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  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

tutto il mondo è un paese

English translation: it\'s just human nature

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:tutto il mondo è paese
English translation:it\'s just human nature
Entered by: Thomas Roberts

12:25 Oct 20, 2010
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / saying
Italian term or phrase: tutto il mondo è un paese
This saying doesn't require any explanation, everyone knows what it means, but I can't think of any direct equivalent in English.

And I mean a real saying, not just something bland like "we're all the same the world over".

Any ideas?
Thomas Roberts
it's just human nature/ human nature is universal
Explanation:
this may work depending on the context
Selected response from:

Oliver Lawrence
Italy
Local time: 13:42
Grading comment
Many thanks to all those who answered. Some of the other answers conveyed the meaning of the expression as well, but they were descriptive, whereas what I was after was the closest English expression resembling a saying.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4People are the same the whole world over
cynthiatesser
4 +2the whole world is a village
Fiorsam
3 +2people will be people the world over
potra
3 +1it's just human nature/ human nature is universal
Oliver Lawrence
4 -1All roads lead to Rome
Y. Peraza
3 -1one world, one people
Daniel Frisano
Summary of reference entries provided
Latin, Anyone?
Barbara Carrara

Discussion entries: 13





  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): -1
one world, one people


Explanation:
an option

Daniel Frisano
Italy
Local time: 13:42
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Y. Peraza: But this saying you propose has a positive connotation, while the Italian one is rather negative...
19 mins
disagree  James (Jim) Davis: The meaning is that people are always the same wherever you go. This doesn't express that in English.
50 mins
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
the whole world is a village


Explanation:
"The whole earth as a village": A chronotopic analysis of Marshall McLuhan's " global village" and Patrick McGoohan's "The Prisoner" ...
gradworks.umi.com/MR/51/MR51912.html

Fiorsam
United States
Local time: 07:42
Works in field
Native speaker of: Italian
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Colin Rowe: The (whole) world is a village
8 mins
  -> Thank you Colin!
agree  Mr Murray (X)
45 mins
  -> Thank you mr Murray!
disagree  James (Jim) Davis: The meaning is that people are always the same wherever you go. This doesn't express that in English. Even if it is about customs or events, this still doesn't express the concept of it always being the same wherever you go. It rather says "small world".
49 mins
  -> That's precisely where we disagree. Secondo me si riferisce a costumi o avvenimenti, non a persone.
agree  Barbara Carrara: I like your other suggestion of 'It's the same no matter where'. I agree that the saying refers to 'habits' or 'way of doing things' rather than people. Ciao bella! Barbara
18 hrs
  -> Many thanks Barbara!
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13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
All roads lead to Rome


Explanation:
This is a difficult one... Yes, everybody knows what it means - to themselves! To me, it means "people are the same wherever you go".
So, considering that you want a "real saying", I would suggest the classic All roads lead to Rome. I will try to think of a better one, though, as I realise this is not a perfect equivalent.
Cheers!

Y. Peraza
Local time: 13:42
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  James (Jim) Davis: The meaning is that people are always the same wherever you go. This doesn't express that in English. /// There are many different routes to a given goal, or There is more than one way to skin a cat.
46 mins
  -> What does this express in your opinion? Just curiosity.
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35 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
People are the same the whole world over


Explanation:
.

cynthiatesser
Italy
Local time: 13:42
Native speaker of: Italian
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  KayW: I think this best conveys the meaning
2 mins
  -> Thank you!
agree  James (Jim) Davis: This is the correct meaning. The proverb has non equivalent proverb in English, so there are many ways to say this.
27 mins
  -> Thank you!
agree  Michael Brennen
3 hrs
  -> Thank you!
agree  philgoddard
5 hrs
  -> Thank you!
neutral  Barbara Carrara: 'It's the same', meglio del rifermento... personale. / Non tanto le persone quanto l'ambiente/le circostanze
18 hrs
  -> ???
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
people will be people the world over


Explanation:
tutto il mondo e' paese (non un)

The only expression that comes to mind is 'boys will be boys', so I gave it a try.



potra
United States
Local time: 07:42
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 13

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  David Turnbull: "people will be people" gets my vote
19 hrs
agree  James (Jim) Davis
1 day 10 hrs
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18 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
it's just human nature/ human nature is universal


Explanation:
this may work depending on the context

Oliver Lawrence
Italy
Local time: 13:42
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 71
Grading comment
Many thanks to all those who answered. Some of the other answers conveyed the meaning of the expression as well, but they were descriptive, whereas what I was after was the closest English expression resembling a saying.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Shera Lyn Parpia: nice and concise :)
1 hr
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Reference comments


18 hrs
Reference: Latin, Anyone?

Reference information:
Ubique medius caelus est > dovunque c'è in mezzo il cielo / il sol splende per tutto [tutto il mondo è paese / non si vuol essere troppo difficili / vi sono guai in ogni luogo] (Petronius, Satyricon, 45)
(mixed sources; here's one, http://books.google.com/books?id=hjiMpXCMCvsC&pg=PA79&lpg=PA...

'(...) heaven is just as near to us wherever we are. In other words, 'it's the same for everybody'
(source, http://books.google.com/books?id=BxSAefM0M-oC&pg=PA114&lpg=P...

Barbara Carrara
Italy
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
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