French friendship proverbs - Proverbes sur l'amitié 


Here are the most common French proverbs about frienship.

Enjoy!






Proverbe / Proverb Literal translation Idiomatic translation / English equivalent Meaning
Offrir l'amitié à qui veut l'amour, c'est donner du pain à qui meurt de soif. To offer friendship to someone who wants love is like giving food to someone who’s dying of thirst Nothing is crueler than unrequited love Nothing is crueler than unrequited love
C'est dans le besoin qu'on reconnaît ses vrais amis. It is when in need that one recognize his real friends A friend in need is a friend indeed A friend who helps out when we are in trouble is a true friend (unlike others who disappear when trouble arises)
Les bons comptes font les bons amis. Good accounting makes for good friends Short reckonings make long friends If you borrow something from a friend, pay it back as soon as possible so that the two of you remain in good terms.
On n'est jamais mieux servi que par soi-même You are never better served than by yourself Don’t count too much on others. Help yourself! If you want things to be done the way you want, you'd better do it yourself.
Ami de tous, ami de personne. everybody's friend is nobody's friend everybody's friend is nobody's friend 1.Friendship requires time and intimacy

2. You should beware of overly nice people
On n'est jamais trahi que par les siens. We are always betrayed by ours We are always betrayed by someone close to us. We are always betrayed by someone close to us.
Qui se ressemble s'assemble. Those who resemble each other will get together Birds of a feather (flock together) People with similar tastes and distates get along well
Il vaut mieux être seul que mal accompagné. One better be alone than in bad company. Loneliness is better than bad company. Sometimes it is better to be alone than with people you do not like.
Qui aime bien châtie bien He / She who loves well punishes well Spare the rod, spoil the child. People who love you, may be hard on you but it is for your own good.
L'union fait la force. Unity is power. United we stand, divided we fall. You are stronger in a group than alone
Plus on est de fous, plus on rit The more there are insane people, the more one laughs The more, the merrier The more fun-loving people get together, the more fun they have