paese che vai, usanze che trovi

Italian

Alternative forms

• paese che vai, usanza che trovi (less common)

Etymology

Literally, “country you go (to), customs you find”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /paˈe.ze ke‿vˈvaj | uˈzan.t͡se ke‿tˈtrɔ.vi/

Proverb

paese che vai, usanze che trovi

1. one should not be surprised by how different someone else's culture and traditions might be, and should therefore accept them

Usage notes

• Used to convey a similar meaning to that of when in Rome, do as the Romans do.