Sardinian idioms concerning donkeys

There are many Sardinian idioms, and there are a lot of proverbs concerning donkeys . From Campidanese to Logudorese it is called in different ways:

• in Campidanese Sardinian it is called “molenti” or “burricu”;

• in Logudorese Sardinian it is called “ainu” or “poleddu”.

“Ainu” and “molenti” are two words of Latin derivation while “burricu” and “poleddu” are of Spanish, Catalan derivation. Among the many sayings concerning donkeys we have:

• “Mellu unu molenti malu chi mola a pala” (better a bad donkey than a shoulder grindstone);

• the Logudorese saying: “Est mezus ainu biu chi no doctors mortu” (better a live donkey than a dead doctor). A way of saying to remember that it is better to enjoy the little things rather than the big and unattainable ones, which is also found in the Cagliari area with a different meaning. In fact, the ancient Cagliaritans maintained that it was better to have a dead donkey rather than a live doctor because a dead donkey can be eaten while the doctor, according to them, was of no use.

The term "burricu" was used, and is still used, to indicate a donkey, someone who does not stand out for his intelligence and is perhaps not good at school or is ungrateful. The feminine, “burrica”, was used to indicate a woman of easy virtue.