Wer spät aufsteht, hat Gold im Mund

/veːɐ̯ ʃpɛːt aʊ̯fˈʃteːt hat ɡɔlt ɪm mʊnt/
proverb★Intermediate— those who wake up late have an easy life◆proverb
◆ What It Really Means
Those who wake up late have an easy or luxurious life, while those who wake up early have to work harder but may be more successful.
Literal Meaning
Those who wake up late have gold in their mouth.
Literal Breakdown
Wer spät aufstehtthose who wake up late+hat Gold im Mundhave gold in their mouth
◇ Mental Image
The image of having gold in one's mouth suggests wealth or luxury, while waking up late is associated with a more relaxed lifestyle.
◈ When to Use
A person might use this proverb to justify sleeping in or to contrast their lifestyle with someone who wakes up early.
◉ Cultural Note
This proverb reflects a cultural attitude toward work and leisure in German-speaking countries, where waking up late is sometimes seen as a luxury.
informal

This proverb suggests that people who wake up late have an easier or more luxurious life, while those who wake up early have to work harder but may be more successful.

Ich schlafe gerne lange, denn wer spät aufsteht, hat Gold im Mund.

I like to sleep in because those who wake up late have an easy life.

💡

This proverb is often used humorously or to justify sleeping in.

Synonyms

Related Phrases

Früh aufstehen lohnt sichproverb
Waking up early is worth it

💡Pro Tip

Cultural Context

This proverb reflects a cultural attitude toward work and leisure in German-speaking countries, where waking up late is sometimes seen as a luxury.

📖Word Origin

The exact origin of this proverb is unclear, but it reflects a cultural attitude toward work and leisure in German-speaking countries.

📝Usage Notes

This proverb is often used to justify sleeping in or to contrast different lifestyles. It is not meant to be taken literally.

Word Breakdown

Wer spät aufsteht
those who wake up late
phrase
+
hat Gold im Mund
have an easy life
phrase
Deutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch