Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund
the early hours are the most productive (≈ the early bird catches the worm)
Origin
The proverb goes back to the Latin schoolroom formula 'Aurora habet aurum in ore' (the dawn has gold in its mouth), a play on Aurora, goddess of the dawn; in sense it also echoes 'Aurora musis amica' (the morning hour is friend of the Muses). It is attested in German from around 1585.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Relative clauses with 'was', 'wo' and 'wo(r)-'Relativsätze mit 'was', 'wo' und 'wo(r)-'
- Ellipsis and aposiopesis as stylistic devicesEllipse und Aposiopese als Stilmittel
Examples
Steh auf, Morgenstund hat im !
Get up early — the early bird catches the worm!