Übung macht den Meister
practice makes perfect
Origin
The proverb goes back to Latin models, especially 'Exercitatio artem parat' (practice produces skill, in Tacitus, Germania 24) and medieval formulas like 'exercitatio optimus magister'. In German form it is current from the 16th century, fitting the craft/master-guild tradition.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Demonstrative pronouns (dieser/diese/dieses, this)Demonstrativpronomen (dieser/diese/dieses)
- Modal verbs used subjectively (er dürfte krank sein)Modalverben subjektiv (er dürfte krank sein)
- Genitive preposition 'aufgrund' (because of)Genitivpräposition 'aufgrund'
- Pronoun 'sie' (she/it, singular, nominative)Pronomen 'sie' (Singular, Nominativ)
- Pronoun 'ihr' (you all, informal, nominative)Pronomen 'ihr' (Nominativ)
- Regular verbs: er/sie/es-form (stem + -t)Regelmäßige Verben: er/sie/es-Form (Stamm + -t)
Examples
Am klang das , aber macht den .
At first the piece sounded terrible, but practice makes perfect.