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How Germans Express “Slowly but Surely” | Mühsam ernährt sich das Eichhörnchen Explained (B1–C2)

1,251 views · Published 26 November 2018 · 5:26 · Indexed 12 October 2026

Channel: Definitely German · 2018 · Entertainment

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How do Germans express the idea of making steady progress through small steps?

In this video I explain the German proverb Mühsam ernährt sich das Eichhörnchen from an English speaker’s perspective. You’ll see the literal meaning (a squirrel feeding itself with effort), its real figurative sense, and when Germans use it. I also give natural example sentences and English equivalents you can use in conversation.

🎯 Level: B1–C2

💬 What you’ll learn
• literal vs figurative sense: why Germans picture a squirrel working slowly
• when to say it: projects, savings, rehab/training, learning goals
• natural English parallels you can mention to friends: “slowly but surely,” “little by little,” “Rome wasn’t built in a day”

💬 Micro-examples
• “Wie läuft’s mit dem Projekt?” — “Langsam. Mühsam ernährt sich das Eichhörnchen.”
• “Ich spare jeden Monat 20 € — mühsam ernährt sich das Eichhörnchen.”

If you enjoyed this, tell me which proverb to cover next — “Ohne Fleiß kein Preis” or “Aller Anfang ist schwer”?

❓ FAQ
Q: How do Germans actually use Mühsam ernährt sich das Eichhörnchen in daily life?
A: They use it to describe situations where progress is slow but steady, e.g., saving money, training, or learning something step by step.

Q: What are common English equivalents?
A: “Slowly but surely,” “little by little,” or “Rome wasn’t built in a day” capture the same meaning in conversation.

#GermanProverbs #LearnGerman #GermanVocabulary #GermanCulture #DefinitelyGerman

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