wie die Mutter, so die Tochter

/viː diː ˈmʊtɐ, zoː diː ˈtɔxtɐ/
phrase★Intermediate— like mother, like daughter◆proverb
◆ What It Really Means
The idea that daughters often inherit or emulate their mothers' characteristics, behaviors, or traits.
Literal Meaning
As the mother, so the daughter.
Literal Breakdown
wie die Mutterlike the mother+so die Tochterso the daughter
◇ Mental Image
The mental image of a daughter mirroring her mother's actions, personality, or appearance.
◈ When to Use
A grandmother might say this to her son when she notices his daughter behaving similarly to her mother.
◉ Cultural Note
This proverb reflects the cultural belief in the strong influence of mothers on their daughters, often seen in family dynamics and social observations.
informal

A proverb indicating that daughters often inherit or emulate their mothers' characteristics, behaviors, or traits.

Die Tochter hat die gleiche Leidenschaft für Musik wie ihre Mutter – wie die Mutter, so die Tochter.

The daughter has the same passion for music as her mother – like mother, like daughter.

💡

This proverb is often used to highlight similarities in personality, habits, or talents between mothers and daughters.

Synonyms

Related Phrases

wie der Vater, so der Sohnproverb
like father, like son

💡Pro Tip

Cultural Context

This proverb is often used to acknowledge positive traits passed down from mother to daughter, but it can also carry a negative connotation if the mother's traits are undesirable.

📖Word Origin

This proverb originates from German folklore and reflects the cultural observation that daughters often resemble their mothers in various aspects.

📝Usage Notes

The phrase is commonly used in informal contexts to describe the transmission of traits or behaviors from mother to daughter.

Word Breakdown

wie die Mutter
like the mother
phrase
+
so die Tochter
so the daughter
phrase
Deutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch