qui se ressemble s'assemble

/ki sə ʁə.sɑ̃bl sə.zɑ̃bl/

proverb★Intermediate◆proverb

◆ What It Really Means

People with similar characteristics or interests naturally form groups together.

¶ Literal Meaning

Those who resemble each other gather together.

Literal Breakdown

quiwho+se ressembleresembles each other+s'assemblegather together

◇ Mental Image

The mental image is of people with similar traits naturally coming together, like magnets attracting similar metals.

◈ When to Use

When explaining why a group of friends all have similar hobbies or backgrounds, you might say, 'C'est normal, qui se ressemble s'assemble.'

◉ Cultural Note

This proverb reflects the French cultural observation of social behavior and the tendency for people to seek out others with similar interests or traits.

informal

People who are similar in character or interests tend to associate with each other.

Les gens qui partagent les mêmes passions finissent souvent par se fréquenter, car qui se ressemble s'assemble.

People who share the same passions often end up hanging out together, because birds of a feather flock together.

💡

This proverb emphasizes the natural tendency for like-minded individuals to form groups.

Synonyms

Related Phrases

les semblables s'assemblentproverb

Similar people tend to gather together

💡Pro Tip

Usage Context

This proverb is often used in casual conversation to explain social dynamics or group formations.

📖Word Origin

This proverb likely originated in medieval France and reflects the observation of social behavior where people with similar traits or interests tend to gather together.

📝Usage Notes

This expression is commonly used to explain why certain groups form or why people with similar backgrounds or interests often end up together.

Word Breakdown

qui se ressemble

who resembles each other

phrase

s'assemble

assemble or gather together

verb

Dictionnaire Français-Anglais