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Here are some sample PA Dutch Proverbs, Poems and Riddles. Most were found
in The Pennsylvania Dutchman, a publication of the Dutch Folklore
Center, Inc., Fackenthal Library, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster
PA. Editors were Alfred L. Shoemaker, Don Yoder and J. William Frey. Other
proverbs, poems and riddles were taken from letters that have come through
the Center. If you have additions to the samples below, please send them
to us!
PA Dutch Proverbs
PA Dutch Riddles
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PA Dutch Proverbs
Wie greeser as sie sin, wie hadder as sie falle.
The taller the person, the harder he falls.
Er is en Schpaa vum alde Glotz.
He is a splinter off the old block.
Sis ken Heffli so grumm as net en Deckel zu finne is as druff bassa
dutt.
There is no pot so crooked, that there isn't a lid to fit on it.
Besser der Maage verreisse as Ess-sach weck gschmisse.
Better to “bust” one’s stomach than to throw food away.
So aarm wie en Karichemaus.
As poor as the church mouse.
Der Appel fallt net weit vum Schtamm.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Sie losse’s zu eem Ohr neigeh un zum annere naus.
They let it go in one ear and out the other.
Was mer net im Kopp hot, muss mer in d’ Fiess hawwe.
What we don’t have in our heads, we must have in our feet.
Er sauft wie en Fisch.
He drinks like a fish.
Er is ken Schuss Pulwer wert.
He’s not worth a bit of powder.
Geb ihm der glee Finger un er will die ganz Hand hawwe.
Give him your little finger and he’ll take your whole hand.
Wann mer der Esel nennt, kummt er gerennt.
When you mention the donkey, he comes running.
Er verdient net sei Salz in d’ Supp.
He doesn’t earn the salt in his soup.
Mer kann en gaul net saufe mache.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.
Wer’s letscht lacht, der lacht am beschde.
Whoever laughs last, laughs best.
Nasser Abrill un kiehler Moi, bringt viel Frucht un Hoi.
A wet April and cool May, brings lots of fruit and hay.
Er bekimmert sich mehner um die Woll as wie um die Schof.
He cares more about the wool than he does about the sheep.
Die Erfaahring is en haddi Schul, awwer die Narre lanne in ken anneri.
Experience is a tough school, but stupidty doesn’t learn in any other.
Was em net brennt, brauch mer net blose.
When nothing is burning, we don’t need to blow.
Es kummt net uff die Grees aa, schunscht kennt en Kuh en Haas fange.
It’s not about size, otherwise a cow could catch a rabbit.
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PA Dutch Riddles
Was is glenner as en Loch? (What is smaller than a hole?)
Der zaoppe wa neigeht. (The stopper or plug that fills it.)
Ferwas duhne die Sei greische? (Why do pigs squeal?)
Weil sie net peife kenne. (Because they can’t whistle.)
Ferwas is der aerscht Mann uff de Leeder gegraddelt? (Why did
the first man climb up a ladder?)
Fer in de Heh kumme. (To get on top of something.)
Was is nix we Kopp un Schwanz? (What is nothing but head and tail?)
En Naggel. (a nail)
Mer dutt’s net kocha, mer yaust ken Peffer un Salz, ken Zucker un
Schmalz un es schmackt ennihau gut? (One does not cook it, one does
not add pepper or salt, sugar or lard, and still it tates good?)
En Boss. (a kiss)
Es hot en schee waarem Haus, es dutt sei Lewe lang net ziehe, un bezaalt
ken Tax, un dutt niemand beliege? (It has a nice warm house, never
moves, pays no taxes and cheats no one?)
En Schildgrott. (a tortoise)
Was dutt der Hahne wann er uff eem Beh schteht? (What is the rooster
doing when he stands on one foot?)
Er hebt’s anner uff. (He holds up the other one)
Was macht meh Zucht wie en Sau in re Benn? (What makes more noise
than a pig in a pen?)
Zwee Sei. (two pigs)
This poem would be something that a hired man who is tired of potatoes for
every meal would say:
Maryets Grummbiere in aller Frieh
Middaags Grummbiere in der saeme Brieh.
Oweds Grummbiere zum Abendmoal!
Ya, d Grummbiere haben mir allimol.
Potatoes for breakfast - begins our day.
Potatoes for lunch - cooked the very same way!
Potatoes at night - makes our evening meal!
We've potatoes too often - I really do feel!
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