Provençal expression

Bèu camin camino

Character

Literal translation

beautiful road, walks well

Meaning

on a good road, the walking is easy

Explanation

The expression pairs the noun camin, road, with its verbal form camina, to walk, to trudge along, in an elliptical construction that plays on the sound and etymological kinship of the two words. Literally, it states that walking is easy and pleasant on a good road, a common-sense observation drawn from the concrete experience of travel at a time when Provençal roads were far from uniformly passable. Figuratively, it extends to any well-launched, well-prepared undertaking built on solid foundations: just as a good road eases the walk, a matter handled properly from the start naturally tends toward a happy outcome. The expression carries the weight of folk wisdom, almost a proverb, urging care in the early steps and groundwork of any venture to ensure an easier road ahead. The register is neutral to somewhat sententious, used in conversation to comment confidently on how smoothly a situation is unfolding.

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Other expressions on the same theme

Boulegues pas lou batèu !don't move! Carga coumo uno abiho/un aiheavily loaded Chanja l'aigo eis óulivoto relieve oneself Chasque/cade toupin trovo sa cabucelloeveryone finds the partner who suits them Couioun de la lunoa fool, an idiot …Coumo d'anchoio…packed like sardines