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Petit à petit, l'oiseau fait son nid
/pə.ti a pə.ti l‿wa.zo fɛ sɔ̃ ni/◆proverb
slow and steady progress leads to success
Petit à petit, elle a construit sa carrière.
Little by little, she built her career.
informal
This proverb emphasizes that steady, incremental progress over time leads to significant achievements, much like how a bird builds its nest one piece at a time.
Avec de la patience, petit à petit, l'oiseau fait son nid.
With patience, little by little, the bird builds its nest.
Ne t'inquiète pas, petit à petit, on y arrivera.
Don't worry, little by little, we'll get there.
This proverb is often used to encourage perseverance and to highlight the value of consistent effort.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage in Encouragement
This proverb is often used to reassure someone that progress, though slow, is still progress.
Gold Rule
Literal vs. Figurative
While the phrase literally describes a bird building a nest, its figurative meaning is about steady progress in any endeavor.
Word Origin
The phrase originates from the observation of birds building their nests gradually, piece by piece, which serves as a metaphor for steady progress in human endeavors.
Usage Notes
This proverb is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to encourage patience and persistence in achieving long-term goals.
Word Breakdown
petit à petit
little by little
phrasel'oiseau
the bird
phrasefait son nid
builds its nest
phraseDictionnaire Français-Anglais