˈɛlle’ˈabito nˈon fˈa ˈiːl mˈɔnako] – A dress doesn’t make the priest. (English translation: "Clothes do not make the man.")
5. Cane che abbaia non morde [kˈane kˈe abːˈaia nˈon mˈɔrde] – A dog that barks doesn’t bite.
6. Chi si volta, e chi si gira, sempre a casa va finire [kˈi sˈi vˈɔlta, ˈeː kˈi sˈi d͡ʒˈira, sˈɛmpre ˈaː kˈaza vˈa finˈire] – Whatever and whoever turns around, you’ll always end up at home.
7. Chi nasce tondo non può morir quadrato [kˈi nˈaʃe tˈondo nˈon pʊˈɔ morˈir kwadrˈato] – Those born round cannot die square.
8. Occhio non vede, cuore non duole [ˈɔkːio nˈon vˈede, kʊˈɔre nˈon dʊˈɔle] – The eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t hurt.
9. Meglio tardi che mai [mˈɛʎo tˈardɪ kˈe mˈaj] – Better late than never.
10. Nessuna nuova, buona nuova [nes͡sˈuna nʊˈɔva, bʊˈɔna nʊˈɔva] – No news is good news.
11. Chi dorme non piglia pesci [kˈi dˈorme nˈon pˈiʎʎa pˈeʃʃi] – He who sleeps catches no fish. This proverb literally means "He who sleeps catches no fish" and emphasizes the importance of being proactive and seizing opportunities, much like the English expression "the early bird catches the worm."
12. Non tutto il male vien per nuocere [nˈon tˈutːo ˈiːl mˈale vjˈɛn pˈer nwˈɔt͡ʃere] – Not all bad comes to harm. (Every cloud has a silver lining.)
13. Ogni promessa è debito [ˈoɲɲi promˈɛsːa ˈɛː dˈɛbito] – Every promise is a debt.
14. Ride bene chi ride ultimo [rˈide bˈɛne kˈi rˈide ˈultimo] – He laughs best who laughs last.
15. A mali estremi, estremi rimedi [a ˈmaːli esˈtrɛːmi esˈtrɛːmi riˈmɛːdi] – To extreme evils, extreme remedies. This saying suggests that desperate situations require bold actions.
16. Meglio soli che male accompagnati [ˈmɛʎʎo ˈsɔːli ke ˈmale akkompaɲˈɲati] – Better alone than in bad company. This is a valuable lesson about relationships.
17. La calma è la virtù dei forti [la ˈkalma ɛ la virˈtu dei ˈforti] – Calmness is the virtue of the strong. This highlights the value of patience and calmness in difficult situations.
18. Chi va piano, va sano e va lontano [ki va ˈpjano va ˈsano e va lonˈtano] – He who goes slowly, goes safely and goes far. This proverb literally means "He who goes slowly, goes safely and goes far," promoting steady progress and patience—steady wins the race.
19. Ogni morte di papa [ˈoɲɲi ˈmorte di ˈpapa] – Every death of a pope. This idiom is used to describe something that happens very rarely, similar to the English expression "once in a blue moon."
20. In bocca al lupo [in ˈbokka al ˈlupo] – Good luck. This is more than just a simple phrase for wishing luck; it carries cultural significance, and the traditional response is "Crepi il lupo" ("May the wolf die").
21. Chi la fa l’aspetti [ki la fa lasˈpetti] – Who does it, expects it. This proverb, also known as "chi la fa," means that actions have consequences, similar to the English proverb "You reap what you sow."
22. La vita è fatta a scale [la ˈvita ɛ ˈfatta a ˈskale] – Life is made of stairs. This literally means "Life is made of stairs," reflecting the ups and downs of existence.
23. Il dolce far niente [il ˈdoltʃe far ˈnjɛnte] – The sweetness of doing nothing. This phrase celebrates the joy of relaxation and enjoying the present moment.
24. Quando finisce la partita il re ed il pedone finiscono nella stessa scatola [ˈkwando fiˈniʃe la parˈtita il re ed il peˈdone fiˈniʃkono ˈnella ˈstessa ˈskatola] – When the game is over, the king and the pawn end up in the same box. This reminds us of the equality of all in the end.
25. Il mondo è bello perché è vario – The world is beautiful because it is varied.
26. La mattina ha l’oro in bocca – The morning's got gold in its mouth.
27. Se non hai mai pianto, i tuoi occhi non possono essere belli – If you have never cried, your eyes can't be beautiful.
28. Tutto è bene quel che finisce bene – Everything is well that ends well.
29. Dove c’è amore, c’è vita – Where there is love, there is life.
30. Alla fine andrà tutto bene. Se non va bene, non è la fine – In the end, everything will be okay. If it's not okay, it's not the end.
31. Chi sta bene nella propria pelle, sta bene con tutti – Who goes well in his own skin, goes well with everyone.
32. Roma non fu costruita in un giorno – Rome was not built in a day. This is a classic example of an Italian saying with an English proverb equivalent, emphasizing patience and perseverance.
33. Primo amore non si scorda mai – The first love is never forgotten.
34. Chiodo scaccia chiodo – A nail drives out another nail.
35. Sfortunato al gioco, fortunato in amore – Unlucky at cards, lucky in love.
36. I panni sporchi si lavano in casa – Family problems should be kept private.
37. Tale padre, tale figlio – Like father, like son; children often adopt their parents' quirks and habits.

Many Italian sayings have equivalents in English proverbs and English expressions, making them easier to understand for language learners. For example, "Rome was not built in a day" (Roma non fu costruita in un giorno) is a well-known English proverb that shares the same meaning in both languages, teaching the valuable lesson of patience and steady progress. These proverbs are not just historical relics—they are used in daily lives and everyday life, offering guidance and wisdom for all those who demonstrate patience, persistence, and resilience.

Italian proverbs are deeply influenced by the ancient Romans and the literary masterpieces of the Middle Ages, such as Dante's Divine Comedy. The Divine Comedy, in particular, has contributed many idiomatic expressions and cultural references that still resonate in modern Italian. This rich heritage continues to shape the language and the way Italians express themselves in their daily routines.

Italian Sayings About Love and Relationship

Love is the feeling that drives the world, so it’s evident that the Italian language has numerous famous sayings on this topic. Of course, you should first learn how to greet people and express your feelings to the one you like. After that, you can master more complicated expressions about love that will significantly enrich your Italian vocabulary list.

1. Amore non è senza amaro [amˈore nˈon ˈɛː sˈɛnt͡sa amˈaro] – Love is not without bitterness.
2. L’amore è cieco [ˈɛlle’amˈore ˈɛː t͡ʃˈɛko] – Love is blind.
3. Sfortunato al gioco fortunato in amore [sfortʊnˈato ˈal d͡ʒˈɔko fortʊnˈato ˈiːn amˈore] – Unlucky in the game, lucky in love.
4. Chi si assomiglia si piglia [kˈi sˈi as͡somˈiʎa sˈi pˈiʎa] – Whoever is similar gets along.
5. L’amore è un viaggio non una destinazione [lamˈore ˈɛːˈun vjˈad͡ʒːo nˈon ˈuna destinat͡siˈone] – Love is a journey, not a destination.
6. L’amore domina senza regole [lamˈore domˈina sˈɛnt͡sa rˈɛɡole] – Love rules without rules.
7. Amore e gelosia nacquero insieme [amˈore ˈeː d͡ʒelozˈia nˈakːwero insɪˈɛme] – Love and jealousy were born together.
8. L’amore si misura in piatti cucinati [ˈɛlle’amˈore sˈi mizˈura ˈiːn pjˈatːɪ kʊt͡ʃinˈatɪ] – Love is measured in cooked dishes.
9. Al cuor non si comanda [ˈal kwˈɔr nˈon sˈi komandˈa] – The heart can’t be commanded.
10. Amore chiama amore [amˈore kjˈama amˈore] – Love calls love.
11. Lontano dagli occhi, lontano dal cuore [lontˈano dˈaʎʎi ˈɔkːi, lontˈano dˈal kwˈɔre] – Far from the eyes, far from the heart.
12. Tra moglie e marito non mettere il dito [trˈa mˈoʎʎe ˈe marˈito nˈon mettˈere ˈiːl dˈito] – Don’t interfere between husband and wife.

The above expressions are common among Italians, and you can often hear them during a routine discussion. Learning at least a few will boost your vocabulary and help you understand the natives better.

In Italian culture, è bello se love is not perfect—certain imperfections or even small disagreements can make relationships more authentic and lively. Also, spending quality time with loved ones is considered a core part of Italian happiness and the art of living well. Italians often say "Il primo amore non si scorda mai"—the first love is never forgotten, highlighting the lasting impact of early romantic experiences.

Italian Phrases About Family

Family is the most precious thing every person has in their lives. Mother, father, children, sisters, brothers, and other relatives are all quite important. Let’s learn some Italian quotes that emphasize the value of family:

1. Amor di madre, amore senza limiti [amˈor dˈi mˈadre, amˈore sˈɛnt͡sa lˈimitɪ] – Mother’s love is limitless.
2. L’affetto verso i genitori e fondamento di ogni virtù [ˈɛlle’affˈɛtːo vˈɛrso ˈi d͡ʒenitˈorɪ ˈeː fondamˈento dˈi ˈoɲɲɪ vˈirtʊ] – Affection towards parents is the foundation of every virtue.
3. Tale padre, tale figlio [tˈale pˈadre, tˈale fˈiʎo] – Like father, like son.
4. Una buona mamma vale cento maestre [ˈuna bʊˈɔna mˈamma vˈale t͡ʃˈɛnto maˈɛstre] – A good mother is worth a hundred teachers.
5. La famiglia è tutto [lˈa famˈiʎa ˈɛː tˈutːo] – Family is everything.
6. Casa dolce casa [kˈaːza dˈolt͡ʃe kˈaːza] – Home sweet home.
7. Il sangue non è acqua [ˈiːl sˈanɡwe nˈon ˈɛː ˈakkwa] – Blood is thicker than water.
8. Parenti serpenti [parˈɛnti serpˈɛnti] – Relatives are snakes.

The saying "Tale padre, tale figlio" reflects the idea that children often adopt their parents' quirks and habits, showing how family traits are passed down through generations. Another common expression, "I panni sporchi si lavano in casa," means that family problems should be kept private and resolved within the household. Italian families also deeply value simple pleasures—enjoying good food, spending time together, and appreciating everyday moments—which is often reflected in their family sayings and daily life.

Maybe these quotes inspire you to call your parents and tell them how much you love them. In any case, close relatives are of utmost importance for Italians, and their respect for the mother and father can be seen in famous expressions, so choose the most exciting Italian saying about family.

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Quotes About Friendship in Italian

Friends are important to most people, so it’s not surprising there are so many sayings about them. Of course, you can always use an Italian proverb about family to your close people. However, friendship is no less valuable for most people, so grab a few expressions about it:

1. Chi trova un amico, trova un tesoro [kˈi trˈɔva ˈun amˈiko, trˈɔva ˈun tezˈɔro] – Whoever finds a friend finds a treasure.
2. L’amico vero si vede nel momento del bisogno [ˈɛlle’amˈiko vˈero sˈi vˈede nˈɛl momˈento dˈel bizˈoɲɲo] – A true friend is seen in times of need.
3. Gli amici sono la famiglia che scegliamo noi stessi [ʎˈɪ amˈit͡ʃɪ sˈono lˈa famˈiʎa kˈe ʃeʎˈamo nˈoi stˈes͡sɪ] – Friends are the family we choose ourselves.
4. L’amico è colui che sa tutto di te e nonostante questo continua a esserti amico [ˈɛlle’amˈiko ˈɛː kolˈuːi kˈe sˈa tˈutːo dˈi tˈe ˈeː nonostˈante kwˈesto kontˈinʊa ˈad ˈɛs͡sertɪ amˈiko] – A friend is someone who knows everything about you and still continues to be your friend.
5. L’amicizia migliora la felicità e abbatte l’infelicità, col raddoppiare della nostra gioia e col dividere il nostro dolore [ˈɛlle’amit͡ʃˈit͡sia miʎˈora lˈa felit͡ʃitˈa ˈeː abːˈatːe ˈɛlle’infelit͡ʃitˈa, kˈɔl radːopːjˈare dˈella nˈɔstra d͡ʒˈɔia ˈeː kˈɔl divˈidere ˈiːl nˈɔstro dolˈore] – Friendship improves happiness and reduces unhappiness, by doubling our joy and sharing our pain.
6. Un vero amico è quello che entra quando il resto del mondo esce [ˈun vˈero amˈiko ˈɛː kwˈɛllo kˈe ˈentra kwˈando ˈiːl rˈɛsto dˈel mˈondo ˈeʃe] – A true friend is the one who comes in when the rest of the world leaves.
7. Dimmi con chi vai e ti dirò chi sei [dˈimmi kˈon kˈi vˈai ˈe tˈi dirˈɔ kˈi sˈɛi] – Tell me who you go with and I’ll tell you who you are.
8. Gli amici si vedono nel bisogno [ʎˈi amˈit͡ʃi sˈi vˈedono nˈɛl biʒˈoɲɲo] – Friends are seen in times of need.

In Italian, the idea that "birds of a feather flock together" is captured by the saying "Dimmi con chi vai e ti dirò chi sei," which highlights how people with similar traits or values—like a feather flock—naturally form close groups or friendships.

Italian proverbs also honor all those who show patience, persistence, and resilience in friendships, recognizing the quiet strength and silent endurance that true friends demonstrate through life's challenges.

We agree that having a reliable friend is equal to finding a treasure. Using widely common expressions is among the best ways to demonstrate your warm feelings to close people and remind them how important they are to you.

Italian Sayings About Food and Love

The country boasts one of the best cuisines that is famous worldwide. Locals pay special attention to what they eat, and the number of excellent Italian dishes impresses even the pickiest gourmets. Therefore, food is special for the country’s residents, and they couldn’t deal with it without some common expressions about it:

1. Avere il prosciutto sugli occhi [avˈere ˈiːl proʃˈutːo sˈuʎɪ ˈɔkːɪ] – Having ham on your eyes (being careless to an evident situation).
2. Rompere le uova nel paniere [rˈompere lˈe wˈɔva nˈɛl paniˈɛre] – Breaking eggs in the basket (ruining someone’s plans).
3. Essere l’altra metà della mela [ˈɛs͡sere ˈɛlle’ˈaltra metˈa dˈella mˈɛla] – Be the other half of the apple (finding a soulmate, true love).
4. La mela non cade mai lontana dall’albero [lˈa mˈɛla nˈon kˈade mˈaj lontˈana dˈal’ˈalbero] – The apple never falls from the tree (referring to the similarities between children and their parents).
5. Fare le nozze coi fichi secchi [fˈare lˈe nˈɔt͡sːe kˈɔi fˈikɪ sˈekːɪ] – Have a wedding with dried figs (making an inappropriate choice).
6. Buono come il pane [bʊˈɔno kˈome ˈiːl pˈane] – As good as bread (describing a kind and altruistic person).
7. A tavola non si invecchia [a tˈavola nˈon sˈi invekkˈja] – At the table, you don’t grow old.
8. L’appetito vien mangiando [lappeˈtito vjˈɛn mand͡ʒˈando] – Appetite comes while eating.
9. Buon vino fa buon sangue [bwˈɔn vˈino fˈa bwˈɔn sˈanɡwe] – Good wine makes good blood.

Another well-known Italian proverb is "A caval donato non si guarda in bocca" (literally, "donato non si guarda"), which means "don't look a gift horse in the mouth." This saying uses the phrase si guarda to remind us to accept gifts with gratitude and not to scrutinize their value.

Food is considered a valuable resource in Italian culture and is central to social interactions. The saying "Chi mangia bene, vive bene" ("Those who eat well, live well") perfectly captures the Italian philosophy that good meals are essential for a good life. Another popular expression, "C'è sempre posto per un dolce" ("There's always room for dessert"), reflects the Italian love for sweets and the joy of sharing treats. Italians also say, "Tutto quel che vedete lo devo agli spaghetti" ("Everything you see, I owe to spaghetti"), highlighting the joy and importance of food in life. Enjoying food is truly one of the simple pleasures of Italian living.

Of course, Italians are not always serious, as they have a great sense of humor and love to laugh. Therefore, numerous Italian sayings about food are funny and exciting. Many of them can instead be considered idioms, as they don’t have a direct meaning. Sometimes, it’s challenging to understand what a particular quote says, as there are no analogs in other languages.

However, eating remains essential to the country’s culture, and locals are insanely proud of their cuisine. It might be surprising, but most pizza and pasta dishes you can order in restaurants outside Italy have nothing in common with the original recipe. So, trying authentic food is among the main reasons to visit this fantastic country.

Funny Italian Sayings

Okay, can we just talk about how Italian sayings are absolutely chef's kiss? They're not just wise — they're hilarious and clever, packed with irony and wordplay that'll make you smile every time. Take "Chi va piano, va sano e va lontano" (Who goes slow, goes safely and goes far) — basically the Italian way of saying "slow and steady wins the race," but honestly, it hits different when you're rushing through life and need that gentle reminder to chill. And then there's "Meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani" (Better an egg today than a chicken tomorrow), which is basically Italian wisdom telling you to take what you can get right now instead of waiting around for something bigger that might never happen — pretty relatable, right? Here's where it gets fun though: when Italians want to wish you good luck, they literally say "In bocca al lupo" (In the mouth of the wolf) — like, imagine telling your friend "hope you end up in a wolf's mouth" before their big presentation! The Italian twist on "don't count your chickens before they hatch" is even better: "Non vendere la pelle dell'orso prima di averlo preso" (Don't sell the bear's skin before you've caught it) — because apparently Italians go big or go home even with their cautionary tales. These sayings are pure gold for everyday convos and give you this totally fresh take on life's ups and downs. Oh, and here's my personal favorite: "Tanto va la gatta al lardo che ci lascia lo zampino" (The cat goes to the lard so much that it leaves its paw) — it's basically warning you that if you keep doing something you shouldn't, you're gonna get caught eventually, but the imagery of a sneaky cat getting busted is just perfect.

Italian “blessings” are not always religious

In Italian, many “blessings” are everyday good-wishes, not formal religious phrases. Italians use them to show care, support, or warm politeness — especially around health, luck, travel, and food. Learning a few of these expressions helps you sound more natural and understand what people mean beyond the literal words.

Using these blessings and sayings naturally in conversation can help you sound more like a native speaker and connect better with Italians.

When to use sayings (and when to skip them)

Italian sayings work best in casual conversations with friends, family, or friendly locals — like at dinner, in a market, or during small talk. In formal situations, keep it simple (basic greetings and polite phrases). A good rule: if you’re not sure, use the shorter blessing (like Auguri! or In bocca al lupo!), not a long proverb.

Knowing the English translation of Italian sayings can help you understand their meaning and use them correctly in the right context.

Tiny pronunciation tip that boosts confidence

If a phrase feels hard to say, break it into chunks and repeat it like a mini-chant. Italians speak with rhythm, and proverbs often have a “music” to them. Once you catch the rhythm, your pronunciation becomes smoother — and your memory gets better too.

Learn More Italian Blessings and Sayings with Promova

Are you excited about mastering the language even more? The Promova platform offers plenty of useful materials and expressions you can use in daily communication with Italians. We offer guided courses to help learners strengthen their knowledge and reach the desired level at their own pace.

To learn Italian more effectively, try practicing Italian sayings and proverbs—this will help you sound more natural and understand Italian culture better.

Learners can download a convenient Promova app or use the web version to enjoy thrilling lessons wherever they are. Lots of new words on different topics, exciting quizzes, speaking activities, and grammar exercises will help boost your knowledge. Remember that regularity is the key to successful learning, and devote time to mastering the Italian language. Subscribe to the Premium version of the app to get even more benefits.

Conclusion

Learning the common Italian phrases about family, love, and friendship is a great idea for those who would like to explore the country's history and culture. Locals value their traditions, and some expressions have been used for centuries. Memorize at least some proverbs and quotes to impress your interlocutor with a knowledge of Italian.