well begun is half done

proverb

Much depends on the beginning of an endeavor.

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Meanings

proverb
  1. Much depends on the beginning of an endeavor.

Origin

Traditional, via Ancient Greek; quoted by Aristotle in his Politics.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 好的開始是成功的一半 /好的开始是成功的一半
  • 好的開始是成功的一半 /好的开始是成功的一半 (hǎo de kāishǐ shì chénggōng de yībàn)much depends on the beginning of an endeavour
Danish godt begyndt er halvt fuldendt
  • godt begyndt er halvt fuldendtmuch depends on the beginning of an endeavour
Dutch een goed begin is het halve werk
  • een goed begin is het halve werkmuch depends on the beginning of an endeavour
Finnish hyvin aloitettu on puoliksi tehty
  • hyvin aloitettu on puoliksi tehtymuch depends on the beginning of an endeavour
German frisch gewagt ist halb gewonnen
  • frisch gewagt ist halb gewonnenmuch depends on the beginning of an endeavour
Greek η αρχή είναι το ήμισυ του παντός
  • η αρχή είναι το ήμισυ του παντός (i archí eínai to ímisy tou pantós)much depends on the beginning of an endeavour
Hungarian a jó kezdet fél siker
  • a jó kezdet fél sikermuch depends on the beginning of an endeavour
Irish tús maith leath na hoibre
  • tús maith leath na hoibremuch depends on the beginning of an endeavour
Italian chi ben comincia è a metà dell'opera
  • chi ben comincia è a metà dell'operamuch depends on the beginning of an endeavour
Korean 시작이 반이다
  • 시작이 반이다 (sijagi banida)much depends on the beginning of an endeavour
Polish dobry początek to połowa roboty
  • dobry początek to połowa robotymuch depends on the beginning of an endeavour
Portuguese um bom começo é a metade
  • um bom começo é a metademuch depends on the beginning of an endeavour
Russian хоро́шее нача́ло полде́ла откача́ло
  • хоро́шее нача́ло полде́ла откача́ло (xoróšeje načálo poldéla otkačálo)much depends on the beginning of an endeavour
Scottish Gaelic 's trian oibre tòiseachadh
  • 's trian oibre tòiseachadhmuch depends on the beginning of an endeavour
Cite this entry
APA

well begun is half done. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/well%20begun%20is%20half%20done

MLA

“well begun is half done.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/well%20begun%20is%20half%20done. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “well begun is half done,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/well%20begun%20is%20half%20done.

Source: well begun is half done on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.