köken: Literally, “one swallow doesn't make summer”, a calque of Ancient Greek μία χελιδὼν ἔαρ οὐ ποιεῖ (mía khelidṑn éar ou poieî, “one swallow does not a spring make”). The reference to summer instead of spring is shared across European languages; see the descendants at the Ancient Greek entry for more.
köken: Calque of English one swallow does not a summer make. From een (“one, a”) + zwaluw (“swallow”) + maakt (“makes”) + nog + geen (“not, none, no”) + lente (“spring”).
köken: Literally, “only one swallow makes no summer”, a calque of Ancient Greek μία χελιδὼν ἔαρ οὐ ποιεῖ (mía khelidṑn éar ou poieî, “one swallow does not a spring make”). The reference to summer instead of spring is shared across European languages; see the descendants at the Ancient Greek entry for more.