Literal translation
water is gold
Meaning
water is a precious resource
Explanation
Aigo means water, and or means gold, the precious metal; l'aigo es d'or thus literally translates as water is gold, a direct comparison between the resource and the metal traditionally held to be of the highest worth. In use, the expression asserts that water is an extremely precious resource, a claim particularly pointed in a Provence historically marked by drought and the scarcity of fresh water before modern large-scale irrigation networks arrived. The fuller version, es eici, l'aigo es d'or, here, water is gold, anchors the claim to a specific place, suggesting the phrase was originally said about a particular spot where water was cruelly lacking or, conversely, where its presence was a remarkable form of wealth. The register is proverbial and sententious, close to a maxim, used to recall the value of a resource too often taken for granted and wasted. The image of gold, a universal store of value, makes the comparison instantly understandable in any context.