who keeps company with the wolf will learn to howl
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Also seen as: who keeps company with wolves, will learn to howl
Meaning · English
A person tends to acquire the characteristics of those with whom they associate.
Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt
Người đi với ai sẽ học được tính cách của người đó
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Do not associate with a person who is malicious, selfish, or unkind As a proverb goes, “Who keeps company with the wolf, will learn to howl” (in other words, “If you touch vermillion, you will become of the same color”).
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “who keeps company with the wolf will learn to howl” mean?
A person tends to acquire the characteristics of those with whom they associate.
Is “who keeps company with the wolf will learn to howl” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.