proverb

A proverb is a short, widely known saying that expresses a general truth, piece of advice, or wisdom drawn from common experience. Proverbial language is often figurative, memorable, and easily passed along in conversation, literature, and education.

The term derives from Latin proverbium, via Old French proverbe, meaning a traditional saying or motto. In English, proverbs are sometimes grouped with adages, maxims, or saws, and many are anonymous due to their origins in oral culture.

Proverbs are typically concise and turn on metaphor or parallel structure. They often employ parallelism, rhyme, or vivid imagery to aid recall. They tend to reflect common values and practical wisdom of a culture, but may also reveal regional concerns or historical circumstances.

Functions of proverbs include teaching social norms, shaping behavior, and signaling membership in a community of speakers. They function as compact frameworks for judgment and instruction, and they are frequently adapted or translated to new linguistic and cultural contexts.

While many proverbs are universal, most cultures also have their own stock of regional or ethnic sayings. Collections of proverbs, scholarly discussions, and linguistic corpora help study their form, meaning, and transmission.

Examples include "Where there’s a will there’s a way," "Actions speak louder than words," and "Don’t bite the hand that feeds you." These illustrate how proverbs condense experience into memorable, portable counsel.