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In the field labeled "Variation" you can input text in different languages, a full or a partial word. Perhaps you remember the beginning of the proverb you want to find so you can try it.
Every proverb type has a classification code and its own number in the database (normally beginning from 10, because of technical reasons). You can filter the displayed table by using the dropdown menu in the "Code" field. To clear the filter, select the empty entry at the top of the list.
The literature references (35,563 references from 350 collections or articles)
You can input text in the fields "Abbreviation", "Book author/editor" and "Book title" to filter the displayed table by proverb collections.
By now there are 409 books, collections or other sources.
If you want to refer to Kuusi’s typology, you can use the code & number combination. We will not change the original numbers.
Code
No.
Variation
Abbreviation
Book author/editor
Book title
Pages/numbers
A1a
10
EV
Krikmann, Arvo - Sarv, Ingrid (eds.)
Eesti vanasõnad I-III.
Proverb number(s): 5701, 13983.
A1a
10
KS
Miettinen, Liisa — Leino, Pentti (eds.)
Karjalaisia sananpolvia.
Proverb number(s): 11494, 12476, 12477.
A1a
10
Kuu4
Kuusi, M. (in cooper. with) M. Joalaid, E. Kokare, A. Krikmann, K. Laukkanen, P.Leino,V.Mälk, I.Sarv
Proverbia septentrionalia. FF communications No. 236.
Proverb number(s): 486.
A1a
10
VKs
Kuusi, Matti (ed.)
Vanhan kansan sananlaskuviisaus.
Page with proverb: 438.
A1a
10b
Mie
Mieder, Wolfgang
The Prentice-Hall encyclopedia of World Proverbs. A treasury of wit and wisdom through the ages.
Proverb number(s): 13409.
A1a
10b
PS II
Hakamies et al.
Proverbia Septentrionalia II (a database and manuscript in the Finnish Literature Society)
Proverb number(s): 1945.
A1a
10b
SL
Laukkanen, Kari — Hakamies, Pekka (eds.)
Sananlaskut.
Proverb number(s): 14711.
A1a
11
APp
Karapetjan, G.O. (ed.)
Armjanskie poslovitsy i pogovorki.
Proverb number(s): 680.
A1a
12
Mie
Mieder, Wolfgang
The Prentice-Hall encyclopedia of World Proverbs. A treasury of wit and wisdom through the ages.
Proverb number(s): 14307.
A1a
13
Wo das Wasser einmal hergeht, da fliesst es mehr her.
DS IV
Wander,K.F.W.
Deutsches Sprichwörter-Lexikon IV
Page with proverb: 1823. Proverb number(s) on page: 549.
A1a
13
EKs
Laiho, L. (ed.)
Etelä-Karjalan sananparsia. Keräyttänyt ja julkaissut Viipurilainen Osakunta.
Proverb number(s): 1328.
A1a
13
Opposite !
Hla
Hla Pe
Burmese Proverbs
Proverb number(s): 365. Additional number(s) and notes: 254 opposite.
A1a
13
KPp
Plesovskij,F.V.
Komi poslovitsy i pogovorki
Page with proverb: 22.
A1a
13
Water doesn't rise above its source (Philippine)
Mie
Mieder, Wolfgang
The Prentice-Hall encyclopedia of World Proverbs. A treasury of wit and wisdom through the ages.
Proverb number(s): 17047.
A1a
13
Water on a roof-top must run down to the eaves (Malayan)
MP
Winstedt, Sir Richard (ed.)
Malay Proverbs.
Page with proverb: 23. Proverb number(s) on page: 20.
A1a
13
Per
Permâkov, Grigorij Lvovic
Izbrannye poslovitsy i pogovorki narodov Vostoka.
Page with proverb: 182. Page with proverb: 185. Page with proverb: 278. Additional number(s) and notes: 287, (305).
A1a
13
PS II
Hakamies et al.
Proverbia Septentrionalia II (a database and manuscript in the Finnish Literature Society)
Proverb number(s): 3460.
A1a
13
Qvi
Qvigstad, J.
Lappische Sprichwörter und Rätsel.
Proverb number(s): 13.
A1a
13
Water doesn't refuse to go down, nor smoke to go up (Malagasy) / Water runs in ditches (Nupe/Afr.)
RP
Champion, Selwyn Gurney
Racial Proverbs. 2nd ed.
Page with proverb: 435. Proverb number(s) on page: 284. Page with proverb: 375. Proverb number(s) on page: 989. Page with proverb: 381. Proverb number(s) on page: 1249. Additional number(s) and notes: 381:1254, 455:161, 553:142, 570:86.
A1a
13
Man by right ascends; water downward tends (Chinese)
Sca
Scarborough,W.
A Collection of Chinese Proverbs.
Proverb number(s): 1479.
A1a
13
Sin II
Singer, S.
Sprichwörter des Mittelalters II
Page with proverb: 179.
A1a
13
VKs
Kuusi, Matti (ed.)
Vanhan kansan sananlaskuviisaus.
Additional number(s) and notes: (43).
A1a
14
Wo es niedrig ist, da mag leicht Wasser hinkommen.
DS III
Wander,K.F.W.
Deutsches Sprichwörter-Lexikon III
Page with proverb: 1024. Proverb number(s) on page: 3.
A1a
14
Das Wasser sucht sich einen Weg.
DS IV
Wander,K.F.W.
Deutsches Sprichwörter-Lexikon IV
Page with proverb: 1802. Proverb number(s) on page: 80.
A1a
14
KS
Miettinen, Liisa — Leino, Pentti (eds.)
Karjalaisia sananpolvia.
Proverb number(s): 12465.
A1a
14
Per
Permâkov, Grigorij Lvovic
Izbrannye poslovitsy i pogovorki narodov Vostoka.
Page with proverb: 215.
A1a
14
PS II
Hakamies et al.
Proverbia Septentrionalia II (a database and manuscript in the Finnish Literature Society)
Proverb number(s): 1905, 2994.
A1a
14
Let things take their course / Man muß den Dingen ihren Lauf lassen / Il faut laisser couler l'eau
Stra
Strauss, Emanuel
Dictionary of European Proverbs
Proverb number(s): 1394.
A1a
15
Dür II
Düringsfeld, Ida von — Reinsberg-Düringsfeld., Otto von
Sprichwörter der germanischen und romanischen Sprachen II
Proverb number(s): 595.
A1a
16
Aqu
Aquilina, J.
A Comparative Dictionary of Maltese Proverbs
Page with proverb: 411. Proverb number(s) on page: 46.
A1a
16b
Mie
Mieder, Wolfgang
The Prentice-Hall encyclopedia of World Proverbs. A treasury of wit and wisdom through the ages.
Proverb number(s): 13632.
A1a
17
BNm
Ikonomov, N.I.
Balkanska narodna madrost
Proverb number(s): 1508.
A1a
17
Bud II
Budaev,T.B.
Adekvatnye poslovitsy i pogovorki raznyh narodov, II
Page with proverb: 64.
A1a
17
Cel
Celakovský, F.L.
Murdosloví národu slovanského v príslovích.
Page with proverb: 439.
A1a
17
DesR
DesRuisseaux,P.
Le Livre des Proverbes Quebecois
Page with proverb: 157. Proverb number(s) on page: 40.
A1a
17
DOm
Tang Kristensen, Evald (ed.)
Danske ordsprog, og mundheld, skjæmtsprog, stedlige talemåder, ordspil og samtaleord.
Proverb number(s): 3786, 9919.
A1a
17
Feuer und Wasser sind zwei gute Diener, aber schlimme Herren / El fogo xe un bon servitor, ma un cativo paron
Dür I
Düringsfeld, Ida von — Reinsberg-Düringsfeld., Otto von
Sprichwörter der germanischen und romanischen Sprachen I
Proverb number(s): 461.
A1a
17
Ell
Ellilä,E.J.
Tehty seisoo ja sanottu pysyy. Hokuja, sutkauksia ja sananparsia Sysmän pitäjästä.
Page with proverb: 20.
A1a
17
EpS
Vaasan Jaakkoo (J.O.Ikola) (ed.)
Eteläpohjalaisia sananparsia.
Page with proverb: 27.
A1a
17
EpS
Luukko,A. (ed.)
Etelä-Pohjanmaan sananparsia. Etelä-Pohjalainen Osakunta.
Page with proverb: 27.
A1a
17
Eld och vatten är goda tjänare, men elaka herrar.
Hol
Holm, Pelle
Ordspråk och talesätt.
Page with proverb: 74.
A1a
17
Ilg
Ilg, G.
Proverbes français suivis des équivalents.
Proverb number(s): 111. Additional number(s) and notes: money.
A1a
17
Kos
Koskimies, A.V.
Kokoelma Suomen kansan sananlaskuja.
Page with proverb: 429.
A1a
17
Fire is a peaceful husband (Ovambo/Afr.)
Kuu2
Kuusi, Matti
Ovambo Proverbs with African Parallels. FF communications no. 208.
Additional number(s) and notes: (1346).
A1a
17
Fire is a good slave, but a bad master (Albanian)
Mie
Mieder, Wolfgang
The Prentice-Hall encyclopedia of World Proverbs. A treasury of wit and wisdom through the ages.
Proverb number(s): 5231.
A1a
17
PS II
Hakamies et al.
Proverbia Septentrionalia II (a database and manuscript in the Finnish Literature Society)
Proverb number(s): 1234.
A1a
17
Fire when small is a friend, but when large is an enemy (Malayan)
RP
Champion, Selwyn Gurney
Racial Proverbs. 2nd ed.
Page with proverb: 452. Proverb number(s) on page: 55. Page with proverb: 13. Proverb number(s) on page: 42.
A1a
17
Sol
Solstrand, Väinö
Ordstäv. Finlands Svenska Folkdiktning III.
Page with proverb: 24. Proverb number(s) on page: 318.
A1a
17
Str
Ström, F.
Svenska ordstäv.
Page with proverb: 313.
A1a
17
Fire is a good servant but a bad master / L'acqua e il fuoco son buoni servitori, ma cattivi padroni
Stra
Strauss, Emanuel
Dictionary of European Proverbs
Proverb number(s): 870.