the cowl does not make the monk

proverb

The superficial trappings of something are unrelated to its true essence.

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Meanings

proverb
  1. The superficial trappings of something are unrelated to its true essence.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
clothes don't make the manyou can't judge a book by its cover

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 人不可貌相
  • 人不可貌相 (rén bùkě màoxiàng)the superficial trappings of something are unrelated to its true essence
German Kleider machen keine Leute
  • Kleider machen keine Leutethe superficial trappings of something are unrelated to its true essence
Greek το ράσο δεν κάνει τον παπά, τα ράσα δεν κάνουν τον παπά
  • το ράσο δεν κάνει τον παπά (to ráso den kánei ton papá)the superficial trappings of something are unrelated to its true essence
  • τα ράσα δεν κάνουν τον παπά (ta rása den kánoun ton papá)the superficial trappings of something are unrelated to its true essence
Hungarian nem a csuha teszi a barátot/papot/szerzetest
  • nem a csuha teszi a barátot/papot/szerzetestthe superficial trappings of something are unrelated to its true essence
Italian l'abito non fa il monaco
  • l'abito non fa il monacothe superficial trappings of something are unrelated to its true essence
Japanese 馬子にも衣装
  • 馬子にも衣装the superficial trappings of something are unrelated to its true essence
Latin cucullus non facit monachum, barba non facit philosophum
  • cucullus non facit monachumthe superficial trappings of something are unrelated to its true essence
  • barba non facit philosophumthe superficial trappings of something are unrelated to its true essence
Polish nie szata zdobi człowieka
  • nie szata zdobi człowiekathe superficial trappings of something are unrelated to its true essence
Portuguese o hábito não faz o monge
  • o hábito não faz o mongethe superficial trappings of something are unrelated to its true essence
Spanish el hábito no hace al monje
  • el hábito no hace al monjethe superficial trappings of something are unrelated to its true essence
Cite this entry
APA

the cowl does not make the monk. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20cowl%20does%20not%20make%20the%20monk

MLA

“the cowl does not make the monk.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20cowl%20does%20not%20make%20the%20monk. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “the cowl does not make the monk,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20cowl%20does%20not%20make%20the%20monk.

Source: the cowl does not make the monk on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.