🗣️ Turkey: “What can one hand do? Two hands make a sound”

Turkish proverb · Asia

Bir elin nesi var, iki elin sesi var

bir elin nesi var, iki elin sesi var

“What can one hand do? Two hands make a sound”

One hand alone is silent; two clapping make music — many hands accomplish what one cannot.

About this proverb

Origin country	Turkey
Region	Asia
Language	Turkish
Romanisation	bir elin nesi var, iki elin sesi var

This saying belongs to the oral tradition of Turkey, a country in Asia. Read the full collection of Turkey proverbs, or explore the Proverbs of the World index.

Damlaya damlaya göl olur

damlaya damlaya göl olur

“Drop by drop, a lake is formed”

Small savings or efforts, added together, become something large — patience and accumulation win.

Proverbs are traditional folk heritage (public domain); the translation and explanation are our own plain-English rendering. Stored statically.

Traditional sayings from around the world, each with its original wording, a romanisation, a plain-English translation and what it really means.

Folk wisdom from 6 Africa countries in the collection.

Folk wisdom from 4 Americas countries in the collection.

Folk wisdom from 12 Asia countries in the collection.

Folk wisdom from 15 Europe countries in the collection.

Folk wisdom from 2 Oceania countries in the collection.